Unfortunately, the train wreck continues. It  has been a strange week in U.S.-Israeli relations. White House and State Department officials continue harshly criticizing the Jewish State. Now they have created a list of at least seven demands Israel must comply with to show it is serious about peace.

Has the Obama admininistration been this tough and confrontational with Iran as it builds nuclear weapons? No. Some analysts are even suggesting the Obama administration is more interested in “regime change” in Israel than in Iran, hoping to topple the Netanyahu administration, or at least force it to include more left-wing members. Were the Palestinians given an ultimatum after 14 months of refusing to show up at peace talks? No. Were Hamas and the PLO given an ultimatum after weeks of violence and new threats to launch a full-blown “third intifada” in Jerusalem? No.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is still scheduled to arrive in the U.S. early Monday. That night, he will address the AIPAC Policy Conference dinner, speaking before an estimated 4,000 administration officials, Members of Congress, pro-Israel activists and journalists. Secretary Clinton will also address the conference, as will former British PM Tony Blair, among others. Lord willing, I will provide you a direct report from what happens inside the AIPAC meetings.

Before the Israeli PM arrives, however, let’s show our support for Israel. Please contact the White House, your Senators and your Representative, and Secretary Hillary Clinton’s office. Tell them respectfully that you support Israel, oppose dividing Jerusalem, and that you request the administration stop the rhetorical attacks on Israel and instead show strong, public, consistent support for Israel, our most faithful democratic ally in the Middle East.

1. You can contact the White House by clicking here.
2. You can contact your Congressman by clicking here, or by calling (202) 224-3121
3. You can contact your Senator by clicking here, or by calling (202) 224-3121
4. You can contact Secretary of State Clinton by calling  202-647-4000.

I know stopping the nationalization of U.S. health care is the #1 issue on everyone’s minds in the U.S. aside from jobs, and both are hugely important. But we dare not lose sight of other critical issues. With grave threats to the U.S. and Israel mounting from Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah, we need to ask the Lord to use us to help build a global movement to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus. Never in the modern age has Israel been so isolated internationally, and I believe followers of Jesus Christ need to show her unconditional love and unwavering support.

I’m spending a lot more time in prayer in recent weeks that the Lord would draw those whom He has specifically chosen to come and attend the 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia this summer. Why? Because a key to this year’s conference that is different from previous years is that we will not simply analyze the current status of U.S.-Israeli relations, and look at Bible prophesy. We will certainly do these. But we will go one step further. This will be the most in-depth training conference we’ve ever done. My fellow speakers and I will offer real and practical ways for you and your family, friends and congregation to bless Israel and her neighbors at this critical juncture, focusing on four key strategies: LEARN, PRAY, GIVE, AND GO. And I don’t want you to miss it.

In addition to encouraging pastors and ministry leaders from across North America to attend, I would also encourage you to consider coming if you are a small group Bible study leader, a home fellowship leader, a worship leader, or have some other leadership role as a staff or lay person in your church. Or if you aspire to serve in a lay leadership role. You’ll be able to take the Biblical message and the practical ideas back to your congregations and fellowships and put them into practice immediately.

Please register today to make sure there’s a seat just for you. Please also pray that the Lord would superintend this conference to accomplish His purposes, and reach those whom He is calling, especially given the events of recent days. Thanks so much and may the Lord bless you as you bless His people.

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• Israeli Air Force retaliates in Gaza after Hamas fires rocket at Israel that kills a foreign worker from Thailand
• Five rockets from Gaza hit Israel in last 24 hours
• President Obama denies crisis with Israel
• Netanyahu talks to Biden, Clinton by phone ahead of Monday arrival in Washington
• New poll finds Israelis souring on Obama, feel U.S. reaction to housing announcement last week was “out of proportion”

>> HELP BUILD A GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF CHRISTIANS TO BLESS ISRAEL, COME WHAT MAY. Please join us for the 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia on June 25-26

>> TO HELP THE JOSHUA FUND CARE FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, AND STOCKPILE SUPPLIES AHEAD OF THE NEXT WAR IN THE EPICENTER, please click here.

>> TO SIGN UP FOR JOEL’S WEEKLY “FLASH TRAFFIC” EMAIL UPDATES, please click here

>> TO JOIN JOEL’S “EPICENTER TEAM” ON FACEBOOK, please click here

Agence France Presse: US may be seeking Israel ‘regime change’

New York Post: “President Obama has apparently adopted regime change as a goal — but his target is Israel. He’s plainly out to unseat (or at least change) the government of Prime Minister Benjamin ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu.”

