pressure on the Israeli government to halt military operations which killed civilians, including journalists.
In a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert obtained by BosNewsLife, the influential group said "Christians all over the world" were praying for Israel.
We "are praying fervently for each of you" including soldiers "Ehud Ben Malka, Eldad Ben Tova and Gilad Ben Aviva" who were kidnapped by militants and "for all the people of Israel, for your soldiers and families, for your leaders, and for the survivors and families of those who have been affected by this latest round of violence," Christians for Israel wrote Olmert.
It noted that "the hands on God’s prophetic clock are inching toward the midnight hour and the coming of the Messiah. As this latest conflict escalates, we pray fervently for Israel that the Almighty God will protect His chosen people, that the enemies of Israel will be dispersed and destroyed…"
"UNDERSTANDING TIMES"
The group added its supporters were also praying that "Israel’s leaders, like the men of Issachar before them, will have "…understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…,"a reference to Bible verse 1 Chronicles 12:32. It also recalled that when small David faced giant Goliath of Gath, he declared: "…I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, whom you have defied," according to Bible verse 1 Sam.17:45.
In a separate letter to its supporters in the Netherlands, sent to 60,000 households, the organization urged Christians to create "a wall of prayers around Israel" so "God according to His promises will protect His people and break the cycle of hatred and violence."
Not all Christians agree with Christians for Israel. The World Council of Churches and other groups have suggested that Israel’s military actions will only lead to more violence in the region. In addition there is mounting concern over the civilian death toll in Lebanon and the apparent targeting of media organizations.
PHOTOGRAPHER KILLED
In a statement to BosNewsLife, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urged combatants on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict to protect journalists after a Lebanese photographer was killed when an Israeli missile exploded near her taxi.
"The tragic death of this young journalist illustrates once again the priority that must be given to protecting media staff covering armed conflicts," said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White. "This conflict is daily becoming more dangerous for media staff. Again we appeal to all sides to recognize that journalists are non-combatants who must be allowed to do their jobs safely without fear of being targeted," White added.
Layal Nejib, 23, was killed Sunday, July 23, in southern Lebanon after a missile explosion. She worked for Al-Jaras magazine as well as other media outlets. She is the second media staffer to be killed in the region since tensions reignited, the IFJ claimed.
STATIONS HIT
Israeli air raids on Saturday, July 22, hit transmission stations used by several Lebanese television channels, killing media worker Suleiman Chidiac, a technician working for the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC). Two others were wounded in the strikes when relay stations for Future TV, Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television and LBC, the nation’s leading private network, were attacked by Israeli bombs, the IFJ said.
Last week, Israeli forces fired on a news crew of TV satellite channel Al Jazeera and injured technician Wael Tantous, the group added. "We are calling on both the Israelis and Hezbollah to respect the rights of journalists to cover this story and to make sure that no other media staff will lose their lives for reporting on the conflict," White stressed.
"The Israeli government must make a full investigation into recent attacks on journalists, to ensure that this does not happen again and that anyone targeting journalists is held accountable."
ISRAELI REACTION
However the Israeli government claims it does all it can to prevent civilian casualties. It says it targets only the infrastructure and suspected weapon sites used by Hezbollah to fire rockets at Israel in which several people, including children, died. Israel also claims the operation is made difficult because Hezbollah uses civilian areas to hide both its fighters and weapons.
As the death toll mounts at both sides, United States Secretary of State arrived in Israel Monday, July 24, after a surprise visit to Beirut, where she me with Lebanese government leaders and pledging aid for Lebanon. Earlier, Secretary Rice said there was an urgent need for a "sustainable cease-fire" in Israel’s war with Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
Rice was due to meet Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni over dinner and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday, July 25. She will also meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Her comments on a "sustainable cease-fire" came as senior Israeli officials reportedly said they would welcome an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
STIFF RESISTANCE
Meanwhile, Israeli forces encountered stiff resistance Monday, July 24, when they pushed about two kilometers (1.2 miles) into Lebanon to take control of Bint Jbail, a town Israel claims is a Hezbollah stronghold, news reports said.
Hundreds of people have died since the conflict erupted last week. In Israel, hundreds of thousands of people are often in bomb shelters, as Hezbollah continues to target cities, including Haifa. Jesus’ home town Nazareth was also hit in recent days, killing two young boys.
Christians for Israel and other groups are involved in supporting children in Israel hiding in bomb shelters. (Stay with BosNewsLife for continues coverage on the crisis in the Middle East from a different perspective).
