Tel Aviv’s Light Rail to Open after Repeated Delays
Tel Aviv Red Line LRT carriage prototype (Source: Ynhockey/Wikimedia Commons)
More than ten years ago, construction began for a light rail system to allow travelers faster and more convenient access to Tel Aviv. It will take eighty minutes for the train to travel about fifteen miles from its starting point in Petach Tikvah to its terminus in Bat Yam, both suburbs of Tel Aviv. Known as the “Red Line,” the track goes above and below ground. This light rail system will likely have about 235,000 passengers a day.
Trains are expected at each of the route’s thirty-four stations every six to eight minutes. This new transit option will drastically change the landscape of Tel Aviv and its roads, which are severely congested. This light rail line has been in the making for a decade, but the process encountered several issues and cost 828 million dollars more than anticipated. The project finally received its approval to open on August 18 after many delays related to safety issues, logistics, etc. Two other light rail lines are under construction in other parts of Tel Aviv and its suburbs.
Please pray for the safety of the light rail’s passengers and crew as the new transportation project opens.
Read more at The Times of Israel. . .
Israeli Military Tests “Dronebulance”
A Hunter Joint Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in flight during a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) training exercise at Fallon Naval Air Station (NAS), Nevada (NV), during exercise DESERT RESCUE XI. The Hunter is an Israeli multi-role short-range UAV system in service with the US Army (USA). (Source: Staff Sergeant Reynaldo Ramon/Wikimedia Commons)
Israel’s Defense Ministry is nearing its deployment of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Though first developed for the private sector, this vehicle holds great promise for a modern military context. The Israeli Defense Force plans to use it to transport ammunition and supplies. Sometimes called a “dronebulance,” this vehicle also has the potential to transport wounded soldiers. Tests prove it can effectively carry two people for several miles. Later trials will test its potential to travel up to thirty miles carrying loads of up to 550 pounds.
The dronebulance will fly independently with a pre-programmed landing zone, similar to standard military drones, which do not need a human piloting them remotely. Notable features include a retractable canopy (similar to a sports car), a chargeable, quiet electric engine, a tablet screen in the passenger compartment, and four rotors for vertical takeoff and landing.
Praise God for these new military advancements allowing for the safe pick-up and travel of injured soldiers and civilians.
Israel Rescues Israeli Citizens in Ethiopia
An Ethiopian Jewish woman waits at Ben Gurion airport (Source: Unsplash/Levi Meir Clancy)
Israel recently evacuated more than 150 Israeli citizens and about fifty others eligible for citizenship from Ethiopia’s Amhara province. Ethiopia is in the middle of tense and violent clashes between the FANO militia and the Ethiopian Army. This unrest caused the Ethiopian government to declare a state of emergency. The Jewish Agency and the prime minister’s office organized three flights from Gondar to Addis Ababa. Those who continue the citizenship process will receive emotional and physical support until they can travel to Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The State of Israel is committed to the well-being of all its citizens, regardless of their circumstances. In recent days, Israeli citizens and individuals in the process of Aliyah [citizenship] found themselves in distress within conflict zones in Ethiopia. I gave the directive for their safe evacuation from those areas.”
Please pray for the well-being of these 200-plus people who escaped troubles in Ethiopia and the safety of those left behind.
Read more at The Jerusalem Post. . .
Fruit from the Frontlines: Reaching Out to Young Adults in Tel Aviv
Young adults gather at our Tel Aviv Messianic Center
Please pray for Chosen People Ministries’ outreach to Israeli soldiers and young adults. We have seen a recent upsurge among young men and women searching for answers to life’s questions after completing their mandatory military service. Thankfully, hundreds of these young Israelis have encountered the gospel—many for the first time—at our outreach center in Tel Aviv. Indeed, outreach events at our center have become so popular they often spark opposition from extremist religious groups trying to dissuade people from attending and us from hosting events at our center. (Pray these “anti-missionaries” will understand the truth and release their hatred.)
Amid these challenges, however, the Lord works powerfully! One staff member reports:
To ensure the safety of our premises and visitors, we enlisted the help of a Jewish security guard named Adam.* I had previously worked with Adam in Israeli security roles, and he respected my belief in Yeshua (Jesus). He willingly joined us as a security guard.
During his time at our center, Adam embraced Yeshua in his heart without any pressure from me. Recently, he approached us and expressed his desire to dedicate his newborn son to the Lord at our ministry center. The ceremony was truly beautiful, as Adam and his wife made a commitment to raise their child “in the fear of the Lord.”
We are overjoyed by Adam’s transformation and the positive influence it has on his family. What a glorious example of Romans 8:28, where God orchestrates everything for good. I humbly ask for your prayers as we continue to support their spiritual growth.
*Name changed for privacy
