Greetings from my confinement in a tiny little hotel room in Tel Aviv. I praise the Lord that I was able to make it out of the UAE, arriving in Israel thirty minutes before they shut down the airport. I will remain locked away in this hotel room until my period of quarantine is completed. Then I will finally be able to return home to be reunited with my family. I am missing them greatly and cannot wait to put my arms around my wonderful wife and my beautiful children.
 
In our newsletter this morning, Pastor Mike Golay will be giving you a ministry update – summarizing the highlights of a very busy January. However, this past week has seen some news-worthy activities here in the Middle East. So, before we get to Pastor Mike, let me fill you in on some of the recent goings-on.
 
 
The Middle East
 
The Abraham Accords keep reaping a wonderful harvest of peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. This past Sunday saw the Israeli ambassador Eitan Na’eh arriving in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to serve as the charge d’affaires at the temporary location. Soon, it is anticipated that an ambassador will be appointed who will serve at a permanent site. The UAE cabinet, in return, has given its approval to open an embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. This is just one more positive result of the policies of the previous US presidential administration. In addition, Israel has reopened its liaison office in Rabat, Morocco, and an embassy has already been made operational in Bahrain. The expectation is that an announcement will come soon that Khartoum, Sudan, and Tel Aviv will exchange embassies. Let’s pray that this great groundwork toward peace in the Middle East will not be wasted or destroyed by the Biden administration.
 
Many residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of a loud explosion. Initial speculation was that the noise was the Saudi-operated American Patriot missile defense system taking out a ballistic missile in the skies over the capital. Fingers immediately pointed at the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have a fondness for shooting missiles over the Saudi/Yemeni border. However, for once, they claimed to have no involvement. Up stepped Alwiya Alwaad Alhaq, a relatively unknown Iraqi Shiite organization, whose name translates to “The True Promise Brigades”. They said that the attack was their doing, and that it was actually a drone attack on the capital, as well as several other targets. Their reasoning for the attack was retaliation for what they claimed to be Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the January 21 twin suicide bombing in Baghdad that killed at least 32 and injured another 110. This accusation is baseless. Recently, this same Iranian-proxy terrorist group issued a threat against Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world and one you saw in the background of my Middle East update from the UAE.
 
Although the Yemeni rebel Houthis were not responsible for the attempted attack on Riyadh, there is plenty more horrific violence that falls under their purview. As a result, just before Biden’s inauguration, the Trump administration labeled the Houthis a terrorist organization. This label has wide-reaching ramifications when it comes to commerce and trade. However, now the Biden administration appears to be planning on overturning this decision. Even though this rebel group is involved in all sorts of atrocities, from murder to rape to the starvation of its own people, the new State Department claims humanitarian reasons for their decision. While it is true that Yemen is the home of one of the great humanitarian crises of our time, this action would be addressing the symptoms and not the cure. It is essentially allowing the perpetrators of these atrocities to grow stronger, while sentencing the victims to perpetual suffering. It is creating the pirate state of Somalia all over again. Currently, new Secretary of State Antony Blinken has put a suspension on the “terrorist” designation until February 26, at which time many believe he will do away with it completely.
 
The new US ambassador to the United Nations, Rich Mills, wasted no time in communicating the Biden administration’s anti-Israel attitude this past week. Couching the policy shifts in words of continued friendship and support of Israel, Mills let it be known that the Washington offices of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) would be reopened. These headquarters had been previously closed by the Trump administration. He also made clear that Biden policy will be set squarely around a two-state solution, believing that this is the only way to peace.
 
What this does is erase all the progress that had been made during the Trump administration. The Trump Peace Plan, popularly known as the “Deal of the Century” and touted by Israel and Arab states alike, is likely to fall by the wayside under Biden’s state house. This is a shame, because finally pressure was being placed on the Palestinians by the Arab states to come to the table. When the peace plan was first released, it was as if the eyes of nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others were suddenly opened to the illogic and inflexibility of Palestinian leadership when the Palestinians rejected the peace plan without even looking at it. Suddenly, Arab states were siding with Israel and the US. Overt and covert pressures were applied to the Palestinians to step up or risk souring their relationships with many Arab states. However, if the Biden administration rolls back the deal, the pressure will be off, and all will fall back to the same stalemate that’s been going on for decades.
 
