Refugees from the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region and subsequent mistreatment in Egypt continue to find their way to Israel at a rate of about twenty people per day. Israel has allowed hundreds of these refugees to take up temporary residence within the Jewish state, but is increasingly at a loss on how to handle what is a delicate situation. To the alarm of many, the Islamic Movement in southern Israel has started seeking out and offering assistance to the refugees, most of whom are Christians.

In an effort to counter the extremist Muslim organization, the Israeli government has turned to the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) to help with temporarily accommodating the arriving Sudanese until more permanent arrangements can be worked out on "kibbutzim" (hebrew for communal villages) throughout the country. "We committed to meeting this request...out of a sense of compassion for fellow Christians and because the radical Islamic Movement in Israel was also offering to take custody of them," said ICEJ Director Malcom Hedding (photo left). The Christian Embassy will provide housing, food and medical care for groups of refugees for periods of two weeks.

Over the past few months, the Shabak (Israel's General Security Service) has captured members of a terrorist cell that planned to blow up a synagogue in Modiin and kidnap Americans in Judea and Samaria. Their goal was to bring about the release of Ahmed Saadat, the imprisoned head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Saadat ordered the assassination of Israeli cabinet minister and former IDF General Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001. The leading cell member terrorist, Ramzi Hasin Sharauna, was arrested four months ago, and he informed the GSS interrogators of the ties he had formed with PFLP men in Gaza. They assigned him the mission of building a PFLP cell in the Hevron region, along the lines of those in Shechem and Jenin. Sharauna said he had also been assigned to find a suicide terrorist to blow up a synagogue in the city of Modiin, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. However, he volunteered to do the job himself, as he knew the area from his illegal work at a construction site nearby. He said that he later changed the plan, intending to blow up the building while it was empty, and then escape to Ramallah.

Sharauna's cell also planned to kidnap American volunteers, and hold them as ransom for the release of Saadat. The group actually kidnapped someone a year ago, but released him when he yelled out. Other attacks they planned included a shooting in Modiin, as well as shootings and stabbings in the vicinity of Hevron. Twelve cell members have been arrested thus far. The Shabak announced that the terrorists' plans indicate the involvement of Gaza elements in perpetrating terrorism in Judea and Samaria.

Israel assisted one hundred Arabs Wednesday night in emigrating from Gaza to Egypt. The Israeli Army (IDF) provided buses to transport the "Palestinian" Authority (PA) Arabs from the Erez Crossing on the northern tip of Gaza to the Kerem Shalom Crossing on the southern tip of Gaza and then across the Egyptian border. The buses, traveling on Israeli roads, were surrounded by heavy security, to prevent the Fatah-affiliated Arabs from escaping while in Israel. The transfer was negotiated with the Egyptian regime. Some thirty of the Arabs were found to have been involved in past terrorist activities.

The Arabs have been camping out at the Erez crossing since Hamas took power, seeking to flee Gaza, preferably to Judea and Samaria. Several were wounded when a Hamas terrorist opened fire at the crowd Monday, sparking a gunfight with IDF soldiers over the heads of the crowd.

On Wednesday, the recently sworn-in Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, ordered the IDF to allow the wounded and sick among the group through the security fence to be treated in Israeli hospitals. PA reports say fifty-five Arabs were allowed into Israel following the order. The Physicians for Human Rights group had filed a petition with Israel's Supreme Court demanding that the Arabs be allowed to enter Israel. The court ruled that the state must do "everything [it] can do to save human life," but acknowledged that the security forces had the right to bar entry to foreign nationals.

Also Wednesday, ninety Ukrainians, many married to Gazan men and fearing life under Hamas, were evacuated from Gaza through the Erez Crossing.

Following a recent visit to Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) by Absorption Minister Ze'ev Boim, ministry representatives from around the country participated in a number of intense strategic meetings Wednesday to further coordinate with Nefesh B'Nefesh before the arrival of this summer's aliyah flights. Aliyah (literally "going up") is the Hebrew term for Jews returning to their ancestral homeland, and Nefesh B'Nefesh (Souls United) is the leading organization facilitating aliyah from western countries, primarily from the United States.

More than fifty Absorption Ministry officials came to NBN offices Wednesday to work on making aliyah easier and more successful. While individuals on the NBN staff often meet Absorption officials for work meetings, Wednesday's meeting of the minds was the first of its kind in which over fifty Absorption Ministry officials came to the NBN offices to brainstorm and seek ways to make aliyah less bureaucratic and more successful.

Batsheva Reuveni, Administrative Director of Absorption Ministry, began the summit with the announcement, "This meeting is for the benefit of all potential olim (Jews immigrating to Israel). We see Nefesh B'Nefesh as a blessing, and it is highly important to conduct these meetings to ensure the success of the arriving olim." Danny Oberman, Nefesh B'Nefesh’s VP of Israel Operations commented, "Since Nefesh B'Nefesh is facilitating more than twenty-five percent of Israel's total aliyah this year, we have begun coordinating in-depth work meetings with various government bodies to pave the path for the next wave of Western aliyah."

Noya Govrin, NBN's Director of Absorption, explained that cooperation between NBN and the Absorption Ministry cuts a lot of red tape. "We collect all the necessary data needed for the issuance of an Oleh ID Card, and ensure that the card is printed before landing. Upon landing in Israel, it takes twenty seconds for a new immigrant to get the card," says Govrin.

Dozens of trucks carrying tons of food and medical supplies have entered Gaza since the Hamas terrorist organization took over the area. Another four hundred tons were transferred via the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Thursday. Included in the delivery were one hundred thirty tons of flour, fifty tons each of rice and sugar, thirty-four tons of pasta, thirty-three tons of lentils, thirty tons of margarine, twenty tons of beans, eighteen tons of barley, fifteen tons of chickpeas, eight tons of powdered milk, seven tons of astringents, five tons of tea, two tons of soup and thousands of liters of oil. Jordan supplied the biggest part of the basics – flour, legumes and oil – and international aid organizations provided the rest, to be distributed by their representatives to "Palestinian" Authority residents now being ruled by the Hamas terrorists.

Thousands of liters of gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas supplies were delivered through the Nahal Oz terminal. Tons of medical supplies were provided as well, and Red Cross surgeons were sent in to add their expertise to doctors working round the clock in Gaza hospitals. Medics also evacuated residents to Israel for specialized medical care.

The Tzemach Institute has joined forces with the Christian Friends Of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) in planning a special tour of the heartland of biblical Israel. Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life. The tour has been coordinated with Sondra Baras of CFOIC and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein [pictured left].
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