Watchman of Zion

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Uploaded. This week’s update is 33 minutes.

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) Obama’s visit to Israel as it relates to the current status of the Israel / PLO peace process

In December, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the Arab League that he was in favor of a mechanism that would restart direct peace negotiations with Israel which would include an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders, a freeze on building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and a release of  Palestinians from Israeli jails. He also said that the Palestinians don’t accept the presence of the Israeli army in the Jordan Valley. Furthermore, he said that peace talks should be based upon the 2002 Saudi peace initiative with a six-month timetable to agree on the details of any peace agreement.

In January, an Israeli newspaper reported that following Israeli elections and the formation of a new coalition government that Britain and France with the support of Germany would present a peace initiative which would include provision for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The possible proposal suggests that negotiations be based on pre-1967 borders with possible land swaps and push for all core issues to be resolved by the end of 2013. It would also demand a freeze on building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. An Israeli official said that if the Palestinians accept the proposal that Israel would be backed into a corner. The President of France said that France will promote a new Israeli / Palestinian peace plan in March and that he sees 2013 as the year when the Middle East peace process will be brought to a conclusion.

This past week, former Israeli minister,  Yossi Beilin said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently asked European leaders not to publish a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians at the present time because the United States is planning to lead with its own plan.  According to a report in an Israel newspaper, Kerry will be in Israel in the next week to try to kick start peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians using the 2002 Saudi Peace initiative as the starting point of future talks. According to that plan, Arab nations would recognize and make peace with Israel in exchange for Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders, an agreed solution to the Palestinian refugee issue and acceptance of the formation of an independent Palestinian state.

Retired Brig. General Michael Herzog, a former Israel army intelligence officer who is an international fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said that the United States is trying a new strategy to bring peace to the region. “They’re not opening with a high-profile launching of some new initiative. President Obama is not himself the face of the initiative. There are lowering expectations. Most of the work will be conducted behind the scenes. The emphasis is on a lot of preparatory meetings and stage setting leading to both bilateral and regional talks.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his new government was extending its hand in peace to the Palestinians, declaring that he was ready to make a “historic compromise” if they return to the negotiating table with good will. At a press conference with President Barack Obama, Netanyahu said: “Israel is “fully committed” to resolving the decades-long conflict with the Arabs with a solution which involves two states for two peoples.” He went on to say that President Obama’s visit to Israel presented “an opportunity to try and find a way to advance peace” with the Palestinians. He also said: “I hope that Obama’s visit along with the visit of Secretary of State Kerry will help us turn a page in our relations with the Palestinians.” If Israel and the Palestinians were able to agree on terms of a peace deal, Labor leader, Shelly Yachimovich promised to support a peace agreement. She told Netanyahu: “If Israel ever gets to even an interim agreement with the Palestinians … I promise you, what I said to you face-to-face that Labor will join your government in order to support a peace agreement.”

In speaking with the Palestinians, President Barack Obama said that he does not support preconditions for restarting direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. This is a reversal from the policy of his first administration. Obama said that Palestinians could not expect an Israeli settlement freeze ahead of restarting direct peace talks saying that Israeli politics were “complex” and that this is “not an issue that will be solved overnight.” He further said that if issues were made into preconditions to negotiations, he said, there was “no point in negotiations.” In speaking about preconditions, Obama was mainly referring to Palestinian insistence that Israel freeze building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in order to restart peace negotiations.  Obama said: “If we solve the issue of sovereignty for the Palestinians and security for the Israelis – the issue of settlements will be solved too.

Even so, Obama said that he told Netanyahu that  it is US policy to regard settlement activity as being not constructive, appropriate or advancing the cause of peace. Obama told Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas that the United States is committed to seeking a two-state solution. The United States desires an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel so that the two sides enjoy prosperity and peace and the only way to achieve this goal is through direct negotiations. Nevertheless, Obama stressed to Israel that it must make peace with the Palestinians if it is to ensure its survival and long-term viability as a homeland for the Jewish people. Furthermore, Israeli occupation of areas that the Palestinians claim for their state must end, Obama said.  However, Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with anyone who is dedicated to its destruction. Direct negotiations will be necessary to achieve peace. But, there is no secret where they must lead — two states for two peoples. There will be differences about how to get there, and hard choices along the way. Arab States must adapt to a world that has changed. Now is the time for the Arab World to take steps toward normalized relations with Israel. At the same time, Palestinians must recognize that Israel will be a Jewish state and that Israelis have the right to insist upon their security. Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an independent Palestine must be viable– that real borders will have to be drawn. I’ve suggested principles on territory and security that I believe can be the basis for talks.

Regarding Obama’s views on the peace process, the leader of Jewish Home, Naftali Bennett, whose party opposes a Palestinian state said that  “there is no occupation within one’s own land.” In Netanyahu’s new government, Jewish Home Knesset member, Uri Ariel, is the Israeli minister for Construction and Housing. He said that “there is no room for freezing” construction in the West Bank. Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home), leader Avigdor Lieberman said he does not believe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be solved and rejected any possible freeze in settlement construction. He further said: “Those who talk about solving the Palestinian problem must be deluding themselves. This conflict cannot be solved. Instead, it should be managed.

Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas presented US President Barack Obama with two principles he said must be included in any formula that will allow the resumption of peace talks. First, a freeze in building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and secondly, the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

Regarding the issue of settlements, Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas told Obama that it is not only the Palestinian position but that the world considers the settlements as illegal saying, “Everybody considers the settlements as an obstacle to the two-state solution. The United Nations Security Council has issued more than 13 resolutions that not only condemn the settlements but demand ending and removing them. As a result, the Palestinians will demand nothing less than the implementation of international law. Regarding the recognition of Israel, Abbas said, “The Palestinians continue to recognize Israel according to the 2003 Road Map and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.”

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat said that being able to restart direct peace talks will require a deeper and long-standing effort by President Obama and his new secretary of state, John Kerry. He said, “We really hope that President Obama and Secretary Kerry can succeed in reviving a meaningful peace process, succeed in having Netanyahu saying the sentence that he accepts the two states in the 1967 borders. We don’t need a new peace plan. We need commitment.”

Meanwhile, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said that he doesn’t see a great chance for a breakthrough in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He said, “To have a meaningful Palestinian-Israeli agreement, the Arab world has to be prepared to guarantee and accept it. The Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt is not ready to accept genuine coexistence with Israel.”

Finally, US Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel plans to visit Israel in April.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Abbas offers 6-month talks with settlement freeze
2) Britain and France ‘spearheading new Middle East peace plan’
3) France: New Peace Initiative after Elections
4) Beilin: Kerry Confirmed Obama Peace Plan
5) Introducing the Kerry Initiative: a secret, new Mideast peace plan
6) Kerry expected to revive 2002 Saudi peace initiative
7) PM says new government will pursue deal with Palestinians
8.) Netanyahu Indicates Commitment to ‘Two-State Solution’
9) Reversing policy of first term, Obama says no preconditions to talks
10) Details of Obama’s Visit to Israel
11) Obama in J’lem: You are not alone, but ‘occupation must end’
12) Bennett on Obama’s speech: No occupation in our own land
13) PA to Obama: Complete settlement freeze essential
14) Abbas to Obama: Israel talks only in exchange for settlement freeze, release of prisoners
15) Incoming Housing Minister: ‘No Room’ for Construction Freezes
16) Lieberman says will oppose settlement freeze
17) Lieberman: Peace won’t progress in next 4 years
18) Kissinger: Little chance of breakthrough in peace talks
19) US defense chief Hagel to visit Israel in April

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

TO FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER. CLICK HERE.

Uploaded. This week’s update is 36 minutes.

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government coalition
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process

On March 2, Netanyahu was granted a two week extension to form a government. His deadline to form a government was March 16.  An agreement to establish a government was made on March 15.

Initially, the centrist secular party, Yesh Atid, headed by Yair Lapid wanted to head the office of Foreign ministry. The current Israel Foreign Minister is Avigdor Lieberman. In December, Lieberman was accused of illegal activities. He has not been criminally charged. In the January 22 Israeli elections, Likud ran on a joint-party list with Israel Beitenu. As part of their agreement, Netanyahu promised Lieberman that if he was cleared of the charges against him that he would remain as Foreign Minister. Netanyahu promised Lieberman to hold the cabinet position pending the outcome of the investigation. Therefore, Netanyahu refused to offer this position to Yesh Atid.

At the beginning of this week’s negotiations, there was a deadlock between Likud negotiators, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu, and the centrist secular party of Yesh Atid (There is a Future) headed by Yair Lapid and the modern Orthodox nationalistic party of Jewish Home headed by Naftali Bennett over the issue of who would be in control of the Interior, Finance and Education ministries. Initially, Yesh Atid wanted to head the Interior and Education ministries. Jewish Home wanted the Finance ministry. However, Netanyahu wanted to retain both the Interior and Education Ministry for his Likud party.

In response to the high demands of Yesh Atid to be included in the government, Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying that he would conduct negotiations with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, to have them join the government instead. However, even if the ultra-Orthodox parties did decide to join the government, Netanyahu would still need the Labor party of Shelly Yacimovich to join the coalition if Netanyahu wanted to form a government. In the past several weeks, the Labor party has been adamant that they will not join Netanyahu’s government. Responding to Likud’s threat to negotiate with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett wrote on his Facebook page: “My friends from Likud. Forget about it. It won’t work like this. There are gaps. We have to talk and compromise. All of us. Until a government is established. There is a country we need to worry about.”

In further negotiations between the parties, a compromise was reached whereby if Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, would give up the Interior ministry that Likud would agree that they could have the Education ministry. Rabbi Shay Piron of Yesh Atid would head the Education ministry. Yair Lapid will become the Finance minister. One of the major campaign issues for both Yesh Atid and Jewish Home was the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military. A formula was found to resolve the matter. During the elections, Yesh Atid called for the number of government officials serving in the Israeli cabinet to be reduced from 30 to 18. Yesh Atid agreed with the final number being 21 or 22. The parties also agreed to raise the threshold for Knesset representation from the current 2% to 4% for the next election. The new threshold would mean that in the next elections,  no party with have fewer than 5 Knesset members. Of the current parties, three Arab parties – Hadash, Ra’am Ta’al, Balad would not meet the minimum requirement along with the Jewish party, Kadima headed by Shaul Mofaz. Further reforms in the government include needing a majority of 65  Knesset member in the next election to topple the government instead of the present majority of 61.

The new government coalition agreement was signed by Yesh Atid and Jewish Home on March 15. In forming the new government, Netanyahu made the following statement: “The new government will work together in full cooperation for the benefit of the entire Israeli public. We will act to strengthen the state of Israel’s security and to improve the quality of life of its citizens.”

Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett released his own statement regarding the new government agreement saying: “With God’s help, we signed it. The 33rd Israeli government is ready to go! I encourage Prime Minister Netanyahu and all of us Cabinet ministers to remember that we are representatives of the entire Israeli public. We promised during elections to take care of the cost of living, to increase competition in the marketplace and to restore to the state its Jewish soul, and now we’ve got the tools to do it.”

One of the major issues for Netanyahu to be able to form a government was the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israel military. The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, wanted to maintain the status quo. Because of the differences in opinion over the matter, it was not possible for Yesh Atid and Jewish Home to be in the same government with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism. In their election campaign’s, Yesh Atid and Jewish Home insisted that ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students serve in the Israeli military.  Yesh Atid wanted to place more stricter requirements upon the ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students than Jewish Home. A compromise was worked out between Yesh Atid and Jewish Home on the issue. A ministerial committee headed by Yesh Atid will submit a bill within 45 days that will ultimately draft ultra-Orthoodox Yeshiva students into the Israel military.  As a result, the outline of the coalition agreement is as follows:

The drafting of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military will begin at age 21, instead of age 18 – giving students an automatic deferment of three years. At that point, they will have to serve two years. Those who do not enlist will not face criminal charges but will be prohibited from leaving the country and won’t be eligible for welfare and tax benefits (including social security payments for large families), among other penalties. In addition, religious educational institutions that encourage their students to dodge the draft, like some ultra-Orthodox yeshivas, will face a “significant” reduction in funding from the state. The number of students who will be exempted for Torah study will be 1,800, far more than the 400 Lapid had suggested. The plan will take effect only in 2017 and students who are beyond enlistment age up until that time will not be “grandfathered” into the arrangement. The new government will also implement economic measures aimed at encouraging the ultra-Orthodox to join the workforce.

The ultra-Orthodox parties claimed that the new proposed laws to draft ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military were meant to be an attack against Torah and Judaism. As a result, the new government coalition agreement will read “the State of Israel recognizes the importance and centrality of Torah study as a central value of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”

The coalition agreement will also require that the so-called “core subjects,” including math, science and English, will be taught in all Israeli schools within two-and-a-half years. Finally, the coalition agreement will call for the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians and increasing financial support to Holocaust survivors.

Some of the key government position agreed upon by the parties include the following:

Avigdor Lieberman – Foreign Minister
Yair Lapid – Finance Minister
Rabbi Shai Piron – Minister of Education
Naftali Bennett – Minister of Economics and Trade, the Diaspora and Jerusalem
Uri Ariel – Housing and Construction Minister along with Israel Lands Administration
Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan – Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
Tzipi Livni – Justice Minister in charge of peace talks with the Palestinians.

The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, have had a monopoly over Jewish religious affairs in Israel in the history of the modern nation. By not being in the government and by not being able to control the ministries which operate and control religious issues, this is a HUGE event that will shape the future course of the country and its prophetic future.

The coalition will comprise four parties: Likud-Beytenu (31 seats), Yesh Atid (19), Jewish Home (12) and Hatnua (6), for a total of 68 members in the 120-seat Knesset.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Yesh Atid threatens Netanyahu: Education Ministry or no deal
2) Negotiating Teams Meet to Finalize Coalition Agreement
3) Lapid, Bennett’s Vice Premier titles stall coalition
4) Yesh Atid, Likud reach possible compromise
5) Compromise reached toward final coalition deal
6) Israel’s next government agreed: 4 parties, 68 members
7) Likud signs deals with Lapid, Bennett
8.) Jewish Home, Yesh Atid ink coalition deal with Likud-Beytenu
9) Bayit Yehudi Presents: The ‘New Deal’ on Yeshiva Student Drafts
10) Coalition deal: Fewer benefits for haredim, draft reform
11) Coalition Agreement: Up Knesset Threshold to 4%
12) Report: Uri Ariel to Receive Israel Lands Administration
13) Coalition Deal Seen as Great Achievement for Religious Zionism

Speaking at the 13th annual, Herzliya Conference in Israel, Tzipi Livni said that it is “critical for us to reach a final status agreement” with the Palestinians. She went on to say: “Having two states for two nations is the most basic interest of the Jewish people” as this solution can be the “only way we can preserve the existence of a democratic Jewish state.”

