Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Shalom from a surprisingly mild and often hazy southern California! With all the crazy rain that has been flooding areas from Texas to New Mexico and from New York to New Jersey, I certainly can’t complain about the weather being “too pleasant.” It’s just strange, and it’s a regular topic of conversation amongst the SoCal people.
After a week at sea, it was very nice to get back on solid ground Sunday. The Alaska cruise was a true blessing for all who attended. They heard the word of God, worshipped with fellow believers, and witnessed the incredible beauty of the Lord’s creation. Quite honestly, I had never anticipated incorporating cruises into the Behold Israel teaching methodology. However, we were forced to look for another way to connect with people other than Holy Land Tours after the war began in 2023. Since then, I’ve learned to appreciate them so much. I love teaching at churches and other venues. The one downside is that I am only there for a short time. What the cruise lacks in quantity of participants, it makes up for in quality of relationships. I’ve spoken to the others from the Behold Israel team, and to a person they all talked about how wonderful it was to get to know people one on one.
This is one of the reasons that I am so excited about the upcoming Behold Israel Exploring Ezekiel Norwegian Fjords Cruise that was just announced yesterday. Taking place September 27-October 4, 2026, this amazing adventure will feature Pastor Barry Stagner and me teaching through the book of Ezekiel, as laid out in my upcoming book Exploring Ezekiel. Powerful, exciting, and so very timely, never before have we been living the days of Ezekiel so much as we are now. For more information or to register for this special cruise, visit our website.
It has been a crazy few days in the Middle East, so let’s get right to the news. Because of the importance of what’s happening with Syria, it will take the bulk of this newsletter.
MidEast & Beyond
When everything went crazy between Israel and Syria yesterday, I guarantee you that there were few places where you could find as detailed coverage as on my Telegram page. If you haven’t subscribed already, please do so. Also, for a very detailed analysis of what is happening in the Middle East right now, as well as how it ties in with biblical prophecy, please watch Tuesday’s “MidEast & Beyond: Round 2 of War Already?” with Pastor Barry Stagner and me.
Israel Fights Syria to Defend the Druze
What do you call a terrorist with a fancy title and an expensive suit? A terrorist. Unfortunately, many of the world’s leaders forgot this truth, including President Donald Trump who called former al-Qaeda leader and Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a “young, attractive guy” before lifting U.S. sanctions on the regime. Making the transition from terror to legitimacy takes more than a change of clothes. It takes a change of heart. Al-Sharaa has shown throughout his time in power, and especially this last week, that his heart is still as dark as it has ever been.
Since President al-Sharaa has come into power after overthrowing the despicable Assad regime, his band of merry murderers have gone after Alawites, Christians, Kurds, and Druze. It is the last of this list who have felt his special ire these past days. In the area of As-Suwayda in southern Syria, al-Sharaa’s hordes have gone after the Druze, beating them, humiliating them by cutting off their beards which are sacred to them, and then murdering them. Why is the president attacking them? Because he is a jihadist. Under Assad, the Druze could live peacefully, because the former president was an Arab nationalist. Jihadis, however, cannot abide anyone who is not Muslim. For a deeper dive on this very important distinction, I’d again invite you to watch Tuesday’s MidEast & Beyond update.
The nation of Israel has a very special relationship with the Druze, with over 150,000 living in the country. When al-Sharaa took over Syria, the Israeli government promised its Druze population that it would do all it can to protect the religious sect’s brothers and sisters living across the border. That commitment to protect these innocent people from being slaughtered because they are non-Muslim is the whole reason why Israel has attacked. My question is why we are the only ones protecting these people from a genocidal government that wants to wipe them out? I’m asking you, United Nations. I’m asking you, U.K. and France, Nordic countries and Canada, Iberian Peninsula and Italy – all you who are so quick to falsely throw the “genocide” epithet at Israel, but who fall absolutely silent when it is unquestionably taking place in Syria for all to witness!
