JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE
September 14, 2012

“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness, because of violence
against the people of Judah, for they have shed innocent blood in their land. Joel 3:19

IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE GLOBAL JIHAD: Christian Whiton, a State Department senior adviser from 2003-2009 in a Fox News article Thursday said, “Cairo, the city where a mob entered the US embassy compound and burned an American flag, was the epicenter of what critics call Obama’s “apology tour.” It was there he criticized his own nation’s response to 9/11. That was the reason US diplomats in Cairo instinctively put out an apologetic condemnation of those who “hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.” They were simply channeling the Obama view of the world. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama need to understand one thing: there are people in this world who share the vision Osama bin Laden had and who have the will and means to act. No amount of apologizing for America, embracing our adversaries or mistreating our allies will change that. (Fox)

US TELLS CAIRO: WE READ YOUR ARABIC TWEETS, TOO: While Egyptian protesters fought security forces outside the US Embassy in Cairo Thursday morning, another standoff was taking place in cyberspace between the Embassy and the Muslim Brotherhood, wrote Al Ahram Online Thursday. The Muslim Brotherhood's official English-language Twitter account reposted a message from the group's deputy head, Khairat El-Shater, saying he was relieved none of the US embassy Cairo staff was hurt and expressing hope US-Egyptian relations would survive intact. "Meanwhile, the Brotherhood's Arabic-language Twitter account and its official website were both praising the protests and calling for a million-man march Friday," wrote the news source. One Arabic language article on the Brotherhood's site sported the headline “Egyptians rise to defend the Prophet.” The US Embassy in Cairo picked up the contradiction and tweeted: “Thanks. Have you checked out your own Arabic feeds? I hope you know we read those too.” Egypt's president, Mohammed Morsi, is chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood's political party. (INN)

RIOTS BREAK OUT ACROSS THE MUSLIM WORLD DUE TO US FILM: Violent demonstrations have erupted across the Muslim world since Tuesday of this week. The upheavals stem from a 14-minute film trailer, apparently produced in the United States, which satirizes Islam's prophet. It was posted in July on YouTube, but gained more notice after Egyptian television recently aired segments and anti-Islam activists promoted it online. In Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi, protests turned violent Tuesday leading to the deaths of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans when demonstrators launched an attack on the city's US Consulate. Since Tuesday's deadly assault in Libya and a massive protest the same day at the US Embassy in Cairo, demonstrations, both small and large, have been reported in Israel, Gaza, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Iran and among Muslims in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir. Security has been heightened at US diplomatic missions worldwide. (/Ha’aretz/Ynet)

LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR OBAMA TO GET TOUGH OVER EMBASSY ATTACKS: Lawmakers and other officials stepped up calls Thursday for the United States to put heavy pressure on the governments whose people are storming US diplomatic posts across the Middle East and North Africa - even if it means freezing aid and expelling diplomats from Washington. The calls increased as anti-American demonstrations and violence spread to Yemen, and as protests entered their third day near the US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The clashes continued after four Americans including the US ambassador were killed Tuesday night during attacks on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The assault came roughly a year after the US and its allies helped Libyans overthrow dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said President Obama should be putting particular pressure on Egypt and its president, Mohammed Morsi, over the sustained demonstrations there. King said the US should suspend aid to Egypt until Morsi makes "absolutely clear" he is condemning the demonstrations and taking "forceful action" to protect the US Embassy. (Fox)

OBAMA SAYS EGYPT NEITHER FRIEND NOR FOE AFTER ATTACK: The US does not consider Egypt's Islamist-led government an ally or an enemy, US President Barack Obama said in a Spanish-language television interview aired in full on Thursday. "I don't think that we would consider them an ally, but we don't consider them an enemy," said Obama on Wednesday after mobs of demonstrators angry over a film they consider blasphemous to Islam assaulted the US embassy in Cairo. He said the newly formed Egyptian government, which was democratically elected, is trying "to find its way." If government officials take actions showing "they're not taking responsibility," then it would "be a real big problem," the president said in the interview. (Reuters) President Obama, “there’s a real big problem.”

