USA Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said that the USA should cut its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) until the organization reforms. "We mentioned to UNRWA multiple times it needs to be reformed.” The ambassador said that UNRWA views all Palestinian Arabs as refugees regardless of where they live, where they were born, or whether or not they have citizenship in another country. "What we’re saying basically is that UNRWA considers every Palestinian as a refugee. What they’re teaching in schools is also not necessarily the right way to have things run, and the organization is very top heavy from an administration standpoint." She also said that the USA would not continue to reward the Palestinian Authority if it continues to reject USA mediation and refuses to engage in peace negotiations. "We’re not going to reward bad behavior. Here you’ve got the Palestinians who are basically saying they’re going to cut the USA out of the peace process. They’re saying they no longer want to have anything to do with us. They go and take us to the United Nations and are very hostile in what they say and what they do. We’re not going to pay to be abused. It doesn’t make sense." She accused the Palestinian Authority of being "not serious in truly getting to peace."

The USA slashed $65 million from a $125 million grant to UNRWA last week. The United States is the largest single donor to UNRWA, providing approximately a fourth of the organization's budget. For years, UNRWA has been a target for criticism in light of Hamas' activity in its educational institutions and the use of its facilities by Palestinian Arab terrorist organizations in Gaza. UNRWA was documented storing Hamas rockets and weapons "designed to kill Israeli citizens" in its schools, a fact which the UNRWA chief admitted himself. In addition, the organization has actively taken part in inciting anti-Semitic violence. It has perpetuated the status of Palestinian "refugees" for generations instead of working towards their absorption in host countries, continuing to call residents of camps located in the Palestinian Authority refugees. Audits have shown that the number of "refugees" in UNRWA lists is highly inflated. (Arutz-7) "Gaza will shave her head in mourning” Jer. 47:5

PM Netanyahu addressed at the opening of the cabinet meeting on Sun 21 Jan. 2018, the upcoming visit of USA Vice President Mike Pence, who landed in Israel later that evening. "Tonight, a great friend of the State of Israel will arrive - Mike Pence,” Netanyahu said. "We will receive him happily and will discuss efforts of the Trump administration to curb Iranian aggression and advance peace in the region.” Netanyahu attacked Arab MKs who announced they would boycott Pence’s speech in the Knesset. "It is a disgrace that MKs seek to boycott the speech. We will all be there, and will give the Vice President the honor due to him.” The Prime Minister also shared with the cabinet some of the positive experiences from his official visit to India last week. Israel’s Culture Minister Miri Regev hailed Netanyahu's trip to India, saying the premier was received "like a king". (Arutz-7) Pray for the safety of V.P. Mike Pence during his time in Israel and for the honor due him to be expressed wherever he travels in the Land. [Comment]

A day after USA President Donald Trump extended the waiver on Iran nuclear sanctions, thus keeping the nuclear deal signed in 2015 alive, a senior Iranian official stressed that the Islamic Republic will not step back from its ballistic missiles program. The chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said, "Trump is the most hated president of the American history whose hatred has crossed USA geological boundaries and become a global phenomenon. While many European countries and the signatories of the nuclear deal have repeatedly protested to the irrational behavior of Trump, he is still considered as a serious violator of JCPOA,” said Boroujerdi, using the acronym for the Iran deal. In addition to extending the sanctions relief, Trump on 12 Jan. 2018 also slapped new sanctions on 14 Iranian corporations and individuals connected to Iran’s ballistic missile. In addition to its nuclear aspirations, Iran's ballistic missile program remains a concern as well. The Islamic Republic has several times test-fired ballistic missiles in recent months, raising the ire of the West. Iran said 13 Jan. 2018 it won't accept any changes to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after President Donald Trump vowed to pull out of the accord in a few months if European allies did not fix its "terrible flaws." (Arutz-7) Pray according to scripture: "O Lord our God, will you not judge them? We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 2 Chron. 20:12 [Comment]