Just like Israel took up the mantle to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, it is accepting responsibility to protect the Druze. And they are doing a spectacular job of it. The Syrian regime forces were intensifying their offensive in As-Suwayda, employing a pincer movement to surround parts of the area. Attempts by the Druze at creating a ceasefire amidst the violence had all fallen apart.
Thus, Israel intervened. The IDF launched strikes on Syrian regime targets, including the Syrian Ministry of Defense headquarters in Damascus and many other significant locations around the capital city. It also focused on the As-Suwayda region destroying military vehicles and weaponry. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Damascus to withdraw troops from As-Suwayda, stating that “Israel will not abandon the Druze.” As of the time of this writing, more than 160 targets have been hit by Israel in Syria, and preparations have been underway to increase strikes in Damascus.
There was mayhem at the border as dozens of Syrian Druze attempted to cross into Israel to escape the attacks. Meanwhile, Israeli Druze crossed the other direction into Syria from Majdal Shams to support their people militarily. Overall, this whole situation has been very volatile. Initially, the Trump administration, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, issued a tepidly worded response to what was taking place. However, as I’m monitoring the situation as this newsletter is being written on Wednesday, it appears that things may be changing. Rubio has issued a more encouraging statement saying that positive steps have been taken to end the fighting tonight.
Let’s hope that this is true. Some of the footage that is coming out of As-Suwayda brings flashbacks of October 7. Bodies strewn over the floors in hospitals. An absolute disregard for human life. I’m happy that there may be a resolution to this horror, but there must be retribution for the evil committed by al-Sharaa’s people.
Attack of the Bunker-Busters 2.0?
For years, the Islamic regime in Iran worked quietly behind the scenes to build its proxy militia network and work on their nuclear weapons program. Now, however, it seems like the folks in Tehran just can’t shut up. Very possibly, it’s because of the embarrassment at the revelation that their mighty army appears to simply be a bunch of incompetent soldiers armed only with cap guns. The “little Satan” put the ayatollahs over their knees and spanked them for 11 days before the “great Satan” flew their bunker-buster-carrying B-2 bombers in and landed a knock-down punch. It reminds me of Haman having to dress his archenemy Mordechai in royal robes, put him on a ceremonial horse, and lead him through the streets of Susa as he sang the man’s praise. It was the most exquisite form of irony. Iran was humiliated and now they can’t stop talking about how they’re going to recover the buried uranium, restart their program, and make Israel and the U.S. pay. All the while, the fail to understand that the planes that came in the first time will have an even easier time coming back again.
Tehran is spouting off so much that they’re even getting themselves in trouble with fellow Muslims. Mehdi Mohammadi, strategic advisor to speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, recently posted an Instagram story that showed two nuclear mushroom clouds rising up from a map of Israel. Voices from the Islamic world started criticizing the picture because it demonstrated not only the destruction of Israel, but also of Gaza and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It only took Mohammadi a few hours before he took the post down, apologizing and laying blame on a staffer. Still, it shows the heart of the Iranian leadership. Tehran is not done with this, nor is Israel. As Iran’s leaders continue their plotting to reup their nuclear program, very targeted explosions keep going off around the country, killing leaders and destroying weapons. Because there is a ceasefire, which Israel is committed to keep as much as Iran is, it is very likely that either Liechtenstein or Monaco are responsible for the blasts. Oh, and maybe Greenland, too – got to keep your eyes on those Greenlanders.
Trump and Netanyahu Meet Together, then Meet Again, then Meet Again
With Elon Musk leaving the White House in a huff, it seems that Benjamin Netanyahu may be applying to step into the role of President Trump’s new BFF. Or, at least, that’s how it might appear with how much time the two men spent together during the PM’s trip to Washington. Never before has a foreign leader met with the president three times in five days, and it’s an encouraging sign of things to come. By many accounts, the two men spent much time talking about Iran and about the expansion of the Abraham Accords. They also signed some deals of cooperation. All in all, this is a good omen for both countries.