>> CONGRATULATIONS: PM Netanyahu’s 15 year old son, Avner, wins Israel’s National Bible Quiz

UPDATE: The crisis between the U.S. and Israel is going from bad to worse. Hamas has declared a “day of rage” against Israel. Radical jihadists are stoking anti-Jewish violence in Jerusalem. The PLO is calling for a “third intifada” against Israel. Iran continues to feverishly plot to annihilate the Jewish state. Yet the Obama administration continues to slam Israel for building Jewish homes in a Jewish neighborhood in the Jewish capital. Now U.S. envoy George Mitchell has abruptly canceled a visit to Jerusalem. The White House and State Department are losing their minds on this issue. Please pray that U.S. officials cool down and gain some semblance of wisdom, and quickly.
National Review Online is running a column I wrote entitled, “Are U.S.-Israel Relations Headed For A Train Wreck?” It is a variation of the weblog posting I did over the weekend. This version is aimed specifically at conservatives around the U.S. and in Congress and how they can best respond to the crisis and push back at the Obama Administration’s reckless and dangerous approach.

• Violence flares in Jerusalem after Hamas declares ‘day of rage’
• PLO warns of a “third intifada” against Israel
• US envoy cancels Mideast trip amid US-Israel feud
• Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hospitalized, undergoes surgery, but for what? Rumors swirling of assassination attempt but these are unconfirmed…developing….
• Lebanon surrenders to Assad: President Assad riding high as Lebanon’s anti-Syrian camp falls apart

 The Obama administration has launched a rhetorical broadside against the Jewish State of Israel on the eve of the President’s March 21st departure for Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. Currying favor with the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims by denouncing and condemning Israel with fewer than six million Jews might sound like a good idea to those in the White House and State Department. But it is not. It is a bizarre and dangerous policy this administration has embarked upon and it must be firmly resisted.

First of all, the administration’s approach is bizarre in that it has “condemned” Israel for building homes in its own capital and thus threatening to derail the peace process with the Palestinians. Actually, the Palestinians have refused for a full year to come to the peace table. They have refused successive Israeli offers (including from Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert) to control half the city of Jerusalem. They have refused to make peace under any scenario for 62 years. Netanyahu has offered to sit down for talks anywhere, anytime, with no preconditions for a year. It is not his fault that the peace process hasn’t moved forward. The White House approach is further bizarre in that it is trying to force Israel to do what no American President has forced Israel to do since 1967 — stop building homes throughout its capital. Not a single Israeli Prime Minister in 42 years has authorized restrictions on  building homes in Jerusalem, and Netanyahu isn’t about to start, nor should he.

Second of all, the administration’s approach is also dangerous in that it distracts from the real issue: taking decisive measures to stop Iran from building or obtaining nuclear weapons. Furthermore, it sends a message to American and Israeli enemies that maybe it’s time to launch a new war when these two allies are divided.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob tells us clearly in Genesis 12:1-3 that He will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel. Far too many of the leaders of the world’s Muslim countries have chosen to curse Israel. Siding with them is a foolish game. The American people — and their representatives in Congress — must do everything in their political power to firmly resist President Obama and his team’s reckless and foolish actions. We should also pray that the Lord would protect the U.S. during this crisis, and protect and bless Israel and her neighbors, and change the heart of the President and his most senior advisors so that they start fully supporting our allies and their security, not taking steps to undermine them.

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• U.K. Independent: Obama runs out of patience with Israel
• Netanyahu delivers speech noting that not a single Israeli Prime Minister since 1967 has ever restricted building homes in Jerusalem
• Firestorm in Congress against Obama administration on Israel issue

How can Christians show solidarity with Israel and bless her in real and practical ways? Some practical suggestions below. Also, please join us for the 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia this summer, as this will be our theme and focus.

————————–

SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren told Israeli diplomats in a conference call over the weekend that U.S.-Israel relations face the worst crisis in 35 years.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Speaking of the crisis with Israel,  White House senior advisor David Axelrod said on NBC’s Meet The Press, “I think both the Vice President and the Secretary of State reflected the President’s thinking – this was an affront, an insult, but most importantly it undermined this very fragile effort to bring peace to this region. And for this announcement to come at this time was very, very destructive.”

A serious crisis erupted last week in U.S.-Israel relations. Here’s what happened and why. Here also are practical ways followers of Jesus Christ can show Israel unconditional love and unwavering support at this critical juncture.

