Middle East Update

GPL M/ EAST UPDATES FROM JAN 18. NO. 149

HAMAS AGREES TO CEASE FIRE :
(IsraelNN.com) Hamas announced Sunday that it has agreed to a cease fire with Israel. Israel had unilaterally declared a cease fire at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Hamas demands that Israel remove its troops from Gaza within one week, open the Gaza border crossings, and “end the siege on Gaza.” Terrorists fired 15 rockets at Israel Sunday January 18 before this announcement.

HAMAS LINKED SCHOLAR TO SPEAK AT OBAMA INAUGURATION :
(IsraelNN.com) A Muslim scholar and president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) will be one of the clerics to deliver a prayer at the National Cathedral as part of the ceremonies the day after Barack Obama’s inauguration. Although against terrorism, Dr. Ingrid Mattson’s ISNA has been linked with a “charitable” group that has funded millions of dollars to the Hamas terrorist organization. A convert to Islam, Dr. Mattson is director of the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.

2008 SET RECORD FOR TOURISM :
(IsraelNN.com) More than three million tourists entered Israel in 2008, eclipsing the record set in 2003 by 13 percent. The numbers were 32 % more than those recorded last year. More than 200,000 came in December, a four percent rise over 2007 figures. USA set a new record as the leading source for incoming tourism with 617,000 on the year, slightly less than the combined total for second place Russia and third place France combined. The Russian figure of 356,000 represents a rise of 84 % over last year. Tourism is a 40-billion shekel industry, according to Treasury figures cited by News 1. The website says 160,000 people owe their jobs to the industry, 90,000 of them directly.

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GPL M/ EAST UPDATES FROM JAN 13.. NO. 148

HAMAS GUNMEN DISGUISING AS IDF TROOPS : By JPOST.COM STAFF AND YAAKOV KATZ

IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. -Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said Tuesday Hamas terrorists were attempting to attack IDF troops while wearing IDF uniforms.

Speaking at the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Ashkenazi also said that the military had identified and demolished many buildings where tunnel exits were located.
Channel 2 reported that one of the tunnels already had an opening on its Israeli side, complete with ladders and staircases, and that its discovery at the last minute had prevented a terror attack. One Palestinian was killed inside the tunnel as it was demolished. “Hamas has been badly hit, in terms of losses in manpower including some top commanders, and also in terms of property, infrastructure, weapons caches and staging areas. ” The IDF’s top general went on to say that Hamas was using the Gaza Strip’s non-combatants as human shields. “In many cases Hamas forcefully prevents civilians from leaving the area. Ashkenazi said there was no doubt Iran was backing Hamas financially and technologically, as well as supplying arms to the terror group. According to IDF estimates, close to 950 Palestinians have been killed since Operation Cast Lead began in late December.

The IDF has determined that close to 450 of those killed were known Hamas operatives. The IDF further believes that among the remaining 500, a significant number are also Hamas operatives. In addition, the IDF believes that there are a number of Hamas fighters buried under rubble throughout northern Gaza. One Armored Brigade officer said that there were many cases when the IDF destroyed tunnels near homes and that the blast then demolished the home that it was connected to even if the distance between the opening of the tunnel and the home was 100 meters.
Since the operation began, 2,310 IAF sorties were made, 1,114 “targets of opportunity” were taken out and 26 targets which were symbols of Hamas rule were destroyed. (Jan 13 2009)

IDF ONLY ONE MILE FROM GAZA CITY CENTRE:
The IDF laid down a heavy bombardment of Hamas targets on the outskirts of Gaza City on Tuesday January 13, just ahead of ground forces pushing deeper into the crowded urban hub of the Gaza Strip, now only one mile from the city center.

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by Graham Bacon
Gaza has four borders. Two of these, to the north and to the east, face Israel and it is from these that Hamas fire rockets on Israel. The western sea coast is the third border and the fourth faces Sinai in the south. Israel returned the Sinai to Egypt after the desert wars. It is Egyptian controlled territory. Egypt is playing a double game on this border and will suffer for it.

