Once an Arafat Man

Hamas Raids Aid Trucks

By YAAKOV KATZ AND JPOST.COM STAFF Hamas on Monday raided some 100 aid trucks that Israel had allowed into Gaza, stole their contents and sold them to the highest bidders.

The IDF said that since terminal activity is coordinated with UNRWA and the Red Cross, Israel could do nothing to prevent such raids, Israel Radio reported.

Between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the army had ceased all military activity in Gaza and once again established a "humanitarian corridor" to help facilitate the transfer of the supplies.

The Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings had been opened to allow in the aid trucks.

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Hamas Legalizes Crucifixion

This story comes from TheJewishWorldReview.com.  Another example of the brutality of Hamas and Islamic Sharia law.

By Caroline B. Glick - Both Iran and its Hamas proxy in Gaza have been busy this Christmas week  showing Christendom just what they think of it. But no one seemed to have noticed.

On Tuesday Hamasa legislators Marked the Christmas season by passing a Sharia criminal code for the Palestinian Authority.  Among other things, the code legalizes crucifixion.

Hamas's endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time as it renewed its jihad. Here too, Hamas wanted to make sure that Christians didn't neglected as its fighters launched missiles at Jewish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday Hamas lobbed a mortar at Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.

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The Evil Regime of Hamas

Friends, it's been so long since we have posted or updated.  We've been traveling so much and have been overwhelmed by what God is doing through Once an Arafat Man.  Thank you all so much for being a part of this and promoting it among your friends.

The book is in such demand, not just in the U.S., but many of the English speaking nations.  The effect that it had on the people is far beyond my expectation.  I guess because it is a "God thing" and not a "Tass thing".  I've been receiving so many emails from all over the world telling me how the book has impacted people and brought a broader and more balanced understanding of who the Arabs (Ishmaelites) are.

The book is being published right now in German, English, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Portuguese and Russian...and more to come.  Arabic and Hebrew will follow this year.  Please keep praying for it.

Now, onto the current war in the Gaza strip...it is so amazing to me how many people suddenly become experts about the Middle East.  I am not, by any means, an expert.  War, any way you look at it, is an ugly thing.  One thing I must say, the world is becoming so "anti-Israel" because of the lack of understanding of the real conflict.  Let me say this, the real conflict is spiritual and not political.  If Hamas could get their hands on the same capabilities the Israelis have, they would have erased Israel off the map a long time ago.  The casualties of war that we see is horrified and expanded by AlJazeera and the like because of their being so "biased".  Don't take everything they show you as truth.  Their goal is to win sympathy for people like Hamas.

I feel horrified by the loss of innocent life in Gaza.  Yes it is ugly, it is mean, it is vicious, but Hamas is the one to blame for all of this.  They put their people in the line of fire and they hide underground.  Karen and I have been there.  We lived there.  We have seen what Hamas is capable of and what they do when they fight with Israel.  They are not as brave as what AlJazeera wants us to believe.  They are ugly, mean spirited evil people and many are  demonically possessed.

The only thing I can fault Israel for is the fact that they have waited too long.  First, they should have gone into Gaza long before this.  Second, they waited too long to start the ground offensive this time.  They haven't the guts, because they haven't their God.

Let us pray for the victims on both sides of this war.  Pray that God will bring Hamas down to save their own people from their evil government.

-Tass

Charisma Magazine Article

Recently Charisma Magazine had an article entitled "Christmas in Bethlehem".  It featured a story about our dear friend Ayyad and his family.

Rami Ayyad was closing up at the Bible Society in Gaza where he worked when armed men whisked him into a car and sped away. For hours, Ayyad's whereabouts were unknown. Pauline, his wife and the mother of their three children-the last still in utero-finally got through to him on his cell phone.

He wasn't able to say much, and she could tell something was wrong. It turned out to be the couple's last conversation.

The next day, October 7, 2007, Ayyad's body was found marred by signs of torture and riddled with the gunshot wounds that killed him.

Read the full story...

Son of Hamas Leader Turns to Christ

Mosab Hassan Yousef is an extraordinary young man with an extraordinary story. He was born the son of one of the most influential leaders of the militant Hamas organization in the West Bank and grew up in a strict Islamic family.

Now, at 30 years old, he attends an evangelical Christian church, Barabbas Road in San Diego, Calif. He renounced his Muslim faith, left his family behind in Ramallah and is seeking asylum in the United States.

The story of how his life unfolded is truly amazing, whether you agree or disagree with his views. Below is a transcript on an exclusive FOX News interview with Hassan as he tells firsthand how a West Bank Muslim became a West Coast Christian.

Read the full story . . .

Be Aware America

There was a group of 3,000 people in Gaza "peacefully" marching through the streets demanding a worldwide Islamic state.  This week we've felt personally the results of such "peace".  And it isn't a pretty thing.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) is organizing with the intent of appearing "peaceful" to the rest of the world.  What the "Party of Liberation" intends to do is infiltrate the governments of democracies around the world including the United States.  We've seen a story recently that indicates the embracing of shariah law by the most senior judge in the UK.

Since the mid-1970's this group has been patiently investing in educating their children, investing in becoming politically active and infiltrating democratic societies around the world.  Their influence is becoming evident.  This is a strategy that has been in the making for many years.  It's time for America and it's citizens to be aware of this movement.

