Monday, June 18, 2007

Monday Intelligence Items: NK, Syria, Iran
1. North Korea. Even if it ceases operations at its Yongbyon plutonium producing nuclear reactor within weeks, as US envoy Christopher Hill announced today at a press briefing in Beijing, the rogue state will continue to use every negotiating tactic and ploy in its playbook to wring further concessions from the United States in return for the appearance of progress in implementing February's flawed, six-nation nuclear disarmament deal. The transfer of the blocked $25 million from a Macau bank was just the beginning of a painfully long and complex process that is likely to include fresh provocations--such as a replay of last year's July 4 missile tests and, looking ahead to the fall, possibly, even, a new nuclear test.


2. Syria. It talks peace but prepares for war. In fact, Iran's ally is ready for war with Israel--and has even commenced hostilities. Syria was responsible for yesterday's Katyusha rocket attacks on the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona. The secular Arab state--which is allied with Iran and its Lebanese Islamist proxy, Hezbollah--is assisting Hamas in its plans for an Islamist takeover of the West Bank ahead of an all-out assault on Israel.



3. Iran. Despite the defiant stance in its nuclear standoff with the West, the Islamist regime is increasingly afraid of a US attack. The buzz in Tehran is that the embattled Bush administration is planning a "September surprise"--meaning, massive air strikes aimed at taking out Iran's nuclear installations--in order to distract attention from the Iraq war. Iranian hardliners view US diplomatic overtures as a deception; they believe a "war faction" has won the day in Washington.


# posted by Confidential Reporter @ 10:10 AM
..............................................benny

Olmert aide: Israel not willing to enter into talks on final peace deal with Palestinians

The Associated Press
Published: June 24, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/...eace-Talks.php

JERUSALEM: Israel is not prepared at this point to enter into negotiations on a final peace deal with the Palestinians, an aide to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday, ahead of a regional summit.

So-called final status talks would address the thorniest issues dividing Israel and the Palestinians, such as final borders, the status of disputed Jerusalem and Palestinian demands to resettle Palestinian refugees and their descendants within Israel's borders.

Israel is prepared to talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "about a political horizon," said David Baker, an official in Olmert's office.

"These talks do not include final status issues, but rather, how the prime minister and the president of the Palestinian Authority would envision a future Palestinian state," Baker said.

Palestinians have been pressing to head directly to talks on a final peace deal, bypassing the phased approach of the internationally backed "road map" peace plan, which calls on both sides to meet obligations before final talks can be launched.

That plan stalled shortly after it was presented four years ago because Palestinian militant groups didn't disarm and Israel didn't halt West Bank settlement expansion — obligations they were to have met under the first phase of the program.
__________________
...........................................benny

BREAKING NEWS - The Gog Magog War Erupts
A Pre-Tribulation Scenario
By Ray Gano


As you might know, I have been doing a ton of study on the timing of the Gog Magog war. In the past several issues of The PZ Insider Report I have made comments on it in one way or the other.

Just recently we are seeing a Middle East on the brink of exploding.

- Hamas now controls Gaza
- Missiles being fired from Lebanon once again.
- Ahmadinejad still calling for the destruction of Israel
- Syria is arming itself for war with Israel.
- In turn Israel is training to attack Syria.

I can go on, but I think you see the picture. It is pretty bleak with a battle of biblical proportions brewing.

Below is an email I got from a PZ reader named Mike.

Thank you for your website, I really enjoy it. I was wondering when you believe the timing of the Gog Magog battle would be, before or after the Tribulation? It seems everything is lining up pretty well for it now doesn't it? - Mike

I am hoping that through this article I can present a possible scenario with these caveats.

I do not consider myself some prophet or even a son of a prophet.
In today’s events in light of bible prophecy we are sitting on the brink of a Middle East war many feel that some major pieces of the puzzle will soon be dropped in to place.
Many bible scholars place the timing of the Gog Magog war in many places. Some place it in the beginning, some in the middle, and some, at the end during the battle of Armageddon.

Now with that stated, it is my current opinion that we may see the Gog Magog war on this side of the tribulation. We have seen a literal restoration of Israel that is spoken about in Ezekiel 36:24 and Isaiah 11:11

Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

When one reads Ezekiel 38 -39 we see nothing in these chapters describing Israel that does not fit the reality of the modern state of Israel today.

So why place the Gog Magog war before the Tribulation?

Here are several points to be made.

1. They Do Not Have the Time

There are two major events that Israel performs after the war of Gog Magog.

They bury the bodies of the dead which takes 7 months to perform.
They set fire to the weapons of the enemy which takes 7 years to complete.
Let’s read Ezekiel 39:9-16

Eze 39:9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

Eze 39:10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 39:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog.

Eze 39:12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

Eze 39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 39:14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

Eze 39:15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog.

Eze 39:16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

So we know that it is going to take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to burn the weapons of the enemy.

If this takes place during the tribulation, then they might be able to get the bodies buried, but we being students of bible prophecy know that three and a half years into the tribulation the Antichrist is going to persecute Israelites with a vengeance. In fact we know that two thirds of the Israelites will be wiped out. So how are they going to finish burning the weapons when three and a half years into the Tribulation period they are being persecuted? Human nature says that when the bad guys are coming after you, and they are winning, you run. The state of Israel will not be focused on burning weapons during that time; they are going to be worried about saving their lives and getting out of there fast.

So basically the Israelites are going to run out of time to perform both of these feats during the Tribulation.

2. Is It Peace or Is It Security

Eze 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Often times when people have read this verse it is viewed describing living in peace. The thoughts are that during this time the Israelites do not have any worries; they are friends with everyone, etc. It is my opinion that this is not the proper context.

This is what Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary states regarding the word “safety” found in Ezekiel 38:11.

H983

בּטח

beṭach

beh'-takh

From H982; properly a place of refuge; abstractly safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverbially with or without preposition) safely: - assurance, boldly, (without) care (-less), confidence, hope, safe (-ly, -ty), secure, surely.

Put in the context of the Hebrew word “betach,” we are seeing that very mindset with Israel today. Israel is very over self confident in their standing and in their position today, as described in Ezekiel 38:11.

Examples:

Israel has the upper hand regarding military strength. Right now they are the only nation that has nuclear capability and they are not afraid to use it. Even if it means destroying the entire state of Israel in the process, thus their last ditch effort of protection called the “Samson Option.” This is named from when Samson destroyed the temple of the Philistines and took himself with them.


Israel is the world's fourth largest exporter of aviation and defense technology.
Israel is the “Silicon Valley” of the Middle East.
Israel is one of the primary agricultural countries in the region and in fact they are superior when it comes to agricultural technology. They have made the desert bloom.
So just based on these alone, one can see that Israel has a pretty secure, bold, self confidence. This again reflects the context used in Ezekiel 38 – 39 and also fits present day Israel in their current condition.

One other item to point out, the word “peace” does not appear in the context, and yet it is always assumed and inserted into the scripture. Just by the mere fact that Israel is invaded by Gog Magog shows that there is no peace in the land, or a cessation of hostilities or an absence of war. Israel, in this context is one of high confidence, even though they are surrounded by enemies.

So Why Attack Israel?

We read in Ezekiel 38:12 that it is the “spoils” or the “goodies gained” are the driving force behind the attack on Israel.

Eze 38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

As I pointed out above Israel is sitting pretty, but they are not sitting pretty enough to call an all out invasion. So what would be the one “spoil” that would drive this attack?

Simple…. OIL.

I just finished reading one of most fascinating books called “Breaking The Treasure Code” by James R Spillman & Steven M Spillman. In this book we are shown in scripture, clues regarding Israel’s ancient tribal boundaries that reveal a map that I, as well as many others believe to be the promise of Israel’s wealth and survival in the last days.

"Moses wandered the Middle East for forty years and settled in the only place with no oil." This joke, old as the nation of Israel, may have had its last laugh. According to some Bible scholars and several prominent oil experts, Israel is sitting on a mother-lode of petroleum. Steve Spillman claims that Old Testament Scriptures and Israel's ancient tribal boundaries reveal the location of vast petroleum reserves. "Word clues in Jacob's blessing to his children and the shape of Israel's ancient borders add up to build a convincing case that Israel is sitting on a tremendous oil reserve," says Spillman.

(NOTE – if you order Steve’s book, tell him Prophezine sent you and ask him to autograph it for you)

Not only was I taken and I recommend this book, another man who was good friends with James Spillman, was also taken by James’ idea. His name is John Brown.

As I have mentioned before in prior articles, I have been keeping my eye on a company out of Dallas, Texas called Zion Oil and Gas. The CEO John Brown, who was good friends with James Spillman and now also with his son Steve, believes that there is a vast amount of oil in Israel. I tend to believe him. In fact my personal opinion is that when Israel strikes oil, it will be the best quality and as stated before, vast amounts. When God blesses Israel, He blesses them in a big way. If Israel strikes oil, this will in fact turn the entire global economy upside down. Israel will be able to sell to whom ever, set what ever price, etc. Once again Israel will be in a place of superiority. The Muslim states that control 75% of the worlds oil will not like this either nor will Russia, who are also one of the top producers of oil in the world.

