Terrorist Group Hezbollah to Take Lebanon?

There have been rumblings of this in the past, but now it could be imminent. If this actually happens, it will be of great concern to Israel:

IDF chief predicts Hezbollah takeover in Lebanon after probe

Ashkenazi tells Canadian hosts Nasrallah may seize power in Lebanon following publication of Hariri probe findings; says current PM, Jumblatt in survival mode

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi expressed concerns over the possible ramifications of the UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Ashkenazi, who is visiting Canada, told his hosts Monday that the publication of the probe's findings may result in Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah seizing power in Lebanon.

Last week Nasrallah threatened his opposition in Lebanon and the International Court of Justice in The Hague, claiming Israel was behind attempts to charge his group for assassinating Hariri.

Nasrallah also issued a veiled threat against the current Lebanese PM and accused him of assisting the US in hurting Hezbollah.

Warnings of Hamas, Hezbollah threats should be taken seriously

Lebanon could fall into Hezbollah's hands after indictments are served in probe into the Rafiq Hariri assassination; Diskin: Egypt could stop weapons smuggling into Gaza.

Two surprisingly honest statements have been made in the past two days by two of the most senior figures in the Israeli security establishment. While Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin are not likely to be cited for their political correctness or sensitivity to regional issues anytime soon, both were speaking the truth: The situation on the two fronts of which they spoke, Lebanon and Gaza, is not too encouraging.

IDF chief Ashkenazi was referring to a growing concern among top brass over the internal political situation in Lebanon.

At this stage, the international tribunal seems determined to indict next month a number of senior Hezbollah officials for the murder of former prime minister Hariri. Israel will hardly shed a tear if Hezbollah finds itself in a fix, but it is also aware that the organization could undermine the current Lebanese regime to extract itself from the tribunal's siege.

It seems that at least on the topic of weapons smuggling, Israel no longer needs to walk on eggshells around the Egyptians. Five years after the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, with the fight against weapons smuggling into Gaza yielding such limited results, Israel can finally complain out loud.

Two take home messages from these articles:

- Egypt's intentions are clear even though they still attempt to act covertly: they are firmly on the side of the terrorist groups and they are facilitating weapons shipments into Gaza (as many have suspected for several years).

- Hezbollah, who already controls southern Lebanon may seize this opportunity to seize complete control of Lebanon following the indictment process resulting from the Rafiq Hariri assassination tribunal.

Both of these points are ominous for Israel. The thought of Iran/Syria essentially gaining complete control of Lebanon represents the growing threat to Israel in the region. Even more disturbing for Israel is the knowledge that Egypt isn't "neutral" regarding Israel. These articles are just two of many in which Egypt has been accused of allowing massive arms shipments into Gaza while turning a "blind eye" to the process.

The vice surrounding Israel continues to tighten, as the groups sworn to Israeli destruction continue to arm and gain strength by the day.

Somehow, this is all part of God's plan. All we can do is watch and pray. And of course, inform as many people as possible that we are reaching the end stages of this plan. Time is growing short as we see the prophetic pieces being assembled.