Dear All, I was sent the following and feel that I should share it with you. Please read it. From the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem SPECIAL ICEJ RELEASE ON DISENGAGEMENT [] FOR RELEASE - 21 JULY 2005 FOR ZION'S SAKE WE WILL NOT KEEP SILENT 1 "For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. 3 They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. Joel 3:1-3 (NKJV) The Bible is clear about the fact that those nations that divide the Land of Israel will incur the disfavour of God. So, the conflict now unfolding in Gaza has serious implications for all the world. The Land of Canaan belongs to God! He has bequeathed it to the Jewish people as an everlasting possession as part of His plan for world redemption. To meddle with that which God has given is a grave oversight. The nations must be warned and even though they happily discount the reality of the God of Heaven, they will soon hear from Him and are! On the other hand, the prophets have always spoken to Israel about her spiritual condition. Her departure from serving the God of her forefathers has always led to judgment, anguish and trouble within her borders. In addition the God of the Bible has always warned Israel about making alliances with foreign nations that in the end bring her to a place of compromise and land forfeiture. Israel is called upon to trust God fully. The present drama unfolding in Gaza is therefore complex and cannot be reduced to simplistic deductions. As an organization that has a proven track record of standing with Israel, we do speak out today in the following way: (1) We are convinced that Israel is placing herself in grave and serious danger by the "Gaza pullout". We are not persuaded at all of the peaceful intentions of the Palestinian people. On the ground in Gaza, where the majority influence is Hamas, they unashamedly declare their desire to remove the Jews from what they call "Muslim soil". They will most definitely continue their violent struggle from their new vantage point after disengagement. We fear that Kassam missiles will soon rain down on Ashdod and Ashkelon. (2) We affirm that all nations participating in the present process to divide the land will eventually fall into the hands of the Living God. He has not changed and those nations like Assyria, Babylon and Rome that engaged in "this business" are now extinct. Why should it be different in the future? (3) We lovingly call upon Israel to call for a Day of Humility and Repentance. The God of the Bible has always responded to your cry and will do so now. We will never tell you what to do because we respect your democracy but we feel that we must urge you to cast yourselves upon the God who has borne you on "Eagles' wings" for centuries. He will not fail you now. He will hear your cry when you call upon Him with all your heart (2 Chronicles 7:14). (4) We urge the Church to come to a place of urgent and persistent prayer. Israel is in real danger. The avalanche of anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism in the world is alarming. Now is the time to rise up and pray. Pray for Israel's leaders, pray for wisdom, pray for deliverance and pray for Israel's redemption. Please note that we have often stated that to pray for Israel without reference to her spiritual condition is to disconnect yourself from the purpose of God. God is dealing with Israel and in the end He will have His way with her. (5) We urge Christians everywhere to reject all forms of anti-Semitism and to pray for the Jewish communities of Gaza. These precious people were encouraged to settle in the region by a government that is now determined to remove them. Whatever the debate may be in Israel about this, the undeniable fact is that we are looking at a very real human tragedy. Men, women and children are being uprooted from their homes and familiar surroundings with very painful and traumatic consequences. They need our prayers and comfort. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is fully committed to the above position and always has been. We urge all our supporters to act now and help us fulfill our calling to be a light of love and comfort to Israel. Malcolm Hedding Executive Director International Christian Embassy Jerusalem Neville. --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PCcalling worldwide with voicemail