This just in the news…

Zion Oil & Gas to be granted Asher-Menashe Exploration License
Friday, June 01, 2007

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. announced that, on May 30, 2007, the company was notified by the Israeli Petroleum Commissioner’s office that its application for a petroleum exploration license, tentatively denominated the Asher-Menashe License, had been granted. The Commissioner’s office told representatives of Zion that the formal license documentation, including the map showing the license’s boundaries and the special conditions setting out the work program to be required, are in preparation and should be issued within the coming month.

The Asher-Menashe License is being granted pursuant to Zion’s application submitted on January 31, 2007 in accordance with the terms of Zion’s Asher Permit. As reported by Zion on February 1, 2007, in its application Zion applied for an exploration license on 81,000 acres north of Zion’s 99,000 acre Ma’anit-Joseph License. In its application, Zion proposed a work program to include the acquisition of 20 kilometers of new seismic data in the Ramot Menashe (Manasseh Heights) region and the drilling of a test well, tentatively designated the Menashe #1, to the Triassic formation. (1)

You see, a company called Givot Olam Oil Exploration LLC has discovered oil utilizing scripture as well, 980 million barrels of the stuff as well as natural gas too. They have been very successful in capturing the natural gas, but continued having problems with extracting the oil.

Based upon Zion and Givot Olam, both companies believe the area where “Asher dips his foot in oil, there are billions of barrels of oil. The Israeli Government also believes this and is issuing licenses.

Oil is in Israel, this has been proved over and over again. The problem I believe is that it was not in God’s timing. For one reason or another they have not been able to get it out of the ground. Either is has been funding, equipment breaking, and even obstacles in the earth itself.

I personally think that this situation will change here very soon.

Now do you see the “spoils” mentioned in Ezekiel 38:12?

Israel and the US Stand Alone

As we have seen in the news, the US is doing a lot of saber rattling regarding Iran. It is not because Iran is developing nuclear capability, although having a bunch of mad mullahs with itchy, trigger fingers, does not help the matter. It is because Iran and the other oil producing Islamic countries in the middle east are going to wage war with the US and the weapon will be oil. We have already seen an increase in price just in the last year alone.

It is the US economy that is in danger, and that is just a start of things. Here is another fact regarding this situation. The European Community loves this idea of trading oil in euros vs. dollars. This shifts the balance of global economic power to the EU. Not to mention that the 75% of the worlds oil is in the hands of Muslim oil producing nations and Russia being one of the top producers and suppliers of oil to the world also love this idea. Hmmm do we see a firming up of a “revived Roman Empire” here?

Iran does not need to utilize terrorism against the US, they simply have to knock our economic feet out from under us and they have effectively knocked out the one major power that stands in their way to further the Islamic agenda. If we as the US are no longer a threat, then Gog and Magog have the opening to continue the course of wiping out Israel. They will not have to worry about a full blown attack and support from the US. The US is going to be too worried about things here at home because our economy is going down the tubes, much less spend huge amounts of money to support and aid Israel.

Add to the mix terror cell activity coupled with dirty bombs and you can see that the US will be brought to her knees.

With the possibility of the US gaining a democrat president it is very viable that we will leave Israel hanging. Until that takes place, we are at the moment, the only ones in Israel’s corner. I just do not know how much support or worse how much longer we are going to be in this position of support.

So if the US is not able to give assistance to Israel, who is?

If all goes on as scheduled, the US is not going to be in a great position to support Israel. We are going to support her, but again I do not know to what extent. We are going to possibly face some serious financial difficulties which in and of itself will possibly hamper support and aid we will be able to provide. This is all due again to oil being used as a weapon as Iran has stated it will do.

Here is the good news. We are provided an answer as to WHO will come to the side if Israel. This is given in Ezekiel 39 1- 7.

Eze 39:1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

Eze 39:3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Eze 39:4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.

Eze 39:5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 39:6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Eze 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

It is God who will come to Israel’s rescue.

It is also shown that ALL the nations will recognize that it is God who is watching out over Israel and that His name will be known to His people. Ezekiel 39:7 wraps it up pretty securely with no question.

Eze 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

One final point in placing the Gog Magog war prior to the Tribulation

As we have read in Ezekiel 39:7, all the nations will know that it is the Lord who saved Israel. God is showing His hand at work in a very mighty way. He also states that He will not let His name be profaned anymore. These are pretty powerful words. People of the world will KNOW it is God who did this, thus proving once again that there is a God in Heaven.

We know that during the Tribulation that 144,000, two witnesses and the very angels themselves will proclaim the Gospel. God does this because He wants all people to come to Him.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

Rev 14:7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."

Rev 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."

Rev 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

Rev 14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

This is the last chance that the Lord gives for those who do not know the Lord, to come to the Lord during the Tribulation.

If God is willing to do this during the Tribulation, why wouldn’t God also provide a “last chance” during the time of the Gentiles? There are many examples given in the bible where a warning is given before the event.

It is my opinion that in God showing his protecting hand with Israel, many will come to the Lord. This event, the Gog Magog war, is possibly an event of evangelism prior to the Rapture of the church and the end of the time of the Gentiles spoken about in Luke 21:24.

Just think how many will come to know Christ because they have witnessed with their own eyes God’s hand at work in saving Israel. It just seems to me to be the character of a loving God to perform this. It just seems to make sense to me.

Now I understand and admit that this is a speculative article, one based on one primary piece that has not come about yet and that is Israel striking oil. I may be wrong in how I am reading the signs of the times, but what happens if all the puzzle pieces do fall into place.

Are You Ready For The Rapture?

I would encourage you to not delay in receiving Christ as your Savior today if you have not already done so. He died for your sins, and rose from the dead. He offers you eternal life, but that's your choice to make. I hope you will consider doing that today.

Sinners Prayer:

Father in Heaven, I know that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I need your forgiveness through Jesus Christ who died on the cross just for me to cover the sins that I have committed against you. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I want to live for you Lord Jesus and from this day forward be known as a Child of God. Thank you for forgiving my sins and coming into my life, in Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen

If you are a Christian, but have fallen away from the Lord, come back to Him. Our Heavenly Father is a good and loving Father. Just ask and commune with Him. You see, He never left your side, we just left Him. Reach out and renew your relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior today.


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About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com


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Endnotes:

1. http://www.oilonline.com/news/headlines/in...n_Oil.23727.asp


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Resources:

I want to HIGHLY recommend the following resources that I used in writing this article.

“Breaking The Treasure Code” by James R Spillman & Steven M Spillman - http://www.tppress.com/breakingthetreasurecode.html

- Planet Earth 200 A.D by Hal Lindsey – www.hallindseyoracle.com

- The Ever Lasting Hatred, The Roots of Jihad By Hal Lindsey - www.hallindseyoracle.com

- Omega Letter Daily Intelligence Briefing By Jack Kinsella – www.omegaletter.com

- The Temple and Bible Prophecy by Dr. Randall Price - www.worldofthebible.com

- Jerusalem Countdown By John Hagee – www.jhm.org
.....................................................benny

BREAKING NEWS - The Gog Magog War Erupts
A Pre-Tribulation Scenario
By Ray Gano


As you might know, I have been doing a ton of study on the timing of the Gog Magog war. In the past several issues of The PZ Insider Report I have made comments on it in one way or the other.

Just recently we are seeing a Middle East on the brink of exploding.

- Hamas now controls Gaza
- Missiles being fired from Lebanon once again.
- Ahmadinejad still calling for the destruction of Israel
- Syria is arming itself for war with Israel.
- In turn Israel is training to attack Syria.

I can go on, but I think you see the picture. It is pretty bleak with a battle of biblical proportions brewing.

Below is an email I got from a PZ reader named Mike.

Thank you for your website, I really enjoy it. I was wondering when you believe the timing of the Gog Magog battle would be, before or after the Tribulation? It seems everything is lining up pretty well for it now doesn't it? - Mike

I am hoping that through this article I can present a possible scenario with these caveats.

I do not consider myself some prophet or even a son of a prophet.
In today’s events in light of bible prophecy we are sitting on the brink of a Middle East war many feel that some major pieces of the puzzle will soon be dropped in to place.
Many bible scholars place the timing of the Gog Magog war in many places. Some place it in the beginning, some in the middle, and some, at the end during the battle of Armageddon.

Now with that stated, it is my current opinion that we may see the Gog Magog war on this side of the tribulation. We have seen a literal restoration of Israel that is spoken about in Ezekiel 36:24 and Isaiah 11:11

Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

When one reads Ezekiel 38 -39 we see nothing in these chapters describing Israel that does not fit the reality of the modern state of Israel today.

So why place the Gog Magog war before the Tribulation?

Here are several points to be made.

1. They Do Not Have the Time

There are two major events that Israel performs after the war of Gog Magog.

They bury the bodies of the dead which takes 7 months to perform.
They set fire to the weapons of the enemy which takes 7 years to complete.
Let’s read Ezekiel 39:9-16

Eze 39:9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:

Eze 39:10 So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 39:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog.

Eze 39:12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

Eze 39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 39:14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.

Eze 39:15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog.

Eze 39:16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

So we know that it is going to take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to burn the weapons of the enemy.

