Home Events Beliefs Contact Us Who we are Donate Resources Links
Bible Prophecy Foundation Israel News Desk with BPF Secretary Steve Lloyd
News concerning Israel - December 2019
Supporting Israel

Esther 4:14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”


For the Jewish population of the United Kingdom voting day, December 12th is looming. With all that has been going on in the Labour party and anti-semitism, there is a real worry that if Corbyn gets into No 10 Downing Street, UK Jewry will come under threat and cause many to flee the country.

But just two days after the election, regardless of the outcome the Jewish community can celebrate the feast of Hanukkah. A time to remember that great miracle of light with the one days supply of oil allowing the Menorah candle to burn for EIGHT days!

The God of all creation made this miracle happen – and He will hold you and keep you in the palm of His hand. Praise be to His Name.


UK – Has the timing of Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis’ bombshell intervention on antisemitism in the Labour Party helped or hindered Jeremy Corbyn’s attempt to seize power in the coming General Election?

The far-left Marxist leader was savaged recently on TV by rottweiler interviewer Andrew Neill, who pressed him on no fewer than five occasions to apologise to the Jewish Community for his party’s abject failure to tackle this problem.

But Corbyn consistently refused to do so.

Rabbi Mirvis, who has consistently refused to meet Corbyn, launched his astonishing attack in The Times and was quickly backed by leaders of other religious communities. This left Corbyn and his associates reeling on the day they had attempted to initiate their own programme to confront all forms of racism.

Corbyn has also been attacked by the Ex MI6 head who stated that he posed a security risk for Britain.


How we need to pray for our country at this time. We have never been in such a dilemma, outside of WW2, we need to cry out to the LORD to save us from this ‘impossible’ situation.


USA – With the UN passing so many resolutions against Israel, it is good news to see President Trump once again supporting the Jewish Nation. After recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital, recognising Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights and closing the Palestinian offices in Washington, the USA has announced that Israeli settlements on the West Bank are legal and do not violate international law.

This shift in American policy was announced by Pompeo who said “After carefully studying all sides of the legal debate, this administration agrees with President Reagan”. This announcement came after a year long review conducted by the State Departments Legal Office.


UN – The UN has given its preliminary approval to a resolution that referred to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount solely by its Muslim name of Harem al-Sharif.

The resolution passed at the UN’s Fourth Committee in New York 154-8 with 14 abstentions and 17 absences.

It was one of eight pro-Palestinian resolutions approved out of an agenda of more than 15 such texts the committee is expected to approve.


Israel – November saw one of the worst months for some time in regard to rocket attacks from Gaza. A 48 hour flare up in hostilities following the targeted assassination of Islamic



Jihad commander Baha Abu al-Ata saw 450 rockets fired into Israel causing many parts of the country to be shut down.

In retaliation to the rocket attack Israeli war planes pummelled sites throughout the Gaza Strip killing 34 Palestinians.

The rockets caused injuries to 80 Israelis, mostly from shrapnel.

As always, Israeli targets were chosen carefully to hit Islamic Jihad. Following the attacks the Prime Minister stated “We have scored a great victory” and his new defence minister, Naftali Bennett added “No terror leader will now be able to sleep peacefully in his bed”.


November also saw much dismay and bitterness in Israel as two stretches of land straddling the border with Jordan were handed back to Amman.

The two territories – comprising a little more than 1000 acres – was a particularly harsh blow to Israeli farmers.

Israel had held both stretches of land under a deal which was part of the 1994 Jordan-Israel peace treaty. The farmers affected will be allowed to go back to the land briefly in order to harvest what they had planted, but will not be allowed to plant any new crops.

King Abdullah II declared joyfully “We will impose our full sovereignty on every inch”.


Israel has seen a dramatic rise in women serving as combat troops in co-ed battalions.

The IDF is changing the ratio in co-ed units in order to move male fighters to manoeuvring units because of the increase. The IDF has seen a shortage of manpower in these units since the compulsory service was shortened. Recently released figures showed that female soldiers make up 65% of the Border Police and males 35%. That’s a rise in females of 10% on previous figures.


A team of Jerusalem based researchers claim they have a cure for diabetes that could hit the market in the next few years.

Betalin Therapeutics have developed the first bio-artificial pancreas, composed of pig’s lung tissue and insulin secreting cells. The artificial pancreas would be implanted into the patient and connect with his or her blood vessels, and then be able to measure the body’s sugar level and secrete the optimal amount of insulin needed to balance blood sugar.


Ukraine – Israel Foreign minister Israel Katz has welcomed Ukraine’s decision to open what he stressed was a ‘diplomatic mission’ in Jerusalem, saying that this “strengthens the status of Jerusalem in the world”.


Pray for the IDF and IAF as they defend the boarders and continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.


Happy Hanukkah!


Every blessing, Maranatha.

Steve