BREAKING NEWS FROM ISRAEL: TOP HAMAS MILITARY COMMANDER KILLED IN AIR STRIKE
8 developments this week you need to know about.
Joel C. Rosenberg
(Netanya, Israel, November 14, 2012) -- Night is falling here in the Holy Land. I was just emailing with a former U.S. presidential candidate about the latest developments here in Israel, and I thought I'd share the same information with you. Short version: it's been a challenging week. Here are 8 developments you need to know about.
1.) Syria and Israel have fired at each other multiple times for the first time since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
2.) More than 160 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israeli towns in the southern tier by Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorists in Gaza since last Saturday, and more than 40 Israelis have been wounded.
3.) Under pressure from Egypt, Hamas is being told to stop firing rockets - and in the last 24 hours or so the rocket fire has slowed significantly. That said, four rockets were fired at southern Israel today (Wednesday), apparently by terrorists operating in the Sinai Peninsula.
4.) Moments ago, news broke that a top Hamas military commander was just killed in an IAF air strike. Now Israelis in the south are awaiting a possible new barrage of rockets from Gaza in retaliation. Still, Israeli officials believe they need to reestablish a deterrence factor by assassinating top Hamas leaders and thus raising the cost of rocket attacks.
5.) Meanwhile, the Palestinian leadership which has lost control of Gaza is moving towards unilaterally declaring a state. It is seeking a U.N. General Assembly vote recognizing the state. At this point, the U.N. vote is set for November 29th, which is the anniversary of the U.N. Partition Plan vote in 1947. Such a unilateral step would be in violation of the Oslo Accords signed by the PLO and Israel which disallows unilateral actions such as this.
6.) The Obama administration is pressuring Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas not to take unilateral steps, including with a personal phone call by President Obama to Abbas.
7.) Some media reports here say the Israelis are threatening to topple Abbas if he takes such unilateral actions in defiance of signed agreements.
8.) If this all weren't enough challenges, a new IAEA report due out this week will indicate that Iran is steadily moving its nuclear program into deep underground facilities and that there are now 2,700 centrifuges to enrich uranium located in the Fordow facility, close to the religious city of Qom.
As I note in my recently released e-book, ISRAEL AT WAR: "The corridor between Tel Aviv and Tehran is the most dangerous corridor on the planet. And make no mistake: Iran is already at war with the State of Israel. The radical mullahs in Tehran declared war against the Jewish state in 1979. They have been killing Israelis and other Jews ever since. Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his senior advisors are engaged in a high stakes diplomatic, financial and covert war to neutralize the Iranian nuclear threat before the mullahs -- driven by an apocalyptic, genocidal End Times theology -- get the Bomb and the means to deliver it. Now the question is: Will Netanyahu soon order his nation into a full scale, all-out war with Iran that could set the entire Middle East on fire?"
All that said, it should be noted that God is sovereign. As we continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in obedience to Psalm 122:6, the Lord continues to protect the people of Israel, and He loves all the inhabitants of the land, Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, Palestinian Arabs, Christians and Muslims. What's more, while there are serious tensions on the Gaza and Syrian borders, most of Israel is very safe. Tourism this year is at an all-time high. Indeed, the number of tourists coming into Israel in September was an all-time record. I've been here since Friday speaking at a pastors conference and I've never felt in danger. The challenges are real, but keep them in context that most Israelis and Palestinians are going about their daily lives without fear or interference. But please keep praying for peace, for wisdom for the leaders here, and for the followers of Jesus Christ to be a blessing to all the people here.
Thanks. Lord willing, I'll continue to keep you updated as best I can.
[To read the full article on the blog -- or learn more about the new e-book, ISRAEL AT WAR; or to find links to the latest news and analysis of events and trends in the U.S., Israel, North Africa, Russia, and the Middle East -- please go to: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/.]
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
We Remember
Today we remember
so many that have fought and given their lives serving to keep Canada
free. We are ever grateful for each one
that has served in all wars and ask the Lord to strengthen our troops in Afghanistan
and other peacekeeping posts. Protect them Lord and keep them safe, in Jesus name. Amen.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Your Prayers Can Change History
Your Prayers Can Change History
The 2012 Presidential Election will
be a deciding factor on the course of the United States of America. Let us be
praying up until the polls close that the Lord will have His way and have mercy
on the United States. Be prayerful about
your vote and take some time with Father God to hear Him. It is the most important election in U.S.
history and America is standing in the balance.
We are admonished to pray for those in authority over us that we might
live a quiet, peaceful and Godly life.
Let each one be a tool in God's hands and trust that as we do our part,
God will have His way even in the storms of everyday life.
Continue to pray for those also who
are going through great difficulty after Sandy and are still without power and
the necessities of everyday life and that homes be found quickly for these
people. It is at times like this that a Nation needs to come together and those
in authority need to step up to the plate and serve. The people of Staten Island and Hoboken, N.J.
have been crying out for help and our hearts go out to them. We pray that they and all affected have a
speedy recovery. JESUS IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO THE STORMS OF LIFE SO LET US BE
QUICK TO CALL ON HIS NAME!
2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all
men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead
a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3 For this is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have
all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim.
2:1-4
Monday, October 29, 2012
Prayer
Scripture tells us to watch and pray and that the fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much.There is great power in prayer and it changes situations and
Nations. Let us believe the Lord together for His hand to move in the US as
hurricane Sandy comes ashore and that it will NOT cause great destruction. Also
for divine protection over God's children and that all fear be removed. We can
move the hand of God IF we pray. Let us pray that people will call on the name
of the Lord during this time and see that He (Jesus) is real. We know that
Father God uses circumstances to draw men and women to himself. We ask Jesus
that the enemy would not have his way but that you somehow get praise and glory
out of this situation, in Jesus name.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Update on Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Sources in Iran have said that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been
acquitted of apostasy, but found guilty of evangelizing Muslims and sentenced
to three years in prison which he has already served. He has been released from
prison and reunited with his precious family. We need to keep praying however as another Pastor was released and then
murdered not too long after his release.
Please
pray for the Lord's protection over this Pastor and his family and let
us continue to pray for the persecuted church in Iran.
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