Category: Focus on Israel

Israeli-Palestinian conflict spills over to my home city. by Charles Gardner. You wouldn’t have thought there was an obvious connection between Middle East politics and the much-hyped new film Barbie. But there is, and I shall explain. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on which I have frequently commented from a 2,500-mile safe distance, has now spilled over […]

Church decline related to severing Jewish roots by Charles Gardner An interesting thought that has probably not occurred to many (including myself, until now) is that since the Jewish state was born in 1948, the church (in Britain, at least) has witnessed serious decline. Israel has blossomed into a great and influential nation while church […]

Christians to express their sorrow over detention of Jews in Mauritius by Charles Gardner British Christians will soon be expressing their deep sorrow and shame for the detention on a remote island of Jewish people escaping Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. A commemoration and reunion will take place on the Indian Ocean territory of […]

Jewish art student is flooded with joy and peace by Charles Gardner LONDON, August 30, 2023 – As a part-Jewish South African, it was a special delight for me to meet up recently with a compatriot who was among the pioneers of Messiah’s People. This is the name given to the gospel work among South […]

Further reflections on the war that caught Israel by surprise 50 years ago by Charles Gardner Mention of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War has revived significant memories for at least two friends of mine. Recollections which throw new light on the war itself as well as the part it played in […]

Atheist ‘evolves’ into fervent believer as dusty Bible proves the key by Charles Gardner How does a Jewish atheist brought up on an Israeli kibbutz end up a missionary to his own people? Asaf Pelled, 43, admits that being an atheist and Jewish is something of an anomaly in view of their being God’s chosen […]

Time to reflect on the lessons of the Yom Kippur War by Charles Gardner LONDON, August 2, 2023 – Amidst much internal conflict in Israel, we are fast approaching the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War in the autumn of 1973. And it will coincide, appropriately, with the launch in the UK of the […]

‘I knew that Jesus wasn’t there,’ Jewish believer confesses by Charles Gardner College lecturer and evangelist Richard Harvey faced two main obstacles as he considered the validity of the Christian faith while at school in Winchester. Firstly, he was Jewish – his family (formerly known as Hirschland) fled Germany with the rise of the Nazis […]

Iranian evangelist’s story of love in the face of torture by Charles Gardner Watching a beautiful and vivacious Iranian woman being interviewed in Israel for the Christian Broadcasting Network, you would hardly believe she has endured torture and imprisonment for her faith. But the face of Marziyeh Amirizadeh lights up with joy as her eyes […]

Spike in worldwide antisemitism sparks mass emigration by Charles Gardner The future of the Jewish people in Europe – and even in America – is at great risk, with many leaving for Israel or being advised to do so. Much of the shocking rise in worldwide antisemitism that is behind this mass exodus has been […]