INTERNATIONAL August 2022 Av - Elul 5782
Understanding Israel and world events from a Biblical perspective
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Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hold a joint press conference at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem on 20 June 2022. | Photo: Flash90
Israel’s Political Turmoil Israel is heading again to elections – the fifth election in less than four years. On 30 June 2022, Israel’s 24th Knesset (Parliament) was disbanded. The Prime Minister for the past year, Naftali Bennett, stepped down as PM and was replaced by Yair Lapid, who will remain Prime Minister until the elections, which will be held in October. In an emotional speech, Bennett announced that he was withdrawing from politics. He handed over leadership of the Yamina party to Ayalet Shaked and will not run in the next elections. This was the most unusual government in Israel’s history. It comprised parties from across the political spectrum.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect was that the coalition government included the Ra’am Party (United Arab List), an Islamic/Arab party which is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
opposition over the last year, has been a vicious critic of the government, which was formed on the platform of ousting Netanyahu. Netanyahu seems to be preparing to run again in the upcoming elections.
Many predicted the coalition would not last long. It lasted a whole year.
The political landscape in Israel has become more splintered, and the culture more polarised and divisive.
Some have praised the government as a unique attempt to bring unity across the political spectrum and for including an Arab party in the government. Others have criticized it as a dangerous experiment, unworkable and unable to make major decisions because of diverging interests.
As this edition of Israel & Christians Today shows, Israel faces many threats, both internal and external. Perhaps most alarming is that it is believed that Iran is possibly now capable of producing nuclear weapons.
Former PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who has headed the
Now, more than ever, Israel needs unity and a strong and stable government that can make the necessary decisions to remove the threats the nation faces.
“But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for My people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favour; you will be ploughed and sown, and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I will cause people, My people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children.” Ezekiel 36:8-12
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Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel