Sunday, February 26, 2017

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog: It’s time to rebuild ties with Egypt.



egypt-sisi

It’s time to rebuild ties with Egypt. Here are six reasons why the U.S. & West should work closely with President el-Sisi. He’s making progress, and he needs help.

by joelcrosenberg
As the Trump-Pence administration develops its plan to confront Iran, destroy ISIS and strengthen U.S.-Israel relations, it is critical that they also work hard to rebuild America's ties with key Sunni Arab allies.
I've written a great deal about Jordan. But we also need to focus on Egypt.
President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi was routinely ignored and disrespected during the Obama years. This as a serious mistake, and should be promptly corrected.
The Secretaries of State and Defense should visit el-Sisi in Cairo immediately. The White House should also invite the Egyptian leader to visit the President in Washington soon.
El-Sisi came to power amidst the most catastrophic meltdown of Egypt's social, economic and political order in living memory. He has made mistakes. But he's making progress, and he needs help.
Here are six big things the Egyptian leader is doing right.
  1. He's clearly signaling he wants a dramatically improved relationship with the United States. During his September visit to the opening session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, El-Sisi made a point to meet with both candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, positioning himself for improved relations regardless of who won. After the election, he immediately called President-elect Trump to congratulate him. They have continued to speak since then. “Egypt hopes Trump’s presidency will breathe a new spirit into US-Egyptian relations,” declared a statement from el-Sisi's office soon after the elections.
  2. He has called for a "religious revolution" in Islam -- in effect, a Muslim Reformation -- to reject radicalism and create a more peaceful, stable and tolerant Islamic world. El-Sisi delivered a major speech in Cairo on January 1, 2015 challenging Muslim leaders to reform Islam and rescue it from the Radicals. “Is it possible that 1.6 billion people [Muslims] should want to kill the rest of the world’s inhabitants – that is seven billion – so that they themselves may live? Impossible!” el-Sisi told scholars at Al-Azhar University, the Harvard of Sunni Islam. “We are in need of a religious revolution. You, imams, are responsible before Allah. The entire world is waiting for your next move….I am saying these words here at Al-Azhar, before this assembly of scholars and ulema (learned men). Allah Almighty be witness to your truth on Judgment Day concerning that which I’m talking about now.” This continues to stand as one of the most dramatic and impressive speeches by a Muslim leader in recent memory.
  3. He is working around the clock to defeat the Radical Islamist jihadist threat to Egypt and her neighbors. In the summer of 2013, after 22 million Egyptians signed a petition to remove the Brotherhood from power, el-Sisi and the Egyptian military brought down the Brotherhood regime that was strangling Egypt and was trying to impose Sharia law. They specifically removed Mohammed Morsi from power. Remember that Morsi, the Brotherhood leader who briefly rose to the presidency in Egypt, is the man who famously said during a speech, “The Koran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader, jihad is our path and death in the name of Allah is our goal.” Many other Brotherhood leaders were arrested. El-Sisi and his colleagues were absolutely right to remove Morsi and the Brotherhood from power, despite widespread condemnations from President Obama and many world leaders. Since then, the former general has directed his military to crush the jihadists operating in the Sinai.
  4. He's not only maintaining Egypt's peace treaty with Israel, he's developing a close working relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Under Morsi, there was a real risk that Egypt was going to abrogate the 1979 peace treaty with Israel. But relations between the two countries have warmed considerably under el-Sisi. In fact, at least three separate Members of Congress told me of meetings they each had with President el-Sisi in Cairo during the Obama years in which the Egyptian leader shared candidly that he had a better working relationship with Netanyahu than with Obama. Netanyahu has publicly praised the Egyptian leader. Security ties are growing ever closer between the two countries, especially in terms of dealing with jihadists in the Sinai. In June 2015, El-Sisi appointed a new ambassador to Israel, the first time Egypt has had an envoy to the Jewish State since 2012. The ambassador arrived in Tel Aviv in January 2016. As the Washington Institute for Near East Policy noted: "Essentially, Cairo believes that relations with Israel are strategically and diplomatically beneficial for the Sisi government and the country’s regional standing. This trend toward greater rapprochement is likely to continue; there are even hints that Egypt will extend an invitation to Netanyahu to come to Cairo for a historic visit, much like that of Sadat to Jerusalem in 1977."
  5. He's actively building closer ties with the Christian community. The Egyptian leader has very noticeably been working to reach out to Christians both in Egypt and around the world, and this is to be commended. This was certainly not something Morsi had done. Nor had Mubarak done much of it either. In 2014, el-Sisi visited Pope Francis in Rome. In 2015, for the first time that anyone can remember, Egypt's president publicly celebrated Christmas with Coptic Christian leaders, and then did so again in 2016. Also in 2016, he vowed to restore dozens of Coptic churches damaged or destroyed by terrorists in recent years. In recent months, the Egyptian parliament approved legal measures to make it easier for churches to be built and renovated in Egypt. Overall, what I'm hearing from Christian leaders in Egypt is that they feel the president and the government is sincerely working to protect and assist Christians. That said, much more progress must be made. We need to keep praying for Christians in Egypt. It is still a very challenging environment, especially with Radical Islamist terrorists occasionally attacking Christians and even blowing up churches (such as the bombing of a key Christian church in Cairo in December 2016 that killed 29 and wounded dozens more). It's now time for delegations of Evangelical Christian leaders to reach out to el-Sisi, get to know him and understand his vision for Egypt's future.
  6. He's making history by building close and warm ties with the Jewish community. Barely noticed is that fact that the Egyptian leader has been engaged in a truly extraordinary effort to build warm and close ties to the American Jewish community, and for this he deserves enormous credit. In early 2016, el-Sisi welcomed a delegation of 36 American Jewish leaders to Cairo. Indeed, he personally met with representatives from the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations for more than two hours, discussing his view of the region and answering their questions. In September 2016, the Egyptian leader met privately with Jewish leaders in New York while attending the opening session of the U.N. General Assembly. In December 2016, el-Sisi met with yet another Jewish delegation to Cairo, this time from the American Jewish Congress. Then, just last week, el-Sisi met with another delegation of Jewish leaders in Cairo. During the hour and a half long meeting, the president discussed his efforts to fight terrorism, improve Egypt's economy, and advance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. El-Sisi  said the peace process was a top priority for him. Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, has been the key interlocutor between Jewish leaders and el-Sisi. He told the Jerusalem Post said "they spoke extensively with Sisi about his country’s relationship with Israel and of hope for a resolution to some outstanding issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which could 'pave the way for even greater exchanges.'"
Yes, there are human rights violations in Egypt, serious economic challenges and numerous other issues that el-Sisi needs to address.
The U.S. government -- along with the Christian and Jewish communities -- should continue to press Egypt's leaders to do the right thing, sooner rather than later.
At the same time, we should also be thanking el-Sisi for what he has done right, and encouraging him to move further in the right direction.
The West needs a safe and stable Egypt as a friend and an ally -- now more than ever.
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joelcrosenberg | February 26, 2017 at 11:31 am | Categories: Epicenter | URL: http://wp.me/piWZ7-6YW

