Rockets explode in Beersheba and Eshkol
Two rockets exploded in Beersheba on Wednesday morning, and ten mortar shells fell in Shaar Hanegev and Eshkol Regional Councils.
Seven mortar shells fell in the Eshkol Regional Council, followed shortly after by three more near a kibbutz in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries were reported in either explosion.
No deaths were reported in the Beersheba blast, however, one 56-year-old man was injured moderately in his chest by flying debris when he witnessed the grad's explosion from his third story window. He was treated by paramedics who arrived on the scene. Three others were treated for shock.
Only hours before, a Grad rocket launched from the northern Gaza Strip exploded south of Ashdod. There were no reports of injuries or damage to property.
Islamic Jihad reportedly took responsibility for the Ashdod attack as well.
On Tuesday evening, the IDF attacked a terrorist cell, killing four who military sources said were behind the Grad-model Katyusha attack on Beersheba last month. IDF troops also shot mortars into Gaza, accidentally hitting civilians in the norther town of Sajaya.
According to the statement, Netanyahu stressed that the IDF mortar-firing had been a reaction to Hamas shelling of Israeli civilians.
“It is unfortunate that Hamas continues to rain down dozens of rockets on Israeli civilians intentionally, while using [their own] civilians as human shields. Israel has no intention of bringing about a deterioration of the situation, but at the same time, the IDF will continue to act decisively to protect Israeli citizens,” the statement read.
IDF: Syria may provoke Israel to distract from domestic unrest
The Israel Defense Forces is readying for the possibility that Syria might create a provocation along the northern border to divert attention from the growing protests against President Bashar Assad's regime.
Intelligence officials said that despite their earlier assessments that the Syrian regime was stable, and that the unrest sweeping other Arab countries would not affect it, they now believe it will be very hard for Assad to restore the status quo ante.
The IDF is also preparing for the possibility that Damascus might use Hezbollah or other militant organizations in Lebanon to heat up that front to divert attention from events in Syria.
PM will convene security council to formulate Gaza plan
Netanyahu says "no country would absorb rockets on cities, citizens"; he's determined to take away terror groups' ability to harm Israelis; PM set to depart for Russia, Barak overseas.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday addressed the ongoing rocket and mortar fire coming from the Gaza Strip and IDF artillery and air strikes in response. He was expected to convene his national security council before departing for Russia Wednesday evening.
"The IDF is acting and will act against the terror organizations in Gaza," the prime minister said. "We will firmly and decisively defend our citizens."
"Perhaps it will come to exchanging blows, it may continue for some time, but we are very determined to take away the terrorist organizations' ability to harm our citizens."
The last article is priceless:
Abbas to Russia: Pressure Israel to halt Gaza escalation
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to put pressure on Israel to end the "escalation" of strikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.
In addition to requesting that the Russians pressure Netanyahu over the escalation of violence in Gaza, he also criticized him for commenting on Palestinian reconciliation efforts.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was set to depart for Russia Wednesday evening but officials said there was no plan for him to meet with Abbas while they are both in Moscow.
The Kremlin has a penchant for inviting Israeli and Palestinian leaders around the same time. Netanyahu last visited the Kremlin in February 2010, when he was preceded by both Abbas, who was there two weeks earlier, and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who was there just a matter of days before Netanyahu.
The prime minister was scheduled to hold talks with Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.
Netanyahu obviously hasn't read the "Middle East Rulebook". Doesn't he know that Israel is supposed to "take" these daily missiles launched into Israel and not do anything about it?
Its just too "fascinating" that we live in a world in which Abbas both allows and ignores a "barrage" of missile attacks into Israel but as soon as Israel takes any retaliatory actions in response, Abbas complains to "the nations". Priceless.
Unfortunately, "the nations" will predictably respond exactly as Abbas desires, and it won't be long before we see Israeli actions condemned while the ongoing missile "barrage" into Israel will conveniently be ignored.
Its a strange world that we are living in during these last days.
Hello Scott
ReplyDeleteI constantly have a sense of tension in my stomach; and I find 'normal' activities difficult to concentrate on as I am on tenter hooks as yet more news breaks.