 
Ministry Update with Pastor Mike Golay
 
Fascinating times! January was one of the most memorable months in Behold Israel. We began by travelling to Washington D.C. to witness the events around the Inauguration. We were not surprised to witness a very peaceful, family-friendly rally in front of the White House that morning; however, it came as a shock to find out what occurred at the Capitol building later that day.
 
Although neither of us were present to see the violence, we had close friends who witnessed it. It grieves us that the darkness hijacked the good message that most people were trying to send – that the Trump administration left a wonderful legacy with its policies for Israel, the U.S. economy, religious freedom, and so much more. We now must witness a completely different doctrine being lived out in the United States, as it jumps on the “bandwagon” of globalism.
 
While in D.C., it was clear that Twitter was on its rampage to shut us up. We will remember January as the month where we officially moved from that social medium to Telegram. We encourage you to download the app and use that to get our “grams” instead of “tweets”. Telegram is a welcomed upgrade due to additional features, including audio updates.
 
Amir continued from the nation’s capital to California, where he spoke at two services at Calvary Chapel Tustin sharing his teaching titled Reaching the Finish Line. It was a perfect reminder of what we must be focusing on in these Last Days.
 
He also was able to join Pastor Jack Hibbs at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills for his Happening Now series. They discussed several topics surrounding the political situation in the U.S. and the confidence we need to have as the church in this changing world. We are praying for pastors and leaders around the globe to be encouraged, as we are privileged with a “front row seat” to many prophetic events concurrently unfolding before our eyes.
 
In California, Amir also completed the audiobook recording for his new book Israel and the Church. This took him three days and was a huge accomplishment, as he read every word personally.
 
Then, after a negative COVID test, Amir made it to Dubai, accompanied by two other Israelis, to film an unprecedented Middle East Update from the balcony of his room overlooking the magnificent skyline. Three Israelis in the Arabian Gulf, less than 100 miles from Iran – who would have thought this would be possible!
 
If that’s not enough, a miraculous opportunity jumped out just days before this trip, our team had been praying for a “God ordained opportunity” to hold a conference in Dubai. God heard and opened up one of the top venues through Voice International. Amir was able to share two different messages and made connections that have now opened the doors to Bahrain, India, and even future UAE trips! All of this came about because a follower of the ministry wrote us a simple email asking if Amir would be willing to teach while staying in Dubai. God works in mysterious ways.
 
Dubai was an incredible blessing, but because of a sudden change from the Israeli government due to COVID, he and the two others had to return immediately or risk staying in the UAE indefinitely. They are all presently in a mandatory quarantine in a hotel for two weeks. Due to poor internet in the quarantine hotel, there will be no Middle East Update for the duration of his stay. We’ve also postposed the Bi-Weekly Prophecy Roundtable & Bi-Weekly Q & A with Pastor Barry Stagner.
 
We have a new addition this month! Our Young Adults Discipleship (YAD) ministry debuted its new program The Word, The World, & You on Saturday, discussing “Prophecy in the Life of the Believer.” We encourage you to tune in and share this segment with the young people in your life! We are using these to funnel young adults to our Weekly YAD Discipleship Calls on Zoom for a time of encouragement and spiritual refreshment!
 
We humbly thank you for your ongoing prayers. Please continue to pray as Amir passes through the quarantine. Also, consider joining us for our weekly international prayer meeting on Zoom where we provide a weekly theme and ministry updates, even as we pray that God thwarts the plans of the enemy and paves the way for the Gospel. Lastly, keep praying for our upcoming speaking tours in Brazil and South Africa – that God would make a way for these to happen.
 
In closing, the doxology of Jude 24-25 is our prayer for you:
 
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.”
 
Awaiting His Return,