During Vice President Biden’s trip to Jerusalem to show American support for Israel, our most faithful and enduring strategic ally in the region, some lower-level officials in the Israeli bureaucracy decided it would be a good time to announce the building of 1,600 new homes in a Jewish neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Authority immediately went ballistic, and the Vice President was deeply offended, telling Prime Minister Netanyahu that the timing of the announcement made the Israelis appear to be trying to sabotage the beginning to new peace talks with the Palestinians. Netanyahu immediately apologized, saying he had not authorized the announcement to be made during the VP’s trip and was not trying to derail or disrupt the VP’s trip. Biden appeared to accept the apology, and Netanyahu thought the mistake had been resolved.

Since then, however, the situation has worsened significantly. The State Department called in Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren and reprimanded him severely for the Israeli action. Three days after the incident, Secretary of State Clinton called Netanyahu and reamed him out for 43 minutes, saying the Obama administration saw the housing announcement as “insulting.” A spokesman for President Obama went further, calling the Israeli move “dangerous” to bilateral relations.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters on Friday that Clinton told Netanyahu that the U.S. had “strong objections to Tuesday’s announcement, not just in terms of timing, but also in its substance,” that the U.S. “considers the announcement a deeply negative signal about Israel’s approach to the bilateral relationship – and counter to the spirit of the Vice President’s trip,” and that this action has “undermined trust and confidence in the peace process, and in America’s interests.” Apparently, Clinton gave Netanyahu a list of specific demands that Israel must take for the U.S. to be convinced that she is serious about peace with the Palestinians.

UPDATE: Netanyahu still intends to come to U.S. later this week to address the AIPAC Policy Conference.

First things first: The Israeli government and people have every right to build homes in its own capital and the Obama administration is dramatically overreacting, to its discredit. The President, Vice President and Secretary of State are tipping their hand by their words and actions. They clearly don’t believe in Israeli sovereignty over its own capital. They want to force Israel to divide its capital, come Hell or high water. They are applying intense pressure on Israel to divide Jerusalem and give away more land even though two recent “land for peace” efforts (southern Lebanon in 2000, and Gaza in 2005) were disasters for Israel and led to two serious wars. This is an enormous mistake. I cannot put into words how strongly I disagree with this administration and their disastrous approach. Jerusalem is the Lord’s chosen city. It is His capital. It is and should remain the undivided capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Washington is wrong to use such hysterical and heavy-handed measures to berate Israel and to try to force her to divide her own capital. Doing so will lead to another major war, not to peace. The real threat is Iran’s efforts to obtain nuclear weaponry, not Israel’s efforts to build houses for Jewish people in a Jewish neighborhood in the Jewish capital. Why won’t the administration keep its priorities straight?

Second, Prime Minister Netanyahu was right to apologize over the timing of the announcement, and not the substance. To his credit, the PM did not back down from Israel’s right to build Jewish homes for Jewish people in the Jewish capital. But he properly acknowledged that it was not helpful for the announcement to be made right in the middle of the Vice President’s trip. The VP was there, after all, to show solidarity with Israel, and to try to enhance the focus on the Iran threat. The housing announcement did have the effect of clouding that message.

Third, the management system within the Prime Minister’s office is not functioning properly and needs to be fixed immediately, or other diplomatic disasters will occur. I fully accept Netanyahu’s explanation that he did not authorize the timing of this announcement, and was blind-sided by it. After all, he’s not geopolitically suicidal. He didn’t want to sabotage VP Biden’s trip. He had gone to great lengths to invite the VP and orchestrate a positive visit. But Secretary Clinton is right when she says that ultimately the Prime Minister is responsible for what happens with his government. Numerous important decisions are not being well handled with the PM’s office. Strategic planning functions appear to be bogged down. Strategic communications efforts are not nearly what they should be given the importance of the message, and the urgency of the moment. The PM needs to reorganize his office quickly and make sure the right people are in the right places making the right decisions and bringing him the right information in a timely, effective way. Too much is at stake for anything less.