With this news, our humanitarian organizations are exploring how we can bring Hamas and it's supporting states to justice through the international courts.  Not for simply robbing our home in Gaza, but for the terrorism and massacaring of it's own citizens.  This will not be an easy fight, but we know that governing bodies are given authority by God to instill basic rights to citizens.  We appreciate your prayers and letters of encouragement.

Here's the recent news from Haaretz.com:

Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) supporters calling for a worldwide Islamic state have marched through Gaza for the first time.

About 3,000 demonstrators waved black flags and shouted slogans calling for a global Islamic government Thursday.

Hizb ut-Tahrir seeks to establish a caliphate that would govern the world according to Islamic law. The group is banned in several countries, including Russia, Germany and some Arab states.
The group says it uses nonviolent means but is seen as ideologically close to Jihadist groups.

Read the full story "Group Promoting Worldwide Islamic Rule Marches in Gaza"

Hope Will Not Be Moved...

Dear friends,

I wanted to share with you something my daughter wrote regarding the current events in Gaza.  Thank you again to all who have encouraged us through your emails, comments and phone calls.  The Body of Christ is a magnificent creation.  God bless...
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If there is one theme that is a thread through the word of God, it is hope. Everything we are and everything we do is connected to hope. If you search the scripture you will find that in many verses that contain the word "hope" it is connected to our will to live; just as in Psalm 119:116 where King David cries out, “Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.”

 

Hope Kindergarten, Seeds of Hope Cultural Center, and our home inside Gaza was attacked recently and stripped clean by Hamas militants. Although the call that Sunday morning was a tough one to take, we know that it was no surprise to God. Joel Rosenberg said it best in an email to my dad when he reminded him of 1Peter 4:12 and 13; Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. We know that the joy and hope that we have is unfailing because we have the knowledge of the Giver of that hope.

 

The people of Gaza have very little to hope for in their present circumstances. Hamas has made it clear through their recent attacks on the charitable organizations that are trying to give them hope like ours, that hope in Gaza has become a punishable crime.

What doesn’t make sense is that the purpose of these organizations is to help Gazans have quality of life by providing education, food, medical supplies, etc, wouldn’t you think that Hamas would be happy that someone is trying to help their people? Wouldn’t it make the most sense to support these organizations so that the world would see that they are doing something for their people?

 

But we know the fight isn’t against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers.

Satan wants to rip out any semblance of hope in the Gaza Strip. His plan is to remove from the mind of its people that there is a way out of their prison. He doesn’t want us to show them that the prison they live in isn’t a stone wall or barbed wire fences, and that true freedom isn’t a piece of land. Hope is freedom, hope gives us the ability to live another day in the worst of circumstances, hope gives us eyes to see a world living in our diversity sharing our lives together despite our cultural differences. Hope gives us a voice to sing in the midst of persecution.

 

Hamas in all its efforts to crush hope, will lose. Hope has a face, a voice, and body. Hope is the face of Christ, the voice of its martyrs, and the body of its believers.

With a Heavy Heart

Dear friends of "Once an Arafat Man".  It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. Our humanitarian organization in Gaza was ransacked...no...not ransacked...but robbed.  By who you might ask.  The answer is one that may surprise people...but to those who are educated in middle east politics, particularly in the Palestinian world, it may not come as a shock.  The governing body in the Gaza Strip, Hamas, has taken it upon themselves to destroy all the good that is being accomplished through the cultural center in Gaza.

I received a phone call early this morning informing us that our home in Gaza was robbed by Hamas.  What they could not take, they destroyed.  Bullets shot through windows, bullets shot through walls, furniture taken, pictures, books and the front door...yes the front door.   If the home was not enough, they took everything from the cultural center.  Computers, desks, chairs, sofas, furniture...all things being used to help the poorest citizens of Gaza.  In addition to our home and cultural center, they took it upon themselves to destroy the Hope Kindergarten facility.  Taking playground equipment, toys, and educational material...surely the soldiers of Hamas will find them useful while the children who received joy and education will now be without.

This "governing" body is on a mission to eliminate hope in it's people...but be assured...as long as the Body of Christ continues to commit itself to the purpose of hope, love, peace and reconciliation to God...Hamas and the dictatorships like it will never succeed.  They will only continue to fan the flame quietly burning in the hearts of their people.

In a time such as this, with the political future of the United States being decided in November, it is  becoming increasingly important for the Body of Christ to educate itself in the story of the Middle East.  While intentions of former presidents visiting the leaders of Hamas may seem purely motivated, it only emboldens these governments to pursue acts such as these.  My hope is that the book "Once an Arafat Man" will be a helpful tool for all who wish to understand the volatile situation in places like Gaza.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

-Tass

Another Day of Fighting

GAZA (Reuters) - Three Israeli air strikes and a raid in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed three Hamas militants and two Palestinian civilians, local medical workers and the Islamist group said.

Israeli troops clashed with gunmen during a raid near Gaza City, killing one gunman, Hamas said.

Earlier, an air strike east of Gaza City killed two Hamas gunmen, one of whom died of his wounds in hospital, and wounded three civilians, medical workers said.

Read more . . .

Gaza News

GAZA CITY (AFP) — A Palestinian militant was killed and nearly 20 people were wounded on Wednesday during an Israeli incursion into the southern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medics and witnesses.

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