Civil Unrest
Controversy surrounding the judicial reform has grown throughout March as the government continued to push through their legislation. IDF reservists from several elite combat units also sparked controversy as they protested by refusing to participate in reserve training. Many have condemned their politicization of the IDF.

The tension finally boiled over when Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant towards the end of the month. Although the PM cited Gallant's handling of the situation with the IDF reserves, Gallant had criticized Netanyahu’s course of action the day before, and many felt that Gallant’s termination really reflected this. Regardless of the reason, the prime minister’s move ignited the most intense protests yet, which ultimately led him to halt the judicial reform. This pause will, God willing, allow time for the different parties to dialogue and for the tense political and cultural to calm down.

While both sides of the argument have legitimate reasons to believe as they do, the bigger issue is the growing cultural fissure in Israeli society between religious and secular, right and left. The unwillingness to facilitate dialogue and compromise, the politicization of the IDF and the all-or-nothing determination of both sides is concerning. Palestinians have widely celebrated the chaos online, with hashtags like “#israelisburning” in Arabic.

Please continue to pray for:

• Respect for the rule of law, the distribution of power, and basic government institutions from all sides of the political aisle.
• Compromise between Government and Knesset Opposition
• National unity and dialogue, based on humility and a desire to understand different perspectives
• Continued social, religious, and judicial liberty
• For Israel’s military and security forces to remain apolitical and effective even during the upheaval

Israeli Security and Terror, Especially During Ramadan
Following an extremely bloody beginning of the year, the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority held two consecutive summits in Jordan and in Egypt, brokered by Jordanian, Egyptian and US delegations, during which both sides pledged a renewed commitment to peace and de-escalation. As part of the talks, Israel promised to refrain for a period of 4 months from approving new settlement activity in Judea and Samaria.

This discussion of de-escalation appears to be mostly theoretical, as three more terror attacks occurred in March, claiming the life of one Israeli and severely wounding three others; the IDF continued its nightly raids on the homes of Palestinian terror suspects; and the Israeli government made Jewish settlement in northern Samaria legal once again.

The IDF remains on high alert as Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, begins. Forces in Judea and Samaria have already seen intense rioting, and two soldiers were wounded by gunfire in the village of Huwara. Huwara, the same Palestinian village where two other terror attacks have occurred in the last month, presents a major challenge for security forces in the area.

Please pray for:

• Discernment and timing for right-wing politicians in advancing potentially inflammatory bills in the Knesset
• Comfort and healing to the victims of terror and their families
• A de-escalation of the tense security situation
• Protection and alertness for Israel's security forces as they seek to execute justice and protect Israeli civilians through arrests, arms seizures, and day-to-day guarding duties
• Wisdom for security forces in crafting policy in the village of Huwara
• A calm and peaceful Ramadan

Iranian Nuclear Ambitions
An international nuclear watchdog announced that Iran has reached 84% uranium enrichment, marking a significant increase from the last noted 60%, and leaving only a small jump to a full capacity for nuclear weapons production. Iran also renewed their diplomatic relationship with Saudi Arabia, which is concerning, since Israel had previously seen Saudi Arabia as a future partner in the Abraham Accords.

Israeli leaders remain seriously concerned about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as well as their army of proxy terror groups, such as Hizballah, in the region. Several political and military leaders have made direct references to an Israeli airstrike against Iran, and the question has become not if, but when, they will strike. Authorities are also concerned that Iran or its proxies could attempt to take advantage of the perceived weakness caused by the current internal conflict in Israel.

On the Diaspora front, a concerning report recently emerged of an Iranian mapping program, which seeks to locate Jewish institutions in the Diaspora, presumably to be able to target Jewish communities more easily.

Please pray for:

• Continued wisdom for Israeli leadership as they pursue a policy of deterrence against the Iranian threat, especially in light of mass protests in Israel
• International cooperation against Iran
• Wisdom for Israeli military leadership on when and how to strike Iran
• Wisdom to counter Iranian proxies on Israel’s northern border, such as Hizballah
• Safety for international Jewish communities who could be viewed as a target by Iran

US-Israel Relations
Tensions between the Biden Administration and the new Netanyahu government continue to increase. The US has made their disapproval of the new government clear, issuing condemnations of the Israeli judicial reform among other issues.

Following a controversial speech given by Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich in France, and a Knesset vote to rescind the 2005 Disengagement Law from northern Samaria, the US Deputy Secretary of State summoned the Israeli ambassador to express his disapproval for the first time since 2009. The US and Israel do not usually express disapproval of each other by traditional diplomatic means such as summoning ambassadors, so this is a noteworthy escalation in the US-Israel tensions.

After Netanyahu paused the judicial reform, the US Ambassador to Israel was quoted as saying that Netanyahu would soon receive an invitation to the White House. These rumors were quickly dispersed by President Biden himself who said that the prime minister would not be receiving an invitation any time soon. He also expressed continued disapproval over the political situation in Israel. This prompted several retorts by Israeli politicians, including Netanyahu, as well as his less-diplomatic colleague, Itamar Ben Gvir, who said that Israel “is not just another star in the American flag.” In other words, many Israelis feel that the US is trying to babysit their internal affairs.

The US has simultaneously insisted that they will continue to support Israel in matters of national security and defense.

This American ambiguity comes at a bad time for Israel; the Jewish State is currently facing an appraisal by the ICJ on the legality of their presence in Judea and Samaria according to international law.

Please pray for:

• Wisdom on the behalf of Israeli leaders and diplomats to negotiate between Israel’s domestic and international interests
• Definitive American policy which actively supports Israel on the international stage and not just behind closed doors
• For an accurate and unbiased legal assessment of the Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria by the Hague commission

The Feast of Passover
Passover, the Jewish feast celebrating God’s redemption of His people from slavery in Egypt, begins the evening of April 5^th. Jews in Israel and around the world begin the holiday with a long and festive meal whose centerpiece is the retelling of the story of the Exodus. There follow seven days where the eating of leaven is forbidden, and Jews instead will eat matzah, a cracker-like unleavened bread.

This year, Passover coincides with Ramadan, meaning that the security situation in the country is tense and many soldiers will be celebrating the holiday on base. The holiday is also overshadowed by the intense upheaval the country is currently experiencing, surrounding a controversial judicial reform bill and the resulting backlash.

Please pray for:

• For Israelis to recognize the true and ultimate Passover lamb, Yeshua!
• For Israelis to remember what they have in common through the holiday of Passover
• For a restoration of unity and goodwill between Israelis of different opinions
• Safety for all, especially for those travelling for the holiday and for Israel’s security forces who work around the clock, even on holidays, to protect the country

We continue to prayerfully seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to implement a renewed vision. Please join us in praying for: