Israeli ministers have expressed concern over the current situation in Lebanon, as the conflict between Hizbullah and the Lebanese government enters its fourth day. So far around 40 people have been killed in the clashes, and although the army has restored order in the capital, fighting has now broken out in other parts of the country. A few weeks ago Druze leader Walid Jumblatt claimed that Hizbullah was planning an attack on the airport, after discovering the terrorist organization had installed cameras to monitor the area. The Lebanese government then moved to outlaw the Hizbullah communications network and deposed the Hizbullah chief of security from the airport. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah warned the government not to touch the communications network, and called for acts of civil disobedience from supporters to protest the action. These turned violent and clashes erupted between government forces and the Hizbullah supporters. So far no other country has become involved in the conflict, despite a large European presence in the south of the country. Israeli ministers are concerned that the situation could deteriorate into a full-scale civil war, and the possibility that a second terrorist state may be formed on Israel's borders.

Quote: "Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit said Israel should not yet take any action, but warned that things could change if Hizbullah takes over Lebanon. "I think it's very dangerous, the (possible) situation in which Iran is in fact sitting on our border, and controlling Lebanon," Sheetrit said. "It's really dangerous in the long term because now its plain to everyone that ... Hizbullah is just the long arm of Iran and that's the way we should relate to it."

The last time war broke out between Hizbullah and Israel, the terrorist organization possessed around 12,000 Iranian-made Katyusha rockets. At the height of the conflict around 120 rockets were landing in Israel on a daily basis. The Second Lebanon War did bring Hizbullah to its knees, and Hizbullah fighters have admitted that if Israel had been permitted to continue to war even another few days, they would have been finished. But the UN intervened and brought about a ceasefire, allowing the terrorist organization to regroup and rearm. Today Hizbullah claims to possess over 40,000 missiles and has the capability of striking anywhere within Israel. Should Lebanon fall in a similar manner to that of Gaza, there is no doubt Israel will be the one left to deal with the aftermath.

The Bible states that near the end of the tribulation period, the armies of the world will gather together in the valley of Megiddo, in preparation for the last battle. Megiddo lies south of the Lebanese border, and just north of the territory that has become known as the West Bank. Here is a photograph I took of the valley from our bus during my trip to Israel. As you can see the land is very flat compared to the general topography of Israel, and so is the ideal place for gathering troops and equipment for use in a future Middle East war.

Revelation 16:16
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

The nations will be gathered together in this valley to do battle against Jerusalem. But as the Lord and the armies of heaven burst the clouds above Jerusalem, Satan will persuade the kings of the earth to turn against the Lord instead (Revelation 19:19). Just imagine the armies of the world pitted against the hosts of heaven, or more to the point, against God Himself. What wickedness in the heart of man to even contemplate undertaking such a thing. And what a futile endeavour. Praise God that Jesus Christ will return to redeem His people, and to utterly destroy those who come against Jerusalem. But where will you stand on that day? Will you be safe with the Lord? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source Jerusalem Post

Israeli defence officials believe that Iran may be as little as six months away from perfecting the Uranium enrichment process, which will pave the way for the development of nuclear weapons. According to new intelligence information obtained by Israel, if Iran is allowed to proceed in the development of its nuclear programme, it could have accumulated enough Uranium to build a nuclear device next year. One source quoted in the London Sunday Times reported that the new intelligence on Iran is similar in quality to that which led to the bombing of the Syrian reactor at the close of last year. That information was only recently published by the United States. It is believed that the new Israeli intelligence will prompt the United States to revise its National Intelligence Estimate, which recently reported that Iran had halted its nuclear programme in 2003. Last month Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton warned that the US could "obliterate" Iran if President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were to ordr a nuclear attack on Israel.

Quote: "Iran, a senior defense official said on Tuesday, had encountered numerous technical obstacles on its way to enriching uranium but was now on track to master the technology needed to enrich uranium within six months. Israel is also concerned that Teheran is developing a cruise missile that can evade interception by the Arrow, the IDF's anti-ballistic missile defense system. Iran is suspected of having smuggled Ukrainian X-55 cruise missiles and using them as models for an independent, domestic project. A cruise missile, which flies at low altitudes to dodge radar detection and interception, could be used to carry a nuclear warhead.