 Iran said on 14 Jan. 2018 it would retaliate against new sanctions imposed by the United States after President Donald Trump set an ultimatum to fix "disastrous flaws" in a deal curbing Tehran's nuclear program. Trump said this weekend he would waive nuclear sanctions on Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. Washington also imposed sanctions on the head of Iran's judiciary and others. Russia - one of the parties to the Iran pact alongside the United States, China, France, Britain, Germany and the European Union - called Trump's comments "extremely negative." The ultimatum puts pressure on Europeans, key backers of the 2015 nuclear deal, to satisfy Trump, who wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. While approving the waiver on USA sanctions related to the nuclear deal, Washington announced other sanctions against 14 Iranian entities and people, including judiciary head Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, a close ally of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Describing sanctions against Larijani as "hostile action," Iran's Foreign Ministry said the move "crossed all red lines of conduct in the international community and is a violation of international law and will surely be answered by a serious reaction of the Islamic Republic." (J.Post) [Comment]

 Iran said on 14 Jan. 2018 it would retaliate against new sanctions imposed by the United States after President Donald Trump set an ultimatum to fix "disastrous flaws" in a deal curbing Tehran's nuclear program. Trump said this weekend he would waive nuclear sanctions on Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. Washington also imposed sanctions on the head of Iran's judiciary and others. Russia - one of the parties to the Iran pact alongside the United States, China, France, Britain, Germany and the European Union - called Trump's comments "extremely negative." The ultimatum puts pressure on Europeans, key backers of the 2015 nuclear deal, to satisfy Trump, who wants the pact strengthened with a separate agreement within 120 days. While approving the waiver on USA sanctions related to the nuclear deal, Washington announced other sanctions against 14 Iranian entities and people, including judiciary head Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, a close ally of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Describing sanctions against Larijani as "hostile action," Iran's Foreign Ministry said the move "crossed all red lines of conduct in the international community and is a violation of international law and will surely be answered by a serious reaction of the Islamic Republic." (J.Post) [Comment]

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee on 13 Jan 2018 held a meeting in Ramallah under the leadership of the PLO, Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas. At the end of the meeting, a statement was issued in which the PLO Executive Committee praised the "uprising of the Palestinian people" in response to the USA recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and stressed the importance of further strengthening the "popular struggle.” The Executive Committee expressed its support for the convening of an international conference with full powers under the auspices of the UN in order to ensure the establishment of an independent state of "Palestine" with eastern Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of 4 June, 1967, and a solution to all final status issues. In addition, the PLO Executive Committee rejected proposals for an interim solution, a phased solution or the establishment of a state with temporary borders, as well as the demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Abbas is now planning to bypass the USA and Israel altogether, by asking EU foreign ministers to recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 territories with eastern Jerusalem as its capital. (INN) Intercede that as in days of old the Lord will send a spirit of panic into the camp of every terrorist organization, including Fatah – route the enemy – let them turn on themselves and flee seven ways. Deut. 28:7The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee on 13 Jan 2018 held a meeting in Ramallah under the leadership of the PLO, Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA), Mahmoud Abbas. At the end of the meeting, a statement was issued in which the PLO Executive Committee praised the "uprising of the Palestinian people" in response to the USA recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and stressed the importance of further strengthening the "popular struggle.” The Executive Committee expressed its support for the convening of an international conference with full powers under the auspices of the UN in order to ensure the establishment of an independent state of "Palestine" with eastern Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of 4 June, 1967, and a solution to all final status issues. In addition, the PLO Executive Committee rejected proposals for an interim solution, a phased solution or the establishment of a state with temporary borders, as well as the demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Abbas is now planning to bypass the USA and Israel altogether, by asking EU foreign ministers to recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 territories with eastern Jerusalem as its capital. (INN) Intercede that as in days of old the Lord will send a spirit of panic into the camp of every terrorist organization, including Fatah – route the enemy – let them turn on themselves and flee seven ways. Deut. 28:7 [Comment]

