MATTIS WARNS OF ‘LIKELY’ CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN: Direct conflict between Israeli and Iranian forces is increasingly likely in Syria as Tehran pursues a permanent military presence there, USA Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned on 26 April 2018. Addressing a congressional panel before hosting his Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Liberman, at the Pentagon, Mattis said it was “very likely” from his perspective, “because Iran continues to do its proxy work there through Hezbollah.” Receiving Liberman, Mattis told reporters that he saw no reason for Iran to ship advanced missiles to Hezbollah through Syria except to threaten Israel. “I can see how it might start, but I am not sure when or where,” the secretary told lawmakers. Mattis then echoed Liberman’s warning from earlier in the day, in which he said Israeli forces would strike Tehran if Iranian missiles ever hit Tel Aviv. The two met at the Pentagon after Liberman met with USA President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, John Bolton. (J.Post)

STATE DEPT. DROPS ‘OCCUPIED’ REFERENCE TO PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES IN REPORT: An annual USA government report on human rights has dropped reference to the Palestinian territories as "occupied" for the first time since 1979. The State Department report, now lists its section on Israel and the territories by their names: Gaza and the West Bank, (Judea & Samaria) alongside the Golan Heights. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and has no administrative control over the Strip. But it maintains full security control over Judea & Samaria through military occupation, and continues to approve construction for Israeli settlers to live there. "The lie of the occupied Palestinian territories begins to be revealed," Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman wrote in response to the new report. "They say that a lie repeated often enough becomes true, but the truth is always stronger. The State Department report is proof of that," Liberman wrote. (Arutz-7)

IRANIAN GENERAL: ‘DATE SET’ FOR DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL: Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, the commander of the Iranian ground forces, said in a speech last week that Iran's army is "much stronger than in the past" and that Israel can no longer threaten the Islamic Republic. The Iranian news agency Mehr reported that the general said that "the date has already been set" for the destruction of Israel. He stressed that unlike Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, which import weapons from the West, his country produces its own weapons. Iran's military budget for 2017 was $15.9 billion, an increase of almost 65% from 2014. Tensions between Israel and Iran have been rising over Iran's military presence in Syria. Israeli security officials revealed that Iran is now preparing for a direct assault on Israel, using its growing military assets on Israel’s northern border to strike targets inside the Jewish state. (Arutz-7) 

    “Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed.” Psalm 21:11

Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim 

Happy 70th Birthday, Israel! April 20, 2018

“I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,  the deeds for which he is to be praised,  according to all the Lord has done for us— yes,  the many good things he has done for Israel,  according to his compassion and many kindnesses.” Isa. 63:7

THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE MURDEROUS ATTACKS: Terror attacks in Israel have left 3,175 orphans, 822 widows, and 926 bereaved parents who live among us today. Ahead of the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism, which will be marked on Wed.18 April, 2018 the National Insurance Institute said the number of civilians killed in terrorist attacks since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 stands at 3,134. This figure also includes 122 foreign nationals killed in terrorist attacks in Israel and 100 Israelis who died abroad. In the past year, from the last Independence Day, 12 Israelis have been murdered, with the last one being Adiel Kolman, who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem on his way to the Western Wall last month. The terrorist attacks have left 3,175 orphans, including 114 who lost both their parents, 822 widows, and 926 bereaved parents who live among us today. (INN)

TRUMP WANTS OUT OF SYRIA: 
     The White House said days ago that the USA military mission in Syria was coming to “a rapid end” even as President Trump has insisted it’s time for American troops to return home. With Israel and other USA allies anxious about a hasty USA withdrawal, the Trump administration said it would stay in war-torn Syria to finish off the job of defeating the ISIS group and was committed to eliminating the terrorists’ “small” presence that “our forces have not already eradicated.” There have been clear signs the United States was narrowing its mission in Syria and would focus only on defeating ISIS and not on the broader task of stabilizing the country. “We will continue to consult with our allies and friends regarding future plans,” said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders. “We expect countries in the region and beyond, plus the UN, to work toward peace and ensure” that ISIS never returns. USA officials and foreign governments have been concerned that without a continued American military presence, ISIS could re-constitute itself or others could fill the void. Many have warned that a premature USA withdrawal from Syria would cede the country to Iran and Russia, which have supported Syrian President Bashar Assad. Iran’s continued presence in Syria is especially troubling to neighboring Israel that regards Iran as an existential threat. (World Israel)

USA BLOCKS UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION CALLING FOR INVESTIGATION OF GAZA BORDER VIOLENCE: The United States blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for an investigation of Israel’s use of force against Palestinians who massed on Gaza’s border. The statement proposed on 31 March 2018 called for an investigation of the Israel Defense Forces use of live fire, rubber bullets and other crowd control methods to push back the estimated 30,000 Palestinians in six spots along the border. Some of the Palestinians threw firebombs and rocks, and planted explosives on the border, according to the IDF. “While Jews around the world gathered with their family at the Seder table to celebrate the Passover holiday, the Palestinians sunk to a new deceitful low so that they could use the UN to spread lies about Israel,” said Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon. “This shameful exploitation of our holiday will not succeed in stopping us from speaking the truth about the Hamas terror-gatherings that aim to destabilize the region,” he added. Hamas said the lack of a resolution from the Security Council about the border clashes due to the USA rejection showed that Washington is “fully biased” for Israel. (JTA)

NETANYAHU ANSWERS TURKEY’S ERDOGAN OVER GAZA: Turkish President Erdogan on Sunday 1 April, 2018 said, "Israel has carried out a massacre in Gaza and Netanyahu is a terrorist." In response, Israeli PM Netanyahu said, "Anyone who occupies Northern Cyprus, invades the Kurds, and massacres civilians in Afrin shouldn't lecture us on morality and values." Earlier on Sunday he said, "The most moral army in the world will not be lectured to by someone who for years has been bombing civilian populations indiscriminately." (Ha'aretz)