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Israel
Introduction |
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INTRODUCTION
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We experienced the Hand of God. He stops the 50 day war, so I can be
in Israel to walk Jerusalem - city of David on Zion , the place where
God Yeshua put his name and also Galilee areas where He walks and
teaches. God allows us to visit Temple Mount in Hebrew Har haBáyit
(Hebrew:
הַרהַבַּיִת) ( where David first brought the Ark of covenant-
Presence of God- whereupon Solomon builds the First Temple).It was just
a short window in the midst of the 2 attacks and also Mount of
Olives. Despite Temple Mount being closed for the first time in many
years. Divine grace and miracle perfect, we were able to visit Mount of
Olives and Temple Mount. Also Caesarea Phillipi.
To see this land is a
blessed journey.
Thank you Marian for teaching us so much and leading us
through this land. May the Word of The Lord takes us by the hand and
lead us- always remembering and thankful for Israel. I want to bless
Israel from my heart. We will continue to pray for the peace of
Jerusalem and your chosen people especially at this time.
From our
family
ויליאם סואיצֹי
יבש
רפּא
Amen. |
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Just being in Israel, travelling the roads and pathways
of the Promised Land in the footsteps of Jesus and looking into the
hillsides of Galilee amidst the still waters of Sea of Galilee. Biblical
moments and spots where stories of the Bible took place
comes sharply into focus to help us relive the experience. |
Originally published at ASEAN Today.
http://www.aseantoday.com/2017/05/an-odd-couple-why-does-singapore-stand-beside-israel/
Israeli interests in Singapore have long-supported the Southeast Asian
nation in military matters but new opportunities are growing cooperation
on technology projects.
Editorial
The strategic Israeli military-focused think-tank Team8 recently hosted
a conference in Singapore. They were in the city-state to foster
cybersecurity start-ups and were optimistic about innovative and useful
Singapore-Israeli cooperation.
Team8’s co-founder and CEO told reporters that the Southeast Asian state
would serve as the Team8’s headquarters in Asia. This is just one in a
long history of cooperative deals between the two small nations. They
have much in common.
Security issues have always loomed large in Israel as successive
governments have been unable to find peace with their Arab neighbours.
Singapore has lived under the shadow of a potential Malaysian invasion.
This shared need for defence systems brought the two countries together,
but their relationship is much more than that of an arms dealer and its
client. Israel and Singapore also cooperate in the technology, solar and
water sectors.
Israel was one of the early countries to support an independent
Singapore
In February 2017, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited
Singapore in the first visit from that country’s leader in 30 years. Lee
Hsien Loong explained “We asked a number of
countries [for help forming an army in the early years of Singapore]…we
were starting from zero… we needed to build up an armed forces urgently
from scratch. But only Israel responded to us, and it did so very
promptly.”
Advice from Israel shaped the early plans for Singapore’s army and
today’s force still reflects the Israeli structure. Weapons sales to arm
these troops was a key driver for early cooperation. In 1968, Singapore
purchased 72 AMX-13 tanks from Israel but the sensitivities of
Singapore’s position in a Muslim-majority region meant these deals were
not public knowledge.
“Without the Israeli Defence Force, the
Singapore Armed Forces could not have grown its capabilities, deterred
threats, defended our island, and reassured Singaporeans and investors
that Singapore was secure, and that Singapore had a future… We will
always be grateful that Israel helped us and stood by us, at our time of
great need,” Lee said.
Trade and partnerships today, still include supplying equipment such as
tanks and drones. Singapore has state of the art defence equipment
including F-16s, Apache Longbow helicopters, anti-aircraft missile, some
of which comes from Israel.
The two countries have the same anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile
systems and share military intelligence. They have a history of working
together on tenders for military supplies to third-party countries.
Specialised structures fund joint research and innovation ventures
The Singapore-Israel relationship also manifests itself in projects like
the Singapore-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation. It
uses money from the Singapore Economic Development Board and the Israeli
Office of the Chief Scientist to provide grants of up to US$1 million
for joint Singapore-Israeli ventures.
Recently funded projects included investigating whether a particular
amino acid can protect the heart during a heart attack, and whether
minerals from the Dead Sea can treat skin disorders.
Private sector cooperation between the two countries is also becoming
more prominent. Israeli crowdfunding venture capital start-up OurCrowd
opened an office in Singapore in 2016. “Asia more broadly, and Singapore
in particular, is becoming a globally-recognized financial hub for the
next generation of innovative technology companies,” a statement from
the company said.
This facility allows companies with scalable technology products and
services to access seed money through a crowdfunding platform. This
means they can seek multiple small investments in return for equity or
shares in their startup. Their want to use Singapore as a jumping-off
point into the Asian market. “Asia is one of our fastest growing markets
and following our launch in Singapore, we will be looking to take
OurCrowd further into the ASEAN market,” they added.
Financial institutions in Singapore are also looking at this kind of
offer from Israeli opportunities. The United Overseas Bank (UOB) has
invested US$10 million in OurCrowd. Sassoon Investment Corporation, the
corporation behind the success of The Coffee Bean, is also putting in
cash.
Technology transfer between the two nations goes in both directions.
Singapore’s water management experts Hyflux are heavily involved in
treatment projects around the Dead Sea. This is an area where
cooperation could be expanded PM Lee said. “We already have companies
here in Israel. And we would also like to encourage Israeli companies to
have a presence in Singapore.”
“We hope more of them will come and we hope that they will develop the
capabilities so that they find it worthwhile to come to Singapore to use
our engineers and use our expertise and work together,” he added.
Israel and Singapore are linked in trade and diplomatic relations
Today, total trade volume between the two nations hums along to the tune
of US$1.9 billion yearly, growing by 24.6% in one year alone (between
2012 and 2013). Strong relationships in both the public and private
sectors mean this figure is predicted to grow steadily. Trade flows see
electronics exported from Israel to Singapore, and Israel takes
machinery and computer equipment from Singapore.
Singapore stands behind their close ties with Israel in diplomacy. The
Southeast Asian nation abstained from a crucial UN resolution to
determine the status of Palestine in the United Nations and this loyalty
is recognised. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said
his country was “pivoting towards Asia in a very clear and purposeful
way.” This may see even closer ties with Israeli research and military
products.
External factors were the glue that bound the early Israel-Singapore
relationship and other people’s decisions continue to do so. US
President Donald Trump has said he will push for a peace drive in the
Middle East and this may soften the need for arms sales and
manufacturing. This would push the Singapore-Israel relationship deeper
into technology and commerce.
TIMELINE
1965 – Singapore becomes a sovereign nation
1968 – Singapore purchases 72 AMX-13 tanks from Israel
1997 – Founding of the Singapore-Israel Industrial Research and
Development Foundation
2012 – Singapore abstains from United Nations vote over status of
Palestine at UN
2016 – Israeli start-up OurCrowd opens an office in Singapore
2017 – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Singapore
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Before
you
speak
to
me
about
your
religion,
first
show
me
how
you
treat
other
people;
Before
you
tell
me
how
much
you
love
God,
show
me
you
love
all
His
children;
Before
you
preach
to
me
of
your
passion
for
your
faith,
teach
me
about
it
through
your
compassion
for
your
neighbours;
In
the
end,
I am
not
as
interested
in
what
you
have
to
tell
or
sell
as I
am
in
how
you
choose
to
live
and
forgive~
Cory
Booker
plus
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