If this takes place during the tribulation, then they might be able to get the bodies buried, but we being students of bible prophecy know that three and a half years into the tribulation the Antichrist is going to persecute Israelites with a vengeance. In fact we know that two thirds of the Israelites will be wiped out. So how are they going to finish burning the weapons when three and a half years into the Tribulation period they are being persecuted? Human nature says that when the bad guys are coming after you, and they are winning, you run. The state of Israel will not be focused on burning weapons during that time; they are going to be worried about saving their lives and getting out of there fast.

So basically the Israelites are going to run out of time to perform both of these feats during the Tribulation.

2. Is It Peace or Is It Security

Eze 38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

Often times when people have read this verse it is viewed describing living in peace. The thoughts are that during this time the Israelites do not have any worries; they are friends with everyone, etc. It is my opinion that this is not the proper context.

This is what Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary states regarding the word “safety” found in Ezekiel 38:11.

H983

בּטח

beṭach

beh'-takh

From H982; properly a place of refuge; abstractly safety, both the fact (security) and the feeling (trust); often (adverbially with or without preposition) safely: - assurance, boldly, (without) care (-less), confidence, hope, safe (-ly, -ty), secure, surely.

Put in the context of the Hebrew word “betach,” we are seeing that very mindset with Israel today. Israel is very over self confident in their standing and in their position today, as described in Ezekiel 38:11.

Examples:

Israel has the upper hand regarding military strength. Right now they are the only nation that has nuclear capability and they are not afraid to use it. Even if it means destroying the entire state of Israel in the process, thus their last ditch effort of protection called the “Samson Option.” This is named from when Samson destroyed the temple of the Philistines and took himself with them.


Israel is the world's fourth largest exporter of aviation and defense technology.
Israel is the “Silicon Valley” of the Middle East.
Israel is one of the primary agricultural countries in the region and in fact they are superior when it comes to agricultural technology. They have made the desert bloom.
So just based on these alone, one can see that Israel has a pretty secure, bold, self confidence. This again reflects the context used in Ezekiel 38 – 39 and also fits present day Israel in their current condition.

One other item to point out, the word “peace” does not appear in the context, and yet it is always assumed and inserted into the scripture. Just by the mere fact that Israel is invaded by Gog Magog shows that there is no peace in the land, or a cessation of hostilities or an absence of war. Israel, in this context is one of high confidence, even though they are surrounded by enemies.

So Why Attack Israel?

We read in Ezekiel 38:12 that it is the “spoils” or the “goodies gained” are the driving force behind the attack on Israel.

Eze 38:12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

As I pointed out above Israel is sitting pretty, but they are not sitting pretty enough to call an all out invasion. So what would be the one “spoil” that would drive this attack?

Simple…. OIL.

I just finished reading one of most fascinating books called “Breaking The Treasure Code” by James R Spillman & Steven M Spillman. In this book we are shown in scripture, clues regarding Israel’s ancient tribal boundaries that reveal a map that I, as well as many others believe to be the promise of Israel’s wealth and survival in the last days.

"Moses wandered the Middle East for forty years and settled in the only place with no oil." This joke, old as the nation of Israel, may have had its last laugh. According to some Bible scholars and several prominent oil experts, Israel is sitting on a mother-lode of petroleum. Steve Spillman claims that Old Testament Scriptures and Israel's ancient tribal boundaries reveal the location of vast petroleum reserves. "Word clues in Jacob's blessing to his children and the shape of Israel's ancient borders add up to build a convincing case that Israel is sitting on a tremendous oil reserve," says Spillman.

(NOTE – if you order Steve’s book, tell him Prophezine sent you and ask him to autograph it for you)

Not only was I taken and I recommend this book, another man who was good friends with James Spillman, was also taken by James’ idea. His name is John Brown.

As I have mentioned before in prior articles, I have been keeping my eye on a company out of Dallas, Texas called Zion Oil and Gas. The CEO John Brown, who was good friends with James Spillman and now also with his son Steve, believes that there is a vast amount of oil in Israel. I tend to believe him. In fact my personal opinion is that when Israel strikes oil, it will be the best quality and as stated before, vast amounts. When God blesses Israel, He blesses them in a big way. If Israel strikes oil, this will in fact turn the entire global economy upside down. Israel will be able to sell to whom ever, set what ever price, etc. Once again Israel will be in a place of superiority. The Muslim states that control 75% of the worlds oil will not like this either nor will Russia, who are also one of the top producers of oil in the world.

This just in the news…

Zion Oil & Gas to be granted Asher-Menashe Exploration License
Friday, June 01, 2007

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. announced that, on May 30, 2007, the company was notified by the Israeli Petroleum Commissioner’s office that its application for a petroleum exploration license, tentatively denominated the Asher-Menashe License, had been granted. The Commissioner’s office told representatives of Zion that the formal license documentation, including the map showing the license’s boundaries and the special conditions setting out the work program to be required, are in preparation and should be issued within the coming month.

The Asher-Menashe License is being granted pursuant to Zion’s application submitted on January 31, 2007 in accordance with the terms of Zion’s Asher Permit. As reported by Zion on February 1, 2007, in its application Zion applied for an exploration license on 81,000 acres north of Zion’s 99,000 acre Ma’anit-Joseph License. In its application, Zion proposed a work program to include the acquisition of 20 kilometers of new seismic data in the Ramot Menashe (Manasseh Heights) region and the drilling of a test well, tentatively designated the Menashe #1, to the Triassic formation. (1)

You see, a company called Givot Olam Oil Exploration LLC has discovered oil utilizing scripture as well, 980 million barrels of the stuff as well as natural gas too. They have been very successful in capturing the natural gas, but continued having problems with extracting the oil.

Based upon Zion and Givot Olam, both companies believe the area where “Asher dips his foot in oil, there are billions of barrels of oil. The Israeli Government also believes this and is issuing licenses.

Oil is in Israel, this has been proved over and over again. The problem I believe is that it was not in God’s timing. For one reason or another they have not been able to get it out of the ground. Either is has been funding, equipment breaking, and even obstacles in the earth itself.

I personally think that this situation will change here very soon.

Now do you see the “spoils” mentioned in Ezekiel 38:12?

Israel and the US Stand Alone

As we have seen in the news, the US is doing a lot of saber rattling regarding Iran. It is not because Iran is developing nuclear capability, although having a bunch of mad mullahs with itchy, trigger fingers, does not help the matter. It is because Iran and the other oil producing Islamic countries in the middle east are going to wage war with the US and the weapon will be oil. We have already seen an increase in price just in the last year alone.

It is the US economy that is in danger, and that is just a start of things. Here is another fact regarding this situation. The European Community loves this idea of trading oil in euros vs. dollars. This shifts the balance of global economic power to the EU. Not to mention that the 75% of the worlds oil is in the hands of Muslim oil producing nations and Russia being one of the top producers and suppliers of oil to the world also love this idea. Hmmm do we see a firming up of a “revived Roman Empire” here?

Iran does not need to utilize terrorism against the US, they simply have to knock our economic feet out from under us and they have effectively knocked out the one major power that stands in their way to further the Islamic agenda. If we as the US are no longer a threat, then Gog and Magog have the opening to continue the course of wiping out Israel. They will not have to worry about a full blown attack and support from the US. The US is going to be too worried about things here at home because our economy is going down the tubes, much less spend huge amounts of money to support and aid Israel.

Add to the mix terror cell activity coupled with dirty bombs and you can see that the US will be brought to her knees.

With the possibility of the US gaining a democrat president it is very viable that we will leave Israel hanging. Until that takes place, we are at the moment, the only ones in Israel’s corner. I just do not know how much support or worse how much longer we are going to be in this position of support.

So if the US is not able to give assistance to Israel, who is?

If all goes on as scheduled, the US is not going to be in a great position to support Israel. We are going to support her, but again I do not know to what extent. We are going to possibly face some serious financial difficulties which in and of itself will possibly hamper support and aid we will be able to provide. This is all due again to oil being used as a weapon as Iran has stated it will do.

Here is the good news. We are provided an answer as to WHO will come to the side if Israel. This is given in Ezekiel 39 1- 7.

Eze 39:1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Eze 39:2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:

Eze 39:3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.

Eze 39:4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.

Eze 39:5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 39:6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Eze 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

It is God who will come to Israel’s rescue.

It is also shown that ALL the nations will recognize that it is God who is watching out over Israel and that His name will be known to His people. Ezekiel 39:7 wraps it up pretty securely with no question.

Eze 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

One final point in placing the Gog Magog war prior to the Tribulation

As we have read in Ezekiel 39:7, all the nations will know that it is the Lord who saved Israel. God is showing His hand at work in a very mighty way. He also states that He will not let His name be profaned anymore. These are pretty powerful words. People of the world will KNOW it is God who did this, thus proving once again that there is a God in Heaven.

We know that during the Tribulation that 144,000, two witnesses and the very angels themselves will proclaim the Gospel. God does this because He wants all people to come to Him.

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

Rev 14:7 and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."

Rev 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."

Rev 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

Rev 14:10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."

This is the last chance that the Lord gives for those who do not know the Lord, to come to the Lord during the Tribulation.

If God is willing to do this during the Tribulation, why wouldn’t God also provide a “last chance” during the time of the Gentiles? There are many examples given in the bible where a warning is given before the event.

It is my opinion that in God showing his protecting hand with Israel, many will come to the Lord. This event, the Gog Magog war, is possibly an event of evangelism prior to the Rapture of the church and the end of the time of the Gentiles spoken about in Luke 21:24.

