February 28, 2007

Present-day Sanhedrin court seeks to revive ancient Temple rituals (February 2 8, 2007) - The present-day Sanhedrin Court decided Tuesday to purchase a herd of sheep for ritual sacrifice at the site of the Temple on the eve of Passover, conditions on the Temple Mount permitting. The modern Sanhedrin was established several years ago and is headed by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. It claims to be renewing the ancient Jewish high court, which existed until roughly 1600 years ago, and meets once a week. Professor Hillel Weiss, a member of the Sanhedrin, told Haaretz on Tuesday that the action, even if merely symbolic, is designed to demonstrate in a way that is obvious to all that the expectation of Temple rituals will resume is real, and not just talk. Several years ago, a number of members of the various Temple movements performed a symbolic sacrifice on Givat Hananya, which overlooks the Temple Mount from Jerusalem's Abu Tur neighborhood. During the ceremony, participants sacrificed a young goat that was donated by a resident of Tekoa. The participants also built a special two-meter tall oven, in accordance with halakha (Jewish law). The Passover sacrifice is considered a simple ceremony, relative to other works performed in the Temple. On Wednesday, the Sanhedrin will hold its main conference, entitled "Existential threats and ways to correct them." Rabbi Menachem Froman, far-right activist Moshe Feiglin, and Nativ editor Arieh Stav will participate in the conference. The guest of honor will be Makor Rishon publisher Shlomo Ben-Zvi. | Israel | Temple Mount | I think this is a sign of the times. I believe that this is the kind of attitude that will blossom and be backed by all of Israel after the Gog/Magog invasion is stopped by God. Can you imagine their desire to return to the ways of their fathers acknowledging God as a nation once again? It's the next step in prophecy after the peace that is developing right now!
New York: Targeted By Tehran? Newsweek (March 5, 2007 edition) - Increasing tensions between Washington and Tehran have revived New York Police Department concerns that Iranian agents may already have targeted the city for terror attacks. Such attacks could be aimed at bridges and tunnels, Jewish organizations and Wall Street, NYPD briefers told security execs last fall, according to a person with access to the briefing materials who asked for anonymity because of the sensitive subject matter. NYPD officials have worried about possible Iranian-sponsored attacks since a series of incidents involving officials of the Iranian Mission to the United Nations. In November 2003, Ahmad Safari and Alireaza Safi, described as Iranian Mission "security" personnel, were detained by transit cops when they were seen videotaping subway tracks from Queens to Manhattan at 1:10 in the morning. The men later left New York. "We're concerned that Iranian agents were engaged in reconnaissance that might be used in an attack against New York City at some future date," Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly told NEWSWEEK. A spokesman for the Iranian Mission in New York said he was aware of the allegations but had no immediate comment. | Iran | America |
First Shots in a War on Fundamentalism? Herb L. Peters (February 27, 2007) - This is a PDF document on the Alliance of Civilizations from November 2005. You can read the whole document from the link, but I just wanted to post a little excerpt of one of the goals: "To counter the influence of those who feed on exclusion and claim sole ownership of the truth." | EU/UN | NewWorldOrder | John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." You can bet that Christianity will fall under the goals of groups to counter the influence of Christ in the world. I wonder who is behind it?
Man Invents Machine To Cure Cancer (February 27, 2007) - A Florida man with no medical training has invented a machine that he believes may lead to a cure for cancer. John Kanzius, who turns 63 on March 1, is a former broadcasting executive from Pennsylvania who wondered if his background in physics and radio could come in handy in treating the disease from which he suffers himself. Inside his Sanibel Island garage, Kanzius invented a machine he believes sits on the brink of a major medical breakthrough. The machine began to take shape four years ago, when his dreams of retirement were put on hold after he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, he told West Palm Beach television station WPBF. Kanzius' invention is not flashy, and it looks like a piece of 20th-century hardware. It doesn't even have a name. "It's a kick-ass cancer cell generator," Kanzius said. After 24 rounds of chemotherapy, the former broadcaster decided that he did not want to see others suffer trying to cure the disease. Kanzius said it was watching kids being treated that affected him the most. "Particularly young children walk in with smiles, and then you'd see them three weeks later and their smiles had disappeared. I said to myself, 'We're in a barbaric type of medicine,'" Kanzius told WPBF. He began tinkering with pie plates and hot dogs, trying to use his broadcasting background to kill the cancerous cells. Kanzius said his machine basically makes cells act like antennae to pick up a signal and self-destruct. Unlike current cancer treatment, Kanzius' machine does not use radiation. Unlike today's radio-frequency treatments, it's noninvasive. Now, some of the nation's most prominent doctors and scientists are using Kanzius' machines in their research. In January, researchers said they performed a breakthrough at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "The complete killing of pancreatic cells in laboratory conditions is encouraging," Dr. Steve Curley said. Curley is currently testing whether cancerous tumors can be wiped out in animals. "We've got a lot more work to do, but this is very interesting preliminary work," Curley told WPBF. Kanzius explained that his machine uses a solution filled with nanoparticles, which measure no more than one-billionth of a meter. A test subject would be injected with either gold or carbon nanoparticles, which would make their way through the body and attach to the cancerous cells. The test subject would then enter the machine and receive a dose of radio frequency waves, theoretically heating and killing the cancerous cells in moments and leaving nearby cells untouched. "That is the holy grail ... Research has shown that they're able to kill them once they attach to the cancer cells," Kanzius said. Kanzius said he hopes to begin human testing with his machine within the next two years. "The results look too phenomenal for anyone to stop at this point in time. I don't think the largest research center in the world would put time and effort and their name on a project if they did not think it would work," Kanzius told WPBF. Kanzius told WPBF he does not want to try and build up false hope, but he mentioned that there could be some major announcements coming from researchers in the next coming months. more... | Technology |
Russia Moves in Support of Syria, Iran, Hamas-led PA (February 27, 2007) - Russia’s announcement Tuesday [February 27] that it would work to promote international support for the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority [PA], its intention to supply missiles to Syria, and its opposition to sanctions against Iran present a worrying trend for Israel. Russian officials said that the agreement reached between the leaders of Hamas and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen] to incorporate the latter’s Fatah terrorist organization in the PA governing coalition is sufficient cause to end the international boycott of the PA. The Western nations imposed the financial boycott of the PA in January of last year, when the Islamic fundamentalist Hamas organization swept the majority of the seats in the PA parliament in a landslide election victory.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the agreement reached in Mecca earlier this month between Fatah and Hamas shows “wisdom, reason, and responsibility before the Palestinian people.” He made the statement prior to meeting with Damascus-based Hamas politburo chief Kahled Mashaal. The agreement has not yet been implemented. “We are pushing for all members of the international community to support this process and make it irreversible, including efforts to lift the blockade,” Lavrov added. Speaking to Russian reporters on Tuesday, Mashaal reiterated the Hamas position that it does not recognize the State of Israel, saying, “First of all, Israel should stop the occupation of Palestine territories and put an end to the suffering of Palestinians.” The Hamas charter, as well as all of its official statements and documents, defines all of Israel, in both its pre- and post-1967 borders, as “occupied Palestine.” The Russian move toward funding the Hamas regime found an echo in a report issued by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which suggested that the Western-led economic boycott of the PA must be lifted in order to fight poverty in the Gaza area. more... | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Islam |
