Monday, June 27, 2011

Tensions Increasing in the Middle East

There are several articles out this afternoon which reveal increasing tensions in the Middle East:

IDF fears flotilla activists plan to use chemical weapons

IDF sources said Monday night that new intelligence information obtained in recent days shows that participants of the flotilla planning to break Israel’s sea blockade over the Gaza Strip later this week plan to kill IDF soldiers who board their ships.

According to the information obtained by the IDF, some of the participants have prepared sacks with sulfur, which they plan to pour on the soldiers as they board the vessels.

“This is a chemical weapon, and if poured on a soldier it can paralyze him,” an IDF source told The Jerusalem Post Monday night. “If the sulfur is then lit on fire, the soldier will light up like a torch.”

The information was obtained from closed meetings held by participants on the ships during which some voiced their intention to “murder Israeli soldiers,” according to the IDF.

Also, despite earlier predictions that members of the Turkish organization IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation would not participate in the flotilla, it now appears that some members will sail with the ships alongside other radical Islamic activists.


We've already looked at the fact that there is no "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza, (see here), and we know that supplies can easily be sent into Gaza in an organized, legal manner. A "flotilla" is completely unnecessary if that is the true intent. So obviously this flotilla has nothing to do with any kind of "humanitarian relief", let there be no mistake about that.

Also see:

IDF fears flotilla activists will try to kill soldiers

It has recently been estimated that only eight ships will take part in the sail, instead of 15. Some 500 activists are expected to board the vessels, half the original estimated number. They will include several prominent Hamas members such as Amin Abu Rashad, who heads a charity in Holland and Mohammed Ahmed Hanoun.

She added there were other ways to transfer supplies to Gaza, stating that the mechanism created by Egypt and Israel was sufficient for such efforts.


And this:

Israel fears Gaza flotilla activists may try to kill IDF soldiers

The senior officials also said that Israel had been notified that several extremists among the Gaza flotilla participants had recently claimed that they intend on “shedding the blood of IDF soldiers.”

Moreover, despite earlier reports, it seems that activists from the Turkish organization IHH, which was involved in the deadly IDF raid on the Mavi Marmara in last year’s Gaza flotilla, will be joining several of the ships sailing for Gaza as part of the flotilla.


While this is close to happening (later this week), we also see these stories developing:

Palestinians reveal plan to drum up support ahead of statehood bid

Palestinian delegations will make the rounds of nearly a dozen countries to try to drum up more support for their bid to have the United Nations recognize a Palestinian state, senior officials said Monday.

Palestinian officials will visit Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several other countries that have not yet endorsed the Palestinian plan for recognition, said Hana Amireh, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's decision-making Executive Committee.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' foreign minister said all Palestinian ambassadors would meet in Madrid in early July to discuss how to approach all-important European Union member states, whose support would be crucial to giving the plan diplomatic heft.


And of course, any stories regarding tension increasing in the Middle East wouldn't be complete without Iran in the picture

Iran reveals underground ballistic missile silos

Iran unveiled underground ballistic missile silos for the first time on Monday in a warning to the world of its ability to protect its missiles and secretly store them in hidden locations throughout the country.

State TV broadcast footage of several military officers touring an underground silo that was holding a Shahab 3 ballistic missile. The missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers, putting Israel within its reach, but is powered by liquid fuel, which means that it requires more considerable preparation immediately before launch than a solid rocket.

The unveiling of underground missile silos was confirmation of Israeli and American warnings in recent years that Iran was dispersing its missiles in silos, likely scattered throughout the country.

“The silos look fairly sophisticated and by unveiling them, the Iranians are trying to show the world that their missiles are protected even if the country is attacked,” Inbar said. He added that other countries with missile silos used them strictly for missiles equipped with nuclear warheads and not for conventional ballistic missiles.


Iran unveils underground silos with missiles capable of reaching Israel

Iran on Monday unveiled underground silos that can carry missiles capable of hitting Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf as it kicked off 10 days of war games, the country's latest show of military force amid a standoff with the West over its disputed nuclear program.

State TV broadcast footage of deep underground silos, claiming that medium- and long-range missiles stored in them are ready to launch in case of an attack on Iran. The silos are widely viewed as a strategic asset for Iran in the event of a U.S. or Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities.


And more trouble from Israel's north (as the anti-Israeli coalition grows stronger by the day):

Lebanon has a radical new government. It gives Assad his second front

After five months of political stagnation, Lebanon has a new government headed by Najib Mikati, ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hizballah. Formed suddenly on June 13, the 30-minister lineup has awarded an unprecedented number of portfolios – 18, including defense interior – to Hizballah loyalists and pro-Syrian politicians.

The breakthrough was directly spawned by the Syrian uprising: The Shiite Hizballah capitalized on neighboring unrest to grab its largest slice of government ever.

Lebanon's first pro-Syrian defense minister can bend the Lebanese army to the will of Damascus and the pro-Iranian HizballIah.

The pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian government installed now in Beirut is a major shot in the arm for the radical Iranian-Syrian-Hizballah alliance


It is all coming together exactly as we would predict - the coalitions, the military build-up, the war preparations, the anti-Israeli rhetoric and a weakened U.S. who most likely will abandon Israel in their time of need. We're watching the preparations for the final battles consolidating before our very eyes.

9 comments:

Mrs. C said...

This is amazing, and a privilege to witness! Gods Word is so True! While for decades we've been down the ME rollercoaster, it is so very different this time. It feels inevitable, solidified by Him.
Many times in the past, God has taken it to a certain point, then slammed on the breaks.
This time, it appears there is no way to stop...too many potential events colliding all at the same time.
Never fully jumped on the "this is it" bandwagon before :) as there was wiggle room. Example some of the nations surrounding Israel were a little bit moderate still. But now, He has changed the governments, and solidified the pure hatred in their hearts towards Israel...His People.
obummer was another game changer...with his obvious disdain for Israel and the Jewish People...no wonder Israel will fight a multiple fronted war without any allies, and no way of re-supplying...with all of this and much more...this time...this time I see no way of turning back...but then I am just His Child as we all are...its His Timing...His Purpose and we know it will be fulfilled! His Word does not return void!
All Praise and Glory be to you Father forever!

Scott said...

I have been getting that same feeling, MrsC...There is a certain momentum - and the 'uprisings" (really the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the region) - coupled with the turmoil everywhere else - its like the region is hanging by a thread....And I am starting to believe the rumors that Syria, in an act of desperation, could actually precipitate some kind of invasion of Israel, whether through proxy (Lebanon-Hizbollah) or themselves...We shall see.

Mrs. C said...

Yes Scott, somethings in the works this time...lets look to Gods Word regarding Syria :)
We know that Isaiah 17 is up next.
It is Gods narration of the events. In the first three Verses, God from a narrative position, describes to us what initially happens. His Word tells us that it is His People that are participating in the conflicts, not Him, and initially they are partially successful.
1) Something happens that provokes Israel, or they act preemptively, and destroy Damascus - in one day!
As God describes this as His Peoples acts, not His, this tells me that Israel uses a nuke.
2) Israel continues, and takes down Jordan successfully, enough to partially reclaim that land.
3) Israel continues and takes down the West Bank. Then the second portion of Vs.3, Isaiah describes the Syrians being taken prisoner by the Israelis.
After these this, Gods Word tells us "devastation" to His People. He even tells us why he allows them to barely survive. It is only when His People are about to be completely wiped out, that He tells us, He steps in.
When He "rebukes" the evil nations surrounding Israel, we know that Lebanon is one of them.
This is when the fulfillment of Ezekiel 25-32 Judgments occurs.
It is amazing regarding Lebanon. God devotes 3 Chapters to their Judgment. Vs. 7-8 - Sounds amazingly like Hezbollah...
Ezekiel 28:7-8
7.Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.

8.They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.

Lebanon will end up under water, never to be found again...
Ezekiel 26:19-21
19.For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;

20.When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;

21.I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.

Scott said...

Agree withe the above...

I have always felt that Syria will use Chemical weapons, and we know that Israel views this the same as nukes...I believe the chemical weapons cause the desolation seen in various parts of Isa 17, particularly the references to northern Israel...(I could also see evacuations etc occurring as a result of chemical weapons from Syria) - and that leading to the destruction of damascus.

Just my 2 cents./.

We may be close to that initial "triggering point" now....

Anonymous said...

I have been waiting for the "right" moment to try and reach my estranged daughter (the one who is with a black muslim, Louie Farakhan's crew) the one who has been forcing my eldest grandson (who is 11 years old) to convert to Islam against his will. Oh how he loves Jesus and I pray he can hold out just a little longer til the shout!
The time has come for the letter to be written. I am not sure what to say but hs will provide the words.
I am not date setting but I will be mildly surprised if we are here after the autumn. The next few weeks are going to be unbelievable across the earth. I'm pretty sure we are on the slide towards home plate, kicking up a cloud of dust on our way! I wouldn't be surprised to see some of Ezekiel fullfilled in the next few weeks.
If there is anyone special you haven't been able to reach, now is the time friends to risk it all and go for broke. My heart weeps for this broken world! ally

Scott said...

Hope you are right Ally - I'm ready to see my new home!

Anonymous said...

Me too Scott, me too! I am very weary but Jesus strenghthens me!

Anonymous said...

I'm ready to meet you all with open arms and give some Great-Big Hugs and exhale with a smile :). Mrs C has such a good point as to how lucky we are to be born to see this story to completion on our part of the journey. I also feel so touched and blessed that in my last days it is being spent with such loving brothers and sisters here in Christ. I can't wait for my family to meet you all too. Thank you for making a very exciting and scary part of my life very peaceful and better educated because of you all!

God Bless!!

GG

Scott said...

GG - I agree wholeheartedly. I often thank God that he has allowed us to be able to see these events through the lens of prophecy.