"If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective."
-- Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, June 2008
Most Americans have never heard of Shaul Mofaz. But those interested in the future of the Middle East ought to take note.
Mofaz is currently Israel's Deputy Prime Minister. On Tuesday, he announced his candidacy to lead the Kadima Party, the party of current Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Mofaz now squares off against Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Kadima's September 17th primaries. He is behind in the internal Kadima polls, but he has been gaining. Should he win next month, he will have the chance to put together a national unity government and become Israel's next premier, without having to face voters in a new round of national elections.
There are five things you should know about Mofaz.
First, he was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1948 before his family eventually fled to the new State of Israel when he was nine years old.
Second, he is a military man, rising to become the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces in the late 1990s under Netanyahu, and later served as Defense Minister under Ariel Sharon.
Third, this native Farsi speaker says war with Iran appears to him "unavoidable," and he vows he will not allow the Jewish State to suffer "a second Holocaust."
Fourth, his campaign to become Kadima's next leader -- and thus potentially Israel's next Prime Minister -- essentially boils down to this: "If Iran strikes first, or if Israel must launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran, who would you rather have as commander-in-chief, a diplomat like Tzipi Livni, or a military man like me?"
Fifth, as a lifelong military leader, he is relatively new to the political arena, having been first elected to the Knesset in 2005. Yet even in this short period of time, he has been accused of flip-flopping on major political issues. As one Israeli media profile put it: "His political zigzagging was evident when he joined Kadima - a mere 48 hours after announcing to the world that the Likud was his political home forever and ever; or when he fiercely objected to the construction of the security fence - only to take charge of the operation; or when it came time to vote on the Gaza pullout - where he turned from one of the move's most adamant opponents to one of its most enthused advocates, almost overnight." That said, with the eyes of the nations increasingly on Israel and her neighbors, Shaul Mofaz is a man worth watching.
My colleagues and I continue to believe that there is a serious likelihood of war between Israel and Iran in the next few months, and we are doing everything we can to prepare for that war. Our Joshua Fund staff has been in Israel for the last few weeks, and will be there for another week. They are meeting with our key allies and making preparations to pre-position more relief supplies. Specifically, they are looking for warehouse space, office space, and vehicles to move the supplies. We would be grateful for your continued prayers for those needs. We would also be grateful for your prayers that the Lord would provide an additional $1 million above and beyond our regular budget, and do so by September 1st so that we can secure those facilities and fill them with supplies. As you can see, time is short so we need to move as quicky as possible. August is the slowest time for nearly all ministries when it comes to fund-raising, as so many people are traveling and on vacation. So this will really need to be from the Lord. Thanks so much for standing with us as prayer and financial partners.
As always, The Joshua Fund will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date on the kinds of projects we are doing, brief you on how those projects are proceeding. We will also let you know about the kinds of projects we are developing for the future. In no way do we want to pressure anyone to give financially. We fully believe the Lord will provide for the needs of the people we seek to serve. But if you or others wish to help, we welcome your support, and all financial gifts are tax-deductible. To contribute to the on-going work of The Joshua Fund, please give securely on-line, or make your check payable to "The Joshua Fund" and send to:
The Joshua Fund
18950 Base Camp Road
Monument, Colorado 80132-8009
Thanks so much and may the Lord richly bless you and your family as you bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus -- especially at critical moment in history of the epicenter.
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