"In the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling. He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." Ps 27:5

NETANYAHU REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR LIEBERMAN AFTER SARKOZY REMARKS: PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he has complete confidence in Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy had told him to "get rid" of Lieberman. Speaking before a group of over 20 European ambassadors in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he knows Lieberman is fully committed to peace and that he is an important member of the elected government of the democratic State of Israel. Sarkozy's unusually blunt remark to remove Lieberman from his post sparked a political backlash among Lieberman's allies. The Foreign Ministry responded to the report by lambasting the French leader for his "intolerable intervention in internal Israeli affairs." (Ha’aretz)

TWO THOUSAND ARRESTED IN VIOLENT IRANIAN CRACKDOWN: Some 2,000 Iranians have been arrested and hundreds more have disappeared since the regime decided to crush dissent. Prominent Iranian actors, actresses, writers and singers were seized over the weekend for supporting the demonstrators. Several opposition bloggers have fallen silent, probably because they have been arrested. Those who challenge President Ahmadinejad’s re-election are now considered to be enemies of the state. (Times-UK) "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation." Matt 12:25

AHMADINEJAD REJECTS OBAMA’S RHETORIC, WARNS OF CRUSHING RESPONSE: Iranian leader Ahmadinejad warned US President Obama that his criticism of crackdowns in Tehran could lead to a "crushing" response. He called Obama’s condemnation of his tough methods used against dissidents "unconventional, abnormal and discourteous." Reformist Iranian candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who was declared the loser in the recent elections, continued to call for new elections on Sunday. Ahmadinejad spoke out after Obama urged him to "consider looking at the families of those who’ve been beaten or shot or detained." The ongoing dispute between the two leaders is another setback for Obama's plan to reach out to Iran through dialogue. (INN)

ISRAEL FED UP WITH US SETTLEMENT DEMANDS: A senior Israeli government official on Monday said Jerusalem is "fed up" with the Obama Administration's exaggerated focus on the construction of Jewish homes in Judea, Samaria and eastern Jerusalem. US President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have become almost hostile when demanding that Israel halt the growth of Jewish neighborhoods in any areas claimed by the Palestinians. Israeli officials, including PM Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, have responded by saying they cannot simply freeze the normal flow of life in Jewish neighborhoods that have been established for decades. (Israel Today) "Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own." Prov 26:17

OBAMA’S OUTREACH TO MUSLIMS PROMPTS MASS KORAN DISTRIBUTION: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), whose officials in the past have been convicted for being associated with Muslim terrorist groups, said it is launching an "education campaign" and will distribute 100,000 copies of the Koran to local, state and national leaders. CAIR said the distribution is prompted by US President Obama’s recent speech in Cairo, in which he said he wants to reach out to Muslims throughout the world. He praised the Muslim community in the US whose values he said incorporate tenets of Islam. President Obama, whose father was a Muslim, quoted the Koran four times in his speech in Cairo and used the word "violence" instead of "terror" in his reference to extremists. (INN)

NETANYAHU TO PUTIN: STOP SELLING MISSILES TO IRAN: Relations between Israel and Russia have grown tense over a significant change in Moscow's attitude regarding the possible sale of S-300 air defense missiles to Iran. PM Netanyahu this week called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and asked him to prevent the arms deal from going through. Israel’s prime minister argued that delivering the defense system to Iran would undermine the military balance in the region. There have not been any reports on Putin's response (Ha’aretz)

URANIUM GIVES N. KOREA 2ND WAY TO MAKE BOMBS: Following nearly seven years of adamant denials, North Korea has announced it can enrich uranium, a simpler method of building nuclear weapons than reprocessing plutonium. The admission poses a new challenge to the US, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan as they seek to stem the reclusive country's atomic ambitions. North Korea and Iran are believed to be trading information about nuclear and missile technology, making proliferation a key concern. (Fox News) "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire." Ps 18:1

ANTI-ISRAEL EDUCATION: Protests by the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) forced the Canadian province of British Columbia to remove from its website a "loaded bomb" question that illustrates how anti-Zionism infiltrates into the educational system. A question prepared for a history examination in the province was posted on the website as part of a practice test. Students were asked to identify the group referred to in the following statement: "They have been fighting to regain a homeland since they were driven out in 1948. Some have lived their entire lives in refugee camps. Forty years later, Israel still refuses to recognize their right to exist as a nation." The students were offered four choices: Jews, Iranians, Egyptians or Palestinians. CJC officials pointed out all three-sentences in the question presented a "one-sided view" full of historical inaccuracies. The question was promptly removed after complaints. (INN)

NBA DRAFT PICK LIKELY TO BE FIRST ISRAELI TO PLAY IN THE LEAGUE: Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball star Omri Casspi will likely be the first Israeli to play in the NBA after being the number 23 pick in the first round of the draft by the Sacramento Kings last week. Casspi, 20 years old and 6 feet 9 inches tall, led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the league championship last year and is considered one of the top small forwards picked in this year’s NBA draft. When NBA commissioner David Stern announced Casspi’s selection, fans of the Israeli player present burst out in celebration. Casspi, at home, was caught on camera with tears pouring down his face. "I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. I’m as happy as can be," he said. (Arutz 7) "A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. Pr 18:16

PACK TO SCHOOL: Vision for Israel & The Joseph Storehouse assemble backpacks containing essential materials and supplies to assist poor children each school year. As we prepare to provide thousands of needy youngsters with school bags and supplies for September 2009, we realize there are not enough collected funds to cover the total cost of this year’s project. Meeting the needs of Israel’s children is a cause close to God's heart and we trust Him to bring in the lacking finances. Please remember that our treasures are stored in heaven and help us with your financial donations to bless thousands of poverty stricken Israeli children this coming school year.