The 8000 rockets that Hamas fired into Israel from Gaza, since the end of the 2007 ceasefire, are mostly simple, short range ones, endangering some 60,000 Israelis, and are manufactured in Gaza. Lately, however, longer range rockets, fully imported into Gaza, have hit larger towns putting 200,000 Israeli citizens at risk. From where do the materials to make rockets come from? And from where do fully imported rockets come? No prize for guessing.

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GPL M/ EAST UPDATES FROM JAN 13.. NO. 147

HAMAS CONFISCATES DONATIONS OF FLOUR: (Coordinator of Gov Activities in the Territories)
Hamas is confiscating food donations sent into Gaza. Reports point in particular to the confiscation of flour and its sale, often at outrageous prices. On Sunday, in a Hamas Internet forum, surfers complained about the confiscations of flour donations in Dir-al-Balech by Hamas. There is also a description of how Hamas transfers the donations to its own warehouses and distributes them to only two bakeries - Albana Bakery and Al-Tzalah Union Bakery - both belonging to Hamas.

ISRAEL SAYS HAMAS LEADERS HIDE IN FOREIGN MISSIONS: Reuters
“The leaders of Hamas and the armed wing are hiding in bunkers, hospitals and foreign (diplomatic) missions,” Israeli Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel said Sunday, based on an intelligence briefing. But Hamas officials reject Israeli insinuations that their behavior is cowardly. Hamas parliamentarian Mushir al-Masri said on Sunday: “Martyrdom is our dearest wish, but God has ordered us not to pose ourselves as easy prey for our enemies.” !! Public Security Minister and former Israel Security Agency head Avi Dichter said Monday that on Jan. 10, those Hamas commanders who could move around made their way to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to receive their salaries. Amir Mizroch (Jerusalem Post)

THE NGO FRONT IN THE GAZA WAR: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: (NGO Monitor)
From the beginning of Israel’s military operation in Gaza on Dec. 27 to Jan. 11, more than 35 NGOs claiming to promote human rights and humanitarian agendas have issued more than 175 statements on the fighting, and the number increases continuously.

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Click on link to download pdf version: Present Day Events No 470

by Graham Bacon

Gaza has to go - disappear - become part of Israel - according to the Bible prophet Obadiah. But is this present Israeli incursion into Gaza the end of the Palestinians about which Obadiah writes?

Probably not. At least that is what this writer thinks at the present moment.

Obadiah occupies just one page of an 840 page Bible. It is a short, blunt message. From thousands of years ago the Arab neighbours of Israel have caused nothing but trouble and violence and, in the latter days, this will be the reason why the Palestinians will be totally removed., “For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you and you shall be cut off forever” [Oba 1:10] .These words are written in the Christian’s Bible….. We did not make them up They are a prophecy against the ‘brother’ of Jacob (Israel), and who is that ? Esau the Arab.

It gets worse. “No survivor shall remain of the House of Esau” [ancient name for the Palestinians] [Oba 1:18]. And yet more detail. “…the Lowland [coastal Israelis] shall possess Philistia” [ancient name for Gaza] [Oba 1:19]. The remainder of verses 19 to 21 list the remaining four locations around Israel’s borders from which the Palestinians are eliminated.

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Swarms of locusts over Gaza By YAAKOV KATZ

The screen shows what look like two swarms of green locusts over the Mediterranean Sea, approaching the Gaza Strip.

These are not locusts, though, but more than 50 Israel Air Force fighter jets that participated last Saturday in the unprecedented and astonishing air strike that was the opening act for Operation Cast Lead against Hamas.

The entire attack, during which 50 Hamas targets were hit, took exactly three minutes and 40 seconds.

Each green dot on the screen represents four fighter jets which fly in formation. Each swarm has several “foursomes” and was led by a veteran pilot who, like a conductor in an orchestra, needed to ensure that all of the aircraft carried out their missions in complete synchronization.

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BIBLE PROPHECY PROVES THE BIBLE TRUE (Part 5)
PROPHECIES TO DAVID :

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ………………..” 2 Samuel 7-12.