Meanwhile, Palestinians officials are trying to lower the expectation for US President Barack Obama’s visit to the region in the coming week. The Obama administration has stated that Obama is not coming to the Middle East to present a new peace initiative but instead is just coming “to listen’ to both sides.

In response to this, a Palestinian source said: “We don’t know what the Americans still haven’t heard about this issue since things have been laid on the table time after time. If there’s real intent to resolve things, the Americans don’t need any more information from the Palestinians.”

The US is also seeking to prevent the Palestinians from taking further unilateral moves through international bodies including taking their case against Israel to the International Court of Justice. Reportedly, the Palestinians have agreed on the condition that the Obama administration offers an acceptable formula to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table with the aim of establishing a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.

In the days leading up to Obama’s visit, the Palestinians plan to hold intensive meetings with foreign ambassadors and consuls-general to present the Palestinian position on the conditions for resuming peace talks with Israel with primary emphasis on the need for a freeze in building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The European Parliament passed a resolution demanding the trial or prompt release of Palestinians held in Israel without charge. It called on the Israeli authorities to investigate this case and raised concerns about the Palestinians held in administrative detention without charge, demanding that they be charged and tried or promptly released. The European Parliament repeated its call for the immediate release of all imprisoned members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, including Marwan Barghouti. Members of the European Parliament called on EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and the member states to monitor the fate of Palestinian prisoners and detainees closely and to raise the issue at all levels of political dialogue with Israel.

Finally, General Ban Ki-Moon has announced that in future, the ‘State of Palestine’ will be the official alternative name for the ‘Palestinian Authority’ within all UN institutions, but not in Palestinian-Israeli institutions. The Secretary-General of the UN announced a report prepared to clarify the new changes in the status of the Palestinian Authority, now ‘the State of Palestine,’ within the UN. However, they can nominate representatives in the International Criminal Court who share decision making on certain issues. This is a cause of concern for Israel because based upon this right, the Palestinians could call for the formation of an international trial to investigate the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

So, what does the new Netanyahu government mean for the peace process ?

The modern Orthodox nationalistic party of Jewish Home is a member of the Netanyahu government. One of their positions within the government is over Housing, Construction and Israel land administration. They are opposed to a settlement freeze in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. As a result, Jewish Home is not likely to agree to a settlement/construction freeze. The Palestinian position has long been that they will NOT restart negotiations unless there is first a building freeze in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This situation will likely cause the talks to remain in stalemate as it is unlikely that a common formula can be found to restart peace talks.

In Sept of 2011, the Palestinians requested to be recognized through the UN Security Council as a Palestinian state with 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as the capitol. Since that time, the US has blocked this request from being voted upon as they have threatened to veto the proposal.

The Palestinians had their status upgraded at the UN to become a non-member state on November 29, 2012. If Israel and the Palestinians continue to not find common ground for restarting peace talks, the Palestinians will likely say to Obama, “Cancel your veto threat for our request to be a full member state of the United Nations based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital or we will take our case to the UN International Criminal Court. This showdown is likely to take place in the next couple months.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Livni: Final status agreement with PA ‘critical’
2) Palestinian Authority officials lower expectations of Obama visit
3) EP calls for release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails
4) UN will refer to ‘State of Palestine’ in official communications: Ban

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

TO FIND OUT MORE AND REGISTER. CLICK HERE.

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government coalition
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is nearing completion to form a new government coalation. The Jewish parties elected to the Israeli Knesset are as follows:

1) The Tzipi Livni Part (Hatnua) (“The Movement”).  Her primary objective is to see a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. Her party has joined Netanyahu’s government and will oversee peace negotiations.

2) Yesh Atid (There is a Future). The party leader is former Israeli journalist, Yair Lapid. This is a secular centrist party. They would like to see ultra-Orthodox Jews drafted into the Israeli military, restart of peace talks with the Palestinians, a reduction in the size of the Israeli government and economic policies that help the middle class.

3) Jewish Home. This is a religious Zionist party. Many are modern Orthodox Jews who serve in the Israeli army and have daily jobs. They are against a PLO state.

4) Shas. This is a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. Their Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

5) United Torah Judaism. This is an Askenazi ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. There Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

6) Kadima. The party leader is Shaul Mofaz. He would like to be Defense Minister and he supports a PLO state.

Two other political parties, Labor and Meretz, said that they would not join Netanyahu’s coalition.

On March 2, Netanyahu was granted a two week extension to form a government. His deadline is March 16. Netanyahu used the moment to criticize Jewish Home for forming an alliance with Yesh Atid and taking a position regarding drafting ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli army that would cause the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, to not be able to join the government. He said, “The reason I have not succeeded in establishing this government is, simply, that there are boycotts. There is a boycott of a section of the public in Israel and this does not jibe with my world view. I am doing everything within my power to unite the nation. I think that we, as Jews, suffered from boycotts. We know that Israel is boycotted in international forums and we protest that justly. The people who should understand this better than anyone are the settlers from Judea and Samaria, who undergo daily boycotts. That is why, in my world view, in history we underwent terrible tragedies as a result of hatred between brothers and internecine strife, and when we look around us today and see the tremendous challenges around us – security challenges, the challenge of a holding responsible diplomatic process – these challenges require a unification of strength and not a splitting of forces, and that is why I want to use the coming days for another attempt to bring about a wide government. I hope that the parties’ leaders show responsibility.”

Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett issued a response on his Facebook page accusing Likud-Beytenu of boycotting Jewish Home before accusing Jewish Home of doing the same to ultra-Orthodox parties. He said: “The message from the Likud was simple: At no price will religious Zionism [Jewish Home] be in the government. Forget about it. While the prime minister met twice with Lapid, with [Hatnua chairwoman] Tzipi Livni, with [Labor leader] Shelly [Yacimovich], with [Kadima leader Shaul] Mofaz, and even with [Meretz leader] Zehava Gal-On, only religious Zionism [Jewish Home] was boycotted. Likud said they want a government with the Left and haredim, explaining that they can’t have peace talks with the Jewish Home in the coalition,” he said. “In the days immediately following the elections, Likud refused to speak with the Jewish Home,” said Bennett. “They excluded us. We knew if we sat quietly we would be in the opposition. I spoke with Yair Lapid and we agreed that Yesh Atid would not enter the government without the Jewish Home and that the Jewish Home would not enter the government without Yesh Atid. We don’t boycott any parties,” he said.

The alliance between Yesh Atid and Jewish Home got an endorsement from from four Religious Zionist rabbis who support the West Bank settlers. The statement said: “We support the way you’re taking in order to save the world of the Torah and the settlement of the land of Israel by cooperating with Yair Lapid and his party.”

Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, also criticized the political tactics of the ultra-Orthodox parties on his Facebook page by writing that they do not accept the rules of the democratic process. “No one likes to lose, but everyone accepts the basic idea that sometimes you’re in the coalition, and sometimes in the opposition,” he explained, adding that if Yesh Atid ends up in the opposition, they will go proudly, without feeling that someone hates or rejects them. Furthermore,
Lapid pointed out that no matter what ideology won the last election – “Left, Right, socialist, capitalist, two-state solution or whole Land of Israel” – the ultra- Orthodox are always willing to be in the coalition.

“Did someone change the law and didn’t tell us? Can a government be formed with the Likud, without Labor, without Kadima, without Meretz, without Arab parties, without any party at all, but the ultra-Orthodox parties always have to be in the government, otherwise you’re boycotting and rejecting them? What kind of strange democracy is that? The obvious conclusion is that no tragedy will happen if, in the next term, they sit in the opposition.”

“Moreover, I think that our world would be more meager without Torah study. This doesn’t mean they cannot work or enlist in the army, but Torah studies are one of the basic principles of ‘Israeliness’ and we have no Jewish existence without it.”  Lapid said that it is his task to return Israeli society’s focus to issues like education, aid to small businesses, lowering hosing prices and the cost of living. “In other words, instead of enhancing the power of sectors, we must assist Israel’s middle class, which is collapsing as a result of the need to subsidize all the others.”

While Netanyahu originally tried to cause either Jewish Home or Yesh Atid to join his government independently of each other, Likud negotiators met with senior officials this week and concluded that the partnership between Jewish Home and Yesh Atid was solid and Netanyahu would not be able to break their alliance. As a result, Netanyahu began to realize that he will either have to have Jewish Home and Yesh Atid in his government together or choose to have a government with the ultra-Orthodox. Therefore, Netanyahu notified the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party, Shas, that they most likely will not be in the government. Shas tried to convince Netanyahu to try to form a government with the ultra-Orthodox parties along with the Labor party of Shelly Yacimovich, It was reported that in the last few weeks that Netanyahu did offer the Labor party the government ministries of Finance and Industry, Trade and Labor but Labor rejected the offer. A Labor official described the pressure exerted on them to join the coalition as being “unprecedented.”

Shas leaders said unless there is a “dramatic breakthrough” in the next few days, Shas will not be a part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s new government. If Shas is indeed excluded from the coalition, it would be only the second time in 30 years.

Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, a leader of ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi Jews representing United Torah Judaism made harsh comments regarding the issue of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students serving in the Israeli army calling on ultra-Orthodox Jews to “stand guard without any changes, because this is one of the fundamentals of the faith, in the category of  (a commandment one must obey even at the cost of their own life).” Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni said that his party was switching allegiances. “Until now we agreed to joining together only with right wing parties, but that is over. Now we will be working with [the Labor party of] Shelly Yechimovich.”

Two popular ultra-Orthodox radio commentators called on the ultra-Orthodox to take “revenge” on religious Zionism by boycotting settlement products. One of them, Avi Bloom, said that the support of the settlements is inconsistent with Jewish law. Another commentator, Yaakov Rivlin, added “It’s time to end all these relations with the real estate dealers in the West Bank territories.”

In the last couple of days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made considerable progress in talks to form a new government which will have a coalition of 70.  The coalition, set to be finalized early next week, will comprise Netanyahu’s Likud-Beytenu (31 seats), Yesh Atid (19), Jewish Home (12), Hatnua (6) and Kadima (2). Labor would lead the opposition along with the two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism.

In order to reach a final deal, compromises are being made. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, who had hoped to become foreign minister, will become finance minister. Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett will become minister of trade and industry. The Foreign Ministry post will be kept open for former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman, who resigned in December to fight corruption charges and hopes to return quickly to the post after clearing his name. The defense minister is likely to be former IDF chief of the General Staff Moshe Ya’alon (Likud), housing could well go to Jewish Home’s Uri Ariel, while the same party’s Eli Ben Dahan could take religious affairs, and Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz could become minister of welfare. Yesh Atid would also receive at least four ministerial positions in addition to finance, including the Education Ministry, which MK Rabbi Shai Piron would likely head.

The emerging compromise on ultra-Orthodox military service will see 1,500-2,000 scholars exempted from service each year — a far higher number than the 400 cap Yesh Atid had sought. Ultra-Orthodox men will be called for service at age 22, not 18, in another reported compromise.

Yesh Atid showed readiness to be more flexible on the number of ministries, accepting a drop from 30 to 23, or 24 after Liberman’s return, instead of the party’s campaign promise of 18. However, a law will be passed within a month of the government being sworn in that there can only be up to 18 ministers, starting from after the next election.

According to Israel Radio, the various cabinet posts would be filled by eight ministers from Likud, six from Yesh Atid, four from Jewish Home, three from Yisrael Beytenu, two from Hatnua, and one from Kadima. Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua, with six seats, is the only party to date to have signed with Likud-Beytenu. In addition to the position of justice minister, Livni was promised the right to lead peace talks with the Palestinians

In meetings with Jewish Home, Likud negotiators have agreed that any peace agreement with the Palestinians will be brought to a national referendum before being ratified by the Knesset. In addition, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s June 2009 Bar-Ilan speech, in which he called for the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state, will not be mentioned in the coalition’s guidelines.

If Netanyahu cannot form a new government, new elections will be held. If new elections are held, poll results are showing that Yesh Atid would become the largest party in Israel increasing their seats from 19 to 29. If this were to happen, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, would become the next Prime Minister of Israel. Jewish Home would increase from 12 seats to 18. Likud would fall from 31 to 23. Labor, Shas and Tzipi Livni would lose seats and Kadima would no longer be in the government. At the moment, new elections seem unlikely as Netanyahu is expected to present his coalition to Israel President Shimon Peres when the president returns on Wednesday from his current trip to Europe, and to have it sworn in at the Knesset on either Wednesday or Thursday.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Peres Grants Netanyahu 14-Day Extension
2) Netanyahu: I won’t accept Bennett-Lapid boycott of haredim
3) MK Strook: Likud Mudslinging Continues
4) Bennett: Likud Refused to Speak with Us
5) Mediator Tells Likud: Bennett, Lapid Inseparable
6) MK Shaked: Alliance with Lapid Rock Solid
7) Netanyahu begins talks for haredi-free government
8.) PM to Shas: You can’t be in coalition over Bennett
9) Lapid: Not calamitous if haredim sit in opposition
10) Haredi leaders hit out against Bennett, Lapid
11) Rabbi Auerback: Army Service Means Eradication of Judaism
12) Shas headed to opposition; ‘it’s a done deal’
13) Hareidi MKs: We’re Now on the Left
14) Ultra-Orthodox pundits urge boycott of settlement products
15) Yesh Atid: Coalition talks are ‘in crisis’
16) Lapid, Bennett, Mofaz form 33-MK bloc to pressure PM
17) Netanyahu aims to present coalition to Peres next Wednesday
18) Report: Lapid Will Replace Yishai
19) Coalition deal to require peace treaty referendum
20) 70-strong Israeli coalition nearing completion
21) Poll: Likud Would Lose Repeat Vote

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had a meeting in Saudi Arabia with US Secretary of State John Kerry where they discussed the peace process. Abbas wants the United States to put pressure on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners and freeze construction of Jewish homes in the West Bank. Unless the United States is willing to do this, the Palestinians say that they will not resume peace talks with Israel.