Just think how many will come to know Christ because they have witnessed with their own eyes God’s hand at work in saving Israel. It just seems to me to be the character of a loving God to perform this. It just seems to make sense to me.

Now I understand and admit that this is a speculative article, one based on one primary piece that has not come about yet and that is Israel striking oil. I may be wrong in how I am reading the signs of the times, but what happens if all the puzzle pieces do fall into place.

Are You Ready For The Rapture?

I would encourage you to not delay in receiving Christ as your Savior today if you have not already done so. He died for your sins, and rose from the dead. He offers you eternal life, but that's your choice to make. I hope you will consider doing that today.

Sinners Prayer:

Father in Heaven, I know that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I need your forgiveness through Jesus Christ who died on the cross just for me to cover the sins that I have committed against you. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I want to live for you Lord Jesus and from this day forward be known as a Child of God. Thank you for forgiving my sins and coming into my life, in Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen

If you are a Christian, but have fallen away from the Lord, come back to Him. Our Heavenly Father is a good and loving Father. Just ask and commune with Him. You see, He never left your side, we just left Him. Reach out and renew your relationship with Jesus Christ our Savior today.


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About the Author:

Ray & Tracye Gano are the Executive Directors of Prophezine. Prophezine deals with Bible Prophecy and World Events from a Pre-trib, pre-millennial, dispensationalist stand point. They currently serve close to 70,000+ (and growing) people world wide with a weekly newsletters, daily news updates, community based website and Internet radio shows. Ray recently released his latest project “Escape The End Time Money Snare – The CD a multimedia CD co-authored with Wilfred Hahn focusing on how to escape the trappings of mammon and learning how to live simply in God’s abundance.

Please visit Prophezine by going to http://www.prophezine.com


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Endnotes:

1. http://www.oilonline.com/news/headlines/in...n_Oil.23727.asp


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Resources:

I want to HIGHLY recommend the following resources that I used in writing this article.

“Breaking The Treasure Code” by James R Spillman & Steven M Spillman - http://www.tppress.com/breakingthetreasurecode.html

- Planet Earth 200 A.D by Hal Lindsey – www.hallindseyoracle.com

- The Ever Lasting Hatred, The Roots of Jihad By Hal Lindsey - www.hallindseyoracle.com

- Omega Letter Daily Intelligence Briefing By Jack Kinsella – www.omegaletter.com

- The Temple and Bible Prophecy by Dr. Randall Price - www.worldofthebible.com

- Jerusalem Countdown By John Hagee – www.jhm.org
.....................................................benny

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122855
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmHUM.....

http://www.strategypage.com/dls/arti...7623214440.asp


Confronting the Swarm at Sea
by James Dunnigan
June 23, 2007

Israel believes Iran could have a nuclear weapon by 2009, and said Israel could not let that happen. Exactly what Israel would do was left unsaid. June 5, 2007: The Iranian navy appears to be training in the use of "swarming" tactics. This involves squadrons of about a hundred small boats (20-70 feet long, moving at speeds of 70-90 kilometers an hour) approaching U.S. warships. Some 10-20 percent of the Iranian boats would be equipped with anti-ship missiles (like the 21 foot long, 1,500 pound Chinese C-802). Some smaller boats have been seen equipped with anti-tank missiles. The idea is that some of these boats would make it to the American ships, 50-100 kilometers away, and inflict some damage. China was thought to be planning on the same tactics, but has apparently abandoned it as impractical. Iran, however, has over a thousand of these small boats, and buys more every month. The U.S. navy has been practicing, for over a decade, defending itself against such swarms. Wargame simulations indicate the swarms would lose, but you never know. Iran also has over 5,000 naval mines, a weapon that U.S. Navy wargames have shown to be much more troublesome than swarms. The Iranian preference for "swarm tactics" has a lot to do with their inability to build or buy anything much better. Moreover, all those small boats keep thousands of pro-clergy militiamen occupied, and makes for great propaganda videos. June 2, 2007: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is painting himself into a corner, by making more outrageous statements, that expose him to more ridicule. The most recent example is his claim that Israel will soon be destroyed. Ahmadinejad has enough enemies in the country to insure that Israel's continued existence will be pointed out loudly and continually. Ahmadinejad has made a lot of enemies in the religious establishment, not least because of efforts to clean up the massive corruption among clergy who are supposed to oversee the enormous wealth owned by religious institutions in Iran.
.............................................benny

Arab/Muslim States
Military Intelligence: War could be triggered this summer

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Printer-friendly version By Stan Goodenough
June 24, 2007

Take your pick, Israel’s Military Intelligence chief warned the cabinet Sunday. War could be triggered this summer by any of the following parties or a combination of some of them: Iran, Syria, Hizb’allah, Hamas and World Jihad.

All are spoiling for a fight said Major-General Amos Yadlin, and any one of them “can bring about a deterioration in the situation this summer.”

News agencies reported that the head of Israel’s internal security service – the Shin Bet – also reported that Hamas, newly in charge of the Gaza Strip, is considering carrying out a terrorist attack which could draw the IDF into Gaza.

The overall assessment appears to be that while none of Israel’s enemies may actually choose to initiate a conflict just yet, one or more could miscalculate in a way that tips things over the edge.

In a Middle East malodorous with fumes of hatred and tension, one spark could ignite a conflagration.

............................................benny

Rockets wound three in Southern Israel

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_New...n_israel/6213/

GAZA, June 24 (UPI) -- Three people were wounded Sunday in two Qassam rockets attacks from Gaza into Southern Israel.

The rockets landed in the backyard of a home in Sderot, damaging the house and sending the residents into shock, Ynetnews.com reported.

The Islamic Jihad's military wing, al-Quds Brigades, claimed responsibility.

The rockets were the first to be launched toward Sderot since Wednesday, when five Qassams landed in the town, injuring three people.
...............................................benny

A response to Sunday’s cabinet decision Posted on Sunday 24 June 2007
Dear Prime Minister Olmert

Today you and your government agreed to help establish the newly appointed Palestinian Authority in power in Judea and Samaria – the cradle of your nation and the area where tens of thousands of your people have built their homes in obedience to the biblical injunction to settle the land.

You have recognized the spontaneously appointed “government” of veteran PLO terrorist Mahmoud Abbas and are about to start funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into their coffers, without demanding that they first acknowledge their murderous past and the fact that they have no national history in this land; renounce all forms of violence; end incitement against Israel; and recognize the existence of the Jewish State of Israel.

From what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly tried to get you to do last week, it is clear that the United States remains determined to see the creation in these very lands of an independent state for the Arabs universally called “the Palestinians.”

That is to say, you are cooperating fully with the gentile effort to divide up the tiny scrap of land millions of your people have for millennia believed to be their own, and wept and prayed to return to.

Sir, you are going right along with, and in fact actively helping to realize, the PLO plan to obtain as much of Eretz Yisrael as possible through negotiations before returning to full-scale warfare (with the aid of their brethren in the Arab states) in order to get the rest.

You came to power promising to repeat the hitnatkut (unilateral disengagement) from the Gaza Strip.

Last summer’s war with the Lebanese Hizb’allah, fought in the land unilaterally disengaged from by then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak; the incessant Kassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, the land unilaterally disengaged from by your predecessor and benefactor Ariel Sharon, and two weeks ago turned into Hamastan – all this has given you pause.

But not enough pause.

Instead of calling a halt to the misnamed “land-for-peace process,” you have only (and perhaps not finally) dropped the idea of unilaterally pulling out of Judea and Samaria.

You still intend to pull out.

Mr Prime Minister. What this means is that you still intend to forcefully uproot hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens from their homes and businesses, flattening their communities and turning them into homeless and unemployed refugees as Sharon did to the 9,000 Jews from Gush Katif and the other settlements in Gaza.

In the light of this further deterioration in the situation, I thought it might be a good time to let you know you that I, too, work in the land you are willing to surrender to the terrorist “Palestinians.”

In fact, I and a handful of fellow Christian Zionists, in the name of thousands of our supporters around the world, and reflecting the beliefs of tens of millions of others, last year purposefully moved our offices out to Samaria in solidarity with those of your citizens you have threatened to evict.

I want to make this clear. We are standing out behind the wall, on the territory you are willing to surrender – the biblical heartland of your people, where a terrible number of Jews have bled and died at the hands of those who are determined to destroy you all.

From our offices we are pro-actively working to reach and train Christian Zionists everywhere, and to encourage an increasing number to come and take a stand with us here in the mountains of Samaria.

We cannot, and we will not, sit quietly or idly by as the gentiles continue to gamble with your security – your very existence.

For too long Christians have watched from the sidelines (if not actively participated) as your people bore the brunt of the hatred of those who also hate your God, the God of Israel.

Those days may not be over yet, but they are coming to an end. We believe we are in the vanguard of countless Christians who are awakening to the fact that Israel’s enemies are their enemies. We have learned, and we are teaching others to understand, that our future and your future are intertwined.

We have chosen to stand with your people against the world; to go with the people of Israel because we have heard that God is with you, and we choose to be on His side too.

Mr. Prime Minister. Our desire is not to attack or vilify you, even though we oppose your appeasement policies with everything that is in us because we know – not with presumption or arrogance, but from the vantage point of your nation’s very own history – that they will exact yet another painful price from the Jews.

