Israel: Rockets and bombs continue
Late on Friday rockets were fired from Gaza at a southern Israeli farming region landing between two residential homes. The rocket attack came after ‘an Islamic Jihad terrorist’ was wounded by Israel Defense Force fire in the northern Gaza Strip earlier that night. Last week at least eight rockets were fired from Gaza, exploding in open fields in the northern Negev region. In Thailand two Iranians were charged over a bomb plot against Israeli diplomats. Tehran is accused of mounting a terror campaign against Israel and tensions between the arch-foes have risen sharply following three bomb incidents in world capitals in less than 24 hours. On Monday bombers targeted Israeli Embassy staff in India and Georgia. In Bangkok two Iranians were detained over three blasts that rattled the Thai capital on Tuesday. Bangkok officials cannot say yet it’s terrorist activity but it's similar to the assassination attempt against India’s diplomat. It is believed an Iranian assassination team has targeted Israeli diplomats.
Pray: For God's protection to envelop the people of Israel and Gaza, and for the thwarting of all violent schemes. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8419570/israel-blames-iran-for-bangkok-blast
Syria: Homs update
Besieged residents of Homs have resorted to carrier pigeons to communicate with each other. One message attached to a pigeon’s leg read, ‘please tell us what you need in terms of supplies, medicine and food. God willing we will deliver them to you.’ The city has been under a barrage of heavy machine-gun fire, tank shells, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades since February 4th. The UN reported 300+ people dead in Homs, which has the second largest Christian population in Syria. Last week Reuters reported, ‘Rising violence is forcing hundreds out of Homs’ Two weeks ago a refugee fled with his family and nothing but the clothes they stood up in after being trapped inside for days. Since then, heavy bombardment has killed hundreds more and levelled dozens of buildings in a matter of days. Cold weather has slowed the flow of refugees into Turkey.
Pray: for those struggling to escape to be able to dodge Syrian military patrols, and for God’s protection on those who stay. (Ps.7:10)
Egypt: A difficult path to change
Parliament spent its first week with riots taking place just outside the main chambers. The Muslim Brotherhood will reveal the names of a coalition government when it forms a new leadership. That move is causing Christians concern. The optimistic view of what the new Egypt will look like for Christians has changed. The General Assembly of the Parliament wears full beards and Christians are saying, ‘For the first time in Egypt we see Muslim Prayers in the Assembly. Because of this, we know that lots of suffering will come, especially because the leadership says they will begin using Sharia law to rule the country. In Egypt at the moment there are many poor people who steal to eat. They can't cut the hands off of millions of people, so they said that when we recover economically, they will implement Sharia.’
Pray: for community development groups that are noted for their open Gospel content to be protected throughout these times of change. (Ps.17:8)
More: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16825
USA: Chinese blocked religious freedom envoy
Chinese officials denied a visa to a top US State Department envoy and refused to meet with her to discuss issues of religious freedom days before this week’s high-profile visit to Washington by China’s vice president. The U. ambassador for international religious freedom (who previously was a New York Police Department chaplain) was scheduled to travel to China on Feb 8th but as the date drew near Chinese leaders refused to grant her meetings with government officials. The disclosure comes one day into the diplomatically sensitive visit by Xi Jinping (China’s presumptive next president) to the United States. During the visit the Obama administration hopes to ease tense in US-China relations.
Pray: for a new positive relationship between USA and China, allowing religious freedom issues to be positively discussed and implemented. (Pr.2:6-8)
