UN’S WEAK RESPONSE TO MUSLIM SLAUGHTER OF CHRISTIANS: Hundreds of Christians were brutally slaughtered with axes and knives by a Muslim Nigerian mob on Sunday. The Muslims attacked three small Christian villages in central Nigeria in an early-morning raid. They blocked off all exits, shot in the air, and then set upon the Christian residents of all ages - as they tried to escape - with axes machetes and gunfire.  Estimates of the numbers killed in the brutal massacre range from 400 to more than 500.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in a restrained response Sunday night said he is “very disturbed” at the situation, and “called upon all sides to act with maximum restraint.” (INN) “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Heb 13:3

JEWS FOR JESUS BAKER CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR KOSHER CERTIFICATION: The High Court of Justice on Tues. ordered the Ashdod Rabbinical Council to provide documents proving the kashrut terms demanded of a Jews for Jesus baker were identical to those demanded of the Jewish bakers in the city. The decision came at the end of a hearing on a contempt-of-court petition filed on behalf of Pnina Conforty, whose kosher certification had been revoked in 2006 because of her religious affiliation.  Last June, the High Court ruled the rabbinate could not withhold a kashrut certificate from Conforty as long as she obeyed the laws of kashrut, and that it could not demand of her conditions more strict than those required of Jewish bakers in Ashdod. Nine months later, the rabbinate has still not granted the certificate.  State’s representative, attorney Hani Ofek, said at the hearing there was not a single rabbi who would sign a kashrut certificate for a member of Jews for Jesus. The judges were not satisfied. “Court rulings must be obeyed,” Justice Ayala Procaccia told Ofek. (J. Post)  Pray for Pnina Comforty that she may receive her kosher certification without further delay and that rabbinical leaders will not be able to ignore Court decrees simply because they conflict with their religious prejudices.

ISRAEL WARNS BAD OPTIONS ARE NEARING: The two "bad options" for Iran, letting the country develop nuclear weapons or using force to destroy its nuclear capabilities, are closer than they were a year ago, Israel's UN ambassador said Tues.  Gabriela Shalev warned: "our intelligence tells us ... Iran is racing towards this kind of nuclear capability.”  Former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton warned earlier this week that Israel has just two choices: a strike aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities, or a nuclear Iran.  Israel has limited time to plan its next steps, he said. “If Israel is going to use force, it needs to do it sooner rather than later.”  High-ranking Israeli and US government and military leaders this week are discussing whether a military strike could stop Iran's nuclear program. (Fox News) “You are my King and my God who decrees victories for Jacob. Ps 44: 4

PERES CALLS FOR TOTAL WORLD ISOLATION OF AHMADINEJAD: President Shimon Peres on Tues. said Iranian President Ahmadinejad must face "total" international isolation, adding that his anti-Israel rhetoric was only a cover for his ambitions for Iranian hegemony in the Middle East.  "A person like Ahmadinejad, who calls openly to destroy the state of Israel, cannot be a full member of the UN," Peres said during a meeting with visiting US Vice-President Joe Biden in Jerusalem.  "A man who calls for acts of terror, and who hangs people in the street should be placed in his proper definition. He cannot go around like a cultural hero," Peres said.  "Ahmadinejad has to be isolated and not welcomed in the capitals of the world.” (Ha’aretz)

ISRAEL SOON TO PUBLISH PALESTINIAN INCITEMENT INDEX: Israel is to begin officially monitoring incitement in the Palestinian Authority and will periodically issue a report on it, PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced.  "People must know exactly what is happening on this issue, because for a peace agreement, education toward peace and acceptance of Israel are needed."  The main focus of the monitoring process will be whether inculcating a "culture of peace" becomes part of PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's plan for building the institutions of a Palestinian state. (Ha’aretz) In addition to PA television broadcasts calling for destruction of the Jews; Holocaust Denial and hatred of Israel is rampant in PA School Textbooks. Taking a realistic view at what is at the heart of the Palestinian people and their leaders in terms of future peaceful co-existence with Israel; one must examine what is being taught to the next generation. 

EGYPT’S TOP MUSLIM CLERIC DIES OF HEART ATTACK: Top Egyptian cleric Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, whose moderate views angered conservative Muslims died of a heart attack Wed. during a visit to Saudi Arabia. He was 81. Tantawi was a supporter of women's rights whose views made him a frequent target of criticism from fundamentalist Muslims. He angered radicals by denouncing female circumcision and by ruling that women should be appointed to top government judicial positions. In 2008 he came under pressure to resign from politics for shaking the hand of Israel’s President Shimon Peres. (J.Post)

GAZA EXPORTS MORE FLOWERS TO EUROPE, RECEIVES TONS OF AID: Gaza exported carnations to Europe last week, while receiving nearly 14,000 tons of humanitarian aid through Israel via the various crossings.  Hundreds of trucks laden with wheat, flour, meat, chicken, fish, legumes and other agricultural produce made deliveries in Gaza.  Animal feed, hygiene products and medical supplies were among non-food items packed on to the trucks that made their way into the region from Israel. (INN)

ISRAEL LAUNCHES POLLEN FORECASTS TO HELP ALLAY ALLERGIES:  Israelis will soon have monthly pollen forecasts to help them plan measures for allergies and survive the pollen season with minimal discomfort.  The forecasts will be based on information collected by the Department of Plant Sciences faculty from the university's botanical garden. (Ha’aretz)

MEETING ISRAEL’S NEEDS DURING INCREASINGLY TROUBLED TIMES: The National Insurance Institute's annual Poverty Report released Nov. 2009, paints an extremely grim picture: There are 1,651,300 needy people living in Israel, including 783,600 children. Hardship is mounting. Please continue to enable us to assist terrorist victims, entire households suffering from poverty, the elderly and others in need in Israel. Your donations are needed and welcomed at www.visionforisrael.com Make your online donation today. For residents in the UK and outside North America you can visit www.josephstorehouse.co.uk  If you prefer to send your donation by check, you can mail it in to the Israel address or the addresses in the USA and the UK or one of our other branches in The Netherlands and Germany:     

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Blessings from Jerusalem,
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff