TEL AVIV – Israel's security cabinet, composed of the country's top ministers, today held what was deemed a "very sensitive" closed-door meeting to plan for the possibility of war with Syria.

Ministers were asked to leave their cell phones outside to prevent the possibility of leaks. In attendance were Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman and nine top lawmakers. It was the sixth such security cabinet meeting in recent weeks.

According to security officials, the ministers were briefed on recent Syrian military movements and Damascus' acquisition of missiles and rockets capable of hitting civilian population centers, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The ministers were told Syria recently stepped up the pace of its own rocket production and moved some rockets close to the Israeli border.

The ministers were briefed on possible war scenarios, Israeli military options for countering any Syrian attack and the readiness of Israel's home front, including bomb shelters and anti-missile systems, security sources said.

Israeli security officials on Monday warned citizens traveling in Egypt, Jordan and other Muslim countries to leave immediately due to a "concrete and severe" threat of terror attacks.

Russian Admiral Vladimir Masorin has stated that the Russian navy is seeking a permanent presence in the Mediterranean Sea, during a visit to a naval base in the Black Sea. Masorin believes that Mediterranean is of strategic importance to Russia, being located close to the Black Sea.  

Quote: ""The Mediterranean Sea is very important strategically for the Black Sea fleet," Masorin said during a visit to the base of Russia's Black Sea fleet in the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol. "I propose that, with the involvement of the Northern and Baltic fleets, the Russian Navy should restore its permanent presence there," Masorin said, Interfax reported. Masorin did not say where Russian ships would be based in the Mediterranean Sea, where Russia has no coast.

Just recently Russia has also sought to increase its presence at the North Pole, sending two submarines to plant a flag 4200 metres under the ice. Russia's spurious claim to the polar region will cause conflict with states that have territory within the Arctic Circle, and is likely to upset others who will see this as an attempt by Russia to secure the North Pole's vast gas and oil resources for itself. 

Quote: "Russia wants to extend right up to the North Pole the territory it controls in the Arctic, believed to hold vast reserves of untapped oil and natural gas, which is expected to become more accessible as climate change melts the ice. President Vladimir Putin congratulated the expedition by telephone on "the outstanding scientific project," local agencies reported. Boris Gryzlov, who heads the State Duma lower chamber of parliament and the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, hailed the expedition as "a new stage of developing Russia's polar riches". "This is fully in line with Russia's strategic interests," local media quoted him as saying. "I am proud our country remains the leader in conquering the Arctic."

Russia's "strategic interests" are of course bringing it into direct conflict with the state of Israel. Not only has Russia helped build Iran's nuclear facilities, it has provided the nation with anti-aircraft missiles to defend them, and is now considering selling Iran long-range jets to protect its airspace. In co-operation with Syria, Russia is already planning to build its first naval base in the Mediterranean since the collapse of the Soviet Union. And today the Russian Admiral wants a fleet of Russian ships permanently stationed in the waters opposite Israel. So where is this all leading? The Bible seems to indicate that Russia, along with her Islamic allies, will be brought against the nation of Israel in the latter days. During a time when Israel is at rest, an unexpected Arab invasion of Israel prompts Russia to move into the Middle East. At first it seems Russia's role in this war is to act as a guard to the Arab states, which according to Ezekiel 38:5-6, include Iran, Sudan, Libya and Turkey.

Ezekiel 38:7 
Be thou (Gog) prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.

Ezekiel 38:9-12
Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time (as the Arab invasion) shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, 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, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.

Russia is located geographically above the state of Israel, yet Ezekiel prophesies that the Russian hordes shall "ascend" and come like a "storm" and a "cloud" to cover the land. The word for a "storm" in the Hebrew is a "tempest" or to "rush over", and the word for "cloud" is a "nimbus" or "thunder cloud". It is thought that this passage describes a massive air-armada, that will act as a guard for Arab states fighting against Israel. But during the Arab invasion of Israel, an evil thought comes into the Russian leader's mind. Instead of acting as a guard to Arab troops, Russia moves against Israel itself to take a spoil. This act is protested by Saudi Arabia and a few other states, Saudi being a major oil exporter in the Middle East and the other states being merchants in the Mediterranean. The Bible states that Gog's invasion of Israel will result God's fury coming up in His face. The rest of the passage describes the Divine destruction of 5/6ths of the invasion force, along with the possible use of nuclear weapons or long-range missiles.

Ezekiel 38:18
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;. 

Source Reuters, Reuters

Quote: "Israel is looking into reports that Russia plans to sell 250 advanced long-range Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to Iran in an unprecedented billion-dollar deal. According to reports, in addition to the fighter jets, Teheran also plans to purchase a number of aerial fuel tankers that are compatible with the Sukhoi and capable of extending its range by thousands of kilometers. Defense officials said the Sukhoi sale would grant Iran long-range offensive capabilities.

Iran also recently acquired advanced Russian anti-aircraft technology to help protect its nuclear installations from an Israeli or US strike. Russia was criticized for pressing ahead with the deal despite concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions. If these new reports prove true, it will likely fuel fears of a new conflict in the region, one that could see Israel becoming a direct target. The Bible states that the war of Ezekiel 38-39 comes at a time when Israel is at rest (not necessarily at "peace"). The most likely time for a Russian-Arab invasion of Israel would then be following a long-term Israeli-Palestinian truce, or following the Antichrist's covenant with many. And this is exactly how the Palestinian terrorist organizations have stated they plan to destroy Israel. Although the war of Ezekiel 38-39 may not come just yet, it's easy to see how preparations are being made, and the Scriptures have once again demonstrated that they can be trusted implicitly, when it comes to matters of faith, historical and future events.

Source Chicago Tribune, Jerusalem Post