Fourth, as U.S.-Israel relations worsen and Israelis feel more and more isolated in the world, it is critical that followers of Jesus Christ build a global movement of Christians who will pray for Israel and visit Israel and bless Israel, come what may. Christians should assert that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and shouldn’t be divided. Christians should call on Washington to stop pressuring Israel to make unwise and dangerous concessions. Christians should write letters to the White House, State Department and Congress showing their solidarity with Israel. Christians should call into radio and TV talk shows in support of Israel and keeping Jerusalem united. Christians should visit Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Christians should care for the poor and needy in East and West Jerusalem, as well as throughout Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, thus demonstrating unconditional love and unwavering support. This is precisely what the 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia this summer is all about, and I hope you will make plans to join us. We will analyze the current status of U.S.-Israeli relations. We will look at Bible prophesy. Then we will offer real and practical ways you and your family, friends and congregation can bless Israel and her neighbors at this critical juncture. I would particularly encourage pastors and ministry leaders from across North America to come and be part of this conference, and take the message and practical ideas back to your congregations and communities. Please register today to make sure there’s a seat just for you. Please also pray that the Lord would superintend this conference to accomplish His purposes, and reach those whom He is calling, especially given the events of the past few days. Thanks so much.

• MONDAY UPDATE: House Republican Leader criticizes Obama administration over “irresponsible” attacks on Israel
• Clinton warns Netanyahu on U.S. ties
• Clinton berates Netanyahu over settlements
• Ynet: New York Times columnist says Israel has lost touch with reality
• Link to Tom Friedman’s actual column, “Driving Drunk In Jerusalem”
• U.S. reprimands Israeli Ambassador Oren
• Jerusalem Post: Israeli PM convenes ministers amidst crisis with US
• Haaretz: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said he would establish a committee to probe Israel’s announcement this week that it would construct 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem, which has since led to a diplomatic crisis with the United States.
• Ynet News: Netanyahu: I thought apology to Biden was sufficient
• Washington Post: Are America and Israel drifting apart?

>> HELP BUILD A GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF CHRISTIANS TO BLESS ISRAEL, COME WHAT MAY. Please join us for the 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia on June 25-26

>> TO HELP THE JOSHUA FUND CARE FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, AND STOCKPILE SUPPLIES AHEAD OF THE NEXT WAR IN THE EPICENTER, please click here.

>> TO SIGN UP FOR JOEL’S WEEKLY “FLASH TRAFFIC” EMAIL UPDATES, please click here

>> TO JOIN JOEL’S “EPICENTER TEAM” ON FACEBOOK, please click here

Joel and Mosab share coffee at NRB convention.

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: “Son of Hamas” book to debut at #11 on next week’s New York Times best-seller list.

Today, it my honor to announce that Mosab Hassan Yousef will address the 2010 Epicenter Conference this summer in Philadelphia. Mosab will share the inside story of how he went from being the eldest son of one of the founders of the Hamas terrorist movement to a double agent working for the Israeli secret services to protect Jews and Arabs from terrorism. You’ll hear first-hand how he made his stunning decision to renounce Islam and become a baptized follower of Jesus Christ, what it has cost him, as well as his powerful vision for true peace and reconciliation in the epicenter.Be sure to register today at www.epicenterconference.com to make sure you can be there in person for this remarkable two-day event.

Other featured speakers include Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Jerry Boykin, the former Delta force commander; Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Fellowship in California; Kay Arthur, the internationally respected Bible teacher; and Janet Parshall, one of the leading nationally syndicated Christian radio broadcasters.  [Note: for security reasons, Mosab will not physically be on site at the Kimmel Performing Arts Center where the conference will be held. He will address the event either by videotape or by satellite.]

• Quartet condemns Israel over new houses in Jerusalem (will meet in Moscow next week)
• Hillary Clinton’s tough talk with Bibi Netanyahu
• Libya calls for “jihad” against Switzerland 
• Libya clarifies Gadhafi’s ‘jihad’ against Swiss
• Libya imposes ‘total’ trade embargo on Switzerland
• An unholy campaign: Presbyterian Church elders are poised to defame Israel
• Joe Biden’s snub to Netanyahu as he arrives 90minutes late for dinner in middle of row with Israel over West Bank houses

>> HOW IS GOD MOVING IN ISRAEL, IRAQ AND IRAN? HOW CAN YOU BE A BLESSING TO ISRAEL AND HER NEIGHBORS IN A REAL AND PRACTICAL WAY? Please join us for the 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia on June 25-26 for answers

>> TO HELP THE JOSHUA FUND CARE FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, AND STOCKPILE SUPPLIES AHEAD OF THE NEXT WAR IN THE EPICENTER, please click here.