CNN, BBC 24 Reports Conclusively Prove Media Prior Knowledge and False-Start Scripting of Building 7 Controlled Demolition (February 27, 2007) - It has now been discovered that BBC 24 also reported the Building 7 collapse before it fell. Furthermore, CNN’s Aaron Brown reported that Building 7 "has collapsed or is collapsing" over an hour before it fell. These clips both reinforce the shocking, newly discovered BBC coverage wherein Jane Standley reports the collapse early-- with the building still standing behind her. The early timing of these reports is now verified twiceover-- the BBC 24 report is time stamped at 21.54-- or 4:54 P.M. Eastern Standard Time [See World Time Zones] Secondly, CNN's Aaron Brown states the time as "4:15 Eastern Daylight Time," announcing Building 7 has fallen-- more than one hour before its actual collapse. Furthermore, both the BBC report with Jane Standley and the CNN report with Aaron Brown clearly show Building 7 still standing, 'billowing with smoke' as the collapse is reported-- so premature reporting is confirmed visually as well. There is no longer any doubt they were all reading off the same script. Reports mirrored testimony of scores of fire fighters, police and emergency workers who were told to get back from the building in the 2 hours before Salomon Brothers building (better known as WTC 7) fell at free-fall speed. Rescue workers were told the building was to be brought down in a controlled demolition. The group that carried out the demolition of Building 7 was in a position to feed the media and local authorities an official story. We have the controlled demolition of Building 7 hidden in plain sight-- including an admission by the building's 99-year lease holder Larry Silverstein. We are witnessing the unraveling of the 9/11 cover-up. New video and audio clips of emergency workers who were told the Building 7 was to be purposefully brought down are coming out on an hour-by-hour basis as thousands of 9/11 researchers investigate publicly available archives. Alex Jones in his car on the afternoon of 9/11 also heard ABC News report that the government was considering demolishing Building 7. Jones didn't’t realize what he was hearing for several weeks. Now the evidence is coming out. more... | NewWorldOrder | America | It's hard to believe at first, but it should be no surprise that there are evil people with lots of power. The Bible speaks of this in the end-times, the mystery of iniquity that is already at work today. The world governmental bodies are all going to end up under one man according to scripture. Revelation 13 Is it any wonder that we would see these evil men guiding the world into the trap of their master? If you think about where 9/11 has led us and where it's going, the bringing of war and conflict is in the best interest of the plans of the enemy. I don't know all the details, but I've seen several films that bring to light many interesting scientific facts and video/audio evidence that all things on 9/11 are not what they appeared to be. Watch 9/11 Mysteries: Demolitions online here.
Top EU Official Assesses MidEast Peace (February 27, 2007) - I am not here with an Austrian hat today – instead my task is to wear a European hat and talk to you about relations between Israel and the European Union as a whole. Those few sentences hint at the complexity of modern European identity. As professional Europe-watchers you are familiar with the way we switch between one identity and another, reconciling them as we go. The question of “European-ness” is on the one hand fraught and uncertain; and on the other an ever-shifting, all-embracing, infinitely malleable concept. I believe this flexibility in attaching the label “European” to different identities, while not entirely problem-free, does set us out as a model for others. But perhaps it also makes it hard for our partners to understand us. Even when we think we have made clear our desire for deeper relations, maybe it’s not so easy to decide how to work more closely with us. That, I suspect, is the point we have now reached in EU-Israel relations. But before I come to that, let us look at where we currently stand. Relations between us have certainly moved into a warmer era. We may not agree on everything, but there’s definitely a new spirit of collaboration in the air. We have also made more effort to get to know one another; perhaps some of you saw the series "See you in my place" on Israeli TV last year? It follows the experiences of border guards, chefs and teachers from Israel and the EU as they swap jobs, homes and countries for a week. Many of the preconceptions we have of each other turn out to be wrong when we see each other close-up. We’re already seeing the results of this new rapprochement: I don’t know how much is due to “See you in my place”, but according to an opinion poll published last week, 75% of Israelis would like their country to become part of the EU. Israel's participation in the European Neighbourhood Policy has also helped give new energy and focus to our relations. The European Commission made it a priority to include Israel in the first wave of ENP Action Plans, so it was especially meaningful when Israel became the first partner to agree an Action Plan with us. The purpose of the Action Plan is to gradually integrate Israel into European policies and programmes. Every step we take is determined by both sides and the Action Plan is tailor-made to reflect Israel’s interests and priorities. We have both been working hard to make the plan a reality. Our cooperation on areas as diverse as political dialogue, anti-terrorism, trade and investment promotion, justice and security, science and technology has significantly improved. We offered Israel the opportunity to take part in the EU’s internal programmes and agencies, and received an enthusiastic response. We are currently working on opening those programmes, dealing with issues as varied as customs, taxation, culture, youth and film. Just last week we agreed Israel’s participation in the EU’s 7^th Framework Programme for Research and Development, making Israel an integral part of the fast-expanding European Research Area. And we will soon start work on Israel’s participation in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, one of the EU’s flagship programmes. more... | Israel | EU/UN |