As we can see, the fulfilment of Ezekiel 38-39 is drawing near. For while the international community talks about a Middle East peace agreement by the end of this year, the former kingdom of Persia is actively preparing itself for war with the Jewish state. The Bible states that the invasion of Israel will come at a time when the Jewish people are at rest. For Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, says in his heart, "I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates", Ezekiel 38:11. Today the international community is trying its best to convince Israel to remove some of those bars and gates. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said today that there is nothing in the world that is capable of ending or undermining the existance of the state of Israel. Unfortunately Israeli leaders believe the nation's defence lies in the acquisition of strategic territory and the development of its advanced military capability. Praise the Lord that Israel's survival does not depend on these things, for if they did, Israel would have been wiped off the map 60 years ago. Israel's survival stands on the promises of a God who cannot lie (Jeremiah 31:35-36, Titus 1:2). And praise God that those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation can enjoy the same security. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation? Have you had your sins forgiven? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 10:27-29
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Source Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post, Reuters, Kansas City, YNet News

Former US President Jimmy Carter met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Syria yesterday, in hope of negotiating a cease fire between Israel and the terrorist organization. And while the Hamas leadership was talking of peace with Carter, they were giving the green light for their operatives to launch the most ambitious attack on Israeli forces since their withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. The attack came on the eve of one of Israel's holiest days, the Feast of Passover, and was designed to cause maximum carnage. Under the cover of heavy fog, two armoured vehicles approached the Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern end of the Gaza Strip. One was laden with explosives, and detonated close to a group of Israeli soldiers who were manning the crossing. The second vehicle did not detonate. After the initial attack, Hamas terrorists in a third vehicle began to approach the crossing, opening fire on the soldiers while another cell provided cover with rocket and mortar fire. The occupants of this vehicle were subsequently killed in a shootout with Israeli forces. Then a fourth armoured vehicle began to approach the crossing, and this was taken out by an Israeli airstrike before it could reach the border.

Quote: "Defense officials have said the attack was probably the result of months of planning, and its perpetrators probably aimed to kill as many soldiers as possible as well as abduct others. The soldiers' readiness and quick response prevented a much deadlier attack on the eve of Pessah, they said. "This is an escalation that could be dangerous if we do not stop it," a high-ranking official told Channel 10 News after the attack. "In this case, the incident ended with a relatively low number of casualties, compared to what [Hamas] had planned, but it should raise a red flag over our operations in the area." He added that the IDF "must investigate how the gunmen managed to gather so much intelligence [in preparation for the attack] without the IDF knowing about it." 

Ironically, Carter is in Syria trying to negotiate an end to the Israeli 'blockade' of Gaza, while Palestinian terrorists are attacking the very crossings that are keeping their people alive. This incident reminds me of when another US President visited my own country. Bill Clinton was President at the time, and he came to Northern Ireland to try and encourage progress in the peace process. While he was shaking Gerry Adams' hand for the cameras, the IRA was planning the Canary Wharf bombing, which occurred just a short time later and officially ended the Republican ceasefire. It was sickening. Even though we have a measure of peace now, there is still no justice in this country. The Bible states that those who rule over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God (2nd Samuel 23:3). Real peace only comes through righteousness and justice. Righteousness, when the law is upheld by the people. And justice, when those who break the law are held to account. We are law all breakers, for we have all broken God's commandments. The Bible has declared that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God", Romans 3:23. As a result we must face God's justice. God would not be a righteous God if He let our sins go unpunished. You would not like to see a criminal be set free after being found guilty of committing a terrible crime. Yet you want to be set free after having committed sins against God? Our sins demand that we must die. The Bible says "the wages of sin is death", Romans 6:23. But Jesus Christ, who is righteous and was the only Person that ever lived and kept God's law to perfection, was punished by God for sin. But not for His own, for He had none. He was punished for our sin. And through His sacrifice on the cross, all who believe on Him for the forgiveness of sins can receive His righteousness, and be set free from the penalty of sin. Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today. He took your place, and died for you.

Matthew 27:21-26
The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.     

Source  Jerusalem Post

AFP