Adorn Yourself with Meaning & Spirituality ✡ "The Goodliest Heritage" - ISRAEL365

I gave you a pleasant land, the goodliest heritage
of the nations.

וְאֶתֶּן לָךְ אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה נַחֲלַת צְבִי צִבְאוֹת גּוֹיִם

ירמיהו ג:יט

v'-e-ten lakh e-retz khem-da na-kha-lat tz'-vee tzi-v'-ot go-yeem

Today's Israel Inspiration

Jeremiah describes the Land of Israel as an "eretz khemdah" (אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה), "a pleasant land." The word 'khemdah,' however, also means "desire." Jeremiah uses this description since the Land of Israel is desired by all the nations. God's holy presence is so palpable here that everyone senses and seeks its holiness. Now, you can fulfill your desire to connect with the land and experience its incredible beauty by bringing Holy Land artifacts into your home and into your heart.

Dive With Dolphins in Eilat's Crystal Clear Waters

Warning: This video will make you want to dive into Eilat’s beautiful clear waters and swim with dolphins!

The World is 98% Ready for Final Redemption

For humans to be attached to God is, as Rabbi Kessin explains, the endgame of the redemptive process. Today, humanity is closer than ever to achieving that closeness
 

     
The Deeper Significance Behind the Star of David

 
The Bible teaches us that God created the world in six days and that on the seventh day, He rested. The Star of David is composed of 6 small triangles which can all perfectly fold into the center hexagon. Jewish tradition teaches us that during the first 6 days of the week, we should remain focused on and preparing for the sanctity of the Sabbath. No matter what business we have on the other days of the week, we should always remember the holiness of Shabbat. Check out our Star of David Collection!
 
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Today's Israel Photo

Jaffa Gate, as seen in today's picture taken by Ester Ozsardas, is one of eight gates allowing entry into the Old City of Jerusalem. The entryway was inaugurated in 1538 CE as part of the rebuilding of the Old City walls by Sileiman the Magnificent, a sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
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“You Have Worked a Miracle”

It’s great to hear from you and make new friends from all over the world. Please send me an email and let me know how you are enjoying Israel365 (don’t forget to say where you are from!).
 