This spirit of Israel-America friendship was emphasized to a large degree when President Trump’s fabulous ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, showed up in a district courtroom to witness some of Benjamin Netanyahu’s absurd corruption trial. In a beautifully worded tweet, referencing Trump’s words that the trial is a “witch hunt,” the ambassador wrote, “I stopped by the trial of the Israeli PM in Tel Aviv today. My conclusion? Donald Trump is right…again.”
Israel Derangement Syndrome at its Worst
Ever since former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s name was found in the Epstein files, rumors have swirled that somehow Jeffrey Epstein was a tool of the Mossad, using sex with underage girls as a means to gain power and influence over many high-profile politicians and celebrities. This salacious rumor found itself front page this past week following Tucker Carlson asserting it in a speech to members of Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA. Suddenly, all the Tuckerites were saying, “Hmmm, Ehud Barak was a Jew, therefore he must be in the Mossad. And if he was in the Mossad, then the Jews must have been controlling Epstein. Thus, Israel used underage girls to honeytrap people so they could pump them for information.” Witnessing this asinine processing is like watching Monty Python characters work through a logical process to determine if a woman is a witch. It’s ridiculous, least of all because Barak never had anything to do with the Mossad. But, because it’s the Jews who are being targeted, it just might be possible. You know how those Jews are.
Naftali Bennett, another former prime minister, said, “The accusation that Jeffrey Epstein somehow worked for Israel, or the Mossad running a blackmail ring is categorically and totally false…. They just make things up, say it with confidence and these lies stick, because it’s Israel. There’s a vicious wave of slander and lies against my country and my people, and we just won’t take it anymore.” Despite the huge number of people who dance to every tune Carlson sings, these accusations did raise a fair number of critics, despite Tucker asserting “everyone in Washington, D.C., thinks that.” The former Fox News talking head stands strong against his detractors, saying that if someone says there was no connection between Epstein and the Mossad, “then just tell me how it’s false. But don’t call me a lunatic.” Don’t worry, Tucker, I don’t think you’re crazy. In fact, I have no doubt you know exactly what you’re doing.
The Ministry
Last night was a great time as I joined Pastor Jack Hibbs for Happening Now at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. We talked about many things having to do with the Middle East and how they relate to the end times, and I’d encourage you to check it out on YouTube. However, we could only get to half of what we had to talk about. So, this Sunday, I’ll be back with Pastor Jack at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills at all three morning services for part two of our discussion. If you are in southern California, I’d love to see you there. If not, you can tune in to the services on the Calvary Chapel Chino Hills channel on YouTube.
Canada, next week I’m coming to see you! Thursday, July 24, I’ll be at Coastline Church in Victoria, B.C., for An Evening of Bible Prophecy. Then, on Saturday, July 26, Pastor Barry Stagner and I will be teaching the entire book of Daniel in our Discovering Daniel Conference at Christian Life Assembly in Vancouver, B.C. From there, I’ll start my trek east, landing in First Alliance Church in Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, July 30, for An Evening of Bible Prophecy. Finally, Pastor Barry and I will wrap up our Canada tour with another Discovering Daniel Conference on Saturday, August 2, at The Meeting House in Oakville, Ontario. I hope to see all of my Canadian friends on this grand tour!
As always, there are plenty of ways to tune in this next week:
• Public Reading of Scripture – Thursday, July 17, 6:00 PM PDT
• Weekly Prayer Meeting, a very special time praying with others from around the world – Friday, July 18, 10:00 AM PDT
• The Anchor Podcast: with Paul Valerio, Join me as I sit down with an old friend, talk about our past, hear Paul’s testimony, and learn about his deep love for the Jewish people – Wednesday, July 22, 10:00 AM PDT
• MidEast & Beyond Update, with Pastor Barry Stagner and me – Wednesday, July 23, 10:00 AM PDT
Please keep the prayers coming as I continue this North American tour. God has been blessing and we’re seeing so many encouraged as they understand the Word better. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and in financial support. That is what keeps us going.
Awaiting His Return,
Amir Tsafati
Amir, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.