Our yearning is to be able, somehow, to remind you of the beliefs we know you once held, convictions you had that have grown shaky in the face of the overwhelming international opposition to what you know is best for your people, and what is their God-given right.

Although many will believe that it’s too late – and the hour truly is late – we urge you to turn away from this path that poses so great a danger to your people.

May we once again remind you of the words that so long ago put steel into the spine of one of your greatest warriors as he heard the angel tell him:

“Only be strong, and of good courage.”

Mr. Olmert – no matter what others say, the road you are on is not the only road there is. You do not have to continue down it. You and your nation are not alone. As He has always done, your G-d stands ready to fight for you.

We also want to stand with you – with everything we have.

...............................................benny

Winds of War
By Joshua Muravchik
Word Count: 1,200
Several conflicts of various intensities are raging in the Middle East. But a bigger war, involving more states -- Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, the Palestinian Authority and perhaps the United States and others -- is growing more likely every day, beckoned by the sense that America and Israel are in retreat and that radical Islam is ascending.

Consider the pell-mell events of recent weeks. Iran imprisons four Americans on absurd charges only weeks after seizing 15 British sailors on the high seas. Iran's Revolutionary Guard is caught delivering weapons to the Taliban and explosives to Iraqi terrorists. .....................................benny

It looks like the pot is boiling over, in the middle east.........................................................................DEBKAfile Exclusive: Sudden Egyptian decision to lift anti-Hamas blockade of Gaza, day after condemning Hamas Gaza takeover as illegal coup

June 24, 2007, 11:14 PM (GMT+02:00)





President Hosni Mubarak’s astonishing U-turn renders pretty pointless the conference he convened in Sharm al Sheikh Monday, June 25, to discuss the Hamas takeover crisis. Only Saturday, he denounced Hamas for staging an illegal coup. Sunday, June 24, our exclusive intelligence sources report an official VIP convoy headed by Hamas’ interior minister Siad Sayam – who is believed to have masterminded the Hamas coup in Gaza - was allowed to drive out of Gaza with 15 senior Hamas commanders who led the military action against Fatah last week. Their cars bore official Palestinian government plates. Egyptian security units escorted the convoy from Rafah to Cairo international airport, where the Hamas delegation emplaned for Damascus.

Egyptian intelligence minister Gen. Omar Suleiman then held a long telephone conversation with Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, who later made a speech declaring “resistance” (codeword for terror) was the only way forward for the Palestinian people.

DEBKAfile’s military sources describe Cairo’s action as a slap in the face for the three leaders he invited to the Sharm el-Sheikh conference, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. He called the get-together in the first place to discuss ways of isolating Hamas into submission.

His reversal was also a message for Israel’s new defense minister Ehud Barak, who attended his first cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday. By helping the Hamas minister in charge of defense take off for military consultations with Syrian leaders, the Mubarak government was informing Israel that it would line up with Hamas against any Israeli military action ordered by Barak against the Islamist rulers of Gaza. Since the Hamas takeover, Qassam missiles and mortar attacks against Israel are a daily occurrence. One of the new defense minister’s tasks is to devise means of halting the attacks.
...............................................benny

The US is pushing....pushing.....but for what?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070625/ap_on_re_eu/rice

There is coming a birthing of government, but it is that of the KINGDOM OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, HALLELUJAH....all honor and glory to the Lamb Who is worthy and shall rule and reign forever and ever...AMEN!!!

Mon., June 25, 2007 Tamuz 9, 5767

With friends like these...

By Akiva Eldar
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/874557.html

Heavy clouds will float over today's summit in sunny Sharm el-Sheikh. The Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza, Jordan and Egypt will be hovering above the four leaders participating in the talks, as will the zealots of worldwide jihad. Iran and Hezbollah will be with them on the other side, while the extreme right-wing national religious camp awaits in the corner. It is hard to say which of the leaders' chairs is shakiest and to guess where the next evil will come from - from Syria, which once again has remained on the outside; from Al-Qaida, which is rearing its head in Iraq and casting its eye on the horizon; or from the Egyptian opposition, which smells weakness in the leadership and is amassing power in anticipation of the inheritance battle.

And who isn't coming to this sad party? The United States, the superpower with the lion's share of responsibility for the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. Who stayed home? President George W. Bush, the one whose semi-hallucinatory dream of democratization has become a genuine reality of anarchy; whose adopted vision of two states - Israel and Palestine - has become during his tenure a distant dream. It is difficult to think of an American president who has caused more damage to Israeli interests than the president who is considered one of the friendliest to Israel of all time. No leader has done more than Bush - by commission as well as omission - to destroy the Palestinian Authority under Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas.

It was Bush who imposed the wretched elections on the Palestinians, despite Hamas' refusal to fulfill the terms of the Oslo II Accords concerning the participation of political parties in the democratic process. Bush gave his blessing to sacrificing the road map on the altar of unilateral disengagement, an act of charity toward the Palestinian "refusal front" and a death blow to the already damaged peace camp.

When Hamas was dragged into the unity government and the cease-fire agreement, with great effort, the Bush administration spared no effort to defeat the new alliance. And now, after cooking up the stew, Bush is leaving his "friends" to eat it alone, while exhorting the use of obsolete tricks to raise the dead, such as removing checkpoints in the West Bank and releasing Palestinian prisoners. The two-state vision will have to wait for the next president. What's the rush?

It's a good thing Bush wasn't around 30 years ago, when Egyptian president Anwar Sadat decided the time had come to end the war with Israel and regain the Sinai Peninsula. Bush would probably have recused himself, saying something like, "they can handle their own negotiations with Egypt. If the prime minister wants to negotiate with Egypt, he doesn't need me to mediate," as the leader of the free world said after his meeting last week with Ehud Olmert, with regard to the U.S. stance on promoting a peace process with Syria.

There is no way of knowing how Israel and the entire Middle East would look today had former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, considered problematic for Israel, sent Sadat off to work things out for himself with prime minister Menachem Begin instead of inviting them both to the peace summit at Camp David.

American intervention was one of the primary considerations leading to the Egyptian, Palestinian and Jordanian decision to reach a diplomatic settlement with Israel. Bashar Assad knocked on Bush's door and asked him to send a representative to talks with Israel, despite America's overt declarations concerning their special relationship with Israel and their commitment to its qualitative superiority. The U.S. president's shrugging off of responsibility for the peace process that began in Madrid in 1991, under his father's baton, ruined one of Israel's most important strategic assets: the belief, which bought a grace period from its neighbors, that the only place that was selling tickets to Washington and the right to enjoy its favors was in Jerusalem.

Officials in Olmert's government are sighing in great relief over the lowering of the American profile. To understand the depth of these leanings, one must go to Damascus. Vice President Farouk Shara interpreted Bush's statements using the following harsh, but accurate, words: "The American president does not want peace between Israel and Syria." Israeli intelligence officials are already warning that the opposite of peace is imminent war between Israel and Syria. This means that Bush is refusing to help prevent another round of blood-letting. What an outcry would erupt here were he to refuse to aid us by shipping a cannon or a helicopter over, and sending us out alone with the Arabs to handle the next war.
__________________
................................................benny

Israel braces for July war with up to five enemies

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http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtri...rael_06_25.asp

Monday, June 25, 2007
Israel braces for July war with up to five enemies
JERUSALEM — Israel is preparing for an imminent war with Iran, Syria and/or their non-state clients.
Israeli military intelligence has projected that a major attack could come from any of five adversaries in the Middle East. Officials said such a strike could spark a war as early as July 2007.
On Sunday, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Cabinet that the Jewish state faces five adversaries in what could result in an imminent confrontation. Yadlin cited Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas and Al Qaida.
"Each of these adversaries is capable of sparking a war in the summer," Yadlin was quoted as saying.
[On Monday, Al Qaida's No. 2 Ayman Zawahiri endorsed the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. The Al Qaida statement came after Zawahiri repeatedly criticized Hamas for tolerating Palestinian Authority cooperation with the United States.]
Yadlin said Hamas could be planning a major attack to divert attention away from efforts by the Palestinian Authority to isolate the Gaza Strip. He said Syria might be promoting such an attack.
Officials said Iran has direct influence over Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas. He said Al Qaida has increasingly come under Iranian influence and was being used by Iran and Syria in such countries as Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.
Already, military intelligence has assessed that Hamas acquired more than 50 missiles with a range of 22 kilometers. Officials said this would allow Palestinian missile strikes on any part of Ashkelon, the largest city in southeastern Israel and which contains strategic sites.
Hamas has also deployed at least 20 SA-7 anti-aircraft systems, officials said. They said the missiles threaten Israeli combat helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that conduct missions over the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, Palestinian gunners continued missile fire into Israel. Hours earlier, the Israel Air Force struck an Islamic Jihad squad said to have been driving toward the northern Gaza Strip to launch missiles toward Israel. One Jihad operative was killed and two others were injured.
Israeli military intelligence has assessed that Hamas was being quietly supported by neighboring Egypt. Officials said that despite Egypt's announced ban, Cairo has continued to allow Hamas leaders to enter the Sinai Peninsula from the Gaza Strip.
Over the weekend, officials said, a Hamas delegation led by former PA Interior Minister Said Siyyam entered Sinai. They said the 15-member delegation was escorted by Egyptian security forces to Cairo for a flight to Damascus, where they were scheduled to meet Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Masha'al.
On Monday, Egypt was scheduled to host a regional summit meant to support PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Israel, Jordan and Abbas were expected to attend the meeting in the Sinai resort town of Sharm e-Sheik.
__________________
...............................................benny

Alert!!!...........Iranian forces crossed Iraqi border:

report 32 minutes ago
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070625/wl_mi...IBGgBQBggVvaA8F

LONDON (AFP) - Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces have been spotted by British troops crossing the border into southern Iraq, The Sun tabloid reported on Tuesday.

