Friday "Watch-Fires" Prayer Alert

SUPREME COURT: FOREIGN TERROR SUSPECTS HAVE RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION

Justice Scalia: "The Nation will live to regret

what the court has done today."

A deeply divided Supreme Court yesterday ruled that terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have a right to seek their release in federal court, delivering a historic rebuke to the Bush administration and Congress for policies that the majority (5-4 vote) said compromised, in the name of national security, the Constitution's guarantee of liberty.

As a result of the ruling, the approximately 270 detainees remaining at Guantanamo and their lawyers will be able to challenge their detentions before civilian judges, potentially forcing the government to present evidence against them and giving them the chance to call their own witnesses.

Court Justices

Photo: From Top Left, U.S. Supreme Court Justices: John Roberts, John Paul Stevens, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito.

Lord, act in Your own displeasure toward those who would strike terror into the earth. (Ezekiel 32:22-25; Psalm 7:11-16) Root out and bring terrorists to justice. Please show mercy, expose and thwart terrorist schemes. Grant wisdom, discernment and protection to all in authority working to prevent terrorist attacks.

We pray that You would give Your wisdom to those who would preside in our courts of justice. Let all judges and those who work in our court system seek to preserve justice in a fair and impartial way according to Your statutes. (Proverbs 2:6-8)

The decision brought biting dissents from the four conservative justices, with Justice Antonin Scalia taking the unusual step of summarizing his opposition from the bench.

"America is at war with radical Islamists," wrote Justice Scalia, adding that the decision "will almost certainly cause more Americans to be killed." He went on to say: "The Nation will live to regret what the court has done today."

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., joined by Scalia and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., wrote a stinging rebuttal defending what he called "the most generous set of procedural protections ever afforded aliens detained by this country as enemy combatants."

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a key figure in the passage of the act, denounced "what I think is a tremendously dangerous and irresponsible ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court has conferred upon civilian judges the right to make military decisions."

One comment made by an observer: "Our ability to prosecute any future war is immensely impaired, seeing as now we'll have to grant all POWs access to domestic civilian courts. No other country in the world is saddled by that foolhardy restriction."

The dissenting opinions, one by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the other by Justice Scalia, were vigorous. Each signed the other's, and the other two dissenters, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., signed both.

Voting with the majority: Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen G. Breyer.

(Photo: compilation of Official U.S. Supreme Court Photos)

TERROR ORGANIZATION HAMAS POUNDS ISRAEL

WITH MISSILES, ROCKETS, MORTARS, SUICIDE

BOMBERS ALL DAY THURSDAY

Saturday will see Hamas mark the one-year anniversary of its "military victory" over Fatah and the Palestinian Authority and its

taking over of the Gaza Strip.

Under cover of a barrage of more than 50 missiles, mortars and rockets, Hamas made three attempts to breach the Gaza border fence for major suicide bombings. They sent a bomb car to crash the border fence and gunmen on foot to blow up the Erez crossing. Israel ground and air units foiled them all.

Israeli locations from Ashkelon in the north down to Shear Hanegev, Kibbutz Nir Oz and Sderot were struck by 20 missiles, one Grad rocket and more than 35 mortar shells. A woman was injured at Kibbutz Yad Mordecai. Sirens warned people under attack to stay in indoors, as fires blazed and explosions erupted - one close to the Barzilai regional hospital in Ashkelon.

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Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and is banned in Jordan.

The 1988 Hamas Covenant (or Charter) states that the organization's goal is to "raise the banner of God over every inch of Palestine (modern day Israel)," in order to establish an Islamic Republic. It reiterates the group's rejection of the coexistence principle of the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Article 22 of the Covenant claims that the French revolution, the Russian revolution, colonialism and both world wars were created by the Zionists.

