ANSWERED PRAYER: ‘SON OF HAMAS’ MOSAB YOUSEF GRANTED ASYLUM IN US: The son of a Hamas mastermind who left Islam and secretly worked with Israeli intelligence to capture terrorists and prevent attacks has finally been granted political asylum in the US. The Department of Homeland Security had accused Yousef of being a former terrorist and a threat to the US.  Yousef argued he would be hunted and killed if he were deported to any Arab country, due to his cooperation with Israel.  For 10 years, Yousef served as an informant to Israel's Shin Bet security services.  During that time, he posed as a terrorist in order to gain inside information into the plans and operations of Hamas, information which he passed on to Israel. His exposure to Hamas's brutalities disillusioned him, prompting him to abandon Islam in favor of Christianity. (INN) “They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.” Ps 22:5

TURKEY LOSING HOT ISRAELI SUMMER TOURIST DOLLARS: Israelis have dropped Turkey as a hot tourist destination, and the former Middle Eastern ally is beginning to feel the pinch. Some 100,000 Israelis have canceled their summer reservations “indefinitely.”  Israelis began avoiding Turkey as a tourist destination in response to repeated insults by PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan following Operation Cast Lead, the 2008-2009 winter war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.  Relations further worsened when Ankara helped sponsor a six-ship flotilla sent to break Israel's sovereignty over Gaza waters.  At least one of the vessels was manned by armed terrorists linked to the Turkish IHH organization, posing as “peace activists.” The terrorists ambushed Israeli Navy commandos who boarded the ships after they refused to change course when directed to head for Ashdod port.  Subsequent violent demonstrations and cancellation of military contracts by Turkey led to reciprocal actions by Israelis, who quickly responded by canceling vacation plans and putting off the launch of new flights to Istanbul. All told, the current figures add up to a loss of at least $400 million in tourism dollars for the Turkish economy. Some tourism agencies have gone bankrupt due to this situation.” (Arutz-7) “Who is it you have insulted? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!” Is 37: 23

TOURISM BOOMS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND MALTA: While Israeli tourism to Turkey is dying on the vine, the Republic of Malta is preparing to introduce a new direct flight route to the Jewish State. The small Mediterranean nation, located near Italy, has lost no time taking advantage of the drop in Israeli travelers who are choosing Turkey as their destination of choice.  Malta, a member of the UN and the EU, is comprised of an archipelago some 58 miles south of Sicily and 180 miles northeast of Tunisia. Its official religion is Catholicism. (INN) President Anton Tabone recently announced that Malta and Israel enjoy a warm and friendly relationship –  resulting in an obvious blessing of prosperity for Malta. 

SOME 2.68 MILLION PASSENGERS TO PASS THROUGH B-G AIRPORT THIS SUMMER: The Israel Airports Authority estimated that 2.68 million passengers would pass through Ben-Gurion Airport in July and August – a 4% increase compared to the same period last year. According to expectations, more than 50,000 passengers will pass through the airport in mid August, on some 300 flights a day. The most popular destinations are the US, Germany, France, Italy and Greece. (Ynet)

UNEMPLOYMENT IN ISRAEL DECLINING: Unemployment continued to drop in the month of May, according to an Israel National Employment Service report.  At least 191,700 people were unemployed as May ended, compared to 192,800 in April. Some 19,400 new workers found jobs in May, an increase of 2.1% from April. (Arutz-7)

IRAN SUFFERING FROM $19 BILLION DROP IN ENERGY REVENUE: The Islamic Republic is definitely NOT being blessed for its leaders’ endless insults against Israel including calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.  Iran’s oil exports plummeted 24% over the 12-month period ending last February and energy revenues dropped by $19 billion. Oil production also has dropped, primarily due to the international sanctions that make it harder for other countries to invest in the Islamic Republic’s gas and oil industry. The Financial Times reported in May that oil production dropped by 300,000 barrels a day. The drop in revenues comes at the same time Iranian President Ahmadinejad continues his spending spree for more nuclear sites and advanced weapons, leaving his regime with little money to compensate for the loss of investments in local energy projects.  With the second-largest reserves in the world, Iran depends on oil exports for approximately 80% of its revenue. (Israel Net Daily)

METHODIST CHURCH REJECTS PRODUCTS FROM THE WEST BANK: The Methodist Church of Britain voted last week to boycott Israeli-produced goods and services from the West Bank because of what they say is Israel’s “illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.” The church body will now encourage Methodists across the UK to follow suit. (J.Post) “He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesses you, and cursed is he that curses you.”  Num 24:9

TAU WORKS ON COMPUTER CHIP IMPLANT TO TREAT THE BRAIN: A team of scientists at Tel Aviv University is working on a project that involves implanting a computer chip into the brain in order to treat conditions such as depression and Parkinson's disease. Professor Matti Mintz, a member of the Psychobiology Research Unit at the Department of Psychology, is part of a European consortium that is working on issues relating to neurophysiology, human behavior and mental health. (INN)

YOUR DONATIONS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED: Please continue to enable us to assist terrorist victims, entire households suffering from poverty, the elderly and others in need in Israel. Your donations are needed and welcomed at www.visionforisrael.com  Make your online donation today. For residents in the UK and outside North America you can visit www.josephstorehouse.co.uk

SUCCOT 2010 CELEBRATION AND TOUR TO ISRAEL: SEPT. 22 TO SEPT. 29: Barry and Batya Segal extend a warm invitation for you to attend The Succot Celebration (Feast of Tabernacles) in Jerusalem together with the remnant of Israel and the remnant from the nations. Speakers and worship leaders for the 2010 celebration: Lance Lambert, Barry and Batya Segal, Frank and Marlou van Essen, David Silver, Mattheus van der Steen, and more to come. There will be an optional tour group package available beforehand which will be touring all over Israel. This year there will be a direct flight from the USA with no stopovers in Europe! For more information and instructions on how to participate go to: www.succotcelebration.com 


Blessings from Jerusalem,
Barry Segal with the Editorial Staff