The ZAFF Monthly Report
The Zionists Alliance for Freedom


To read each issue, click on the month

February 2010
January 2010
December 2009

November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009

zaff_february_banner
Local
  • Anti-Semitism on the college campus:  ‘From the 1st to the 14th of March of 2010, pro-Palestinian groups are launching their 6th annual Israel Apartheid Week on college campuses.  Last year events were held in 41 cities around the world, including Boston, New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta, Toronto, and Montreal.  (Anti-Israel events at Boston University are scheduled on March 1-2). The Israel Apartheid Week is increasingly creating an insidious environment where some Jewish students are physically and verbally attacked on campuses. What may have once been considered anti-Zionist rhetoric seems to be crossing the line into pure anti-Semitism.  To raise awareness about this dangerous anti-Semitic movement, Imagination Productions is launching a film…Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus.’  CJUI 02/15/10   
National
  • Gallup Poll: American Support for Israel Near 20 Year High: American sympathy for Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict has surged, with 63% of Americans saying they side more with Israelis than with Palestinians, according to a new Gallup poll. In 1996 and 1997, support for Israel hovered at a lowly 38%. Support for Palestinians is currently 15%, down from 23% a few years ago, according to the poll, which was conducted February 1-3. The last time Israel enjoyed such high popularity in the United States was almost 20 years ago in January 1991… Support from Republicans stands at a towering 85%, up from 77% in recent years, with Democratic and Independent support remaining about the same.  A whopping 67% of Americans are doubtful that a time will ever come in which Arab nations and Israel will "settle their differences" and live in peace. Politically, Democrats (39%) were more inclined to think this scenario would occur than independents (26%) or Republicans (25%).’  Arutz Sheva 2/25/10
International
  • Lebanese PM vows to side with Hizbullah in war with Israel: Hariri told the BBC in an interview that in the event of a war between Israel and Hizbullah, ‘his government will stand by Hizbullah. This in spite the fact that the US and EU have armed and financed the Lebanese Army over the last several years specifically so that they would resist Hizbullah’s growing power.’ ICEJ news 2/10/10.
  • Anti-Semitism at all-time high in UK: ‘According to a report published Friday by the British group Community Security Trust, anti-Semitism in the UK was at an all-time high in 2009 with 924 recorded incidents, including a large spike during Operation Cast Lead. CST spokesman Mark Gardner said anti-Semitism is an increasingly significant problem for British Jews and called upon all “decent people” to speak out against it. “Anti-Semitism is one of the most ancient of hatreds – and yet it constantly adapts to modern times, requiring ever greater vigilance from all of us who are determined to stand up for tolerance and for the truth,” noted British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. ‘  ICEJ  2/08/10
  • Russia Says 'Nyet” to Israel on Missile Sale to Iran: ‘Russia gave Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu the cold shoulder before he even landed in Moscow Sunday night and said it will proceed with its sale of advanced S-300 missiles to Iran. The Prime Minister said before departing for Moscow he would press Russia to cancel the sale.’ Arutz Sheva 2/15/10

zaff_jan2010

Local

§  Hamas comes to Boston: Christians & Jews United for Israel and Americans for Peace and Tolerance co-sponsored a protest against a fundraiser for Hamas at the Palestinian Cultural Center …Allston, MA on Monday, February 1st at 6:00 p.m. George Galloway, who is being banned in Canada and was recently deported from Egypt, has entered the U.S. to raise money for his Hamas-affiliated organization. The Palestinian Center hosted  him for a talk and a $1,000 per-plate dinner. CJUI 1/29/10. 

§  Counter protest to ‘Gaza Freedom March’ Held Outside Israeli Consulate:  ‘A counter protest was organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council, which brought together a coalition of individuals and groups [including Christians & Jews United for Israel]. Ari Alexenberg, director of the Israel Action Center said that he was troubled to see the Gaza Freedom Marchers’ signs supporting Hamas and tagging Israel as the occupier and oppressor of the Palestinians. In his view, the anti-Israel marchers have misdirected their anger and frustration towards Israel. “The protestors didn’t seem to recognize that the root of suffering in Gaza is a direct result of Hamas rule.’ Participants from Christians and Jews United for Israel held a banner with the image of Martin Luther King, with a quote by the civil rights leader that read ‘When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews.  You’re talking anti-Semitism.’’ There were also members of Boston for Israel present. Openmediaboston.org 1/16/10.