WHAT OBAMA REALLY MEANT TO SAY: The State Department cutting through the confusion over President Obama's claim that Egypt is not a US ally, contradicted his comment Thursday. Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said, in fact, Egypt is considered a major non-NATO ally. The president made the initial statement in a radio interview. "I don't think that we would consider them an ally, but we do not consider them an enemy," Obama said, reacting to the intense demonstrations outside the US Embassy in Cairo. The comment raised a number of diplomatic eyebrows. However Nuland and White House aides tried to fix Obama’s media blunder - one of several lately - by suggesting that maybe he was referring to the fact Egypt is not part of any formal NATO treaty. (Fox)

DEMONSTRATORS IN GAZA CITY CALL FOR DEATH TO THE US - DEATH TO ISRAEL: In Gaza City, protesters took to the streets Thursday to demonstrate over the film "Innocence of Muslims," which has sparked furious anti-American protests across the Muslim world. Witnesses said demonstrators burnt US and Israeli flags and chanted, "Death to America! Death to Israel!" They also burnt black-and-white pictures of a person believed to be the producer of the film. The protest was in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood, which houses the headquarters of international organizations such as UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization. In Israel, the northern branch of the Islamic movement began demonstrating on Thursday afternoon opposite the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. The southern branch will carry out a similar protest on Friday which will start at the end of Friday prayers in all the Mosques in Rahat, and will terminate in the center of the city. (Ha’aretz) Pray against further violent repercussions resulting from demonstrations scheduled to take place in Israel – also those likely to continue across the region after Friday Muslim prayers.

NETANYAHU: ISRAEL UNDERSTANDS AMERICA’S PAIN OVER EMBASSY MURDERS: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday conveyed Israel's condolences to the US over this week's murders of four consular staff members at the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, noting that no nation knows better than Israel what it is like to deal with such brutal acts of terror. "The people of Israel grieve with the American people; we send our condolences to the families," said Netanyahu. "If there's any people in the world that understands what Americans are going through, what they went through in 9/11, it's the people of Israel, who've been standing at the forefront of the battle against terrorism, who've lost loved ones and who deeply, deeply sympathize with the people of America at this time." US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meanwhile blamed the Libya attack on a "small, savage" group of extremists. However, both the Libya and Egypt incidents have again raised concerns that last year's Arab Spring has been hijacked by radical Islamists who have no intention whatsoever of implementing the kind of Western democracy that was promised. (Israel Today/Ryan Jones)

YEMEN’S US EMBASSY ATTACKED BY PROTESTERS: The US Embassy was attacked by a mob in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a on Thursday with "protesters" ripping down the American flag. Sources reported at least four rioters dead and 34 person wounded in the violence. Hundreds were said to have forced their way into the American compound, tearing off the embassy's sign from the outer wall. Gunfire was exchanged between security guards and protesters. The mob tore down the American flag and ripped it to shreds before putting it to the torch. They also set fire to a building, but were forced to retreat while trying to trash computers and furniture. The attack on the US Embassy in Yemen came as violent demonstrations entered a third day at the US Embassy in Cairo, where security forces had been firing tear gas canisters to maintain control over the mobs. Meanwhile, Americans mourned the deaths of US Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other American diplomats who were brutally murdered Tuesday night in a similar attack at the US Consulate in Benghazi. (INN)

RIOTS CONTINUE AT US EMBASSY IN CAIRO: Rioting continued throughout Thursday at the US Embassy in Cairo for the third day. Dozens have been injured this far including 6 police officers and 13 protesters according to Egyptian state television. Demonstrators have been hurling rocks and firebombs at police and at the American embassy compound. As of Thursday night security personnel were still trying to disperse the mob, which gathered near the embassy in Tahrir Square, by firing tear gas canisters from police vehicles. Protesters gathered Wednesday in Cairo to protest against an obscure video made in the US that satirized the life of the Prophet Mohammed, founder of Islam, which has also touched off anti-American riots in other Arab countries across the region. Chanting anti-US slogans, the protest became violent by Wednesday night as demonstrators broke through barbed wire placed outside the American embassy. Two police trucks and a car were torched in the ensuing riot. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has yet to denounce the attackers. Instead, he attacked the producers of the video, “Innocence of Muslims,” in a statement on his Facebook page, condemning “the people who have produced this radical work.” (Arutz-7)

Blessings from Jerusalem,

Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff 

As international speakers and messengers of the Good News through music, Barry and Batya Segal are at the forefront of what God is doing in the present day nation of Israel. With strong ties in both the nations and Jerusalem, the Segals are weaving the deepest roots of our biblical heritage together with the fresh Spirit-filled worship of today to create their rich harmony of Scripture and song.

The Segals have a vast vision for God's purposes in the nations and to the people of Israel. In fact, their longing to help rebuild Israel both spiritually and physically inspired them to pioneer the non-profit charity organization, Vision for Israel and The Joseph Storehouse. This arm of their ministry focuses on assisting the poor and needy, widows and orphans, and reaching out to the new Jewish immigrants coming into the land of Israel. Vision 's most challenging project to date is "The Joseph Storehouse®", humanitarian aid center, located in the hills of Jerusalem. The Joseph Storehouse functions as a channel of blessing to all of Israel, Jewish and Arab, through the gathering and distribution of emergency medical supplies, food, clothing, and other basic life necessities. USA office contact info: Vision for Israel, PO Box 7743, Charlotte NC 28241, 866-351-0075. The Segal's web site is http://www.visionforisrael.com/

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.