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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Jerusalem Gold

Intro to ‘Jerusalem Gold’ Press Release
John R. Houk, Editor
Sent from Ari Bussel
Posted on May 24, 2017

Fifty-years ago from June 5, 1967; three Arab armies mobilized on the Israeli border itching for yet another shot to destroy the Jewish State. This is significant because the Six-Day War of 1967 returned the whole of Jerusalem to its Jewish heritage. On June 7, the IDF entered Eastern Jerusalem.

Ari Bussel sent me a press release that the Jewish community in the Los Angeles area will have a Jerusalem Remembrance Day commemorating the return of the City of David back to Israeli sovereignty.


Here are some relevant excerpts on the 1967 Arab mobilization and Israel’s response at the Jewish Virtual Library:


Israel repeatedly protested the Syrian bombardments to the UN Mixed Armistice Commission, which was charged with policing the cease-fire, but the UN did nothing to stop Syria’s aggression — even a mild Security Council resolution expressing “regret” for such incidents was vetoed by the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Israel was condemned by the United Nations when it retaliated.

While the Syrian military bombardment and terrorist attacks intensified, Nasser’s rhetoric became increasingly bellicose. In 1965, he announced, “We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand; we shall enter it with its soil saturated in blood.”(4)


Syria’s attacks on Israeli kibbutzim from the Golan Heights finally provoked a retaliatory strike on April 7, 1967. During the attack, Israeli planes shot down six Syrian fighter planes — MiGs supplied by the Soviet Union. Shortly thereafter, the Soviets — who had been providing military and economic assistance to both Syria and Egypt — gave Damascus false information alleging a massive Israeli military buildup in preparation for an attack. Despite Israeli denials, Syria decided to invoke its defense treaty with Egypt and asked Nasser to come to its aid.

Countdown to War

On May 15, Israel's Independence Day, Egyptian troops began moving into the Sinai and massing near the Israeli border. By May 18, Syrian troops were prepared for battle along the Golan Heights.

Nasser ordered the UN Emergency Force (UNEF), stationed in the Sinai since 1956 as a buffer between Israeli and Egyptian forces after Israel’s withdrawal following the Sinai Campaign, to withdraw on May 16. Without bringing the matter to the attention of the General Assembly (as his predecessor had promised), Secretary-General U Thant complied with the demand. 


The Blockade

On May 22, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to all Israeli shipping and all ships bound for Eilat. This blockade cut off Israel's only supply route with Asia and stopped the flow of oil from its main supplier, Iran.


King Hussein of Jordan signed a defense pact with Egypt on May 30. Nasser then announced:

The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel...to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not declarations.(13)


The Arab rhetoric was matched by the mobilization of Arab forces. Approximately 465,000 troops, more than 2,800 tanks, and 800 aircraft ringed Israel.(15)


Israel decided to preempt the expected Arab attack. To do this successfully, Israel needed the element of surprise. Had it waited for an Arab invasion, Israel would have been at a potentially catastrophic disadvantage. On June 5, Prime Minister Eshkol gave the order to attack Egypt.


On June 5, 1967, Israel was isolated, but its military commanders had conceived a brilliant war strategy. The entire Israeli Air Force, with the exception of just 12 fighters assigned to defend Israeli air space, took off at 7:14 a.m. in  Operation Moked (aka Operation Focus) with the intent of bombing Egyptian airfields while the Egyptian pilots were eating breakfast. By 11:05 a.m. 180 Egyptian fighter planes were destroyed. Defense Minister Moshe Dayan was not planning to attack Syria until the Syrians attacked Tiberias and Megiddo. Israeli fighters subsequently attacked the Syrian and Jordanian air forces, as well as one airfield in Iraq. By the end of the first day, most of the Egyptian and half the Syrian air forces had been destroyed on the ground.

On June 9, at 5:45 a.m., the head of Southern Command informed the chief of staff: “IDF forces are on the banks of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.


Jerusalem Is Attacked

Initially, Israel did not plan to capture the West Bank

Prime Minister Levi Eshkol sent a message to King Hussein on June 5 saying Israel would not attack Jordan unless he initiated hostilities. When Jordanian radar picked up a cluster of planes flying from Egypt to Israel, and the Egyptians convinced Hussein the planes were theirs, he ordered the shelling of West Jerusalem. It turned out that the planes were Israel’s and were returning from destroying the Egyptian air force on the ground.

Hussein's decision changed the course of the war. Israel counterattacked.

At 6:15 a.m. on June 7, Dayan ordered the encirclement of the Old City and instructed the army to enter. Israeli paratroopers stormed the city and secured it. At 10:08 a.m., according to the army diary, a message was received, saying, “The Temple Mount is in our hands and our forces are by the [Western] Wall.” [Bold Text Editor’s]


After just six days of fighting, Israeli forces were in a position to march on Cairo, Damascus, and Amman. By this time, the principal objectives of capturing the Sinai and the Golan Heights had been accomplished, and Israeli political leaders had no desire to fight in the Arab capitals. Furthermore, the Soviet Union had become increasingly alarmed by the Israeli advances and was threatening to intervene. At this point, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk advised the Israelis “in the strongest possible terms” to accept a cease-fire. On June 10, Israel did just that.