Meanwhile Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a surprise visit with King Abdullah of Jordan last week regarding the peace process. However, no details were released about the results of the meeting. Netanyahu did announce that he would suspend all Jewish housing construction for one month in contested areas of East Jerusalem and the West Bank so not to embarrass Obama when he visits Israel. However, Netanyahu emphasized that this was not a building freeze but rather a temporary suspension because of Obama’s visit.

Obama had a meeting at the White House with Jewish leaders regarding his trip to Israel later this month. There was conflicting information released from the meeting. Israel’s Channel 10 reported that Obama planned to present a “general framework” for starting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks during his visit but not a “comprehensive peace plan”. However, he told Jewish leaders to not rule out him doing so within six to twelve months. According to Channel 10, Obama told the Jewish leaders he intended to speak to the Israelis about peace with the Palestinians and would make clear that “wanting peace is not enough.” He would be asking Israel “which tough steps it will be willing to take,” the TV report said. The president’s remarks to the senior Jewish leaders were not supposed to have been made public.

According to Senior Obama officials, “The president reiterated America’s unshakeable support for Israel and thanked the leaders for the role they play in strengthening ties between the two nations. The president noted that the trip is not dedicated to resolving a specific policy issue, but is rather an opportunity to consult with the Israeli government about a broad range of issues – including Iran, Syria, the situation in the region, and the peace process. He also underscored that the trip is an opportunity for him to speak directly to the Israeli people about the history, interests, and values that we share.” The officials denied that Obama will be presenting a “general framework” to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

According to a report by the World Tribune, U.S. President Barack Obama has demanded that Israel provide a detailed timetable for withdrawing from the West Bank. Israel sources said that “Obama has made it clear to Netanyahu that his visit is not about photo-ops, but the business of Iran and a Palestinian state. The implication is that if Israel won’t give him something he can work with, then he’ll act on his own.” The source said that the Israeli plan would be considered in what could be an imminent U.S. initiative to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank in 2014.

The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is considering the possibility of approving a “meaningful package of gestures” toward the Palestinian Authority in advance of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel which included ceding some land to the Palestinians based upon recommendations from the “defense establishment” that would not endanger Netanyahu politically within Israel. One of the “gestures” is the transfer of some areas that are currently under full Israeli control (Area C) to full Arab control (Area A). These territories would include access roads to the new PA city of Rawabi and another road that leads to the Tul Karm industrial area.

Finally, the leader of the Labor political party, MK Shelly Yechimovich, said that if Israel was able to make a peace agreement with the Palestinians that her party would join the government to support the peace agreement if Jewish Home threatened to topple Netanyahu’s government by not supporting a possible peace agreement.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) ‘Abbas to Kerry: Push Israel for settlement freeze’
2) Palestinian leadership not to revive peace talks before Obama’s visit: official
3) Report: Netanyahu, King Abdullah discuss Mideast peace
4) Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspends housing settlements ahead of Obama’s visit
5) ‘Obama won’t bring peace plan or even general framework’ to Israel
6) Obama plans to extract timetable for Israeli pullout from West Bank
7) Netanyahu Reportedly Mulling Ceding Land to PA
8) Labor Head: We’ll Save Govt in Case of Peace Talks

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government coalition
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
3) The current status of the situation with Syria
4) The current status of the situation with Iran

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to form as broad a government coalition as possible. Ultimately, he would prefer to see the following parties in his government:

1) The Tzipi Livni Part (Hatnua) (“The Movement”).  Her primary objective is to see a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. As a result, she would like to be in Netanyahu’s government and oversee peace negotiations.

2) Yesh Atid (There is a Future). The party leader is former Israeli journalist, Yair Lapid. This is a secular centrist party. They would like to see ultra-Orthodox Jews drafted into the Israeli military, restart of peace talks with the Palestinians, a reduction in the size of the Israeli government and economic policies that help the middle class.

3) Jewish Home. This is a religious Zionist party. Many are modern Orthodox Jews who serve in the Israeli army and have daily jobs. They are against a PLO state.

4) Shas. This is a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. Their Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

5) United Torah Judaism. This is an Askenazi ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. There Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

6) Kadima. The party leader is Shaul Mofaz. He would like to be Defense Minister and he supports a PLO state.

Two other political parties, Labor and Meretz, said that they would not join Netanyahu’s coalition.

The initial 28 days for Netanyahu to form a government has expired. On March 2, Netanyahu will ask for a two week extension. If Netanyahu cannot form a government by March 16, there will most likely be new elections. What type of government is Benjamin Netanyahu trying to form? He has stated on multiple occasions that he would like the broadest government possible. Ideally, this would be Tzipi Livni (the movement), Labor, Kadima, Yesh Atid, Jewish Home and the ultra-Orthodox parties of Shas and United Torah Judaism. This government would be the most ideal to confront Israel’s domestic and international political concerns. However because of conflicting political interests between these parties, the inclusion of all these parties into the government is not realistic. Next, Netanyahu would prefer a government of Labor, Kadima and the ultra-Orthodox parties of Shas and United Torah Judaism. This would exclude Yesh Atid who is the greatest threat to become the largest political party in Israel and Jewish Home. However, Labor is unwilling to join the government. Because of this, Netanyahu would not have the minimum of 61 members to form a government. Thirdly, Netanyahu would like to form a government with Tzipi Livni, Kadima, the ultra-Orthodox and eithor Yesh Atid or Jewish Home. However, Yesh Atid and Jewish Home have conflicting political views with the ultra-Orthodox parties on the issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military. Furthermore, Yesh Atid and Jewish have made a pact with each other that both will join the new government or both will not be in the new government. So far, Netanyahu has not been successful in trying to break the Yesh Atid / Jewish Home alliance. Therefore, it seems that the only government that Netanyahu can form will be to include Yesh Atid and Jewish Home along with Tzipi Livni and possibly Kadima.

In order to form this government, Netanyahu will have to agree to the demands of Yest Atid and Jewish Home and draft ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military. This will exclude the ultra-Orthodox from being able to join the government. Jewish Home is also demanding that the power given to Tzipi Livni to negotiate with the Palestinians be modified. At this point, it appears that if Netanyahu would not agree to include both Yesh Atid and Jewish Home into his government that there would be new elections. According to the polls, if there were new elections then Netanyahu would be replaced from being Prime Minister by the leader of Yesh Atid, the former journalist, Yair Lapid. As a result, it is most likely that Netanyau will form a government that will ultimately include Yesh Atid and Jewish Home and exclude Labor and the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism. This government would have 68 members. It would be 70 if Kadima joined. This government would be strong on domestic issues but would be vulnerable to international pressure from the US and the EU to agree to a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. If a peace agreement is made with the Palestinians, Labor has said it would join the government to support a peace agreement.

Details regarding the efforts by Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government this week was as follows: The leader of Kadima, Shaul Mofaz requested that in order for him to join the government that he become Defense Minister. This demand was rejected by the Likud negotiating team. As a result, Kadima joined the alliance between Yesh Atid and Jewish Home as all three parties want to see ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli military.  It was reported that Kadima, Yesh Atid and Jewish Home met together and it was agreed between them that Jewish Home would ask for the Finance Ministry, Yesh Atid for the Foreign Ministry and Kadima for the Defense Ministry. Together, these three parties make 33 seats.

In order to try to break the alliance between Yesh Atid and Jewish Home to join the government together or not at all, Likud negotiators tried to convince Yesh Atid who supports peace talks with the Palestinians that if they maintained their alliance with Jewish Home that it would harm the peace process and the Israeli government would not be able to kick Jews out of the homes in the West Bank which are outside the main settlement blocs. Jewish Home Knesset member, Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Dahan reacted to these reports by saying, “It turns out that instead of advancing the signing of a coalition agreement, Likud prefers to advance a leftist government which would include the ultra-Orthodox parties with an emphasis on future eviction of Jewish communities in the West Bank while turning down the request of Jewish Home to change the agreement with Tzipi Livni which gave her power to negotiate a peace agreement with the Palestinians.”

In conducting coalition talks with Likud representatives, Jewish Home negotiators were told that Tzipi Livni has been given exclusive rights to conduct negotiations with the Palestinian regarding the peace process and be able to make recommendations for a peace agreement which will be presented to the Prime Minister and the inner security cabinet.  As a result, neither Netanyahu nor his future Foreign Minister will be allowed to conduct negotiations outside of her framework.

In past Israeli governments, the concept of parallel negotiation teams was fully accepted. A parallel team not directly sponsored by the Israeli government negotiated the Oslo Accords with the PA in 1993, with full knowledge of then-Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. During the term of Ehud Olmert as Prime Minister from 2006 – 2009, he had at least two negotiating teams working with the PA, including an official one managed by his Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni.

Yesh Atid has joined Jewish Home in being in disagreement with Netanyahu’s coalition agreement with Tzipi Livni. Senior Yesh Atid officials said that if Netanyahu wanted them to join the coalition, he would have to make substantial modifications to his deal with Tzipi Livni. They also said that if Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid would become foreign minister that Tzipi Livni would not have exclusive rights to negotiate with the Palestinians.

Because of the opposition that Netanyahu is facing from Yesh Atid and Jewish Home to reach his goals to have Tzipi Livni in the government along with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Netanyahu offered Labor both the Finance Ministry and the Industry, Trade, and Labor Ministry, the two top economic portfolios, with an extra promise to back veteran MK Binyamin Ben Eliezer as the coalition’s candidate to succeed Shimon Peres as president. However, Labor leader, Shelly Yachimovich rejected the offer saying that the domestic economic views between Labor and Likud are so vastly ideologically different that Labor is not interested in being in Netanyahu’s government. Furthermore, she does not believe that Netanyahu is seriously willing to agree to a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital saying that Netanyahu is only “modeling” a diplomatic process with the Palestinians to impress US President Barack Obama and had no intention of pursuing a “real peace process.” However, she did say that if Israel agreed to a peace agreement with the Palestinians to establish a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital that she would join the government to support the peace agreement.

In not being able to convince Labor to join a potential government with the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism and therefore needing both Yesh Atid and Jewish Home to join the goverment in order to be able to form a government,  Likud officials said that Likud was willing to reconsider the terms of the coalition agreement signed with Tzipi Livni whereby Livni’s authorities will change and some will be taken away from her. Until now, Likud negotiators have said that the agreement with Tzipi Livni will not change.

Since Jewish Home would like to be in the next government, in the next meeting with Likud negotiators, Jewish Home will demand to know what is Netanyahu’s basic platform. Is it the peace process or confronting the major domestic economic and social issues confronting the Israeli public ?

Likud negotiators tried to further divide Yesh Atid and Jewish Home and the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, by trying to shame Yesh Atid and Jewish Home in the eyes of the public by claiming that both Yesh Atid and Jewish Home refuse to be in government with the ultra-Orthodox parties and hates them.

In response, Jewish Home Knesset member Ayelet Shaked said on her Facebook page that her party “has no problems entering into a coalition with the ultra-Orthodox but Jewish Home will also not be in the coalition without Yesh Atid.” Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid criticized the Likud’s negotiators by accusing Yesh Atid for rejecting the ultra-Orthodox for being in a potential government coalition. Lapid said on his Facebook page, “So what we did talk about during the coalition negotiations? We spoke about the need for a housing revolution to bring down prices, about education, about the cost of living, about our commitment to make things easier for the middle class. In other words,” he added, “we talked about all the things that are not spins, and do not make headlines, and do not deal with trying to get people to hate and be angry with each other. Then why is it that the only thing that came out is the Likud’s message that we reject the ultra-Orthodox ? That’s a great question.”

Furthermore, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid says that his party will stick to their principles which got them elected. One of these main issues was the insistence that ultra-Orthodox students be drafted into the Israeli military. Because of the ultra-Orthodox parties opposition to this policy, this means that if Yesh Atid joins the government that the ultra-Orthodox would not be able to do so.

Yesh Atid and Jewish Home met to form a compromise position between them regarding the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military.  The original position of Yesh Atid was that the total number of exemptions to be granted to ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students to enter the Israeli military would be 400. The compromise proposal would be 1,500 to 2,000. The original position of Yesh Atid was for ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students to be drafted at 18. The compromise proposal is 21.

Being concerned that they will be left out of the government, the ultra-Orthodox parties have now indicated a willingness to accept the proposal put together by Eugene Kandel, the head of Israel’s National Economic Council, whereby the Israeli military would draft upwards of 60% of ultra-Orthodox Israelis aged 18-24 within five years, and the government would provide monetary incentives to those who comply while penalizing the yeshivas of those who don’t. This proposal by Eugene Kandel has been the position taken by Likud negotiators in coalition talks. Previously, the ultra-Orthodox parties opposed this proposal.

While Netanyahu prefers that the ultra-Orthodox parties be included in his government coalition, Likud officials said that “If Netanyahu feels he is backed into a corner and may lose the chance to form a government, he won’t think twice about leaving the ultra-Orthodox out of the coalition.”  However, Netanyahu said that if he indeed form an initial government with Yesh Atid and Jewish Home that he would encourage the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism to join the government at a later time. Hearing of these thoughts, the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism rejected this possibility.

Realizing that Netanyahu in unlikely to break  the alliance between Yesh Atid and Jewish Home, Likud officials said that Netanyahu is ready to build a coalition with these two parties and exclude the ultra-Orthodox parties of Shas and United Torah Judaism. This prompted Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman who is in partnership with the Likud party of Benjamin Netanyahu to say that Yesh Atid and Jewish Home would be “natural partners” in a new government. He also affirmed the view of Likud officials that Yesh Atid and Jewish Home should be included into the new government before the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism would be encouraged to join.

According to a recent poll,  76% percent of the Israeli public support a coalition made ​​up of the Likud, Yesh Atid and Jewish Home. Also, 51% of Israelis would prefer to see a coalition without the ultra-Orthodox parties.  If new Israeli elections were held, Yesh Atid would become the largest political party in Israel with 31 seats and Likud would drop to 24 seats. Under this scenario, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid would become the next Prime Minister of Israel instead of Benjamin Netanyahu. For this reason, Netanyahu is most likely to agree to the demands of Yesh Atid and Jewish Home and form a new government by the deadline of March 16. His only other choice is to convince Labor to change their mind about joining the government.

