Satellite dishes dot the sky-scape in much of the Middle East (SAT-7 file)
Middle East (MNN) ― Peace talks in Mecca have put a new face on hope. Palestinians have agreed to a hard-wrought joint government. The release of the pressure could be felt throughout the Middle East as celebratory gunfire filled the air.
Leaders of both Fatah and Hamas signed the accord at a ceremony hosted by Saudi King Abdullah. The agreement says the government would "respect" the peace accords and would be based on a document that calls for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
According to published sources, with the formation of the new government, Hamas will propose an independent candidate for interior minister. That person would control the Palestinian security forces. The Fatah's leader would then approve the candidate. Though tensions were high, the rivals managed a check-and-balance system they could agree on.
SAT-7's David Harder says the tensions made it all the more important their team continues to broadcast the hope of Christ. "We know that in times like this, not only in Gaza, but in places where things are so difficult, people stay home and they watch TV. It's fortunate that we're able to provide broadcasts in the heart language that can encourage people who are living in such difficult and uncertain circumstances."
However, their voice was silenced for a little while. At the end of January, the SAT-7 Arabic channel faced technical problems with its signal on the Hot Bird 8 transponder. It began as picture interference, but within a few hours, the signal was gone completely, as was the signal of the other TV channels sharing our transponder - Abu Dhabi, Syria, Yemen, Al-Zahra, Al-Baghdadia, Telepace, etc.
A sign of things to come? Not according to Harder. He passes off the interruption as a fluke. "The owner of the satellite was never able to actually determine if it was being done intentionally or accidentally. Certainly, it could be accidentally, somebody trying to upload something, maybe even illegally. It is a concern, it's very difficult to jam a satellite, but it is possible. So, certainly we want to pray that the broadcasts would be able to reach into places very easily."
While everything is back to normal, incidents like this prompt Harder to ask for prayer. Praise the Lord for the success of the talks, for the aversion of civil war. Pray too for peace to settle in the region, for the safety of SAT-7's staff, and for the message of the hope of Christ to be shared throughout the region. Click here if you want to help.