Britain's defence ministry would not confirm or deny the report, with a spokesman declining to comment on "intelligence matters".

An unidentified intelligence source told the tabloid: "It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran -- but nobody has officially declared it."

"We have hard proof that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have crossed the border to attack us. It is very hard for us to strike back. All we can do is try to defend ourselves. We are badly on the back foot."

The Sun said that radar sightings of Iranian helicopters crossing into the Iraqi desert were confirmed to it by very senior military sources.

In response to the report, a British defence ministry spokesman said: "There is evidence that explosive devices used against our troops in southern Iraq originated in Iran."

"Any Iranian link to armed militias in Iraq either through weapons supply, training or funding are unacceptable."

Britain has about 7,100 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are based in the southern city of Basra and surrounding areas, though the government has pledged to reduce that to between 5,000 and 5,500 this year.
............................................benny

Iran bombers attack Our Boys

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By TOM NEWTON DUNN
Defence Editor

June 26, 2007


COMMENT ON THIS STORY

IRANIAN forces are being choppered over the Iraqi border to bomb Our Boys, intelligence chiefs say.

Military experts claim this worrying move means we are at WAR with Iran in all but name.

Last night an intelligence source told The Sun: “It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full on war with Iran — but nobody has officially declared it.

“We have hard proof that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have crossed the border to attack us.

“It is very hard for us to strike back. All we can do is try to defend ourselves. We are badly on the back foot.”





Our Boys picked up the Iranian helicopters on radar crossing into empty desert.

The sightings have been confirmed to The Sun by very senior military sources.

At least two Brit squaddies are thought to have been killed by bombs planted during these incursions into Maysan province — Corporal Ben Leaning, 24, and Trooper Kristen Turton, 27.

A further 44 British deaths have also been linked to the highly advanced bombs, rockets and mortars which originated in Iran.

Coming so swiftly after the kidnap of 15 Royal Navy sailors in the Gulf, our revelation will send strained relations between London and Tehran plummeting further.

Until now, secret units from Iran’s fanatical RGC have restricted themselves to just training and arming Shia rebels in Iraq.

They include the al Quds Brigade — a secretive force tasked to spread Islamic revolution abroad who are the main backers for Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and are also active in Palestine and northern Iraq.

An MoD spokeswoman said: “There is evidence that explosive devices used against our troops in southern Iraq originated in Iran.

“Any Iranian link to armed militias in Iraq either through weapons supply, training or funding are unacceptable.


...........................................benny

I am beginning to think that the above news article may have been stretched for the purpose of selling newspapers......if there was something to all this, it would seem that it would be all over the internet by now................................benny

June 26, 2007
Blair steps up as Israel braces for war
by Michael G. Mickey
(6-26-07)

World Tribune is reporting that Israel is bracing for war in July, facing the possibility of being attacked by as many as five foes, namely Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas and Al Qaida.

As Israel braces for war, the Associated Press is reporting that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, set to step down tomorrow from that post, is going to be named chief envoy for Middle East peace by the international Quartet of Russia, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union with everyone but the Kremlin backing Blair for the role.

Outside of the Quartet, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is upset that Blair is about to be appointed to the role because the appointment "would draw attention away from his efforts in the region."

As chief envoy of the Quartet, Blair's role will be to "help the Palestinians strengthen their political and economic systems and institutions in preparation for an eventual independent Palestinian state."

All of this makes for exciting end times watching, doesn't it? Especially at a time when Israel is preparing for what could be an all-out assault on it that could begin at any moment!

Battle of the EU Heavyweights?

Will anything of substance result from Tony Blair's appointment as chief Middle East envoy of the Quartet or will the crux of the European Union's efforts to obtain a workable peace in the Middle East that will lead to the creation of a Palestinian state on Israel's covenant lands remain focused on its own efforts alone, namely through the office of its longstanding foreign policy chief, Dr. Javier Solana? This is going to be very interesting to watch unfold. Not only do we presently have the potential for war in the Middle East, we also have the potential to see a contest of international diplomacy take place between two of the revived Roman empire's most renowned diplomats - Blair and Solana.

A region at a crossroads

Things are heating up in the Middle East and very quickly at that! With the drums of war being beaten more loudly by the moment, the world is desperately hoping that someone can solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Not only is the world hoping for that, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, at least outwardly, is hoping for the same, asking for negotiations to begin for a permanent Palestinian state to be born with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Ynet News is quoting Abbas as saying the following, "The region is at a crossroads; the way of peace, or the way of violence."

It is at a moment like this, hypothetically speaking, that a prince (or leader) of Roman descent could come forward to confirm (or make strong) a covenant of peace in the Middle East that could miraculously avert a costly war, giving everyone in the troubled Middle East who longs for peace cause to cry out, "Peace and safety! Peace and safety!" Even if that should occur, particularly as a result of a seven-year covenant "with many" as defined in Daniel 9:27, there will be no peace. Instead, sudden destruction will come upon the world as the day of the Lord begins!

1st Thessalonians 5:1-11:


But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Keep your eyes on the skies!........................benny

Quartet comes calling in capital it rejects

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Printer-friendly version By Stan Goodenough
June 26, 2007

The Quartet of Powers held an official meeting in Jerusalem Tuesday to discuss ways in which to elbow forward the process that would see Israel robbed of its capital and half its land.

Arrogant in their own conceits, representatives of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations convened for three hours at the USA’s “West Jerusalem” consulate.

The expected outcome of their get-together - an announcement that retiring British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been appointed as their special envoy to the region - was postponed because of some objections from Russia.

The obstacles are reportedly small, however, and the anticipation is that the announcement will be made later Tuesday or on Wednesday.

While gathering under the guise of “peacemaking,” the Quartet's primary concern is to keep the Arab world happy so as to ensure, as far as possible, the uninterrupted flow of relatively inexpensive oil upon which so much of the world depends.

To this end these nations have shown themselves more than willing to gamble with Israel’s existence.

Meanwhile, bowing and scraping to the Arab world, not one of these nations has its embassy in Israel’s capital.

The Bush administration – which describes itself as a strong ally of Israel, straddles the fence, refusing to move its embassy to Jerusalem, and instead maintains consulates in both the “eastern” and “western” sides of the city.

In fact, Jerusalem is daily crawling with representatives of international organizations that reject the Jews’ right to Jerusalem and to most of the Promised Land.

........................................benny

http://www.hallindsey.org/ ...........video of Hal Lindsey report............................benny

Israel bracing for summer war

by Donald Sensing
June 26, 2007 3:48 PM
http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/009689.php

Back on my own site, Daniel Jackson blogged from Israel that talk among his friends (and one presumes most all Israelis) is whether the unfinished business in southern Lebanon fvrom last summer's Israel-Lebanon war will reignite this summer.

Whatever is coming this summer will not have the same misdirected response of last summer. For Iran, Hizbullah, and Syrian to assume that the next round will be like last summer is simply not realistic.

From his home in Galilee, Daniel has seen many rigorous military exercises conducted by the IDF over the last year. Now the World Tribune reports that Israel is bracing for July war with up to five enemies,

Israel is preparing for an imminent war with Iran, Syria and/or their non-state clients.

Israeli military intelligence has projected that a major attack could come from any of five adversaries in the Middle East. Officials said such a strike could spark a war as early as July 2007.

On Sunday, Israeli military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Cabinet that the Jewish state faces five adversaries in what could result in an imminent confrontation. Yadlin cited Iran, Syria, Hizbullah, Hamas and Al Qaida.

"Each of these adversaries is capable of sparking a war in the summer," Yadlin was quoted as saying. ...

Already, military intelligence has assessed that Hamas acquired more than 50 missiles with a range of 22 kilometers. Officials said this would allow Palestinian missile strikes on any part of Ashkelon, the largest city in southeastern Israel and which contains strategic sites.


Daniel wrote, "I think Iran will not like the response." Matters in the region were not helped when Mohammad al Habash, member of the Syrian parliament, recently appeared on Al Jazeera.

Al Habash said Syria was "actively preparing for war with Israel, which he said he expected to break out this summer." This month Israel's military engaged in war games in preparation for a Syrian attack. "Israel seeks peace with Syria," Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said. But he cautioned "miscalculations that could cause the security situation to worsen".