IDF planes finished on 14 Jan. 2018, demolishing a terror tunnel that passed under the Kerem Shalom Crossing from Gaza into Israel. The IDF says with certainty that the tunnel belonged to Hamas. The tunnel penetrated 180 meters (2,953 feet) under the gas pipeline that runs between Egypt and Gaza. It started in the Rafiah area 900 meters (591 feet) into Gaza and extended into Israeli territory. IDF Spokesperson Ronen Manelis said, "Last night, we carried out a professional and precise operation over a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty. The demolition of the attack tunnel system is an important factor in the policy of harming Hamas' strategic ability. The message to Gaza leadership and residents is clear: Invest in the sanctity of life, and not in burial tunnels." (INN) Intercede that every terrorist tunnel leading into Israel will be discovered and destroyed. May the enemy become weary of hatred, waste of money and destruction and new leaders with a vision for peace be raised up in Gaza. [Comment]

The "drop tomato" is about the size of a blueberry and the Kedma company says it is the smallest one ever cultivated in Israel, perhaps even in the world. Says a grower: "It just explodes in your mouth." They say bigger is better, but in the succulent world of cherry tomatoes, one Israeli company is going smaller than ever before. It’s a point of pride in a country known for its agricultural innovation, where fruits and vegetables are taken seriously and where several strands of the cherry tomato were first invented. "The idea is that it is comfortable,” said Ariel Kidron, a Kedma grower. "You can throw it in a salad, you don’t need to cut it. It just explodes in your mouth.” The seed, originally developed in Holland, was modified to match the arid growing conditions in southern Israel. Rami Golan, of the Central and Northern Arava Research and Development center, who accompanied the project, said it was definitely the smallest ever to be grown in Israel - where tomatoes are incredibly popular. The tiny tomato, smaller than a one shekel Israeli coin, is offered in red and yellow varieties and will be presented to the public at a international agricultural fair in Israel later this month. Early indications are it could be a big hit. (Google) [Comment]

 Major Jewish organizations are expressing support for the idea of reducing USA aid to the Palestinians after President Trump mentioned the possibility last week. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said the Palestinian Authority "has proven tone deaf to every previous USA warning about its actions, so perhaps some reduction in aid would finally get its attention." He said the administration "has a right to standards for aid that it provides, and where countries violate those standards, or trample human rights, then the USA absolutely has a right to withhold aid - especially when all the USA is asking the PA to do is to negotiate. AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittmann said, "We have supported and continue to support reductions in assistance to the Palestinian Authority based on actions such as payments to families of terrorists and violation of its peace process commitment to direct talks with Israel, instead seeking to have the international community endorse Palestinian objectives."

B'nai B'rith International said, "It is reasonable for the USA to use foreign aid as one of several mechanisms for responding to instances where its own interests, or the interests of its allies, are threatened. The Palestinians have refused to negotiate directly with Israel, have failed to comply with their obligations under previous agreements, and have chosen instead to pursue an anti-Israel, anti-USA agenda at the United Nations." David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said, "If the Palestinian Authority balks at advancing the peace process, or if it engages in anti-American rhetoric or behavior, then, of course, it's appropriate to send a strong message of disapproval, including a cut in support." (JNS)

The PA pays an estimated NIS 1.2 billion annually to terrorists in Israeli prisons or to the families of those killed by Israel. The government will submit legislation to deduct an equivalent amount the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists and their families, from tax and tariffs Israel collects for the PA, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said this week. "I think the PA encourages and incentivizes terrorism,” said Liberman. The PA pays an estimated NIS 1.2 billion annually to terrorists in Israeli prisons or to the families of those killed by Israel. The terrorists’ salaries are anchored in PA law, and the amount increases with every Israeli they kill. The amount of the payments that the PA gives is in accordance with the severity of the crime, meaning whoever murdered gets much more money than those who just threw Molotov cocktails or rocks or only injured someone, that is direct encouragement of terror,” Liberman added. In addition, Liberman said that the longer the prison sentence the more money someone gets, such that someone who gets a life sentence for murder, gets more money. "We must put a stop to it,” he stated. (J.Post) Pray that as the Palestinian Authority gets what is deserves in terms of large financial cut for its support of terrorism - that it will topple the pride and stubbornness constantly exhibited by this group that operates a mere cut above the worst of terrorist entities. [Comment]