So, what government coalition will Netanyahu form? Only time will tell.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Report: Mofaz Demanded to be Defense Minister and Was Rejected
2) Bennett, Lapid, Mofaz coordinate coalition moves
3) Likud to Lapid: Bennett Pact Blocks Uprooting in Yesha
4) Bayit Yehudi: Likud Wants Livni-Abbas Coalition
5) Sources: Livni Has ‘Exclusive Rights’ to Conduct PA Talks
6) Lapid joins Bennett in opposing Hatnua coalition deal
7) Yacimovich: PM doesn’t want real peace process
8.) Yesh Atid Rejected Hareidim, Says Likud Negotiator
9) Likud Negotiator: Bayit Yehudi Also Rejected Hareidim
10) Lapid, Bennett to push joint draft plan
11) Likud: Lapid’s condition – no haredim
12) Likud hints: Haredim may be excluded
13) Netanyahu to Hareidim: You’ll Only Join Later
14) Lieberman: Bennett, Lapid our natural partners
15) Netanyahu said ready to cut a deal with Jewish Home, Yesh Atid
16) Poll: 51% want a government without the ultra-Orthodox
17) Poll: Majority of Israelis Prefer Coalition without Hareidim
18) Poll: New Elections would Give Yesh Atid 31 Seats

Hamas is willing to accept a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital if it does not include any Jewish settlements within its border. However, they are still unwilling to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

The European Union issued its Jerusalem Report 2012 advising its 27 member states to engage in a full-scale economic boycott of Israeli businesses and communities in the West Bank. The report said: “Settlement construction remains the biggest single threat to the two-state solution. It is systematic, deliberate and provocative.”

US President Barack Obama is planning on visiting Israel and other Middle Eastern countries in late March. US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said that Obama will not bring a new peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians but rather will use the trip to take the time to “listen” to the thoughts of both sides.  At the conclusion of the trip, the US will then decide the best way to encourage the resumption of direct peace talks.

In government coalition talks with Jewish Home, Likud negotiators told Jewish Home that a moratorium would be placed on settlement construction outside the major settlement blocs immediately upon the formation of the new government.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) ‘Hamas agrees to Palestinian state on ’67 lines’
2) Kerry: Obama plans to ‘listen,’ not present plan
3) EU calls for economic boycott of West Bank settlements
4) EU report: Settlements biggest threat to Palestinian statehood
5) ‘Netanyahu to renew settlement freeze after gov’t formed’

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Syrian President Bashar Assad needs to be removed from power. The United States will continue to support the Syrian rebels. The Syrian rebels are mainly Sunni Muslims whereas the supporters of Assad mainly consists of the Shi’ite Alawite sect.

Iraq’s prime minister Nouri al-Maliki warned that the removal of Assad from power will result in new fighting between the Sunni Muslims against the Shi’ite Muslims in Iraq as well as Lebanon and will create a new safe haven for al-Qaeda that would destabilize the region. Al-Maliki reiterated his stance that foreign military intervention is not a solution to ending the crisis in Syria. He said:  “If the world does not agree to support a peaceful solution through dialogue … then I see no light at the end of the tunnel. Neither the opposition nor the regime can finish each other off,” he said. “If the opposition is victorious, there will be a civil war in Lebanon, divisions in Jordan and Sunni Muslims fighting against Shi’ite Muslims again in Iraq.”

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) US wants to help rebels oust Assad, Kerry says
2) Iraqi PM warns Syrian rebel victory will bring chaos

The P5 + 1 powers (The US, Britain, France, Russia and China along with Germany) met with Iran on February 26 to discuss its nuclear program. The world powers offered broader concessions than it has in the past if Iran would suspend its nuclear program. Top Iranian official, Saeed Jalili, welcomed the new proposals calling them a “turning point” in talks to seek a compromise solution to Iran’s uranium enrichment program. The proposal would allow Iran to keep a limited amount of highly enriched uranium — but not make any more — stops short of demanding the full shutdown of an underground nuclear facility and offers to remove some trade sanctions that have hurt Iran’s economy. However,  a senior US official said, crippling sanctions on Iran’s oil and financial industries would remain in place as negotiations continue. Iran continues to refuse to close its underground Fordow enrichment plant. Russia said that there was no clear progress in the talks. Therefore, the talks remain deadlocked. The next round of talks are scheduled for March 18 and April 5.

Meanwhile, Iran has activated a heavy-water production plant to produce plutonium for a nuclear bomb. Satellite images show clouds of steam emerging from the site. It is heavily surrounded by anti-aircraft missiles and other military. Iran has told the IAEA that it will begin operating this reactor at Arak in the first three months of 2014. While it is believed that Iran still lacks the technology to reprocess plutonium and use it for a nuclear weapon, North Korea has successfully developed that technology and many believe that it will be given to Iran.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that if Iran continues to pursue its nuclear program it would face “military sanctions.” When US President Barack Obama visits Israel in late March, he is expected to tell Netanyahu that a “window of opportunity” for a military strike on Iran will open in June. US Secretary of State John Kerry said an Iran with nuclear weapons was “simply unacceptable” and warned the time limit for a diplomatic solution was running out.

“As we have repeatedly made clear, the window for a diplomatic solution simply cannot remain open forever. But it is open today. It is open now and there is still time, but there is only time if Iran makes the decision to come to the table and to negotiate in good faith.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Iran calls eased sanctions offer a ‘turning point’ in talks
2) Iran nixes Fordow closure as nuke talks end
3) No breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks
4) Fears that plutonium plant has been ‘activated’ after satellite images show clouds of steam emerging from site
5) PM urges powers to issue Iran military threat
6) ‘Obama to tell Netanyahu US gearing up for Iran strike’

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government coalition
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
3) The current status of the situation with Syria
4) The current status of the situation with Iran

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to form as broad a government coalition as possible. Ultimately, he would prefer to see the following parties in his government:

1) The Tzipi Livni Part (Hatnua) (“The Movement”).  Her primary objective is to see a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. As a result, she would like to be in Netanyahu’s government and oversee peace negotiations.

2) Yesh Atid (There is a Future). The party leader is former Israeli journalist, Yair Lapid. This is a secular centrist party. They would like to see ultra-Orthodox Jews drafted into the Israeli military, restart of peace talks with the Palestinians, a reduction in the size of the Israeli government and economic policies that help the middle class.

3) Jewish Home. This is a religious Zionist party. Many are modern Orthodox Jews who serve in the Israeli army and have daily jobs. They are against a PLO state.

4) Shas. This is a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. Their Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

5) United Torah Judaism. This is an Askenazi ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. There Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

6) Kadima. The party leader is Shaul Mofaz. He would like to be Defense Minister and he supports a PLO state.

Two other political parties, Labor and Meretz, said that they would not join Netanyahu’s coalition.

Tzipi Livni has made an agreement with Benjamin Netanyahu to join his government. Her position in the government will be the Justice Minister. She will also be the leader of the negotiating team over the peace process with the Palestinians. Should Livni make an agreement be made with the Palestinians,  Netanyahu’s insisted that any agreement must be voted on and approved both by the Knesset and the cabinet.

“Livni and I,” Netanyahu said, “need to put aside disagreements in order to address various problems which confront Israel,” which he listed as the Iranian threat, the Palestinian issue, the high cost of living, and the need to institute a universal draft. Besides being Justice Minister, Livni “will be a senior partner in the efforts to restart negotiations with the Palestinians, with the aim of achieving a just peace between our two nations. We will achieve this under the guides of my 2009 Bar Ilan University speech which called for a demiliterized PLO state, recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and making sure that any peace agreement ensures Israel’s security. We will establish a ministerial committee that will deal with the peace process based on these principles I have laid down. I will authorize Livni to negotiate with the Palestinians.”

Tzipi Livni said that her motivation for joining the Netanyahu government is that by “entering the coalition, it will allow us to promote my views regarding the promotion of the peace process.”

As part of the coalition agreement, Livni will be a member of the security cabinet, and will work with the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Foreign Minister on achieving a peace agreement with the Palestinians. The coalition agreement with Livni also includes pledges to attempt to increase equality in the burden of IDF service, institute electoral reform, lower the cost of living and fight racism.

Likud representatives met with the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party, Shas,  and its three leaders, MKs Aryeh Deri, Eli Yishai, and Ariel Atias to establish a united front on their demands for the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military. Shas is deciding whether to accept a proposal drawn up by National Economic Council chairman Prof. Eugene Kandel to draft ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students. This plans calls for the Israeli military to draft upwards of 60% of ultra-Orthodox Israelis aged 18-24 within five years, and the government would provide monetary incentives to those who comply while penalizing the yeshivas schools of those who don’t. Shas will reportedly announce whether it would accept Prof. Kandel’s proposal in the next few days. Top Likud officials say they believe that Shas will join the government coalition.

Meanwhile, the Askenazi ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism is preparing an outline of principles detailing what political concessions they would be willing to make to join the new government coalition. This would include agreeing to the evacuation of isolated settlements in the West Bank,  freezing Jewish construction in areas outside the main settlement blocs, and voting to not expand building in the large settlement blocs and even cease further settlement funding in exchange for a continuation of the funding of yeshivas and religious schools and keeping the status quo regarding drafting ultra-Orthodox student into the Israeli military.

Likud representatives have offered Labor leader, Shelly Yechimovich, to head the Finance Ministry if she would join the government coalition. However, she refused the offer saying, “Labor served in Netanyahu’s government in the past and you all know the damage that it did to the party. We will not be Netanyahu’s contractors – not in the social field, not in the political field and not in the civil field. The gaps between Labor’s world view and that of Netanyahu are enormous.”

The modern Orthodox, religious Zionists party, Jewish Home, headed by Naftali Bennett and centrist secular party, Yesh Atid, headed by Yair Lapid have entered into a strategic alliance and notified Likud-Beytenu coalition negotiators that the two parties will either enter the government together or be excluded together. Both parties are intent on legislating ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students to serve in the Israeli military. However, this position is being rejected by the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, which is making efforts by Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government coalition very difficult.

Likud sources said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is furious at what he believes is a conspiracy by Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett to try to prevent Shas and United Torah Judaism from joining the coalition.  Netanyahu spoke with contempt for Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett complaining that “their strategy is not to reach solutions on key issues, only to push out the ultra-Orthodox parties.”

Lapid went on to joke about what has become the major stumbling block for Likud-Beytenu in closing a coalition deal — that Yesh Atid and Jewish Home insist on sticking to their pre-election platforms.

“I understand that they say about us now — that we have no experience and we don’t understand politics,” Lapid said. “I just want to say that it is quite true: We don’t have any experience and we don’t understand politics and that’s the reason that we have no choice but to stick to our values and principles.”

Lapid reiterated his demand, seconded by Bennett, that Netanyahu lay down clear guidelines for the next government’s policies and principles.

“It is worthwhile to recall that the question facing Netanyahu is not which [cabinet] portfolio he wants to give to which partner,” Lapid said. “Rather, it is in which direction he wants to take the State of Israel, and which principles he wants the next government to have. I want him to work according to that method, because if he does, the question of which government to form will be very clear and simple.”

A week ago, Likud representatives offered Jewish Home government positions to join the government but Jewish Home refused the offer because a coalition agreement to define the policies of the government was not defined. Since then, Netanyahu did not have meetings with either Jewish Home or Yesh Atid for about a week.

Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett repeated similar words of Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, by saying, “Once the Likud representatives decide to negotiate a coalition agreement which outlines the terms and principles of the next government then a government can be established within 24 hours.”

Regarding the agreement between Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni to join the government and lead peace negotiations with the Palestinians, Jewish Home officials said: “The role given to Tzipi Livni to lead the negotiations with the Palestinians is not and will be not acceptable to us because in the past, she was willing to divide Jerusalm and agreed to give large portians of the West Bank to the Palistinians for a PLO state. If Likud wants to have a government with nationalist values, it cannot take a person from the extreme left and allow her to place her hands on the diplomatic steering wheel,” they said.

Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid said there was no longer a reason for his party to join the government and to possibly become foreign minister because Tzipi Livni has already been given authority to lead peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

In an attempt to reach various sects of the religious public, Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennet, met with rabbis and Jerusalem yeshiva students to discuss both religion and Zionism. Bennett said to them, “Studying Torah serves Israel interests, as much as settling in the Negev and the Galilee does but serving in the Israeli military needs to be incorporated into the lives of Orthodox Jews.  Things have changed in Israel so the government needs to find a way to implement these things.”

In advancing their call that all Israeli’s study Torah that is not dictated by the ultra-Orthodox, Yesh Atid Knesset member Dr Ruth Calderon has initiated weekly Torah Bible studies led by Yesh Atid Knesset Rabbi’s Shai Piron and Dov Lipman. More than 30 Knesset members attended the initial meeting. There is a growing sense in Israel that the Bible needs to form the basis of the state’s culture and policies, but that the ultra-Orthodox must not have a monopoly on the biblical interpretation of what it means to be Jewish.

After not talking for about a week, Likud representatives met again with Jewish Home. They mainly discussed the issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox students into the Isaeli military. No agreement was made.

Likud representatives are planning on having meetings again with Jewish Home and Shas next week.

Senior Likud officials said that Netanyahu is not willing to give into the demands of Jewish Home and Yesh Atid but would rather instead call for another round of elections. However, new poll results show that if Israel had new elections that Yesh Atid and Jewish Home would be the big winners. Yesh Atid would increase their seats from 19 and become Israel’s largest party with 30 seats. If this happened, Yair Lapid would replace Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister. Likud-Beitenu would drop from 31 to 24 seats. Jewish Home would increase from 12 to 15.

Given these poll results, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid said, “Yesh Atid will be guided by principles which it will not compromise. We will have patience even if it means not joining Netanyahu’s government.”

In addition to Tzipi Livni, it is expected that Benjamin Netanyahu will be able to get Kadima and the ultra-Orthoodox parties to join his government coalition. If so, he would have a coalition of 57. He needs 61 to make a government. Therefore, he would have to convince Jewish Home, Yesh Atid or Labor to join the government. If he would be unsuccessful, Netanyahu would have to call for new elections where he may not remain as Prime Minister. Initially, Netanyahu has until March 1 to form a government. However, he may ask for an extension through March 15.

So, what government coalition will Netanyahu form? Only time will tell.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1)  Livni to join coalition, ‘run talks with Palestinians’
2) Livni becomes 1st member of Netanyahu-led gov’t
3) Report: Livni Will be Justice Minister
4) Netanyahu echoes Livni, extends hand toward Palestinians
5) Setting aside rivalry, Netanyahu and Livni announce deal
6) PM: Livni to Negotiate with PA for Me
7) Livni: My criticism of Netanyahu hasn’t changed
8.) Livni: Coalition Deal will Let Us Push Our Views
9) Likud: Shas will join coalition
10) UTJ weighs backing aggressive peace agenda
11) Yechimovich: We Won’t be Netanyahu’s Contractors
12) Parties mum on Finance Min. offer to Yacimovich
13) Jewish Home and Yesh Atid form united front
14) Lapid and Bennett say coalition talks languishing
15) ‘No Coalition Talks between Likud, Jewish Home’
16) Bennett Expresses Frustration Over Stalled Coalition Talks
17) Lapid extends an olive branch to Netanyahu
18) Bayit Yehudi: Netanyahu-Livni Agreement Unacceptable
19) Bennett visits yeshivas, urges integrating Torah, IDF service
20) Bayit Yehudi, Likud Beytenu discuss national service
21) ‘PM livid at Lapid-Bennett conspiracy to push haredim out’
22) Likud Officials: Hareidim in Coalition or New Elections
23) New Knesset Bible study group off to strong start
24) No breakthrough in Likud-Habayit Hayehudi talks
25) More Likud talks set for next week with Jewish Home, Shas
26) Likud Warns: New Elections are Possible
27) Poll: Yesh Atid would crush Likud in new election
28) Lapid: ‘We have patience’ to bide time in opposition

Last week, Israel sent its historical primary negotiator with the Palestinians, Yitzhak Molcho, to discuss with the US issues related to Obama’s visit to Israel in late March.  Molcho came back to Israel with the message that it did not seem at this point that Obama was going to bring any new concrete plan for the diplomatic process during his visit but that Obama wanted to see real progress in moving the peace process forward.  Netanyahu’s national security adviser, Yaacov Amidror, said Obama’s visit will go a long way toward setting the “foundations” for Israeli-US relations for the next four years.

This week, the Palestinians sent chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Muhammad Shtayyeh to the US to discuss Obama’s March visit to the Middle East. The Palestinians requested that Obama get personally involved in the peace process and offer his own initiative that will contain a formula that will allow both Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct peace talks. The Palestinians want clear terms of reference to restart direct peace talks that would guarantee a Palestinian state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. They want negotiations with Israel to resume from the point where they were halted during the term of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008. Finally, Palestinians reiterated their demand that Israel introduce a full freeze on building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as a precondition for resuming peace talks.

Netanyahu reiterated his position for a two-state solution that consists of a demiliterized PLO state and necessary security arrangements for Israel.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Israel, PA lobbying US before Obama’s visit
2) PM: Unarmed Palestinian state critical to peace
3) Palestinians to ask that Obama personally kickstart peace process

Syrian President Bashar Assad has evacuated most of the troops of his 5th Army Division from their permanent bases on the Golan Heights opposite Israeli forces and transferred the unit along with its artillery to Damascus. This has three major objectives:

1. To reinforce his Damascus defenses;

2. To carve out a buffer zone along the Israeli border and leave it under rebel control.

3. To provide the jihadists fighting in rebel ranks with access to the Israeli border fence.

Senior officers in the IDF’s northern command believe it is just a matter of time before these al Qaeda-associated fighters hurl themselves at the border fence to break through, or target Israeli military targets from across the Syrian border.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Assad’s troops retreat from Golan, leaving Islamist rebels to confront Israel

Iran will hold talks regarding its nuclear program with the P5 + 1 powers (US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany) on February 26. The P5 + 1 are expected to demand the closure of the Fordow uranium enrichment plant in return for an easing of sanctions on Tehran’s trade in gold and other precious metals. If so, Iran is rejecting this proposal. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a report that Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant. However, they are not yet operating. If launched successfully, such machines could enable Iran to enrich uranium 3 to 5 times faster than it does now which could enable it to be able to produce a nuclear bomb much quicker. It is being estimated that when the decision is made to use the enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb that it would take between 4 – 6 months to complete the task. US State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, called the Iranian news as “yet another provocative step,” in its nuclear weapons program.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Iran dismisses world powers’ offer to ease sanctions
2) Iran tries to speed up nuclear work

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government coalition
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
3) The current status of the situation with Syria
4) The current status of the situation with Iran

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to form as broad a government coalition as possible. Ultimately, he would prefer to see the following parties in his government:

1) The Tzipi Livni Part (Hatnua) (“The Movement”).  Her primary objective is to see a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. As a result, she would like to be in Netanyahu’s government and oversee peace negotiations.

2) Yesh Atid (There is a Future). The party leader is former Israeli journalist, Yair Lapid. This is a secular centrist party. They would like to see ultra-Orthodox Jews drafted into the Israeli military, restart of peace talks with the Palestinians, a reduction in the size of the Israeli government and economic policies that help the middle class.

3) Jewish Home. This is a religious Zionist party. Many are modern Orthodox Jews who serve in the Israeli army and have daily jobs. They are against a PLO state.

4) Shas. This is a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. Their Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

5) United Torah Judaism. This is an Askenazi ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. There Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

6) Kadima. The party leader is Shaul Mofaz. He would like to be Defense Minister and he supports a PLO state.

Two other political parties, Labor and Meretz, said that they would not join Netanyahu’s coalition.

Benjamin Netanyahu met for the first time this week with Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett regarding the possibility of Jewish Home being members of Netanyahu’s government coalition. The main issue of topic was the demand that ultra-Orthodox men serve in the Israeli military. A draft outline to resolve the matter was presented by Likud Knesset member Moshe Ya’alon. However, it was rejected by Jewish Home as they are trying to formulate their own alternative proposal. Following the talks, Netanyahu made an offer to Jewish Home to receive senior ministerial posts if they would agree to join the government within 48 hours. Jewish Home rejected the offer and said that they wouldn’t make any commitments until the details of an agreed-upon new government platform was established including drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli military. Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett, said that both he  and the leader of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, have an informal agreement between them that they wouldn’t join a Netanyahu coaltion unless there was an agreed upon solution on the following issues:  drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli military, breaking up the “central banking monopoly”,  lowering bank fees by creating competition, lowering port taxes to reduce consumer prices, opening up a new international airport in the south, reducing airline taxes and caring for the weaker segments of society.

It is reported that Netanyahu prefers to bring the ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, into the coalition rather than Yesh Atid because Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid has expressed an interest in being Prime Minister in the next election. If Jewish Home would agree to first join Netanyahu’s coalition without Yesh Atid, it would be easier to get the ultra-Orthodox political parties.  Shas and United Torah Judaism to join the new government coalition. With Yesh Atid in the government coalition, it would be harder for the ultra-Orthodox parties to join.

In his first speech as a Knesset member, Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett defended the need for the ultra-Orthodox community to study Talmud but also stressed that “serving in the army is also a mitzvah.” In his speech, Bennett focused on religious affairs and Jewish education. He said: “Let’s admit to the truth: The religious services sector has become a machine that creates alienation. It’s no wonder that one-third of all Israeli couples wed outside the rabbinate. Let’s turn the religious services into a focal point that will illuminate the real Judaism to all of the people of Israel. We must bring the beauty of Judaism to all the people of Israel. If children do not know who the forefathers of the nation were – Avraham, Moshe, David – and who Israel’s heroes were – we will turn out next generation into a generation that has no compass and no path. Let’s bring back the Jewish-Zionist education to all of Israel’s children.” Addressing the issue of ultra-Orthodox men serving in the Israeli army, he said “The ultra-Orthodox are our brothers. They dedicate their lives to studying Torah.” However, Bennett went on to say, “the current situation cannot continue to exist. It cannot be that ultra-Orthodox men do not serve in the army. It cannot be that they do not shoulder some of the financial burden of Israeli society. To my ultra-Orthodox brothers, I say, army service is also a mitzvah. I served with dear brothers who knew how to study the Torah and carry a stretcher; how to learn the Talmud and storm the enemy during battle. I will not allow attacks on my ultra-Orthodox brothers, nor will I let any harm come to the Torah world, which was rehabilitated after the devastation of the Holocaust, but I will also not agree to a situation where ultra-Orthodox men do not serve in the Israeli military.”

According to the 2013 Peace Index Poll, 73% of Israeli’s support ultra-Orthodox men serving in the Israeli military.

Concerned about Bennett’s position on drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli military, United Torah Judaism met with Bennett for 2 hours. They pleaded with him asking that Jewish Home not support anything that would hurt the yeshivas noting that nearly 1 million people voted for religious parties in the last election. However, Bennett was unable to come to an agreement with them over the issue.

In a speech to US Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid vowed that he would make sure all Jewish denominations in Israel will be placed on an equal legal footing and would seek to institute civil marriage.  He said: “I will do everything in my power to ensure the equality of all streams of Judaism in Israel, Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform, in terms of conversion, marriage, funding and in the eyes of the law. The complete dominance of Orthodox rabbis over marriage is an insult. No one can claim ownership over the Jewish God.” The ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, are completely opposed to these policies.

Conservative and Reform Judaism differ from Orthodox Judaism on principles of belief such as the divine origin of the Torah and of the Oral Law. They also differ significantly regarding conversion to Judaism, and Reform and Conservative conversions are generally not recognized as valid by Orthodox rabbis.

Regarding the Israeli / Palestinian peace process Lapid said: “Do we need to go back to the to the negotiation table in order to achieve peace? Of course we do. Why? Because the other option is the loss of Jewish identity in Israel and we can’t let this happen. Jewish identity is in danger.” However, Lapid rejected one of the Palestinian Authority’s key demands, saying that Israel should not give up sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem.

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party said that Lapid, “hates yeshivas.” Shas party leader, Eli Yishai said that drafting ultra-Orthodox men into the Israeli army would mean “rebellion and chaos” on the streets of Israel.

Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid said “we cannot avoid equality in the burden just because 10% of the population threatens the other 90% with a civil war. This is is why the public voted for Yesh Atid so we can get over the fears and tension in the problems splitting Israeli society…We are ripped apart in enlistment, in the workforce. It’s time to make a decision.”

Meanwhile, the staff of Benjamin Netanyahu’s outlined a draft wherein the ultra-Orthodox will be gradually enlisted to the Israeli army as early as next year and those who fail to do so will be penalized. The new outline has been presented to the staff of Yesh Atid.

Yesh Atid’s plan will see all Israelis, including ultra-Orthodox and Arabs, reporting to the military induction center at the age of 18. The army will then decide whether to recruit them. Only 400 outstanding ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students will receive exemptions every year. Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid said that if he were in a government with the ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party, Shas, that his political career would be over.

So far potential coalition partners for Netanyahu, primarily Jewish Home and Yesh Atid, have not compromised on key issues. Netanyahu tried to break the partnership between Jewish Home and Yesh Atid by offering Jewish Home the possibility of being the first party to join the government. The leadership of Jewish Home insists that they will continue to coordinate joining Netanyahu’s government with Yesh Atid as the report is that they have an informal understanding that neither party will join the government without the other. However, in order for Netanyahu to form a government, he needs either Yesh Atid, Jewish Home or both to join it.

So, what government coalition will Netanyahu form? Only time will tell.

Finally, religious Zionist organization in Israel are discussing again the idea of annexing the entire West Bank and give Arab residents citizenship. The annexation initiative is being promoted by the Women in Green activist group. Leaders Yehudit Katzover and Nadia Matar held a special session this week to discuss progress on the campaign. Activists discussed the impact of the first three conferences aimed at promoting the annexation plan. An estimated 2,500 people attended the events. Katzover and Matar reported that in the upcoming months there will be more such meetings, both major conferences and smaller discussions around the country. Activists also plan to bring the idea to Knesset directly with a lobby to explain the plan to politicians.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Netanyahu, Bennett meet for coalition talks
2) Jewish Home turns down Likud’s coalition proposal
3) Bennett: ‘Historic opportunity’ for next government
4) Bennett: We Have a Rare Opportunity to Bring Change
5) ‘73% of Israeli Jews support universal draft’
6) Bennett: Army service a mitzvah
7) UTJ to Bennett: A Million People Can’t be Wrong
8.) Hareidi Leaders Latest to Pursue Bennett
9) Lapid vows equality for all Jewish streams in Israel
10) Lapid: I’ll Push Civil Marriage, Reform Judaism
11) Lapid: Haredi rabbis’ dominance over marriage ‘insulting’
12) Rabbi Yosef Slams ‘Yeshiva Hater’ Lapid
13) ‘Forced Hareidi Enlistment Means Rebellion, Chaos’
14) Lapid: 10% of population threatening civil war
15) Likud amends draft plan to meet Lapid demands
16) Yishai: Netanyahu Prefers Lapid over Us
17) Lapid: Entering Gov’t with Shas will End My Career
18) Netanyahu’s coalition options seen to be closing
19) Geula Cohen: Time to Wake Up from ‘Peace Delusion’

Israel announced that is has given final approval for the construction of 90 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beit El. In addition, plans have been approved for 200 new housing units in Tekoa and 146 housing units in Nokdim. These are two small isolated settlements in the southern West Bank located in the Gush Etzion bloc south of Jerusalem that Israel wants to keep hold of in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.

US President Barack Obama will be visiting Israel on March 20. Plans for Obama’s visit include a trip to Israel Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem, as well as visiting the grave of former Israel Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin who was assassinated in 1995. Obama does not plan to speak at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Dinners are planned with Netanyahu and Israel President Shimon Peres.

Netanyahu said that he and Obama have agreed on three main topics to be discussed during the visit: Iran’s nuclear program, the current situation in Syria and attempts to further the peace process with the Palestinians. Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that Israel is considering giving the Palestinians partial control over some areas of the West Bank, as well as releasing prisoners and freezing settlement construction ahead of Obama’s visit. It also said that the US is expected to release $200 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority that it has withheld for months. The New York Times article went on to say that “Some Israelis and Americans are pushing the idea of at least a partial freeze of Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank in exchange for a promise by the Palestinians to postpone plans to use their new upgraded status at the United Nations to pursue claims against Israel in the International Criminal Court.”