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Wednesday, Israel's security cabinet approved the decision by prime minister Ehud Olmert and defense minister Ehud Barak to accept a ceasefire with Hamas (called "a lull"), instead of launching the large-scale military operation needed to finally relieve southwestern Israel of daily Palestinian missile, rocket and mortar attacks. Hamas greeted that decision with the heaviest Palestinian barrage in months. The population is preparing further protest action, accusing the Olmert government of cowardice, sacrificing their security for self-serving political ends and risking the loss of the Negev, the southern half of Israel. (DEBKAfile 6/12/08) Read more

SECRETARY RICE IN ISRAEL SATURDAY

The Secretary of State will conduct talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders regarding the status of Jerusalem

Intercede for spiritual statesmen and for adherence to biblical revelation and principles in the formulation and execution of foreign policy, especially toward Israel and Jerusalem. Intercede for the revelation of Jesus as Messiah in the Middle East and for "the peace of Jerusalem." (Ps 122)

Intercede for our national leaders - that every decision, action or plan to pressure Israel to give up land or evacuate its people from any territory would be frustrated and abandoned. May God raise up leaders in the United States and Israel who would support His end-time purposes for the people of Israel.

Jerusalem's municipality on Friday said the green light had been given for 1,300 new homes for Jewish settlers in the east side of the city. The Palestinians have said they want east Jerusalem as the capital of a promised state and have repeatedly called the expansion of settlements the greatest obstacle to a final peace deal. (AFP 6/13/08)

In Jerusalem and Ramallah, Rice will meet with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials to discuss progress being made on the ground to implement both parties' obligations under the Roadmap, the situation in Gaza, and the effort underway to achieve agreement this year on the establishment of a Palestinian state. (State Department)

ISRAEL NEEDS RAIN DESPERATELY

Lord God Almighty:

- Perform a miracle in this season and replenish the water supply.

- Give the leadership wisdom to know how to meet the water needs.

- May the people be responsible in the use of their water.

- Fill the Sea of Galilee and the aquifers to normal levels.

- May Israel trust in You and have vision for their water demands now

and in the future. As You are bringing Your people back to the land

they need water. (Intercessors for Israel www.ifij.org)

Israel is currently experiencing its fourth consecutive year of drought. The drought is so bad that last winter's rainfall was only 65 percent of the long-term average. Even though the main pipeline transporting water from the Sea of Galilee to the rest of the nation was closed for part of the year, the water level in the sea has dropped close to the danger line. Meanwhile, the Jordan River has been reduced to a comparative trickle.

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ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH:

PARALLEL RESTORATION

By Derek Prince

This message was taken from a Derek Prince audio series entitled, "Israel: Past, Present and Future."

This timely message helps us understand the Church's role in God's Kingdom plans - along side Israel's role.

Order IFA Item #CD041, $4.95 + shipping. Credit card orders toll-free 1-800-872-7729 or via IFA eBookstore at www.ifabooks.com

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PRESIDENT BUSH TO EUROPE:

WEST MUST STAND WITH AFGHANISTAN

Pray that wisdom and strategy be granted to U.S. commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. Intercede for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Afghan government, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (Kurdish), Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (Shiite Muslim), the Parliament, and all officials-that a form of good government that is representative of all Iraqi and Afghan socio-religious ethnic groups be established and maintained. Intercede for all troops deployed and for their families-for protection, good health and morale. Intercede for all Christians and churches in both countries. (1 Tim 2:2)

Winding down his European trip which will end on June 16, President Bush said Friday that Europe and United States must hold firm in Afghanistan and never let it be a base for terrorists again. One of Bush's main priorities in Europe is asking his hosts to make greater contributions to Afghanistan, both in money and troops.

He applauded France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, for committing additional troops. He said the United States has worked closely with its allies through intelligence and other means to "deny the terror networks safe havens."

In Afghanistan last year, more than 8,000 people were killed in insurgency-related attacks, the most since the 2001 U.S. invasion ousted the brutal former Taliban regime. Another 1,500 have died this year. Bush flatly called Afghanistan "broke" before his trip. American, British, Canadian, Dutch and Danish forces are taking on the brunt of the fighting in the more volatile areas of Afghanistan, and eager for help from allies.