§  Activists block Gitmo jihadist detainee from settling in Newton: Charles Jacobs, from Americans for Peace and Tolerance writes, ‘We are all in debt to the dozens of activists who braved a freezing rainy night to come out to city hall and face down clueless Newton aldermen who proposed to have as our neighbor a man who belonged to "the charity wing" of Lashkar-e-Taibah - the organization that committed mass murder in Mumbai.’  Americans for Peace and Tolerance 1/21/10

  National

§  Massachusetts voters elect  pro-Israel Republican, Scott Brown, as Senator.

§  Report says Al-Qaeda seeks WMD, US unprepared:  The United States has not     done enough to protect the country against the threat of weapons of mass destruction even as Al-Qaeda appears intent on staging a large-scale attack, reports said. A bipartisan panel warned that the government had failed to adopt measures to counter the danger posed by extremists using WMD, saying the administration lacked plans for a rapid response to a possible biological attack. "Nearly a decade after September 11, 2001, one year after our original report, and one month after the Christmas Day bombing attempt, the United States is failing to address several urgent threats, especially bioterrorism," said former senator Bob Graham, chair of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.’  Breitbart.com article 1/26/10


International

§  Israel gears up for defense of country: Israeli reports indicate tests of the ‘Iron Dome' anti-missile system were successful. The system is designed to detect and shoot down short and medium range missiles. Reports indicate that it will be deployed along the border with Gaza in June 2010. The David Project 1/8/10

zaff_dec2009 
Local

Anti-Semitic graffiti spreads in Worcester:  ‘On Monday, someone spray painted anti-Semitic graffiti on the Newton Square War Memorial.  According to Worcester police, the defacement was the latest in a spate of hate-filled graffiti to hit the Tatnuck/Newton Square in the past couple of weeks.  It began on Nov. 25 with anti-Semitic and racist graffiti on a bench and windows at Worcester State College and spread to include a fire-damaged house at 531 Chandler St., Chandler Magnet School, the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2 Airport Drive, Doherty Memorial High School, a basketball hoop on Suburban Road, and Temple Emanuel. The perpetrator or perpetrators used both symbols and words in the hate spree… having been the point man on hate crimes throughout his tenure in the {police} department, Deputy Chief McGinn acknowledged that the continued occurrence of hate graffiti means they’re still behind the eight ball in addressing the problem.’ cmcfarlane@telegram.com 12/11/09    

National

·         Protest stops second graders from having to sing ‘Allah is God’: ‘A battle over religion is brewing in central Indiana after a public school wanted second graders to sing a song declaring, “Allah is God.” The phrase was removed just before the performance after a national conservative group launched a protest…That drew the ire of the Muslim Alliance of America {:} “It’s unfortunate if that was removed from the program just because of Islamophobic feelings.”  FoxNewsRadio.com 12/14/09

·         Supremacist group conspires against rights in Chicago:  ‘In the Chicago suburbs on December 20, 2009, a group that has conspired to deny Americans their Constitutional and civil rights will be using a government-managed facility to recruit new members to their supremacist cause. In this case it will be the Islamic supremacist Hizb ut-Tahrir America organization, which will be using the Lombard Park District community building in the Village of Lombard…. The self-defined supremacist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir America at {a} July 19 event distributed brochures to the public calling for the "death penalty" for those who committed the "treason" of leaving Islam;’  Responsible for Equality and Liberty {REAL} 12/15/09


International

Global anti-Israel protests expected on 'Cast Lead' anniversary:  ‘The first anniversary of Israel's counterterrorism Operation Cast Lead in Gaza is set to be a catalyst for a series of anti-Israel protests worldwide. A mass march to the Erez Crossing between Gaza and Israel is to include several Western VIPs… Researchers from the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response (ITRR) expect "protests and marches by anti-Israel, Islamist and far-left activist groups in various population centers worldwide."’. Arutz-Sheva IsraelNationalNews.com 12/21/09

