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  • Abbas and Netanyahu in Washington | Posted by Mart De Haan on Aug 31 2010

    On Thursday, September 2, the latest rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are scheduled to begin in Washington. According to Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, the talks will collapse if Israel does not extend its freeze on construction in the West Bank. On the same day Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, reportedly said [...]

  • Jerusalem Journal | Posted by Mart De Haan on Jan 19 2010

    On arriving in the Middle East my cab driver said that he used to be on “the left.” But said he had come to the conclusion that Arab and Jewish people would never be able to live together. Later an Israeli friend said, regarding peace, “The United States has been the savior of the world.” [...]

  • Hope for A Dying Dead Sea | Posted by Mart De Haan on Sep 14 2009

    The Dead Sea is dying. Water levels of what the Bible also calls The Salt Sea, already rest at the lowest on earth (1378 feet below sea level), and are dropping at a rate of three feet a year. The problem has developed not only from natural weather cycles, but also from the amount of [...]

  • Obama, Ahmadinejad, and Netanyahu | Posted by Mart De Haan on Jun 15 2009

    In the wake of an unexpected landslide victory, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran is defending the validity of the election and cracking down on protesters. At the same time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have softened his position in response to pressure from Washington and has said he would accept a limited Palestinian [...]

  • The Mysterious Third Feast of Israel | Posted by Mart De Haan on Apr 12 2009

    Moses asked Israel to remember their Exodus Passover on the 14th of the Hebrew month of  Nisan (Lev 23:5).  He said the next day (the 15th) was to begin  seven days of Unleavened Bread and called the first day a no-work/Sabbath (vv 6-7). Moses went on to say that, once Israel was in their promised [...]

  • Jesus and the Spring Feasts | Posted by Mart De Haan on Apr 07 2009

    As we enter together into this holy week and season of Passover, sure wish everyone could see how the final events of Jesus life coincide with an ancient, annual cycle of Jewish holidays. In addition to fulfilling the mysterious predictions of prophets, Jesus showed how deeply his life was rooted in the annual celebrations of [...]

  • Israel Trip After Thoughts | Posted by Mart De Haan on Apr 02 2009

    Got back yesterday from a region that is as diverse and confusing as this donkey and rider on the rooftop of the Old City of Jerusalem– surrounded by antennas and satellite dishes. The lingering jet lag that will probably shadow us for a week, has given me a chance, over night, to reflect not only [...]

  • Purim 2009 | Posted by Mart De Haan on Mar 11 2009

    Today is the second and last day of the Jewish festival of Purim 2009. This is a fun holiday in Israel with costumes, noise-makers, face-paint and parades. But behind the laughter and foolishness lies a serious story of national survival. Behind Purim is the account of how God used a young Jewish woman by the [...]

  • Israel's Sh'ma and Monotheism | Posted by Mart De Haan on Jan 28 2009

    The “Sh’ma” of Israel is at the heart of her monotheism. it represents the first Hebrew words of a prayer, central to the morning and evening prayers of observant Jewish people. “Hear O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the [...]

  • Israel: What If? | Posted by Mart De Haan on Jan 09 2009

    What we know is that the Bible says God gave the land of the Canaanites to his chosen people to show that he is God of gods. The same Scriptures make it clear that Israel’s security in the land would depend on their faithfulness to the covenant that God made with them. According to Moses, [...]

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