Israeli intelligence officials' warning of the rising probability of war are not new. They have known that since the end of the southern Lebanon conflict that Syria has spent enormous sums on modern armaments and has moved army units closer to its border with Israel.
...........................................benny

Jun. 27, 2007 0:12 | Updated Jun. 27, 2007 1:28
Bolton: Bush 'doesn't see sanctions can't stop Iran now'
By DAVID HOROVITZ
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Sanctions and diplomacy have failed and it may be too late for internal opposition to oust the Islamist regime, leaving only military intervention to stop Iran's drive to nuclear weapons, the US's former ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.
Worse still, according to Ambassador Bolton, the Bush administration does not recognize the urgency of the hour and that the options are now limited to only the possibility of regime change from within or a last-resort military intervention, and it is still clinging to the dangerous and misguided belief that sanctions can be effective.
As a consequence, Bolton said he was "very worried" about the well-being of Israel. If he were in Israel's predicament, he said, "I'd be pushing the US very hard. I am pushing the US [administration] very hard, from the outside, in Washington."
Bolton, interviewed by telephone from Washington, was speaking a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency announced it would send a team to Teheran, at Iran's request, to work jointly on a plan ostensibly meant to clear up suspicions about the nuclear program. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani had met on Sunday with IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei, and a day earlier with top EU foreign policy envoy Javier Solana.
Bolton, however, was witheringly critical of the ongoing diplomatic contacts with Teheran, which he said were merely playing into the hands of the regime.
"The current approach of the Europeans and the Americans is not just doomed to failure, but dangerous," he said. "Dealing with [the Iranians] just gives them what they want, which is more time...
"We have fiddled away four years, in which Europe tried to persuade Iran to give up voluntarily," he complained. "Iran in those four years mastered uranium conversion from solid to gas and now enrichment to weapons grade... We lost four years to feckless European diplomacy and our options are very limited."
Bolton said flatly that "diplomacy and sanctions have failed... [So] we have to look at: 1, overthrowing the regime and getting in a new one that won't pursue nuclear weapons; 2, a last-resort use of force."
However, he added a caution as to the viability of the first of those remaining options: While "the regime is more susceptible to overthrow from within than people think," he said, such a process "may take more time than we have."
Overall, said Bolton, it was clear that Iran had surmounted "all the technical problems of uranium enrichment," and it "may well be that we have passed the point of Iran mastering the nuclear fuel cycle." If so, it was now merely a matter of time before Iran reached a bomb-making capability - "a matter of resources and available equipment," he said - and it was solely up to Iran to set the pace.
To his dismay, however, the Bush administration was still clinging to the empty notion that the sanctions route could work, "even though [the UN's sanction] Resolutions 1737 and 1747 were full of loopholes. The US is still seeking another sanctions resolution and Solana is still pursuing diplomacy," he said bitterly.
Bolton lamented that the Bush administration today was "not the same" as a presumably more robust incarnation three years ago, because of what he said was now the State Department's overwhelming dominance of foreign policy. "The State Department has adopted the European view [on how to deal with Iran] and other voices have been sidelined," he said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "is overwhelmingly predominant on foreign policy."
Asked where this left Israel, Bolton said simply: "Israel's options are as limited as those of the US, except that you are in more danger in that you are closer. I hate to say that."
Bolton, who served as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security from 2001 to 2005, before taking the ambassadorial posting to the UN from August 2005 to December 2006, said the failed handling of the Iran nuclear crisis was one of the reasons he had left the Bush administration. "I felt we were watching Europe fiddling while Rome burned," he said. "It's still fiddling." ...................................................................................benny

Last night before I had fell asleep,....I was thinking about all the present signs that strongly indicate that the prophecy of Isaiah 17;1 may come to pass any day ........As a pre-trib believer, signs seem to strongly reveal that the rapture may happen very very soon......It's like, time has shifted gears and went into fast forward....I am not by myself on coming to this realization....I myself believe that when Isaiah 17;1 does come to pass.....it will hurl the world towards Daniels 70th week at a blinding speed.......I thought about the christians who live in Damascus,Syria....who number in the thousands....which in syria as a whole it is estimated that there are 1,670,000 christians living there not to include the christians who have fled there, recently from Iraq....With all that in mind....last night the scriptures of Genesis 18;23-26 came to mind which states:...."23: And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24: Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25: That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26: And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes."

..........Those scriptures, makes me wonder if "WE" the Bride.....may be raptured before the prophecy of Isaiah 17;1 comes to pass.....As you can see,...I am discerning the time in which "WE" are now living in......."WE" do not know the day or the hour of our Lords return for His Bride....But I believe that "WE" would recognize the general time era....the season if you will........."And when you see these things begin to come to pass, then lookup! for your redemption draweth nigh!..................God Bless to you all!.............................................................................................................benny

DEBKAfile reports: Iranian Revolutionary Guards suicide unit’s incursion of S. Iraq is another step in undeclared war

June 27, 2007, 12:15 PM (GMT+02:00)


Revolutionary Guards Special Forces in training


Early this week, Tehran deployed in southern Iraq and southern Iran contingents of Revolutionary Guards Corps of suicide fighters in anticipation of an American attack on Iranian soil.

Those units were posted to fight off a possible US Marines landing in southern Iran. Tehran believes the American force will be assigned with destroying RG bases and infrastructure in the south and sabotaging the oil wells and installations of Iranian province of Khuzestan.

The RG fighters were dropped by helicopter in southern Iraq on June 24 and 25. Their task will be to launch suicide attacks on US and British bases and command posts in the region the moment Iran comes under American attack.

Also in anticipation of a showdown, Tehran announced Tuesday at only two hours notice the rationing of gas for Iran’s private motorists to 100 liters per month. Protesters started torching gas stations Wednesday.

For lack of refining capacity, the oil-rich country imports 40% of its gasoline needs and oil products. Tehran sharply reined in private consumption to free up reserves for the armed forces in case of war and keep power stations and water supplies running in an emergency.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that these two steps in three days attest to the certainty of Iran’s government and military that a military confrontation with the US is around the corner.

The British Sun newspaper first disclosed the Iranian troop thrust into southern Iraq Monday, June 25, reporting: “It is an extremely alarming development and raises the stakes considerably. In effect, it means we are in a full war with Iran – but nobody has officially declared it.”

DEBKAfile’s military experts add: In effect, the Iranian military incursion of Iraq is the fourth military invasion of foreign territory underway in the Middle East at this very moment. None are officially admitted.

1. The Turkish army is fighting Kurdish PKK rebels in Iraqi Kurdistan on the other side of their border. Almost daily, Turkish units backed by tanks, fighter planes and helicopters cross into northern Iraq and battle with the rebels. Washington, Ankara, Baghdad and Irbil blandly ignore this ongoing war.

2. In the second week of the six-week long confrontation between the Lebanese army and the pro-Damascus radical Palestinian Fatah al-Islam near Tripoli, the Syrian army and security service began pushing into the embattled camp reinforcements of hundreds Palestinian fighters, members of groups under their control. These fighters, an estimated 1,600-strong, have since fanned out in clusters in northern Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley, the mountains north of Tripoli and south of Beirut. The Syrian army keeps them well supplied with ammunition, food and fuel.

3. Israeli tank and armored infantry forces conduct ongoing counter-terror operations against Hamas, Jihad Islami and allied Palestinian terrorist groups in southern and northern Gaza. Since the Palestinian Islamist Hamas takeover of Gaza last week, Israeli tanks supported by helicopter and pilot-less aircraft are engaged in ongoing firefights with Palestinian anti-tank units.
................................................benny

Tuesday, June 26, 2007
BOLTON: SANCTIONS WON'T WORK, MILITARY FORCE NECESSARY TO STOP IRAN, "VERY WORRIED" ABOUT ISRAEL'S SAFETY



* Blair named Middle East troubleshooter
* Putin to visit Bush family in Maine this weekend
ORIGINAL POST:
Amb. John Bolton, the recently retired top Bush administration diplomat at the United Nations, warns time is fast running out to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program and that he worries about the safety of Israel....excerpts from his interview with The Jerusalem Post: "Sanctions and diplomacy have failed and it may be too late for internal opposition to oust the Islamist regime, leaving only military intervention to stop Iran's drive to nuclear weapons, the US's former ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. Worse still, according to Ambassador Bolton, the Bush administration does not recognize the urgency of the hour and that the options are now limited to only the possibility of regime change from within or a last-resort military intervention, and it is still clinging to the dangerous and misguided belief that sanctions can be effective. As a consequence, Bolton said he was 'very worried' about the well-being of Israel. If he were in Israel's predicament, he said, 'I'd be pushing the US very hard. I am pushing the US [administration] very hard, from the outside, in Washington'....Bolton [was] witheringly critical of the ongoing diplomatic contacts with Teheran, which he said were merely playing into the hands of the regime. 'The current approach of the Europeans and the Americans is not just doomed to failure, but dangerous,' he said. 'Dealing with [the Iranians] just gives them what they want, which is more time....We have fiddled away four years, in which Europe tried to persuade Iran to give up voluntarily,' he complained. 'Iran in those four years mastered uranium conversion from solid to gas and now enrichment to weapons grade....We lost four years to feckless European diplomacy and our options are very limited.'"