News sources are reporting that Obama is coming to Israel primarily in order to tell Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in person to hold off on any military intervention in Iran. In Netanyahu’s speech last fall to the UN General Assembly, he cited spring 2013 as a critical time frame to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb. Obama will reiterate US determination to ensure that Iran does not attain nuclear weapons. Obama plans to tell Netanyahu the following: ‘Don’t strike at Iran. Let me oversee the contacts with Iran as I see fit. If necessary I’ll take action against them. We have capacities that you do not have’.”

Outgoing Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that Israel should recognize Palestine as a FULL member of the United Nations. This can only be done through a vote at the UN Security Council Ayalon went on to say that Israel should  “give the Palestinians sovereignty and independence and in return, they will recognize Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people and will guarantee security arrangements.” Ayalon urged Netanyahu to say to the Palestinians: “I am prepared to recognize you, but you have to recognize me.” Ayalon also said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas must state in Arabic – rather than in Hebrew or English – that he recognizes Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Finally, Ayalon said he expected that there would be a three-way summit meeting between Netanyahu, Abbas and Obama, or perhaps even a four-way meeting in Amman with Jordanian King Abdullah II. However, Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said that he is unaware of plans to hold a summit between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu next month. He said that the PA leadership’s demands regarding the peace process remained unchanged – Israeli recognition of the pre-1967 lines as the borders of a Palestinian state and a full cessation of construction in settlements.

According to informed Palestinian and Israeli officials, Aaron Kline of World Net Daily reports that the reason why Obama plans to visit Israel next month is that the United States has already secured Israeli and Palestinian pledges to restart land-for-peace talks. The officials disclosed the Obama administration told both sides the talks would be aimed at creating a Palestinian state based upon the 1967 borders including eastern sections of Jerusalem. According to these informed officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that once the talks begin there will be a silent, undeclared freeze on all Jewish construction in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem with the exception of what are known as main blocs – Maale Adumin, Ariel and Gush Etzion. The officials said the United States was adamant that Israeli talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas begin regardless of the position of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Still, the U.S. is supporting Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey in back door efforts to broker a national unity deal between Abbas and Hamas during the same time period that the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are set to take place, the officials said. There is already close coordination between the White House and likely incoming members of Netanyahu’s government coalition who are known to be sympathetic to creating a Palestinian state, primarily former opposition leader Tzipi Livni. Regarding Jerusalem, the informed Israeli and Palestinian officials said the White House has been nonspecific other than to champion talks based on what is known as the Clinton parameters. The formula, pushed by Bill Clinton during the Camp David talks in 2000, called for Jewish areas of Jerusalem to remain Israeli while the Palestinians get sovereignty over neighborhoods that are largely Arab. As a way to entice the PA back to the bargaining table, the White House agreed to release some $200 million in aid that it has withheld for months, said the officials. According to the officials, the deal with brokered with the Palestinians by incoming Secretary of State John Kerry.

In the past week, reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas which took place in Cairo, Egypt failed. Ibrahim Darawi, head of the the Palestinian Studies Center in Cairo, told a Hamas newspaper that US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro held secret meetings with Abbas and other Palestine Liberation Organization officials, requesting that the Palestinians freeze reconciliation talks until after Obama’s visit.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Beit El to get 90 new homes
2) Israel signs off on 346 new West Bank settler homes
3) PM names main topics for Obama visit
4) ‘Obama is coming to tell Netanyahu not to strike Iran’
5) Obama to Speak in Israel, but Not in Knesset
6) Ayalon: J’lem should recognize Palestine at UN
7) PA ‘unaware’ of Abbas-Netanyahu meeting during Obama visit
8.) Revealed: This is why Obama is visiting Israel
9) US accused of foiling Palestinian reconciliation

In case that Syrian President Bashar Assad is removed from power, Iran and Hezbollah are establishing militia networks within Syria in order to defend their interests and still have influence in the affairs of the country. Currently, these militias are fighting side-by-side with Assad’s army.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Report: Iran, Hezbollah setting up militias in Syria

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) failed to reach an agreement with Iran to allow the inspection of its nuclear program. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that would not negotiate about its disputed nuclear program under pressure, but would talk to its adversaries if they stopped “pointing the gun”.  He went on to say that “Talks should not be used as a lever to impose one’s opinions. The Iranian nation will not give up one iota of its nuclar rights.”

Meanwhile,  Tehran has shown high-level UN officials high-tech equipment positioned at its main uranium enrichment site meant to vastly accelerate output of material that can be used for both reactor fuel and atomic arms. The new-generation centrifuges can enrich uranium four to five times faster than Iran’s present working model. Analysts believe that Iran already has enough enriched uranium for several weapons if it is further enriched. A senior former US State Department official US said “Installation of the more efficient centrifuges will probably contribute to Iran’s unwillingness to compromise.” over its nuclear program in meeting scheduled with the P5 +1 powers (US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany) later this month.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran’s nuclear weapons program “continues unabated. It’s focused on enrichment because if they could continue and complete enrichment of highly enriched uranium then they’ll have enough to produce enough material to produce a nuclear bomb. I drew a line at the UN when I spoke there last fall. Iran hasn’t crossed that line but what they’re doing is to shorten the time that it would take them to cross that line. And the way they’re shortening that time is by putting in new, faster centrifuges that cut the time by one third. So that Iran is putting itself in a position to cross the red line and have enough material to produce one nuclear bomb’s worth of highly enriched uranium. This has to be stopped. For the interest of peace and security, for the interests of the entire world,” he said. “How do you stop it? Well, they have to know that if the sanctions and the diplomacy fails, they face a credible military threat. That’s essential. Nothing else will do the job. And it’s getting closer.”

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) ‘No Deal’ Between IAEA and Iran
2) Iran’s Ahmadinajad rejects Western pressure
3) Watchdog says Iran upgraded centrifuges for nuke program
4) ‘Iran pushing major nuclear expansion’
5) Netanyahu: Iran shortening the time it will take to cross ‘red line’

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Netanyahu’s efforts to form a new government coalition
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
3) The current status of the situation with Syria
4) The current status of the situation with Iran

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to form as broad a government coalition as possible. Ultimately, he would prefer to see the following parties in his government:

1) The Tzipi Livni Part (Hatnua) (“The Movement”).  Her primary objective is to see a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. As a result, she would like to be in Netanyahu’s government and oversee peace negotiations.

2) Yesh Atid (There is a Future). The party leader is former Israeli journalist, Yair Lapid. This is a secular centrist party. They would like to see ultra-Orthodox Jews drafted into the Israeli military, restart of peace talks with the Palestinians, a reduction in the size of the Israeli government and economic policies that help the middle class.

3) Jewish Home. This is a religious Zionist party. Many are modern Orthodox Jews who serve in the Israeli army and have daily jobs. They are against a PLO state.

4) Shas. This is a Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. Their Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

5) United Torah Judaism. This is an Askenazi ultra-Orthodox party. They don’t want to see their Yeshiva students be drafted into the Israeli army. There Yeshiva students study Talmud all day and most don’t have a daily job.

6) Kadima. The party leader is Shaul Mofaz. He would like to be Defense Minister and he supports a PLO state.

Two other political parties, Labor and Meretz, said that they would not join Netanyahu’s coalition.

In a recent poll, 80% of Israeli’s want a civil government (a government without the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism). They want a greater freedom of religion from the rules imposed upon them by the ultra-Orthodox and also want the ultra-Orthodox to serve in the military.

Secular Jews despise the fact that ultra-Orthodox Jews don’t serve in the Israeli army, most don’t have daily job and they don’t celebrate Israel Independence day. Furthermore, their voice dictates Jewish religious life in Israel. Their Yeshiva’s (schools where the Talmud is studied) are well funded by the state. They also get a per child allowance for how many children they have. These things are the core reasons why the secular Jews despise the ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel. Yesh Atid (There is a future) is the party that primarily represents the secular Jewish voice.

Benjamin Netanyahu has several meetings this past week with Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid. Lapid said that he was genuinely prepared to stay out of the coalition if it became clear to him that Netanyahu was not intent on passing legislation to ensure that the ultra-Orthodox serve in the Israeli army.  This position raised concern for the two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, who viewed that if Netanyahu accepted the position of Yesh Atid that the ultra-Orthodox parties would not be able to members of Netanyahu’s coalition.

Wanting a broad government coalition to try to make his government more stable, Netanyahu tried to convince Yesh Atid to ease his demands on drafting ultra-Orthodox parties into the Israeli army and be agreeable to some type of compromise with the ultra-Orthodox parties so both Yesh Atid and the ultra-Orthodox parties could be in Netanyahu’s government together. Even so, Netanyahu is in agreement that policies need to be agreed upon so that the ultra-Orthodox are more integrated into Israeli society.

Yair Lapid also said that if his party stayed out the government coalition that he could become Prime Minister in the next Israeli election. This comment caused great concern for Netanyahu and his Likud political party. Some within Likud question whether Netanyahu could trust Yesh Atid in his government with this attitude.

The secular centrist party, Yesh Atid, (There is a future) are in agreement with Jewish Home, the nationalist religious Zionist party, that ultra-Orthodox Jews need to serve in the Israeli military. Jewish Home would like to have the religious affairs portfolio and be in charge of making the decisions regarding Jewish religious issues. This place in Israeli society has historically been governed by the ultra-Orthodox parties. Yesh Atid and Jewish Home also have common views of Israeli economic issues. However, Jewish Home does not support a PLO state and Yesh Atid is in favor of having a PLO state.

In the past week, Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett said the following: “The current situation in which thousands of ultra-Orthodox do not study, serve or work cannot continue.” The leader of Yesh Atid, the former Israeli journalist, Yair Lapid has a good working relationship with the leader of Jewish Home, Naftali Bennett. As a result, Yesh Atid and Jewish Home are working on creating an outline that they could agree upon for the ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students to serve in the Israeli military. Once done, they plan to present their plan within the framework of a Netanyahu coalition agreement.  Because of the close friendship between the leader of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, and Jewish Home, Naftali Bennett some have concluded that Yesh Atid and Jewish Home have made an agreement that both will be in the government together or both will be left out of the government coalition. However, neither Yesh Atid nor Jewish Home has confirmed that this is true.

Many supporters of Jewish Home are religious Zionists. They believe in supporting the return of Jews (both secular and religious) to the land of Israel and believe in supporting the state of Israel. Most religious Zionists are Orthodox but not ultra-Orthodox. On the other hand, ultra-Orthodox Jews are more concerned with studying Talmud than supporting the state of Israel. For this reason, they don’t view a need to serve in the Israeli military or even have daily jobs.

While both seeing themselves as being Orthodox, historically, ultra-Orthodox Jews view religious Zionist Jews less favorably than themselves. In the recent Israeli election campaigns, the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party referred to the Jewish Home party as being ‘Gentiles’ and that whoever votes for Jewish Home commits heresy against the Torah. In reply, religious Zionist Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu told Israel radio, “I have a problem with Shas. I have a problem with the statements made before the elections. I really feel hurt. We will not move one foot unless one of them finds the opportunity to apologize. One cannot talk about any kind of brotherly love and unity of a single bloc, when these are the words.” Jewish Home Knesset Member, Uri Ariel said, “I told the heads of Shas that they have to find a way to apologize before the public and before our rabbis.” Jewish Home also criticized Shas saying that Shas “self-professed monopoly on religion is the reason for the secular public’s disdain of the Torah. It’s high time Shas understands that they don’t have a monopoly on the Torah. We’re just as committed to Jewish law as they are and we can protect the religious sector just as well.”

Since the founding of the state of Israel, this election result gives the religious Zionists the greatest political voice within the Israeli government that they have ever had. While enjoying their new rise to political power, Jewish Home is facing a conflict between having sympathetic views with the secular centrist party of Yesh Atid while also feeling a brotherhood with the ultra-Orthodox because of their common love for the Torah and Talmud.

In reaching out to the ultra-Orthodox world, Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett said, ” Jewish Home is committed to ensuring that there was plenty of money for Torah institutions of all streams. “If Torah study is important to the Jewish people, it must be a part of the regular state budget. Torah learning is important to the entire Jewish people, not just the ultra-Orthodox.” He also said, “”The ultra-Orthodox are our brothers not our enemies. I love them. I want them integrated into Israeli society through a process that is well thought-out, Those who are truly learning Torah will continue to learn, while the others will serve the country and join Israeli society.”

Religious Zionist Rabbis are members of the Jewish Home political party. Concerned with alienating ultra-Orthodox Rabbis associated with Shas and United Torah Judaism over the issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military, the religious Zionist Rabbis are having meetings with ultra-Orthodox Rabbis to come up with a compromise solution over the issue that won’t split the “Torah World”.  The leader of Jewish Home, Naftali Bennett, served in the Israeli army and is a high-tech entrepreneur.  While Naphtali Bennett is a religious Zionist and follows Orthodox Judaism, his personal background makes him more comfortable with Yesh Atid’s domestic political goals than the views of the ultra-Orthodox political parties of Shas and United Torah Judaism. However, if Naftali Bennett makes political decisions that alienate the religious Zionist Rabbis within his party, their may be a push to remove him as leader of the party.

Askenazi ultra-Orthodox rabbis representing United Torah Judaism has an emergency meeting regarding the issue of drafting of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students. At the end of the emergency meetings during which Torah studies were praised and IDF enlistment was cursed, the Council issued a joint statement: “(The Council) is shaken, scared and deeply depressed by the wave of incitement by the residents of Israel against the ultra-Orthodox. This is a special request for the heads of the government: Do not deviate, not even a bit, from the traditional treatment of Torah students or anything pertaining to the Jewish character of the country,” the statement read.

Members of Jewish Home met with members of Netanyahu’s negotiating team regarding what Jewish Home desires in being in a government coalition with Netanyahu. Jewish Home embraced the following ideals: Opposition to a Palestinian state, the strengthening of Jerusalem and its removal from the diplomatic negotiations agenda, the appointment of a Zionist Chief Rabbi, the idea of making Sunday a rest day a strengthening the status of the Sabbath, increasing competitiveness in the market, decreasing market “centralization,” lowering prices and dismantling of monopolies.

The first formal meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish Home will take place next week. Jewish Home representatives are concerned that Netanyahu will exclude him as a gesture to United States President Barack Obama, because Jewish Home opposes a Palestinian state or issue terms for joining Netanyahu’s coalition that Jewish Home cannot accept.