Since creation the Father has been selecting people through whom his purpose to fill the earth with his glory (Hab. 2-14), might be fulfilled. For this purpose he created Adam, selected Noah and Abraham (Gen 6-9.Gal. 3-6), and selected David from 7 others (1 Sam 16-12/13). David, the shepherd of the sheep, was described as no other man had been previously described, “a man after mine own heart which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13-22)

Amongst the final words of David, “the anointed of the God of Jacob” (2 Sam.23-1), are the following. “Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure”. Thus we have David’s assurance spoken 3,000 years ago, that the Father had made a sure covenant with him, promising certain things to him, which would eventually come to pass.
One of those things promised to David was that one of his descendents would rule over the House of Israel and would build the ‘house’ (Temple) where the God of Israel would dwell. That immediate descendent was Solomon, who indeed became the richest and most wise King over the extended nation of Israel. Not only so, he built the wonderful Temple on Zion’s mount with the vast array of materials, including gold, silver, brass and iron, accumulated by his father David.
AGAIN BIBLE PROPHECY PROVES THE BIBLE TRUE.

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PRESENT DAY EVENTS AND THEIR MEANING FROM THE BIBLE

DECEMBER 2008 TO FEBRUARY, 2009 ISSUE No. 470

End of The Era of Empire USA…Start of a New Order
In years to come the beginning of 2009 will be regarded as the end of an era, both from a political perspective and from a Bible prophecy point of view, and the beginning of a changed world. Three major events within a few months have already changed the way the world works and all three are related to Bible indications. They are 1.) a world financial crash; 2.) a new and different USA president and 3.) the collapse of the Israeli government.
The USA is approaching the end of superpower status. America won’t be able to afford it anymore and its world policeman role has been a disaster. The 1929 Great Depression was the end of Britain’s empire. The 2008 re(de?)pression will signal the end of Empire USA. The whole world will suffer with the USA most affected. The policies of the new US president elect Barack Obama, [Barak is a common Biblical name], is to reduce the world profile of the USA, end the Iraqi war and curtail spending. One large recipient of billions of dollars per year is Israel. It is these factors that directly relate to Bible prophecy.
“Jacob shall return…[but] there is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you” Jeremiah 30:10-14. The return of Israel in 1948 is here connected with its eventual abandonment by its supporters but with the promise of final peace. The main long term supporter of Israel has been the USA but the forecast here is that there is no one.
Right now Israel itself is at a crisis point. It has collapsed because, not only has it shown itself to be inept, having almost lost last year’s war in Lebanon, but it is the most corrupt Israeli government in modern times. Early elections are to be held next February.

AN UNDERSTANDABLE MISTAKE
Hamas Cleric: “Annihilation of Jews Is the Most Splendid Blessing” 1.11.08
Palestinian cleric Muhsen Abu ‘Ita told Al-Aqsa TV on July 13, 2008: “The annihilation of the Jews here in Palestine is one of the most splendid blessings for Palestine. This will be followed by a greater blessing, Allah be praised, with the establishment of a Caliphate.” (Reported by MEMRI)
In usual circumstances a normal assessment of Israel’s position, surrounded by its Arab enemies, would be one of hopelessness. But Israel has God’s guarantee of eternity.

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A CLOSER LOOK AT MICAH 5 - Graham Bacon

We have written about Micah 5:1-6 a number of times in different contexts. These verses, to us, describe an attempted invasion of Israel by Iraq, as the latter day Assyrian, at an interval after the return of Jesus Christ. At the time of this writing, the coalition forces led by the USA are planning a phased withdrawal from Iraq, leaving that country in the hands of highly unstable, volatile, aggressive Arabs, capable of anything, and particularly of an attack on Israel. The potential invasion of Israel, as depicted in Micah 5 is absolutely believable.

The prophet discloses that the invasion establishes a foothold in Israel, “…when the Assyrian comes into our land and when he treads in our palaces…” v.5 and in v.6, “…when he treads within our borders.” But this achievement is short-lived because “…we shall raise against him seven shepherds and eight princely men [warriors] and they shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria and the land of Nimrod [north Iraq] at its entrances.” Thus the invasion is turned on its head with the future Iraq subjected to the reign of Jesus from Jerusalem.

The rest of the chapter, with which we have not previously dealt in detail, provides brief glimpses of the benefits that the world will enjoy by the continued existence of the Jews - benefits of which the world would have been deprived if the Iraqi invasion of Israel would have had succeeded. In addition it describes the dire consequences upon nations that challenge Jesus and the Jews in the Holy Land.

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