Most Arabs see Iran as bigger threat than Israel:  A survey of Arab public opinion published last week by Qatar's Doha Debates has revealed that a majority of citizens across 18 Arab states included in the polling now view Iran as more dangerous to regional security than Israel. The YouGov survey also found that 80% of Arabs do not believe Iran's assurances that it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons.’  ICEJ News 12/21/09

zaff_nov2009

Local

·    Coakley and Capuano would meet with Ahmadinejad!’: U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown today {11/24/09} called on Attorney General Martha Coakley and Rep. Michael Capuano to renounce their statements at last night’s Democratic debate that each would be willing as U.S. senator to meet directly with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  “Ahmadinejad is a Holocaust denier who has threatened to wipe Israel off the map,” said Brown. “Meeting with him confers legitimacy when the only correct response to his anti-Israel comments and repeated Holocaust denials is to treat him as an outcast.”  BrownforSenate.com


National

·         Government seizes US Islamic centers: ‘Federal authorities have seized Islamic centers in New York City, Maryland, California and Houston, more than one hundred acres in Virginia and a 36-story Manhattan office tower belonging to the ‘non-profit’ Alavi Foundation.  Persecutors allege that the Alavi Foundation…, illegally funneled millions in rental income back to Iran’s state owned Bank Melli.  It is illegal to do business with Bank Melli in the US.’  The David Project Update, 11/13/09.


International

·         Gaza group offers bounty for Israeli soldiers:  ‘A Gaza charity linked to Hamas is  offering $1.4 million to anyone who captures an Israeli soldier.  The Waad group sent an email on Wednesday calling on people living in Israel to try to take soldiers hostage. The organization, which supports Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, is headed by Hamas’ Interior Minister…’ JPost Middle East, 11/18/09 

·         Pressure causes Norwegian university to vote down academic boycott of Israel:The board of trustees at the University of Trondheim in Norway unanimously rejected a petition to impose an academic boycott on Israeli professors and scholars on Thursday, after a counter campaign drew too much unwanted attention to the school. The boycott recommendation originated with a letter to the board from 34 university professors and assistant professors, which said Israeli universities "have played a key role in the policy of oppression" against the Palestinians since 1948 and that "Israel goes against all the ideals of open universities and academic freedom." …’   ICEJ News 11/13/09

·        Israeli naval commandoes intercept weapons headed to Hizbullah: ‘In the largest such operation ever carried out, Israeli naval commandoes {boarded} …a German-owned cargo ship flying the flag of Antigua.  The ship, bound for the Syrian port of Latakia, turned out to be carrying nearly 500 tons of Iranian-supplied weaponry, apparently heading to Hizbullah militia forces operating in Lebanon.’ November News Review, David Dolan

·         PA and Hamas officials warn of violent Palestinian uprising: ‘Tensions escalated after the Jerusalem municipality announced that 900 new apartment units will be constructed in the southern neighborhood of Gilo, a move condemned by the Palestinians, the White House, European leaders and Iran.  Obama himself added significant fuel to the political firestorm, saying the apartment construction “does not contribute to Israel's security, and embitters the Palestinians.”  November News Review, David Dolan

 

zaff_oct2009

Local

·         A Muslim who attended Worcester Mosque and taught religion and math to children at its Islamic school was arrested for terror activity:  Tarek Mehanna, 27, was arrested on October 21st by FBI agents and charged with conspiracy to provide ‘material support’ to terrorists.  Affidavits claimed Tarek had planned to terrorize a shopping mall and kill US soldiers among other things.  Christian Science Monitor, 10/22/09. 

Mehanna was already out on bail from a federal arrest last year, charged with lying during a terrorism probe.  Boston Herald.com 10/21/09

·         Hundreds of Christians & Jews gather to support Israel:  Christians & Jews United for Israel gathered with guests at Temple Emeth in Chestnut Hill on October 18th to award local leaders for their courageous Zionist endeavors.  Themes emerged of the need for Christians and Jews to stand together, to become better informed about and aware of current anti-Semitic and anti-American trends and to be active in support for freedom and for Israel.     