HEADLINES TO TRACK:
* Israel braces for July war with up to five enemies
* JPost: Israeli troops from the Givati infantry brigade, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, swept into the southern Gaza Strip under cover from attack helicopters and took up positions on the outskirts of Khan Yunis
* Report: "283 Palestinian Rockets from Gaza Hit Israel During May, Up from 68 in April and 34 in March"
* Russian foreign minister denies accusations that recent Russian arms sales to Damascus will upset the balance of power in the Middle East
* UN report: Lebanon-Syria border completely porous
* To view trailer or learn more about the Epicenter documentary DVD, please click here
* To learn more about The Joshua Fund's effort to bring humanitarian relief to the nations of the epicenter -- including Gaza -- please click here

posted by Joel C. Rosenberg @ 10:21 PM 83
...............................................benny

JPost.com » Israel » Article


Jun. 27, 2007 23:57 | Updated Jun. 28, 2007 1:24
Jerusalem claims Bolton is too pessimistic on Iran
By HERB KEINON
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Israeli officials took issue on Wednesday with the doomsday outlook on Iran that former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton articulated to The Jerusalem Post a day earlier, saying Jerusalem believes a combination of diplomatic pressure and stepped-up sanctions may get Teheran to rethink its nuclear program.

"We believe that the integration of concrete financial measures and UN sanctions can bring the Iranians to a tactical decision not to move forward with their nuclear program," one government official involved in the issue said.

"This, of course, will require continued determination and an uncompromising approach on part of the international community," he said. "Bolton's comments reflect his belief that the international community is incapable of this. We are cautiously optimistic."

Bolton, in his interview with the Post, said that "diplomacy and sanctions have failed."

He said two options remained for stopping Iran: overthrowing the regime from within - he said it might be too late for this - or "a last-resort use of force."

"We have fiddled away four years, in which Europe tried to persuade Iran to give up voluntarily," he said. "Iran in those four years mastered uranium conversion from solid to gas, and now enrichment to weapons grade... We lost four years to feckless European diplomacy and our options are very limited."

While expressing a great deal of esteem for Bolton's "proactive" view of how nuclear proliferation issues should be handled, and saying that he agreed with the gist of Bolton's argument that a lot of time has been wasted, the Israeli official said, "We part ways on his view of the effectiveness of political, diplomatic and financial steps."

The official said Bolton was "too categorical."

"It is possible that his comments were meant to expedite the process," the official said. "We would all like to see more aggressive diplomacy."

But, the official said, there was no doubt that Iranian financial institutions, and now people on the street, were feeling the "heat" from the various sanctions and financial steps that have been taken.

Another government official dismissed Bolton's remarks by saying he was the US's "Avigdor Lieberman," referring to the strategic affairs minister from Israel Beiteinu.

"I don't think he is more concerned than we are," the official said. "We just don't believe we are on the verge of Gog and Magog. We do not believe we have reached the point where you can say that the sanctions are not effective."

Bolton also harshly criticized the Bush administration, saying it did not recognize the urgency of the situation and still held the misguided notion that sanctions could work.

At the end of the day, the government official said, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was satisfied with the way US President George W. Bush was dealing with the problem. "Bolton said that he doesn't think sanctions are effective. Okay, that's his opinion," the official said. "We disagree."
............................................benny

le’yisrael yesh tikvah – For Israel there is hope Posted on Tuesday 26 June 2007
I love living in Israel and am grateful to God and to the Israeli people for opening the door for me to reside and raise my family here. There is nowhere in the world I would rather call home. That’s a statement that would raise some cynical eyebrows, but it’s true, and I know there are many non-Jews who feel as I do and would give a great deal to be here too.

Israel is the country of “Hatikvah” (“The Hope”). That is an unusual name for a national anthem – a far cry from the songs of patriotism and praise the citizens of so many other countries sing to their lands. It is a different kind of name, but this nation, these people, could not have a more appropriate one.

Israel’s very existence – in the physical – is attributable more to hope, derived from faith, than to anything else. It was always hope, out there, as they wandered the dark, dangerous, deadly roads of exile, that kept a light, a purpose, the flicker of a dream alive in the heart of the Jews.

It was hope against hope. Hope against all odds. Hope against reason. But it burned. It could not be quenched. And it was realized – that hope – when after 2000 long and excruciating years, the Jew returned to his home, and his home was returned to the Jew.

Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948 should have vindicated the centuries of hoping, and marked the beginning of the end of the need to hope, and the start of a time when the Jews could begin to enjoy all they had been hoping for.

But that was not to be. They grasped hold of and clung to hope then, as the world recognized them, and as their new society began to take hold and grow on the long abandoned homeland of the Jews.

And for the last 59 years, they have had to keep hoping – hoping for peace, hoping for acceptance, hoping for an end to fear, an end to war.

So they have continued to hope.

Until now.

Five weeks ago, I boarded a plane for the United States. Settling into the roomy extra-leg area I had requested, I noted with satisfaction the two empty adjacent seats.

But even as I relished the prospect of being able to lie down for the long flight over the Atlantic, two Israelis who had been assigned seats elsewhere noticed the vacancies and came over.

Sighing inwardly, I smiled a greeting and, a few minutes later, the gleaming 747 bearing the name “Jerusalem” in its nose lifted off the runway and banked west. Suddenly the Mediterranean was beneath us; the Tel Aviv coastline dropping away behind.

The young man next to me introduced himself as Golan and we began to talk. I learned that he was born in Israel and raised in a family of Zionists. He had served in an elite army unit, proud to be Israeli, and thankful for the opportunity to defend his country. Two of his brothers, Golan informed me, were high-ranking officers in the IDF.

I was somewhat taken aback, then, when with elation in his voice he told me how happy he was to be “heading home.”

“Home?” I asked. “But we are flying away from Israel?”

“Oh,” Golan answered. “I’m married to an American Jew. We have two lovely children. We own a large house not far from New York, and I am a very successful financial advisor.

“America is now my home.”

“But what about Israel?” I wondered.

“Israel?!” It was nearly a snort. “There is no future there.”

“Well,” I answered cautiously, after a few minutes. “I have heard one or two of your countrymen over the past years tell me despairingly how they believe Israel will no longer exist in 50 years’ time. Is that how you feel?”

“We don’t have another 50 years,” he said, sounding resigned. “Maybe 20.”

His words hit me hard. Surely there were not many who felt this way?

But I would hear the same thing again, from two more Jews, on my travels in the following days.

One of them, a woman in upper New York State, wanted to know whether I foresaw another national exile for her people and, if so, whether I thought they could survive it.

For her it was already on the way. Last year – and she was right about this – for the first time since 1948, more Jews left Israel than made aliyah (immigrated).

“It won’t be the end of the world,” she said. “As we survived the second Diaspora, we will survive the third.”

An orthodox Jew in St Louis, MO, said more or less the same thing. “The political Zionist state has proved to be a failure, as many devout Jews long believed it was. Within two decades it will be gone.”

Less than 60 years after they danced in the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to celebrate the unprecedented miracle of their rebirth, Jews are preparing to leave. They are losing their hope.

It is not really surprising that they are.

Instead of the safe haven and new home eretz yisrael was meant to be, it has become the most dangerous place on earth for Jews to live, and is a target for the intensifying hatred of billions around the globe.

No wonder so many are leaving.

No wonder they are losing their hope.

And yet, as I told my flying companion, there is every reason to hope.

“I have hope,” I said. “Great big buckets full of hope for the future of your land and your people. This is why I live in Jerusalem with my family. I may be a gentile, but to me Israel, not South Africa (my old homeland) is home.”

He was astounded by my outlook, my optimism, even my smile. And so I reminded him of what his Bible, his God, had promised.

“More than 3500 years ago,” I said, “Moses, and in the ensuing centuries your other prophets, foretold your global dispersion, and the persecution and suffering the Jews would experience and endure. God promised Israel, through these prophets, that after their exile and trials in foreign places, He would bring them back to their land where they would rebuild the ancient wasteplaces, raise up the ruined cities, and make the desert blossom like a rose.”

“Well,” I asked, “did it happen as He said it would? Did God keep His promise or didn’t He?

Golan nodded.

“Well then, that was not all He promised, was it? He promised something else, something that would follow, and even exceed, your return home.

“God promised that when He brought you home to eretz yisrael the second time, that He would keep you there ‘as a shepherd keeps his sheep’ and that He would plant you there, never to uproot you again.”

Was God, who had so amazingly kept the first half of His promise, not also able to keep the second half, every word of it?

“Israel is your home, and although it may not look like it just now, God has promised you a hope and a future, a glorious future, in that land.

“Don’t give up on Israel,” I urged him.

After sitting silently for a while, apparently digesting what he had heard, Golan leaned over one more time.

“When I boarded this plane I had no hope for my country,” he said, and his next words brought tears to my eyes.

“I want to thank you,” he said slowly, intensely.

“You have given me some hope again.”

............................................benny

Hezbollah preparing for the next war

Published Date: June 28, 2007
By Michel Moutot
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news...E1MjYxODEyMQ==

Hezbollah is busy preparing for its next war with Israel in the knowledge that the Jewish state will not rest easy with the results of last summer's 34-day conflict, military analysts in Beirut believe. Since the UN-brokered ceasefire came into force last August 14, the pro-Iran Shiite militia has been steadily gearing itself up for the next round with the same determination and secrecy that have made its reputation, the experts say.

"Immediately after last summer's war Hezbollah began refortifying its positions and working on new ones," said Judith Palmer Harik, author of the book "Hezbollah: The Changing Face of Terrorism." "They are rearming... In fact, there has been no interruption in their receiving of more arms," she told AFP. The only Lebanese militia allowed its own arsenal by the government, Hezbollah has moved most of its weapons out of the border area with Israel to conform with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended the conflict.

A Western military observer