This issue looks at the impending release of Galid Shalit, another attack by Palestinians, Turkey’s continuing anti-Israel stance, Iran’s foiled plot and lies about the Christian pastor facing execution, the Muslim Brotherhood in the Boy Scouts, and the slaughter of Egyptian Christians.

OUR ISRAELI CONNECTION

Galid Shalit to be Released
The Israel Project reports: The Israeli cabinet has approved a landmark deal for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held hostage in Gaza by Hamas for five years after being kidnapped. In exchange for Gilad’s safe return, the Israeli government has agreed to release approximately 1,000 prisoners, approximately 300 of whom had received life sentences for their crimes. Read more.
 
Israeli Father and Infant Son Killed by Palestinians
Jerusalem Prayer Team reports: Shin Bet security forces have arrested two Palestinians who have admitted responsibility for the tragic death of a young Israeli father and his infant son. Twenty-five year old Asher Palmer and his baby boy were driving near Kiryat Arba when their car was struck by a large rock. Palmer swerved and both he and his son were killed in the resulting crash. These two Jews were murdered simply because they were Jews. The IDF announced last week that September was the most violent month in at least a year and half; there were nearly 500 attacks on Jews by Palestinians. My sources inside Israel expect the violence to only get worse in the coming days.
 
Turkey Intensifies Anti-Israel Stance
Earl Cox reports: In recent months, Turkey has continued to ratchet up its confrontation with Israel over a range of issues, and especially concerning the Gaza flotilla raid in May of last year. The Islamist government in Ankara is still demanding compensation and an official apology from Israel for the death of nine Turkish nationals killed in the IDF efforts to interdict the Mavi Marmara flagship and prevent it from reaching Gaza. And the Turks are even threatening to send warships to the eastern Mediterranean to escort future aid convoys to Gaza. If that were not enough, they are also challenging Israel and Greek-controlled Cyprus about their drilling for natural gas in the waters between their respective coastlines. Now this all appears to be part of a deliberate Turkish strategy to severe its close alliance with Israel and establish new alignments in the region.

IT’S NEWS TO ME

Iranian Terrorist Network found in Mexico and South America
The Israel Project reports: Only yesterday it was revealed that Iran, the world’s largest state-sponsor of terrorism, was behind a plot to blow up the Israeli and Saudi Arabian embassies in Washington and murder the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States. Two men originally from Iran allegedly behind the conspiracy – Manssor Arbabsiar and Gholam Shakuri – were charged in New York yesterday (Oct. 11). The investigation has revealed that Iran has been working in Mexico and throughout South America, building a terrorist network with the help of allies hostile to the United States like Venezuela and Cuba. Iran has also continued its nuclear program aimed at developing a nuclear weapon, defying calls from the international community to halt the program.
 
Iran Lying about Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Jordan Sekulow reports: Once again, in the face of the immense international pressure that you have helped place on Iran, its government is spreading more lies in an attempt to divert media attention away from Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s death sentence. Now, a state-funded news agency is reporting that Pastor Nadarkhani’s conviction has been overturned by the Iranian Supreme Court for a new trial. However, this is a blatant lie – it is regurgitating old information as if it were new news. What’s worse is that the mainstream media has begun to run these reports as fact. It is critical that we keep the pressure on Iran, as Pastor Youcef’s fate remains in the hands of the Ayatollah Khamenei – and ultimately, in God’s hands.
 
Boy Scouts Infiltrated by Muslim Brotherhood?
WorldNetDaily reports: The Boy Scouts of America maintains scouting partnerships with Islamic groups closely tied to the Muslim Brotherhood, WND has learned. The Boy Scouts of America welcomes major religions, including Islam. It has incorporated under its banner a group called the National Islamic Committee on Scouting, or NICS, which provides Muslim scouts an opportunity to earn badges or emblems by participating in religious activities. The NICS scouting emblems include an “Allahu Akbar” emblem, which means “Allah is greatest” in Arabic. Read more.
 
Egypt Christians Mourn Dead After Clashes Kill 25
Egyptian Christians mourned their dead and berated the army on Monday after at least 25 people were killed when troops crushed a protest about an attack on a church in the worst violence since the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Armored personnel carriers sped into the crowd late on Sunday to break up the demonstrators near the state television building. Videos posted on the Internet showed mangled bodies. Activists said corpses had been crushed by the vehicles. Tension between Muslims and minority Coptic Christians has simmered for years but has worsened since the anti-Mubarak revolt, which has allowed the emergence of Salafist and other strict Islamist groups that the former president had repressed. Read more.
 

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