National

·         Obama advisor fails to challenge the perception that Sharia law promotes justice for women :  Dalia Mogahed, an advisor to the President on Muslim affairs, claimed that the Western view of Sharia is ‘oversimplified’ and reported that the majority of Muslim women around the world associate Sharia with ‘gender justice.’  She made her comments on a British TV program hosted by a member of a group that believes in the non-violent destruction of Western democracy.  Wife beating, stoning for adultery, polygamy and endorsement of underage marriage are some of the established teachings of Sharia Law that went unchallenged by Mogahed.  Unity Coalition for Israel 10/15/09

·         CAIR’s ultimate purpose to transform US to Islamic nation under the Quran:  A daring, undercover investigation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations recently led to the publication of a book, "Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America," which documents ‘indisputable evidence’ that CAIR and other “mainstream” Islamic groups ‘are acting as fronts for a well-funded conspiracy of the Muslim Brotherhood – the parent of al-Qaida and Hamas – to infiltrate and destroy the American system.’  WorldNetDaily 10/14/09

·         Younger American Jews abandon Israel:  ‘A growing segment of the American Jewish community is abandoning Israel… Two American Jewish sociologists, Steven Cohen and Ari Kelman, wrote that among American Jews aged 35 and younger, a full 50% said that the destruction of the State of Israel would not be a personal tragedy for them.’   The Jerusalem Post 10/15/09


International

·         Freedom to speak out against Islam at risk:  The UN is considering a ‘Defamation of Religions’ resolution which, if passed, could put those who proclaim the gospel of Christianity around the world in jeopardy of criminal action.  The largest group of Islamic nations in the UN, the Organization of the Islamic Conference {OIC}, is pushing this resolution.  American Center for Law and Justice 10/26/09


Action

·         Friday, Dec 4th, 7pm at Leominster Assembly of God – monthly Messianic meeting


zaff_sept2009

Local

·         ‘The Third Jihad”: This excellent documentary film was presented at the Brookline Public Library by Americans for Peace & Tolerance (APT) on 9/15. Charles Jacobs, ATP’s Founder and Boston College Prof. Dr. Wyman led discussions.


National

·         Alarming increase in US terrorist plots suggested:  Islamist jihad attacks in four US cities were foiled by US authorities in September.  It is likely that major attacks upon the New York City commuter trains, a Dallas skyscraper, an Illinois courthouse and a US Marine base in Quantico, Virginia have been averted by the arrests of several, unrelated terrorist suspects living here in the US.    Telegraph.co.uk - 9/27/09

·         Islam on Capitol Hill September 25th: Columnist Robert Knight wrote ‘Visitors to Washington D.C. today got to hear what residents in Hamtramck and Dearborn, Michigan, as well as areas of London, Amsterdam and other Western cities already endure five times a day: The sound of amplified Muslim prayers lifted to Allah.  This time, the prayers reverberated over America’s front lawn as some 2,000 Muslims gathered for …A Day of Islamic Unity.’  The theme of the day was ‘Our Time Has Come.’ Townhall.com 9/25/09


International

·         PM Netanyahu powerfully challenges world leaders at UN:  In a bold, stirring, politically ‘incorrect’ speech delivered at the United Nations on 9/24, the Israeli PM spoke, among other things, of the hypocrisy of many world leaders, Israel’s desire for peace and the threat of Iranian fanaticism.  He said ‘The struggle against this fanaticism does not pit faith against faith nor civilization against civilization.  It pits civilization against barbarism… those who sanctify life against those who glorify death. The primitivism of the 9th century ought to be no match for the progress of the 21st century.  The allure of freedom, the power of technology, the reach of communications should surely win the day.’  Nowpublic.com 9/24/09

·         US Admits Iran near ‘Breakout Point’ for Nuclear Bomb: ‘The United States has confirmed long-time Israeli intelligence reports that Iran is close to achieving the ability to produce a nuclear bomb…The US envoy to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said  “Iran is now either very near or already in possession of sufficient low-enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon, if the decision were made to further enrich it to weapons grade…This moves Iran closer to a dangerous and destabilizing possible breakout capacity” Israel INN.com 9/9/09