READ ENTIRETY (The Six-Day War: Background & Overview; Sourced from Mitchell G. Bard; Jewish Virtual Library; source © 2008)

I don’t know if you realize it, but Israel acquiring portions of their heritage in 1967 is not only of historical significance, it is also of Biblical significance. I can’t pinpoint the Judaic significance due to a bit of ignorance on my part. However, the Christian prophetic perspective points to another sign the Last Days are around the corner and the soon return of Jesus the Christ to restore the full Redemption not only of humanity but also a restoration of the whole earth.

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John,[a] saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,[b] “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21: 1-5 NKJV)

Below is the slightly edited press release sent by Ari Bussel which includes a few photos sent as well.

**************
Jerusalem of Gold
The official Los Angeles celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem


Press Release Sent by Ari Bussel
Sent 5/22/2017 12:13 AM

June 7th, 2017, 7:30PM
Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles

In 2017, and for the past 50 years, there is only one place in the entire Middle East and the African continent where freedom of religion is paramount, and people as well as holy sites flourish, as they are protected by law and by practice.

This place is Jerusalem, Israel’s capital from Biblical to present times. For two thousand years, the Jewish people yearned to return to their homeland and to the holy city of Jerusalem.

Here, Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his loyalty to God the Almighty; Jacob dreamed of the ladder with angels ascending and descending; King David conquered the city and made it his capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant here; His son King Solomon built the First Temple, a magnificent marvel; the First and Second Temple were then destroyed, but a portion of the Western Wall remains to this very day; and here is where Jesus walked in the Way of Suffering, Via Dolorosa, was crucified and then resurrected.

The Prophet Isaiah instructed and highlighted (66:10): “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all who love her!” the city "Jerusalem that is built as a city which is joined together” (Psalms 122:3) and which is remembered and constantly highlighted “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I remember thee not, if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy” (Psalms 137:5-6).



It is in this spirit, 50 years to the date from when the Israeli flag was raised over the Temple Mount, that Christians and Jews and other minorities will gather and declare:

There is no other place like Jerusalem, Jerusalem of Gold, the City of God!



Throughout the Middle East and Africa Christians and other minorities are being raped, sold to slavery, executed en masse (including Muslims in the hands of other Muslims) and murdered, and holy places (churches, mosques, etc.) are desecrated, burned to the ground and destroyed. Jerusalem is the only place where freedom of religion and protection of religious rights and institutions is by law and practice.

Jerusalem is the only place that for the past 50 years church bells can be heard, as well as the Muezzin call to prayer. Jews walk freely, living their daily lives side by side other minorities. Jerusalem is the only place in the entire region and beyond where the Christian population experiences a net positive growth; where minorities feel safe and welcome.

This is the theme being highlighted, under the banner “The City of Angels Saluting the City of God.” A unique evening celebrating a Jubilee of humanity flourishing.



##
For any inquiries, please contact Norma Zager, (323) 397-8752.

Among relevant questions are:

What is unique about Jerusalem?

What is unique about 2017?

This year marks 

* the 120th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress in Basel, 

* the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, 

* the 70th year of the UN Partition Plan,

* the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War,

* and 50 years for the reunification of Jerusalem.]

What are the connections between LA and Jerusalem?

Why should one care?

1) Please include information about Jerusalem of Gold in your calendar of upcoming events.  RSVP can be done to jerusalemofgoldforall@gmail.com.

2) If you wish to write an article about the various milestones this year (vis-a-vis Israel and Jerusalem), or maybe about anti-Semitism today and re-living the 1930s, the spread of radical Islam or what is happening in the Middle East, and how is it all relevant for us here in the Greater Los Angeles area and in the USA, or if you are simply interested in Jerusalem and/or Israel, we are available provide background as well as pertinent, detailed. information.

Of particular significance during the event will be a recognition of Holocaust Survivors still with us and making a vow never to forget them.

You may want to place a small “CALL FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: to be honored during the upcoming Jerusalem of Gold event.  Please submit Survivors’ names to Vera Markowitz, (310) 276-7494."

3) Please sign up to participate and let your colleagues, friends and family know:

Signing up is extremely easy.  Just click on the Eventbrite link:



4) If you intend to cover the event, please let us know.  Israeli diplomats will be there to welcome the guests, as well as faith leaders, elected officials and diplomats.  Jerusalem of Gold promises to be a most interesting event.

SHALOM!

Always,

Ari Bussel

bussel@me.com
USA +1 (310) 339-6686


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