Representatives from Tzipi Livni’s party (The Movement) said they would consider joining the coalition if it was “promised that negotiations for a political settlement with the Palestinians would occur.”  A senior member of Netanyahu’s Likud party who is involved in the coalition talks said that Netanyahu is considering appointing Tzipi Livni to be the head of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

So, what government coalition will Netanyahu form? Only time will tell.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) 80% of Israelis favor civil government
2) PM considers cancelling Likud primaries
3) Coalition talks heat up as Netanyahu slams Lapid, woos Livni
4) Not your suckers anymore
5) Yesh Atid deal hinges on PM’s approach to Haredi conscription
6) Lapid: I could replace Netanyahu as PM in 18 months
7) Likud: Lapid is ‘Condescending’
8.) PM Expected to Try to ‘Sell’ Lapid on a Hareidi Govt
9) Netanyahu to Lapid: Haredim needed in gov’t
10) Who is in the Jewish home?
11) Bayit Yehudi Torn between Lapid, Hareidim
12) Bennett: Haredim not serving is ‘unethical’
13) Habayit Hayehudi: Shas gives Torah a bad name
14) Bayit Yehudi in Fierce Attack on Shas
15) Bayit Yehudi to Shas: Apologize!
16) Jewish Home MK: I Spent More Years Learning Torah Than Shas MK’s
17) Yishai Appeals to Jewish Home for Help on Hareidi Draft
18) Yishai to Zionist Rabbis: Save the Torah World
19) Bennett: Hareidim Are Our Brothers, Not Our Enemies
20) War of the rabbis as pressure mounts on Bennett to dump Lapid
21) Jewish Home MK: We Can Find a Way to Build Bridges With Shas
22) Haredi leaders at emergency meeting: No to IDF enlistment
23) Bayit Yehudi, Likud Talks ‘Friendly’
24) Tensions grow ahead of Netanyahu-Bennett meet
25) Netanyahu in a jam: Haredim or Lapid and Bennett?
26) MKs weigh in on joining coalition as talks begin
27) Likud official: Livni will be appointed as minister in charge of peace process

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, repeated the long held position of the Palestinians that they will not agree to direct talks with Israel unless Israel stops building Jewish homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and release Palestinian prisoners. He called upon US President Barack Obama to “stop treating Israel as if it were a country above international law.”  He also said that there would be no EU initiative to restart direct peace talks without the involvement of the Obama administration. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will not agree to a settlement freeze in the West Bank as a precondition to restart direct talks with the Palestinians.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is planning to visit Israel and the Palestinians this month to initiate efforts to restart the direct peace talks. US President Barack Obama is planning a trip to the Middle East in March with a stop in Israel. Details for Obama visiting Israel was agreed upon in a January 28 phone call between Obama and Netanyahu. Israel’s Channel 10 TV station reported that Obama’s visit indicates that Obama believes Netanyahu is ready to try to make substantive progress in negotiations with the Palestinians as it was likely that areas of agreement on key issues had already been reached between the American and Israeli leaderships, since Obama had indicated in the past that he would come to Israel only when he truly believed it would enable a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that Obama wants to host a summit between Netanyahu and Abbas during his visit. In an interview on Israeli Army Radio, Ayalon said that Obama plainly would not be visiting Israel unless it was already clear that the visit would mark some kind of substantive agreement between the US, Israel and the Palestinians.

In commenting about Obama’s visit in late March, Palestinian spokesman Nabil Rdeneh said that the Palestinians hope that Obama’s visit to the region will “mark the beginning of a new US policy in the Middle East.” He also said: “We hope that President Obama’s visit to the region is the beginning of a new US policy that leads to the realization of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the territory of the State of Palestine occupied since 1967, in accordance with international resolutions.” Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub said that “the Americans are the only ones who can build a bridge to peace and the only person who can convince the Israelis to change their tune is the US president.” Asked about leaving blocs of Jewish settlements in the West Bank as part of the framework of the two-state solution, Rajoub rejected the idea out of  hand. “Absolutely not. There is not room for even one settler” beyond the pre-1967 lines, he said.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Erekat: PA refuses to ‘repeat lunacy of returning to talks’
2) Netanyahu: Building Freeze? No Way
3) Secretary of State Kerry to visit Israel, PA
4) Obama to visit Israel within weeks
5) Obama ‘wants to host Netanyahu-Abbas meeting during visit’
6) Senior PA official: Only Americans can bring peace

In response to the Israeli airstrike last week which targeted a convoy of trucks carrying Russian-made SA-17 missiles to the anti-Israel Shiite militant group, Hezbollah, in Lebanon, Syrian President Bashar Assad has deployed four scud-type missiles which are aimed at Tel Aviv which is Israel’s largest city.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Israel-Syria Standoff: Assad ‘Deploys’ Scud Missiles Targeting Tel Aviv

The head of the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel, Amos Yadlin, said that Iran has enriched more than seven tons of uranium to a low grade of five per cent, pure enough for a nuclear reactor, which with further enrichment could create five atom bombs. Yadlin further said that Iran has completed in the last two years two components that… give it all of the necessary means to manufacture a nuclear weapon as soon as it chooses to do so. Once Iran decides to build a nuclear bomb, they would only need four to six months to do it. Yadlin concludes that Iran is not presently willing to take the risk to actually make the decision to build a bomb with international eyes so closely watching them. However, he believes that Iran is waiting for some distraction involving some type of major international crisis which would shift the focus away from Iran’s nuclear activity. At that time, they could try to build the bomb. As a result, Yadlin sees that the main challenge for Israel is how long do they wait this year in order to do something about it.

Talks between Iran and the P5 + 1 powers which represent the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, France, Russia, China and the US) plus Germany will take place in Kazakhstan, on Feb. 26. The talks will be the first high-level negotiations since Iran met in Moscow in June 2012 with the P5+1 group. The goal of the talks will be to try to get Iran to agree to stop its nuclear program. US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said that the international community is ready to respond if Iran comes prepared to talk real substance and to address the concerns about their nuclear program.

On February 2, US Vice-President Joe Biden suggested direct talks between the US and Iran which would be separate from the wider international discussions scheduled for Feb. 26 in Kazakhstan between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. Biden said that the US was prepared for direct talks with Iran “when the Iranian leadership, supreme leader, is serious”. “That offer stands,” he said later, “but it must be real and tangible and there has to be an agenda that they are prepared to speak to. We are not just prepared to do it for the exercise,” he said.

On February 7, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei turned down the US offer of one-on-one talks on its nuclear program saying such negotiations “would solve nothing.” He added: “You are holding a gun against Iran saying you want to talk. The Iranian nation will not be frightened by threats.”

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Iran has ‘all the ingredients necessary’ to make a nuclear weapon
2) Iran could build nuclear bomb in 4-6 months, expert says
3) Iran Nuclear Talks Set for Feb 26
4) Kerry urges Iran to offer ‘real substance’ on nuke program
5) Ali Khamenei shuts door on direct nuclear talks with US

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of Israel elections
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
3) The current status of the situation with Syria
4) The current status of the situation with Iran

The elected parties to the new Israeli government met with President Shimon Peres to recommend to him their choice for who should be the Prime Minister of Israel and seek to form a government coalition. Over 80 Knesset members recommended Benjamin Netanyahu. Peres is expected to ask Netanyahu to seek to form a government on Saturday night. Netanyahu will have 28 days to form a government. If he needs more time, he can ask for an extension.

So far, Yesh Atid which means ‘There is a Future’, the centrist secular party who got 19 Knesset seats has been drawing the most attention since the results of the Israeli elections. While his party recommended that Netanyahu be Prime Minister,  Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, said: ” “our recommendation does not mean we will sit in the coalition, but we will work to have a government that has zero ministers without portfolio; a government that ushers in a more equitable way of sharing the national service burden; and returns to the negotiating table.”

Shas, the Sephardic Ultra-Orthodox religious party also recommended that Netanyahu be the next Prime Minister. Its leader, Eli Yishai, said, “It is clear Lapid [Yesh Atid] wants Shas out of the government despite the approval of PM Netanyahu. If the PM wants the good of the state, to prevent a rift in the nation, I believe we will be in the coalition.”

Yisrael Beytenu, the Russian immigrant party, leader Avigdor Lieberman met with the leader of the modern Orthodox, nationalistic party, Jewish Home and its leader, Naftali Bennett to discuss the different options related to forming the next government. The two leaders discussed the issue of achieving equal burden in army and national service among all Israelis. Lieberman, Bennett and Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, seem to be in agreement regarding this issue as they would all like to see all Israelis, including yeshiva students and Arabs, being drafted into the army or performing national service.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Peres set to ask Netanyahu to form govt Saturday
2) Lapid: recommendation of Netanyahu doesn’t mean we’ll be in coalition
3) Yishai: “Lapid wants Shas out, unlike PM Netanyahu”
4) Lieberman and Bennett Meet Ahead of Coalition Talks

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that the results of the Israeli elections will not alter the Palestinians demands regarding discussing parameters for a PLO state. They will continue to include the following:  1) A freeze on building in the West Bank  2) Release of prisoners 3)  An agreement on the final status issues including Jerusalem, the refugees, and retreating to the 1967 lines.

Once Israel forms a government, Abbas desires to go forward with plans to achieve a Palestinian state in the following stages without recognizing Israel as a Jewish state. Stage one is to seek recognition of a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital at the UN Security Council. In stage two, he plans to use the measure adopted at the UN Security Council to engage in direct talks with Israel based upon the outline of the UN Security Council Resolution to return to direct talks with Israel with the support of the international community to work out the details of a permanent agreement with Israel. If during this stage Israel continues to insist on its demands, the international community will impose economic sanctions such as those that were imposed on the Apartheid regime in South Africa at the time. Abbas believes that by implementing this plan he will be able to give his people an independent state without having to confront Hamas or face mass demonstrations in the territories and the world.

The Palestinians are counting on the Obama Administration’s complete rejection of Israel’s settlement enterprise, and assume that in his second term the American president will be less sensitive to the wishes of Israel’s supporters in the US and will not rush to automatically back the Israeli government in the UN.  The Palestinians are also counting on the strained relations between Obama and Netanyahu to aid the Palestinian cause. To leverage these advantages, Abbas is sending some of his ministers for talks in the USA to coordinate positions with senior officials in Obama’s second administration: The secretary of state, national security adviser, defense secretary and the ambassador to the UN.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal met with King Abdullah of Jordan to discuss Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and Abbas and the Israel / Palestinian peace process. Following the meeting, Mashaal said the following: “I am optimistic about Palestinian reconciliation. The international community must respect the Palestinian need to end division.” Regarding the peace process, he said, “”A two-state solution is the only means to achieve security and stability in the Middle East.”

However, Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas official denied that Hamas has accepted the two-state solution. Yehya Musa, another senior Hamas official further stated that not only is a two-state solution unacceptable but reiterated that Hamas  “will never agree to giving the Zionist state one inch of the land of Palestine.”

Hamas legislator Salah Bardaweel further added that there was a difference between accepting a Palestinian state on the 1967 territories and recognizing Israel’s right to exist – something which, he added, Hamas would never do.

Meanwhile, an Arab League delegation is expected to present the US with a Mideast peace proposal soon. The proposal will include  “suggestions on Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, the establishment of a PA state, and security guarantees for both sides.”

The U.N. Human Rights Council issued a report which demanded that Israel must withdraw all of its citizens from the West Bank. They said, “Israel must, in compliance with Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, cease all settlement activities without preconditions.” Also, “It must immediately initiate a process of withdrawal of all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories.” It also ruled that the Palestinians had a right to go to the International Criminal Court of Justice if Israel does not comply. The Israel’s Foreign Ministry replied by saying that “The only way to resolve all pending issues between Israel and the Palestinians, including the settlements issue, is through direct negotiations without pre-conditions.”

Following the Israel election results, US President Barack Obama sent a tough message to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that demanded progress toward a Palestinian state once Netanyahu forms his next government. Reportedly,  Obama asserted that his administration would make significant changes in U.S. policy in the Middle East during his second term in what a way to increase the pressure upon Israel. The United States is no longer expected to protect Israel from any international backlash to Jewish settlement in the West Bank. It is expected that the United States will take a harder line with Israel’s coming government by switching from a strategy of accommodation to one of confrontation and will begin the process to start letting down its diplomatic shield for Israel. The new secretary of state and defense secretary, John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, will be assigned to criticize Israel and link U.S. aid and cooperation to a halt in Jewish settlement in the West Bank. On Jan. 29, the Senate confirmed Kerry as secretary of state. When Obama challenges Israel, he will have the support of the Europeans and the international community.

World Net Daily is reporting that a top Palestinian negotiator revealed that Obama has already secretly pledged to the Palestinians he will press Israel into a new round of land-for-peace negotiations. The negotiator said top members of the Obama administration told the Palestinians the U.S. president will renew talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders – meaning in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and, notably, eastern Jerusalem. The negotiator further claimed Obama quietly pledged to the Palestinians a campaign at the United Nations to renew U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which calls for a Palestinian state in the “1967 borders.” and that a Palestinian state will be one of the main priorities for a second term. If there is no agreement to renew direct peace talks, “Netanyahu will be declared the main person responsible for the collapse of the peace process.”

Finally, newly elected Knesset member Moshe Feiglin has decided that he will visit the Temple Mount on the 19th of every Hebrew month. Because he now has diplomatic immunity, he can do so without fears of arrest. Jews are forbidden to pray or show outward signs of worship at the holy site due to fears that doing so would anger Muslims praying at the Al-Aqsa mosque on the mount. The Association of Temple Mount movements congratulated Feiglin, and praised him by saying, “We hope the topic of the Temple Mount remains a top priority for other nationalist MKs as well.”

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) ‘Israeli gov’t might change, but peace terms won’t’
2) Quiet intifada: Abbas’ statehood plan
3) PLO’s Erekat welcomes Hamas acceptance of two-state solution
4) Hamas: Mashaal did not accept the two-state solution
5) Arab League to Present US with Mideast Peace Plan
6) UN: Israel Must Withdraw From Judea, Samaria
7) UNHRC: Israel could be sent to ICC for settlements
8) Obama responded to Netanyahu’s election victory with ‘extremely tough letter’
9) Obama secretly pledges to divide Jerusalem
10) Feiglin Ascends Temple Mount, With No Fear of Arrest

Recently, Israel has expressed deep concern that chemical weapons from Syria could make its way into the hands of the south-Lebanon-based Hezbollah terror group due to the chaos of the Syrian civil war, and has said on several occasions that the transfer of chemical weapons to non-state actors, especially Hezbollah, would draw a harsh Israeli response. Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said that such transfer of arms to Hezbollah “would be crossing a line that would demand a different approach.” In concern over these matters, Israel bombed a suspected shipment of antiaircraft missiles in Syria. The strike targeted a convoy of trucks carrying Russian-made SA-17 missiles to Hezbollah, the anti-Israel Shiite militant and political group in Lebanon. Syria reported that Israel had hit a military site near Damascus which is believed to be manufacturing chemical and biological weapons.  Syrian rebels said that Hizbullah had already received numerous advanced weapons from Syria – including chemical weapons in the past.