·         Film Warns of Non-Violent Muslim Takeover:  A new film warns that Islam has all but taken over Europe, and that radical Islam threatens to do the same in the United States. ‘The Third Jihad paints a dramatic picture… depicting   the non-violent methods by which radical Islam seeks to fulfill its goal of nothing short than conquering the world and establishing “the global Islamic state.”   INN.com 9/11/09 


Action

·         Watch Netanyahu’s speech to the UN on You Tube. 

·         Watch ‘The Third Jihad’ documentary on thethirdjihad.com

·         Attend the Genesis Awards sponsored by Christians & Jews United for Israel at Temple Emeth; 194 Grove St., Chestnut Hill, MA; Sunday, October 18th at 3:30 PM.

zaff_aug2009

Local

·     Christians and Jews come together to support Israel :  Rev. Fumio Taku, newly elected President of Christians and Jews United for Israel (CJUI), delivered his initial address to CJUI members gathered at Temple Emeth in Chestnut Hill on 8/25/09.  He described the uniqueness of Christians and Jews working together to fight Anti-Semitism and presented a local vision for CJUI members to herald the truth about Israel’s right to the Land, to be alert to the dangers of radical Islam, to promote Zionism and to signal the caution that is needed with respect to the advancement of the current ‘peace process.’


National

·         17 year old Rifqa Bary flees Ohio Muslim home in fear of life:  After allegedly having her life threatened by her father who discovered that she had converted to Christianity, Rifqa fled to friends in Florida.  A judge there ruled recently that she should stay in Florida until a follow-up hearing scheduled for September 3rd in that there was sufficient evidence to raise concerns about her safety in Ohio. Please keep her in your prayers!  Act for America 8/24/09

·         Jewish Groups Slam Obama's Honoring Anti-Israel Leaders  Regarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom being presented to Mary Robinson, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) called on the administration to “firmly, fully, and publicly repudiate her views on Israel and her long public record of hostility and one-sided bias against the Jewish state.” The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) also condemned the decision to award former South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu stating that both Tutu and Robinson “have made statements and presided over organizations and conferences that were viciously critical of Israel.” - Arutz Sheva [Israel National News.com] – 8/5/09    


International

·         Netanyahu proclaims Jerusalem as Sovereign Capital of Israel:Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told British officials Tuesday in London that Israel would not stop building in any area of its capital city.’  Despite hundreds of shouting protestors, Netanyahu bluntly stated to reporters, ‘Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is the sovereign capital of the State of Israel, and Israel will not accept limits on its sovereignty there.  We have been building in Jerusalem for 3,000 years.’ Arutz Sheva [Israel National News.com] 8/26/09        

·         Jewish columnist praises evangelicals: Writing in the Jerusalem Post, Isi Leibler wrote, ‘At a time when much of global public opinion views Israel through the distorted lenses of Arab and anti-Semitic defamation, millions of Evangelicals have emerged as our most devoted supporters. The evolution of this relationship is extraordinary and defies logic. It is only over the past three decades that support for Israel assumed such a high priority among this Christian denomination, which is rapidly expanding at a time when other churches are in dramatic decline’… Jpost.com 8/17/09


Action

·         September 15th 6:45pm: Christians & Jews United for Israel to meet at Temple Emeth, Chestnut Hill, MA: All are welcomed. Pastor Smith of Christian Renewal Church Danvers, MA, will be the main speaker.



zaff_july2009

Local

·         Protest at Roxbury Mosque dedication: Dr. Charles Jacobs (Americans for Peace and Tolerance, APT) led the protest. Their website, www.hatefreeamerica.org, has videos and articles. Members of Christians and Jews United for Israel (CJUI), Tom Trento of Florida Security Council, and Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy of Washington D.C. also joined. Charles reported, ‘With a press conference, protest, and extensive behind-the-scenes legwork, we've succeeded in placing the issue of Boston's extremist-led and Saudi-funded Islamic center on the public agenda, …that there is a problem with the leadership of the Center.’ APT 7/13/09


