Palestinians Bemoan Rebirth Of Israel

Sirens wailed in Palestinian towns yesterday to mark “the catastrophe” Shalom from Jerusalem. Yesterday at noon, sirens in Palestinian towns like Ramallah wailed for 66 seconds—marking 66 years since Israel's Declaration of Independence in 1948. Palestinians call the prophetic and miraculous rebirth of the Jewish state “Nakba”—day of the catastrophe. Ceremonies were held at the tomb of arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat, and marches and parades took place in many cities. Marchers carried maps of Palestine that do not show Israel existing, and many had metal keys—symbolizing the homes their ancestors were told to flee by Arab leaders in 1948. What began with parades, including bagpipers, scout groups and families, soon turned to violent attacks against Jewish people and security forces. The clashes left at least two people dead. Being here in Israel for this event and seeing the open hatred and desire for the destruction of Israel so active is heartbreaking, especially in light of my trip to Ukraine and Belarus. The Jewish people I met there (and the needs are SO great—please continue to pray with me for these dear people) long to come to Israel. Yet even those who do come are not safe. The same hatred for God's Chosen People that threatens their lives and future in Ukraine is very evident here. Nearly 30 years ago, God directed me to go behind the Iron Curtain into the former Soviet Union to work for the release of Jewish people there so that they could go to Israel. I'll never forget the day I was able to present President Ronald Reagan with a petition signed by one million people urging the release of Russian Jews, including dissident Natan Sharansky. Nothing that I am sharing with you is budgeted. We have made the biggest step of faith of our ministry this year—not only to launch the brightest light in the nation of Israel with the first Christian museum in the Jewish state, but also to do so much there to help suffering Holocaust victims. Yet we cannot turn away from this urgent need. We must do both! Today, I am asking you to open your heart to the cries for help from Ukraine.  - Dr. Mike Evans