Israel: US scraps demand for Israel settlements freeze
A senior US official told the BBC that attempts to get Israel to renew a partial freeze on settlement construction in occupied territory had failed. He said this did not mean the end of Washington's efforts to revive Middle East peace talks. There are about 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. The Palestinians say settlement-building and peace talks are incompatible. Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak said talks with the Americans had been postponed because Washington was distracted by the fallout from the release of secret documents by the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks and the crisis over North Korea. Pray: for a way forward that enables Israelis and Palestinians to trust and live with each other under Gods covering of peace. (Ps.133) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11943599
Philippines: Anglican leader appeals to free 43 detainees
A church leader has renewed his appeal for supporters to help persuade President Benigno Aquino to free 43 church-based health workers detained for more than nine months, accused of being members of a clandestine communist-led New People's Army. The workers were conducting primary health-care training for communities, and deny the allegations. ‘Another day in prison for the 43 is another day of justice denied,’ said the Rev. Rex Reyes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and a priest in the Episcopal Church of the Philippines. Reyes requested support from global church organizations, human rights advocates and civil libertarians. After pressure from these groups a presidential spokesperson said on November 16th that the presidential palace had organized a team to review the case of the 43 detainees and, ‘A prompt resolution would be forthcoming.’ Pray: for God's mighty right hand to hold this situation and guide it through to an imminent release for the detainees. (Is.42:7) More: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_125811_ENG_HTM.htm
Pakistan: Government cannot pardon Christian woman
The Pakistani government was barred on Monday by the country's high court from pardoning a Christian woman sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. A lawyer argued that a pardon would be illegal while the case was pending in the courts. ‘Since the matter is in the high court, the government cannot now make any move to pardon Bibi,’ lawyer Allah Bakhsh Leghari told Agence France-Presse. Asia Bibi was sentenced early this month to death by hanging for allegedly speaking against the Prophet Muhammad. (see last week's Prayer Alert) Religious leaders including Pope Benedict XVI, and human rights groups have called for her release but conservative Muslims have threatened anarchy if President Asif Ali Zadari pardons Bibi. Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti said he expects her to be freed, his preliminary findings from investigations of all accusations showed she was innocent. Pray: for God's mercy and justice to rule and reign through all decisions made regarding Bibi’s future. (Is.14:3-4)
Tanzania: Christian fears growing
Radical Islamists have demolished two church buildings on Tanzania’s semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar on Sunday Nov. 21, and congregation members have since received death threats. The church buildings which belong to the Tanzania Assemblies of God and the Evangelical Assemblies of God Zanzibar were torn down at about 8 p.m. said Bishop Fabian Obeid of EAGZ. This is the latest in a string of violent acts aimed at frightening away Christians in the Muslim-dominated region. The destruction on the island off the coast of East Africa has raised fears that Muslim extremists could go to any length to limit the spread of Christianity, church leaders said. A church member who requested anonymity reported hearing one Muslim saying, ‘We have cleansed our area by destroying the two churches, and now we are on our mission to kill individual members of these two churches – we shall not allow the church to be built again.’ Pray: for the Christians of Zanzibar to overcome fear, be protected and encouraged by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. (Ro.8:39-39) More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/tanzania/28938/