National

·         Maine fines Christian Action Network (CAN) for ‘anti-Muslim message’: The State of Maine fined CAN $4,000 for a fundraising mailing they sent out in which they referred to a public school curriculum used in California.  It requires students to pray to Allah, dress up as Muslims, adopt Muslim names, and learn the five pillars of Islam. Since Christians and Jews are not given similar accommodations, CAN encouraged their supporters to petition the Maine governor, asking him to prevent such instruction in Maine public schools. The CAN president said, “These bogus charges and fines the State of Maine has imposed are nothing but an attempt to stifle our free speech and silence our organization from speaking out about the steady creep of radical Islam in America.”  Pajamas Media – June 25, 2009  


International

·         Palestinian Authority (PA) leader says peace with Israel is never their goal.  A deputy head of the PA in Jerusalem recently stated, on one of its TV broadcasts: "Our goal has never been peace… the goal is Palestine."   This means that they want all of Israel, such as illustrated by the PA Fatah flag that still shows the map of Israel under rifles. Arutz Sheva, 7/13/09  [ed. - Israel was given her land by God, by mandate and by subsequent successful defensive wars against Arab aggression.  Since the PA has refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as a state, issued death sentences to their people who sell land to the Jews, demonstrated an inability to prevent rockets from being fired into Israel from Gaza, and indoctrinated their children to hate Jews, why should the US government continue to pressure Israel to give parts of its land away in order to set up a Palestinian state which aims at their destruction?]

·         Iran: Protests against Iran’s mistreatment of demonstrators continued: Protesters around the world in support of the opposition Iranian activists (who were detained since the disputed presidential election) took to the streets in NYC, London, Paris, Prague, Geneva, Amsterdam, Korea, Japan, and Australia. Over 100 detainees were reportedly found dead with signs of beatings and torture.  New York Times 7/28/09 

·         Bethlehem: Terrorists to descend on Jesus’ Birthplace. The PA President Abbas held Fatah’s 6th General Congress in Bethlehem. Attendees to include Kamal Ranam, head of Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorist group and Abu al-Ainiin, Fatah’s main contact in Lebanon with the Hezbollah terrorist group.  WorldNetDaily 7/6/09


Action

·         August 25th 6:45pm: Christians & Jews United for Israel to meet at Temple Emeth, Chestnut Hill, MA: All are welcomed.  Fumio Taku will be the main speaker.

zaff_june2009

Local

·         The largest mosque in NE opens in Roxbury: On June 26th, the new Islamic Center held an opening celebration, with Mayor Menino in attendance. A group of concerned citizens gathered in a peaceful demonstration, questioning the Center and some of its leaders’ connections to Islamic terror groups.

·         Increased area interest in the threat of radical Islam:  On June 9th over 60 Christian and Jewish leaders gathered in Leominster, MA, to hear Dr. Charles Jacobs speak about the global, national and local threats of radical Islam.

·         Former Muslim terrorist speaks in Brookline synagogue:  Walid Shoebat, author of Why I Left Jihad, God’s War on Terror and Why We Want to Kill You, a former PLO member who has become a Christian, gave a stirring message on the need for Jews and Christians to support Israel. He said, “Today’s Nazism is the radical Islamist, and everyone is afraid of speaking out against it.” 06/11/09, The Jewish Journal  


International

·         Persecution and bloody demonstrations in Iran: Following the presidential elections on June 12th, hundreds of thousands of protesters filled the streets of major cities of Iran. What began as demonstrations against the questionable election results turned quickly into a populous uprising against the current theocratic leaders, headed by Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei. In today’s Iran, anyone that opposes the dictatorial power of the Supreme Leader and seeking more freedom is held in fear of arrests. To this day, Christians, about 0.5% of Iran’s population, and Jews as well, are persecuted.

o   In 1994, Kaik Hovsepian Mehr, bishop of Assemblies of God and chairman of the Council of Protestant Ministers of Iran, was murdered by the Iranian agents after refusing to stop accepting new Muslim converts to his church. About 80% of Assemblies of God members in Iran are converts from Islam.