The Russia Foreign Ministry strongly condemned that attack by saying, “If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked attacks on targets on the territory of a sovereign country, which blatantly violates the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it.”  Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon said that Syria had the option of a “surprise decision” to respond to the Israeli attack. An Iranian deputy foreign minister said that the “strike on Syria will have serious consequences for Tel Aviv.”

Meanwhile, over 300 Russian Marines are onboard a flotilla of at least five warships from Russia’s Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet en route to the Syrian coast in the Mediterranean, according to Russian and Israeli sources.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Israeli Jets Blast Arms Shipment Inside Syria
2) F-16s ‘Fired 8 Missiles, Bunker-Buster at Syria Chemical Site’
3) ‘Israeli jets hit Hezbollah-bound anti-aircraft missiles’
4) Russia concerned with Israeli ‘attack’ in Syria
5) Syria, Iran threaten consequences for Israeli strike
6) Report: Hizbullah Already Has Syrian Chemical Weapons
7) Russian flotilla heads for Mediterranean to counter NATO role in Syria

Iran has told the UN nuclear agency that it will deploy more modern machines to speed up their efforts to refine uranium to a greater level at its Natanz facility. This is seen as a defiant move which will further complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. The US called Iran’s installation of advanced uranium enrichment machines a “provocative step” which would make it in further violation of United Nations resolutions against its nuclear program. The P5 + 1 powers (US, Britain, France, Russia and China along with Germany) are trying to schedule another round of talks with Iran over its nuclear program. However, they have not yet decided on a date and located to meet again.

Such a step could enable Iran to enrich uranium much faster

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Iran plans to increase nuclear fuel work at Natanz
2) U.S. calls Iran’s plan to upgrade uranium work ‘provocative step’

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) Analysis of the Israeli election results
2) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
3) The USA now is under judgment

Israel’s final election results show the following results:

1) 31 Likud-Yisrael Beitenu. Likud, the party of Benjamin Netanyahu and Yisrael Beitenu (the Russian immigrant party)

2) 19 Yesh Atid (there is a future). This is a secular centrist party, headed by former Israeli journalist Yair Lapid

3) 15 Labor. This is a socio-economic party headed by Shelly Yachimovich.

4) 12 Jewish Home. This is a nationalistic modern Orthodox party headed by Naphtali Bennett

5) 11 Shas. This is a Sephardic Ultra-Orthodox party

6) 7 United Torah Judaism. This is a Askenazi Ulta-Orthodox party

7) 6 Hatnua (The Movement). This is the party of Tzipi Livni. She is a strong advocate of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

8) 6 Meretz (The Movement). Far left wing party.

9) 2 Kadima. This party is headed by Shaul Mofaz. He also advocates peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

In Israel, you vote for a political party. You don’t vote for a specific candidate. The leader of the political party which receives the most votes gets to form a coalition of parties to establish a government and become Prime Minister. As a result, Benjamin Netanyahu is in position to remain as Prime Minister of Israel.  In realizing this fact, following the election results, Netanyahu said, “I’m proud to be your prime minister. I thank you for giving me a chance, for the third time, to lead the State of Israel. It is a great privilege and a great responsibility.”Then, he outlined five major principles of the next government:

1) Security. Stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon

2) Fiscal responsibility.  Due to a large government spending deficit, cuts in government spending.

3) Political responsibility. Seeking peace with the Palestinians

4) Equal distribution of burden in society. This means drafting Ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students into the Israeli military

5) Social and economic responsibility: Cut the cost of living and housing prices

Based upon these guidelines, Netanyahu will attempt for form a government. Since there are 120 members in the Israeli Knesset, he needs at least 61 members to form a majority government. Ideally, he would like to form a government with about 80 members. This would prevent his government from being toppled if one of the parties in the coalition becomes unhappy with one of the domestic or foreign policy decisions adopted by the government. While this may be a goal, because of the competing political interests of the various elected parties, this goal will not likely be achievable.

It would seem that Netanyahu has three viable options to form a government:

1) Right Wing coalition: Likud-Beitenu joining Jewish Home and the Ultra-Orthodox parties. This would give him a coalition of 61. However, this government could easily be accused of being against the peace process. It could result in an international economic boycott against Israel for failing to negotiate with the Palestinians. With the Ultra-Orthodox in the coalition, Netanyahu would not be able to get approval to draft Yeshiva students into the Israeli military.

2) Center-Right coalition: Likud-Beitenu joining Yesh Atid (Yair Lapid) and Jewish Home. This would give him a coalition of 62. With this government, Netanyahu could better implement his domestic policies but would be weak against international pressure concerning the peace process. So, this also could result in an international economic boycott against Israel for failing to negotiate with the Palestinians.

3) Left Wing coaltion: Likud-Beitenu joining Yesh Atid (Yair Lapid), Labor (Shelly Yachimovich), The Movement (Tzipi Livni), Kadima (Shaul Mofaz). This would give him a coalition of 73. This would be the strongest government against international pressure regarding the peace process. It would also be a government which could implement Netanyahu’s domestic policies. However, Labor (Shelly Yachimovich) doesn’t want to be in government with Netanyahu. She also would like to topple his government so she could possibly be Prime Minister. With this government, Netanyahu risks the greatest chance of losing his political power.

Netanyahu has already started the process to initiate coalition talks. Initially, he reached out to Yesh Atitd leader Yair Lapid and the leaders of Shas and UTJ, the two Ultra-Orthodox parties. He did not call the leader of Jewish Home, Naphtali Bennett. The Jerusalem post reported that Netanyahu would only invite Jewish Home to join the coalition once a majority of 61 MKs was in place, so he would not have to worry about the party remaining in the coalition following diplomatic concessions, such as the removal of unauthorized West Bank outposts. Jewish Home is opposed to a Palestinian state and had advocated annexing Area C of the West Bank. Jewish Home does not want to be in government with Tzipi Livni who supports a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Initially, Netanyahu talked with Lapid for 2 1/2 hours before he made contact with Bennett of Jewish Home. The delay in contacting Jewish Home is seen as being significant, since the order in which negotiations take place with parties determines which party will join the coalition first, and receive the “juiciest” portfolios, and which is “left out to dry.”  Netanyahu may prefer to form a coalition without Bennett because he thinks Bennett’s hard line on Judea and Samaria (West Bank) will make it more difficult for him to get along with U.S. President Barack Obama.

Yesh Atid (There is a future) and its leader Yair Lapid has two basic conditions for joining the Netanyahu government: 1) Drafting Ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students (those who study Torah full-time) into the Israeli military and 2) The resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.

It is being reported that Netanyahu is prepared to offer Lapid a senior position in his government. He would have the choice between the foreign affairs or finance position. Jewish Home, the nationalistic modern Orthodox party, leader Nephtali Bennett would like to receive the Religious Affairs Ministry if he joined the government. In doing so, he would seek to change the religious status-quo in Israel which is now dominated by the Ultra-Orthodox.

Because of the threats against the Ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, from the proposed changes to the religious status-quo from Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid who wants to draft Yeshiva students in the Israeli army and Jewish Home who wants the Religious Affairs Ministry, Shas and United Torah Judasim are planning to unite this weekend to form a single bloc in the Knesset which would be better able to fight the reforms desired to be imposed against them.

A representative from United Torah Judaism, Moshe Gafni said, “We’ll offer Shas to form a join team that will include representatives from both sides. The people may have spoken by giving Yair Lapid 19 Knessset seats but the same people also gave the haredi parties 18 mandates. We’ll probably join forces on the basic issues. We have similar principles in that respect.” Shas party leader Aryeh Deri said that his party and United Torah Judaism will be united on the issue of drafting Yeshiva students into the Israeli military and the funding of Yeshiva institutions.

In a letter addressed to Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid, Ohad Shaked, a history and civics teacher, who is ultra-Orthodox, pleaded with Yair Lapid to not implement policies that would start a civil war in Israel between the non-Ultra-Orthodox and the Ultra-Orthodox. He wrote the following to Yair Lapid:

“I am sure you are a very intelligent man who understands the equal share of the burden (also called “drafting yeshiva boys”) issue very well. This is a very serious issue, and the next government will have to address it. This issue may exacerbate the religious-secular divide in Israel and lead to civil war.  Deciding on a universal draft would result in the outbreak of a civil war within a few months. The ultra-Orthodox will not relent. Moreover, as the draft becomes more coercive, the resistance to it will intensify.  Therefore, it will be your job to find a way to draft the haredim who should be drafted (particularly those who do nothing – they are frowned upon by the rabbis as well) while allowing those yeshiva boys who do study to continue to do so. You must find the right mechanism to check who among the ultra-Orthodox should be exempt from IDF service under the Torato Emunato (Torah is his profession”) arrangement and who shouldn’t. This can only be done through dialogue. Now is the time to reach an agreement between the seculars and haredim. The haredim understand that a solution is needed, but a good solution is one that comes only from the understanding that the haredi population is different; it has different beliefs and different needs. One must be very creative to find a way to combine the secular and ultra-Orthodox worlds. If you succeed in reaching an agreement on such an important tissue, you will be able to reach agreements with the haredim on other matters as well – and certainly promote your agenda. If you choose not to follow this path, you will be responsible for a civil war, should it break out.”

Meanwhile, Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, would prefer that the nationalistic modern Orthodox party, Jewish Home be in the coalition rather than the ultra-Orthodox. Lapid believes that the Jewish Home views toward drafting Yeshiva students and economic policies are more consistent with the views of Yesh Atid and thus would be comfortable with Jewish Home being in the coalition.

In the election campaign, Likud-Beitenu attacked Jewish Home who was perceived to be their strongest threat to receiving more votes. Likud Knesset member Moshe Feiglin said that Likud’s mudslinging against Jewish Home was a catastrophe.  He estimated that Jewish Home lost 4-5 seats that went to Yesh Atid because of the political attacks.

Left wing Labor leader, Shelly Yachimovich, said that she refuses to sit in government with Benjamin Netanyahu because their socio-economic policies are radically different. She said that should it be needed that Labor would support the peace process with the Palestinians from the opposition. However, the 3rd person in Labor,  Eitan Cabel, said that if Benjamin Netanyahu was interested in having a coalition government which includes Yesh Atid, Tzipi Livni Kadima and Labor but excludes Jewish Home and the ultra-Orthodox parties that if would be difficult for Labor to refuse such an offer.

Based upon the election results and the political negotiating that is going on to form a coalition government, I believe that Israel is at a historical cross roads where it must choose between secular Zionism or nationalist / religious Zionism. In Ezekiel 37, the dry bones coming to life comes about in 2 stages. The first is a physical return (secular Zionism) and this is followed by a spiritual return (religious Zionism). With the results of the elections, it seems that Netanyahu has a choice of embracing secular Zionism (a left wing government), religious Zionism (a right wing government) or a combination of the two. However, in seeking to achieve a combination of the two, the secular Zionists are rejecting the policies of the religious Zionists and the religious Zionists are rejecting the polices of the secular Zionists. So, which government will Netanyahu choose? In the next several weeks, we should begin to know.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Final election count: Right bloc 61, Center-Left 59 seats
2) Netanyahu: Leading Israel is a privilege
3) PM preempts Peres by building broad coalition
4) Netanyahu Meets Lapid for 2.5 Hours, Puts Bennett on Back Burner
5) Lapid’s terms: Universal draft, peace talks
6) PM offers Lapid FM post or Treasury portfolio
7) Lapid wants Foreign Affairs, veto for Defense appointment. Bennett – Religious Affairs
8) Haredi parties consider uniting fronts
9) UTJ, Shas discuss possibility of forming haredi bloc
10) Lapid, prevent civil war
11) Lapid Prefers Bennett in Coalition
12) Feiglin: Likud Shot Itself in the Foot
13) Yachimovich to PM: Labor in opposition
14) ‘If PM formed Center gov’t, Labor would likely join’
15) Israel at Crossroads: Biblical Zion or Secular Zion?

Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina commented on the Israeli election results and said, “We shall cooperate with any government that is committed to the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the establishment of a Palestinian state whose capital is Jerusalem on the 1967 borders.”  He further added, “What is important is that the next government will be committed to the two-state solution, halt settlement construction and recognize the General Assembly resolution.”

Nabil Shaath called on the Unites States and the European Union to increase pressure on Israel to freeze settlement building and resume negotiations leading to a Palestinian state within six months, or face international sanctions. The Palestinian Authority has said it would not return to the negotiating table without an Israeli settlement construction freeze.

In response to the Israeli election results, the United States spokesman Jay Carney renewed the call  for a resumption of long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Carney said: “We believe that what needs to take place is direct negotiations between the two parties (Israelis and Palestinians) that addresses the final-status issues and results in a two-state solution.”

Jordanian King Abdullah speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland said: “The time to take action in the Middle East is now.”  He added that in the next couple of months, Jordan would be marching toward Washington alongside it’s international partners in the peace process, and saying “Mr. President, it’s time to engage in the the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.”

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) PA: Next government must recognize Palestinian state
2) Palestinians predict isolation for Israel after right-wing election win
3) U.S. renews call for resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks
4) ‘Two state solution only viable as long as Obama in power’

Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Kahn, author of the best seller book, ‘The Harbinger’ warned in his book that the events of 9/11 was a prophetic warning to the USA based upon the prophecy of Isaiah 9:10 to the Northern Kingdom of Israel when they were attacked by the Assyrians yet parallels the response to 9/11 from US leaders and their call to make the USA stronger and to rebuild around Ground Zero. He was the keynote speaker at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast meeting. His message was a warning that the judgment of the God of Israel is upon the land.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1)  Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Kahn: His Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast Message (The USA under Judgment)

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l