Donors ranging from the U.S. to the World Bank pledged more than $21 billion for Afghanistan on Thursday _ and they made clear they want their money spent better in a desperately poor country. In opening their pockets yet again, many donors complained about endemic corruption that has bled past donations in a nation where illegal drugs are the mainstay of a broken economy. (Washington Times 6/13/08)

FLOODING HITS HISTORIC 500-YEAR LEVEL IN IOWA

Downtown Cedar Rapids Underwater

Iowa flooding

A wooden pallet floats down a flooded street Thursday, June 12, 2008, in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Officials estimated that 100 blocks in Cedar Rapids were under water forcing the evacuation of nearly 4,000 homes and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

In Cedar Rapids, a city of about 124,000, flood waters downtown neared the top of stop signs and cars were nearly covered in water. It wasn't clear just how high the river had risen because a flood gauge was swept away by the swirling water. The Cedar River poured over its banks Thursday, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 homes, causing a railroad bridge to collapse and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets.

"We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start," Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller said. "We're going to need a lot of prayers and people are going to need a lot of patience and understanding."

ALASKA SPENDING MILLIONS TO RELOCATE VILLAGES AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

Tribes face relentless erosion, melting

and sinking permafrost

Alaska is spending nearly $13 million this year to help remote villages cope with escalating erosion, storms and flooding linked to [climate change]. Tiny coastal Newtok, one of the most eroded villages in the U.S. state, is getting more than $3 million to help it relocate to higher ground.

Tribal leaders of Yupik Eskimo community plan to build a barge landing at their new site to bring in building materials or even existing structures from their storm-battered village 9 miles to the north. But the bulk of Newtok's aid funds will go toward the design and possible partial construction of a road from the barge landing to a planned evacuation center. "It will boost the village site and speed up the relocation process," tribal administrator Stanley Tom said.

Newtok, with a population of 400, is among six remote villages tapped for immediate attention, as global warming melts permanent sea ice, leaving coastal communities vulnerable to stronger storms and flooding, with their shorelines and riverbanks washing away. Read more

PRIME MINISTER APOLOGIZES TO

CANADA'S FIRST NATIONS

Tears fall in hushed House of Commons as Harper apologizes on behalf of nation for ordeal

Three little words: "We are sorry."

But these were history-making words yesterday, uttered in a hushed House of Commons by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Canada's First Nations, Inuit and M�tis peoples for their suffering in the once-obligatory residential school system. As he spoke, school survivors wept in the public galleries, their tears a tribute to the tears of every mother who cried for a child forcibly taken from her over generations. As 11 aboriginal guests of honour sat before him on chairs arranged in a native restitution circle, Harper called the residential schools "a sad chapter in our history."

Wearing full Ojibway regalia and headdress, Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine was close to tears when he responded to Harper's speech. A survivor of sexual abuse in the residential school system, he was lauded for his courage when he went public with his story in the early 1990s. "The memories of residential schools sometimes . . . " he began, pausing to regain his composure, "cut like a knife at our souls. This day will help us to put that pain behind us." (Toronto Star 6/12/08)

Read the Prime Minister's statement of apology

JERUSALEM:

THE COVENANT CITY

by Lance Lambert / Hugh Kitson

Why do world leaders wage war for the Temple Mount and rage over "the final status" of Jerusalem? Part 1 of Jerusalem, the Covenant City traces the prophetic history of the Holy City. Part 2 explores what the Bible has to say about Jerusalem's present and future destiny.

We discover that, as we move into the third millennium of the Christian Era, the destiny of the whole world hinges upon the destiny of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel. This 108-minute documentary will bring you a message of challenge and hope that you will not easily forget. Order IFA Item #DV046, $15.95 + $3.50 shipping.

Credit card orders toll-free 1-800-872-7729

or via IFA's secure eBookstore www.ifabooks.com

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At the IFA Website . . .

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Prayer Guide: Islam Around the World

http://www.ifapray.org/PrayerGuides/Islam%20Around%20the%20World.htm