o   Hamid Pourmand, a former colonel in the Iranian army and pastor of an Assemblies of God church, was arrested in 2004, along with 85 other church leaders at the annual conference of Assemblies of God in Iran. While others have been released, Hamid remains to this day incarcerated at a maximum security prison in Teheran, with his wife and two children left in hardship. Several other pastors have also been arrested or murdered.

o   The Iranian regime has forced to close several churches, including house churches in Ahwaz where the Christians there are strictly forbidden to meet.

o   Jewish population in Iran has dwindled from 80,000 on the eve of Islamic Revolution in 1979 to about 25,000 in 2004, where any Jews “cooperating with the Zionist Israel or imperialist America” are punishable by death.

o   In Iran today, every Presidential candidate must first be approved by the Supreme Leader. Thus, there is no freedom of expression and no real political opposition allowed, except as the bloody demonstrations on the streets we witnessed. Christians and Jews have no religious freedoms. 


Action

July 30th, Tisha B’Av, the date on which, among other tragedies in Jewish history, both the first Temple, in 586 BCE, and the second Temple, in 70 AD, were destroyed. Fast and pray with Jews and Christians around the world on this solemn day.  May the Lord soon build the third Temple on Mt Moriah in Jerusalem.


 

zaff_may2009

Local

·      LOCAL PASTORS & RABBI in Leominster/Fitchburg area gathered to hear Dr. Charles Jacobs (an internationally recognized activist on behalf of oppressed Christians and Jews around the world). Charles gave an eye-opening presentation on how radical Islamic groups are spreading quickly in major US cities, with specific information on their connections to the building of the new multi-million dollar mosque in Roxbury, MA. He and others willing to stand up for the truth paid a high price for exposing their financial links, tactics, and connections to those that threaten our freedom and security in America and Israel.


National

·      US PRISON SPAWNS MUSLIM TERRORISTS. Four Muslims, arrested in NYC for plotting to bomb synagogues and shoot down a jet plane, were converted to Islam and radicalized in prison. Silber, a top NYPD intelligence analyst and co-author of the 2007 NYPD report, “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat”, said inmates converting to Islam are so common that they referred to it as “Prislam.” Jose Padilla (plotting to detonate a dirty bomb) was also converted to Islam and radicalized in prison. [AP 5/27/09]

·      ISLAMIC TRAINING CAMPS. It is reported that there are at least 35 Islamic training camps sprinkled around our country in secluded areas.  Participants are called “Soldiers of Allah” and they are trained in explosives, kidnapping, murder, firing weapons, and guerilla warfare. [Fox News 2/16/09]


International

·      DRILL IN ISRAEL: On June 2 at 11am, as part of a five-day defense drill to prepare the citizens for potential future attacks, an air raid siren will sound across the entire nation, with everyone expected to head to the nearest bomb shelter, simulating fiery missile attacks. The residents in the Golan Heights are given less than 30 seconds to find shelter, while those in Jerusalem have three minutes. The drill is planned with a specific scenario that Israeli officials believe may occur in the very near future. [J-Post 5/25/09; ICEJ, 5/26/09]

·      CHRISTIAN SLAVES LIBERATED IN SUDAN: Christian Solidarity International (CSI) helped liberate 232 Sudanese slaves in May. Most of them are Christians from the Dinka tribe, enslaved by Arab masters in Darfur and neighboring Kordofan during jihad raids by Arab militias backed by Sudan's Islamist government during the late North-South civil war (1983-2005) [PRNewswire 5/29]

·      MISSILES IN IRAN: Iran test fired a 2-stage, solid fuel ballistic missile, the Sejil II, with a 1,250 mile range (able to reach Israel). In addition, Iran already has 50 to 100 Shahab III missiles (also able to hit Israel). Both may be fitted with a high explosive or nuclear warhead. [Strategy Page 5/27/09]


Action

·      Dr. Jacobs will be available to give his presentation at any interested churches and synagogues.

·      Pray for God’s grace and protection over America and Israel.

·      Pray for God’s protection over Israel and our soldiers stationed in the Middle East.