My joy love!  So many in my country loveeee Israel..My sister visited and would love to re-visit!  It is beautiful and you have worked a miracle in the land..but of course..God loves  you all so much..And He lovesss America...you bet..may our two countries changeeee the world for His Glory and Love!  Amen ..much love and  prayers my brother..indeed!  Patricia 
Shalom,
Rabbi Tuly Weisz
RabbiTuly@Israel365.com
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Why Many Christians Unwittingly Poison Their Hearts - JONO HALL CHARISMA NEWS

Venting and throwing tantrums online is opening a deadly door to darkness. (Noah Hinton)

Why Many Christians Unwittingly Poison Their Hearts

JONO HALL  CHARISMA NEWS
"Do not be quick in your spirit to be angry, for irritation settles in the bosom of fools" (Eccl. 7:9).
There are only a few rules in our house that every one of our kids should be able to repeat. One of them is written as part of a kids' version of 1 Corinthians 13 on a chalkboard in our kitchen. It states "Love ...does not have tantrums." The rule is "No tantrums."
I guess it makes sense when you have four kids under the age of 10.
The challenge of tantrums, however, is not restricted to those under 10 years of age. I am an Englishman and a naturalized American, and last year in both my native land and my adopted land, we experienced some of the most polarizing political votes I have ever endured.
The polarization of ideologies and beliefs is growing.
It is dividing communities and even families. The anger is growing and spilling out onto social media channels, onto our streets and university campuses. Many joked last year that they were dreading the communal Thanksgiving or Christmas meals because they wanted to avoid the possibility of angry exchanges. I have heard numerous accounts of people quitting social media because they couldn't emotionally handle the blood-boiling conversations taking place on that platform.
I want to suggest the problem is deeper than large political ideologies, a family dinner or a social media platform (although I do believe that sometimes the structure of social media platforms exacerbates the issues).

When "Venting" Doesn't Work

The challenge of frustration, anger and offense (and ensuing bitterness) is found between co-workers in the office place.
It is found on the university campus when another student or a faculty member says something insulting or which we think is outrageous.
It is found in church communities when a pastor or a leader offends us with words (whether intentional or not) that are hurtful, controlling or just plain unfair.
It is found even in our deepest relationships; we find ourselves getting deeply frustrated and even bitter at the irritations of our spouse's behavior.
So many of these situations are nuanced and need wise responses, but I want to suggest that in all these situations as followers of Jesus we do not have the "right" to be angry. We may not melt down in the middle of Trader Joe's, but when we are faced with seeming outrages, the "No Tantrum" rule is just as applicable to a 25-year-old and a 65-year-old as to a 5-year-old.
We may be opposed to the idea of children having tantrums but be perfectly OK with venting ourselves. After all, surely it's better to get it off your chest than to bottle it up? While I agree that we need to process our emotions in a right way, venting and "getting it off your chest" usually ends up with you embedding poison in your own heart that can last for years as a bitter residue.

What about "Righteous" Anger and Jesus in the Temple?

I believe there is a common misconception about anger. Most people think it is generally a bad thing, but if it is "righteous" anger, i.e. against sin, then that anger can be channeled and used for great effect to bring about good. The challenge is that anger against sin is invariably against somebody else's sin. Equating Jesus' righteous outburst in the temple against money traders in the outer court with our anger against other injustices is usually not helpful. First, we are not without sin (Jesus was), and second, we are typically not angry about Israel forsaking one of her primary mandates in the Jerusalem temple. Simply put, God does have righteous anger; we do not. I believe that is why James reminds his readers that "the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).
I am not saying that annoying or frustrating circumstances, people or social media posts will not come your way; they will certainly come. I am saying that as believers, we need to learn to let go of our anger and quickly. Paul's treatment of this subject is instructive. In his letter to the Ephesians, he recognizes that anger will come, but sees it as it is—a harmful, radioactive emotion. "'Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Eph. 4:26). As humans, we simply cannot manage anger. Get rid of it as soon as you can. Just a few verses later, he makes it crystal-clear—"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you" (Eph. 4:31).
I want to encourage us to act as prophetic ministers of another kingdom. I don't believe we, as followers of Christ, have a right to get angry. Yet in an age of increasing anger, is it possible that a community of believers can refuse to conform to the spirit of the age and minister the peace of that kingdom to all around? I certainly hope so. 
Originally from the United Kingdom, Jono Hall has served on the IHOPKC senior leadership team since 2003. Prior to moving to Kansas City, Jono worked with GOD TV for four years. At IHOPKC, Jono has served in many areas, but has principally been responsible for the media reach of IHOPKC, launching the broadcasting and creative media areas at IHOPKC. Jono has also been an instructor at IHOPU in subjects such as church history, basic Christian beliefs and media production. Jono is married to Shari, who also serves in leadership as the Director of Forerunner Media Institute at IHOPU, and they have four children.