I am in 'suspenders' trying to keep myself on the ground - I won't need the Rapture at this rate.
Sue <..>
Very important and enlightening what the cleric said. I thought maybe the red horseman had been uleashed with all these uprisings but now I see the alignment of nations preparing for Ezekiel 38. Josephus in The Antiquities of the Jews claims Put founded by Phut is Libya. Where are we on the prophetic timeclock? Will the rapture occur before Ezekiel 38? I'm like Expected Imminently I can't think about anything else.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Sue. My family are non-believers, and I've left 'post rapture survival guides' lying out on my dresser just in case. I actually pulled those out a couple of weeks ago. It's not an in-your-face thing, but should they find me missing all of a sudden, they'll most certainly see the papers I've left behind.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed that whenever things heat up in the ME, some celebrity over here in North America starts publicly misbehaving?
And here in Canada, our Christian Prime Minister, who is one of the few who strongly and publicly supports Israel, is about to face an election campaign.
P.S. Thanks for the excellent comments in previous posts.
Personally I think the rapture occurs before the Gog-magog war in Ezekiel. To me, God dealing with Israel in Ezekiel 38-39 supernaturally, is very OT like and fits the tribulation Jewish dispensation better than the church age IMO. It could occur in the time between the rapture and the start of the 7 year tribulation.
ReplyDeleteWVBORN56
Isaiah 45:7
ReplyDelete"I form the light and create darkness.
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.'
~gearedup2go
Ellis said
ReplyDelete“…they'll most certainly see the papers I've left behind…”
Good thinking!
As there will be no time to waste, may I suggest you boldly write ‘LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT’ on the front; that way you can be sure they will be read quickly. ;D
God bless
Sue
x
Sue,
ReplyDeleteA while back, I printed off the 'timeline' from RaptureAlert.com, along with a "Post-Rapture Survival Guide" by Michael G. Mickey. The timeline page is quite eye-catching in and of itself, so in such a situation, when my family may be frantic and looking for answers, this should easily grab their attention...even if at the moment, the eyes tend to glaze over when I talk about the Bible. (Actually, though, recent events do have my husband taking more notice, the mind is not quite so closed...My cynical 18 yr old will require more of a shakeup, however.)
Hello everyone. I would like to know what kind of response you think Israel has in store for Gaza.
ReplyDeleteJames
Israel's response.....its a good question.
ReplyDeleteTheir hands are pretty much tied by all the international condemnation which is completely one sided. Still, they will do something.
The game here....that's what the other side wants it appears, baiting Israel to pull her into something that escalates. Israel is trying not to bite until its ready and understands the game. Iran is pulling the strings and something like this normally means the other hand is trying to get away with something. Yet, their friend Syria is starting to get into a little internal domestic turmoil with the "democracy ????" movement and demonstrations.
Who knows?
Israel won't act decisively till they're good and ready....meaning (1 they think they have figured out the end game by Iran (2) the timing and advantage is in Israel's favor and (3) the fruits of a probable win far exceed the cost of a possible loss.
IMHO
Netanyahu obviously hasn't read the "Middle East Rulebook". Doesn't he know that Israel is supposed to "take" these daily missiles launched into Israel and not do anything about it?
ReplyDeleteThis is just too funny! And, so unrealistic. But, sadly to say IT IS REALISTIC! It just boogles my mind how in the world a sane, intelligent or unintelligent person can not only believe this above state... but try to enact it.
Israel is showing real restraint in holding back another massive attack to try and take out or make a dent again in the Gaza strip. It's sad to say that they are doomed no matter what they do. I think Bibi is playing it safe right now-until he's ready to make a homerun play.
And, I think a sign of showing how close we are to some kind of a show down...is Iran in the area pulling the strings.
Also, anymore on the Chinese battle ship in the Mediterain Sea? It's a little too close for comfort. That's a scarey sign... of the battle of ALL battles to come!
You can tell the heat is turning up in the ME, because there is many things going on. The pieces of the puzzle are drawing to ONE Place...and that's a place that is soo coveted.
GOD'S GIRL!