Food Insecurity

“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God” (Psalm 83:1).

This prayer of Asaph is profoundly applicable for our days. The Psalmist implores God to act visibly, tangibly, and mightily.

Verses 2-3 read: “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.” It is significant that the appeal includes “thy hidden ones.” Who are they? Psalm 27:5 answers: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”

What is the enemies’ aim? “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psalm 83:4).

While there are nations that support Israel, none do so unconditionally. The majority agree with the general attitude that the Jews came from Europe, displaced Arab Palestinians, and took their land.

That, however, is not based on facts but rather on hearsay; or, in plain words we may call it propaganda. There are some 600,000-700,000 Palestinians, mostly Arab with ancestry in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt.

“There are an estimated 9.17 million displaced Palestinians worldwide as of 2021,” according to the BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugees Rights. Since when are children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren entitled to be considered refugees? They are not.

The Psalmist goes on to enumerate Israel’s Biblical neighbors, and concludes: “Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession” (v. 12).

How very true. Where once the temple stood, there now is the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, in a visible attempt to permanently invalidate God’s choice of the location of His house.

Food Insecurity

Israel’ agricultural exports are listed at 3.6% of their total GDP. Yet, Israel imports agricultural products at an estimated 10% of their need.

Compare this with their Arab neighbors. To the south lies Egypt, which imports 50% of their food requirements. In the north, Lebanon imports 80%, Syria 55%, and Jordan a whopping 98%, according to the International Trade Administration.

Water for the World

Here are some excerpts from Israel21c regarding an Israeli platform, Psytech, with the headline, “How farmers saved over 132 billion gallons of water in 2024.”

“Farmers worldwide face the challenge of feeding a growing population while meeting resource constraints, regulations, and demand for sustainable, healthier produce,” said Phytech cofounder and chairman Sarig Duek.

“Our mission is to provide growers with in-field actionable insights that ensure optimized yields while driving efficiency and sustainability. Our 2024 report is a testament to the way our customers are leveraging data and leading a digital transformation in agriculture.”

Vince Giacolone, director of southern farming at Limoneira lemon and avocado farms in Santa Paula, California, said that the company technology allows him to check weather patterns and make changes instantly.

“I use the Phytech app daily to see if there are stress levels on the trees, to see the irrigation schedule for the week, and to see if we’re completing the irrigation as planned,” he explained.

During 2024, Phytech signed strategic collaboration agreements with two global irrigation powerhouses, Rivulis and Netafim, both Israeli pioneers in this sector.

-www.israel21c.org, 1 April 2025

While Israel has not experienced any significant increase in precipitation over the decades, the country has become a poster child for using water efficiently.

It was Israel’s King David who glorified God for His acts: “Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof” (Psalm 65:9-10).

With all the amazing technology, mankind still depends on the eternal One, the Creator!

Midnight Call - 07/2025