Iraqis Request Normalization with Israel
The land of modern Iraq is central geographically to the ancient empire of Assyria. With its capital at ancient Ninevah/near modern Mosul, Assyria has played a prominent role not only in recent history but is one of the major historical centers of the Assyrian Church. In between ancient Ur and the city of Haran, where Abraham began his journey, it made the news most recently when the Islamic State took it over in 2015. Now, not far from there, in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, a group of Iraqi academics and social activists made a public call for Iraq to join the Abrahamic Accords.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/250-prominent-iraqis-publicly-call-for-full-peace-with-israel/
The declaration caught the attention of Israelis and Iraqis, some of whom demanded that those who made the declaration be arrested and prosecuted for making this statement. As a result, many had to revise their position to avoid prosecution but read more on the reaction. Please check out the following articles for more detail.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iraqi-authorities-order-arrest-of-notables-who-called-for-israel-ties/
Close friends of ATC/Derech Avraham are preparing their annual ‘Awake Assyria’ conference in Iraq with all of this activity. This conference aims to bring together believers from around Iraq and the Highway nations of the Middle East for 100 Hours of Worship and Prayer later this month. This event is often the focal event for many who watch and pray in the region while laboring on the Isaiah 19 Highway. Please be in prayer for this essential gathering that God, through the prayers of His saints in Iraq, will raise up an altar of prayer and worship that will draw many more to faith in Yeshua in Assyria.
Building a Bridge between Iraqi Kurdistan and Israel
In addition to all of this, we recently interviewed Jonathan Miles, the director of Shevet Achim, for TV 7 Finland. His life and work are bringing Iraqi babies to Israel for life-saving heart operations. You can access the video by going to the youtube link below. I believe you will find Jonathan’s story and the vision of Shevet Achim inspiring.
Please be praying for this vital ministry, with a two-eyed vision for Jewish and Muslim people in the Middle East. Jonathan and Shevet Achim have been an essential part of our ATC community from the early days. Pray that God will continue to provide for Shevet Achim’s rather substantial financial needs.
If you would like to donate to them, you can do it through their website directly.