>> TO SIGN UP FOR JOEL’S WEEKLY “FLASH TRAFFIC” EMAIL UPDATES, please click here

>> TO JOIN JOEL’S “EPICENTER TEAM” ON FACEBOOK, please click here

*** Shots fired at church in a Muslim country in the Middle East. ***

*** Hundreds of Christians massacred in Nigeria; new reports of persecution of Christians in Iran, Morocco ***

“Israel’s Tourism Ministry is joining forces with a major American Evangelical movement to boost travel to the Jewish state,” reports the Jerusalem Post. “The partnership…comes amid a major tourism push outlined by Tourism Minister Stas Meseznikov during a recent visit to the United States. The multi-year campaign, which targets both Jews and non-Jews, will include a $38 million marketing budget – more than twice last year’s budget. The U.S. is Israel’s ‘number 1 source country for incoming tourism,’ Meseznikov said. ‘The segmented, focused and intensive marketing activities of the Tourism Ministry will lead to a slowing down of the decrease in tourism and a return to an increase in incoming tourism next year.’ The push for visits to Israel by Evangelicals was made during CUFI’s annual summit, held last week in Washington. Officials outlined a new task force to promote Christian tourism in Israel. Led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Meseznikov and CUFI Chairman Pastor John Hagee, it will include an annual conference in Israel and conference calls with senior Israeli officials every three months…..”

• Ahmadinejad: Israel world’s most hated state — Iranian president asserts Jewish state will soon be annihilated. ‘Another war won’t help, West questioning value of investing in Zionist regime,’ he says
• Biden’s Israel script changes
• Biden: “U.S. has no better friend than Israel”
• Biden appeals for no delay in Mideast peace talks — American VP opens high-profile speech at Tel Aviv University by saying US has no better friend than Israel. Negotiations with Palestinians cannot be delayed, he says, ‘because when progress is postponed, extremists exploit our differences’

VP Biden and PM Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem.

“U.S. Vice President Joe Biden expressed America’s ‘absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israel’ security’ at a press conference in Jerusalem following a meeting with Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu Monday morning,” reports the Jerusalem Post.  “As such, Biden said, Washington was ‘determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and we are working with many countries around the world to convince Iran to meet its international obligations to cease and desist.'”

Early news reports do not indicate, however, any specific, decisive new actions Biden said the U.S. would take to prevent Iran from getting The Bomb.

• PM Netanyahu’s Address to the Christians United For Israel Jerusalem Summit
• Biden condemns Israeli decision to build 1,600 homes in Israel’s own capital of Jerusalem
• Biden says Palestinians deserve “viable state”
• Final Iraq election results due Thursday
• U.S. Defense Secretary Gates in Saudi Arabia for talks on Iran

Please pray for VP Biden and his wife, Jill, who arrived in Israel on Monday.

>> Powerful 6.0 earthquake rocks Turkey, deaths mounting

Vice President Biden, his wife, Jill, and a team of national security advisors arrived in Israel on Monday afternoon, local time. This is the beginning of a five-day trip through the epicenter. Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the VP’s eyes to be opened to the magnitude of the Iranian threat facing the Jewish State. Please also pray for the Bidens safety and for the Lord to move deeply in their hearts.

• Tuesday — Jerusalem meetings with PM Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, and opposition leader Tzipi Livni.
• Wednesday — Ramallah meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Salam Fayyad.
• Thursday — Amman meetings with Jordanian King Abdullah
• Friday — Possible Cairo meetings with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, if he has recovered enough from a recent surgery.

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

• Biden: Nuclear Iran would threaten United States as well as Israel
• Reuters: Biden in Israel after pledging U.S. support on Iran
• Haaretz analysis:  Biden’s Israel visit a year too late
• Jerusalem Post analysis: Not all VP visits are significant, but this one is

Captured!

>> Mosab Hassan  Yousef interview on Israel’s Channel 2: “I’m not doing what my people want; I’m doing what my people need…this is good for peace.”

“The American-born spokesman for al-Qaida has been arrested by Pakistani intelligence officers in the southern city of Karachi, two officers and a government official said Sunday as video emerged of him urging U.S. Muslims to attack their own country,” reports the Associated Press. “The arrest of Adam Gadahn is a major victory in the U.S.-led battle against al-Qaida and will be taken as a sign that Pakistan, criticized in the past for being an untrustworthy ally, is cooperating more fully with Washington. It follows the recent detentions of several Afghan Taliban commanders in Karachi, including the movement’s No. 2 commander. Gadahn has appeared in more than half a dozen al-Qaida videos, taunting and threatening the West and calling for its destruction. A U.S. court charged Gadahn with treason in 2006, making him the first American to face such a charge in more than 50 years….”