'Devastating response' if Iran nukes attacked (February 26, 2007) - Iran is anticipating a U.S. or Israeli military strike on its nuclear facilities and has been providing Palestinian terrorists and other regional allies with contingency plans for attacks against the Jewish state and American regional interests in the event of war, according to Palestinian terrorist leaders. A senior leader of the Islamic Jihad terror group, which Israel says is backed by Iran, told WND Tehran is expecting to be attacked, but he didn't provide a time frame in which Iran anticipates a strike. He claimed during any attack his organization has been directed by Iran to "wreak havoc" on Israel with suicide bombings, rocket attacks and "special surprises." He said rocket attacks would be launched from both the Gaza Strip and from the West Bank, which borders Jerusalem. He threatened his terror group will target American interests in the Middle East whether any purported strike against Tehran is carried out by Israel or the U.S. "The Zionists and the Americans are coordinated 100 percent. It doesn't matter who attacks Iran, we are planning to hit them both," said the Islamic Jihad leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he said the topic was "very sensitive." He said overall Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Shallah has been coordinating war plans with Iran, Syria and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah Lebanese militia. Shallah resides in Damascus and travels frequently to Tehran. Abu Ahmed, the northern West Bank chief of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror organization, told WND all major Palestinian militant organizations are preparing to work together in the event Iran is attacked. "Our strategy is not to leave the Islamic alliance (Iran) alone against the enemy. All Palestinian organizations will work together in shooting rockets, suicide bomb attacks and other steps and actions decided closely." The Brigades is the declared military wing of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party. Together with Islamic Jihad, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has taken responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel the last two years, including a bombing last month in Eilat and an attack in Tel Aviv last April that killed eight Israelis and American teenager Daniel Wultz. Israel says major Brigades cells in the Gaza Strip and West Bank receive Iranian funding through contacts with Hezbollah. Abu Ahmed said in his terror group's estimation Iran will indeed be attacked. "It's not a question of if, but when. The campaign now in the American media is just like the campaign before the invasion of Iraq," he charged. A senior leader of the Popular Resistance Committees terror group, speaking on condition of anonymity, told WND his group has also been preparing for what he called "the upcoming war." The Committees is a coalition of terror organizations operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank responsible for hundreds of anti-Israel rocket and shooting attacks. It is accused of bombing a U.S. convoy in Gaza in 2003 in which three American government contractors were killed. "We are preparing the tomb that Allah is digging for the Zionists and Americans," said the Committees leader. He claimed during any U.S. or Israeli military strike against Tehran, a response will be directed against Israel and American interests by Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorists. "The war will be a war on more than one front. It will be everybody against everybody. Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and the Palestinian organizations will work together. War with Iran is coming and it means the Middle East will not remain the same after it," the Committees leader said. Syria and Iran signed a military agreement in which either will respond if the other is attacked. Israeli security officials told WND Israel is not currently planning to strike Iran. Speaking theoretically, they said if any war breaks out involving Iran, they expect Syria, Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorists to join the fray and attack Israel. The security officials said the greatest threat Syria poses to the Jewish state are the country's missiles. They noted Syria recently test-fired two Scud-D surface-to-surface missiles, which have a range of about 250 miles, covering most Israeli territory. The officials said the Syrian missile test was coordinated with Iran and is believed to have been successful. It is not known what type of warhead the missiles were armed with. In addition to longer range Scuds, Syria is in possession of shorter range missiles such as 220mm and 305mm rockets, some of which have been passed on to Hezbollah. According to information received by Israel, Russia is set to conclude a deal worth several hundred million dollars transferring thousands of advanced antitank missiles to Syria. Antitank missiles used by Hezbollah during Israel's war in Lebanon this past summer devastated Israeli tanks and caused the highest number of Israeli troop casualties during the 34 days of military confrontations. Last week, a senior officer from the intelligence unit of the Israeli Defense Forces announced Hezbollah is stronger today than before the 2006 Lebanon war. "Hezbollah has reinforced and it is stronger today than it was before the war in Lebanon," General Yossi Beidatz, head of the IDF's intelligence research department, told the Knesset. During the war in Lebanon, Hezbollah fired more than 3,000 rockets into northern Israel, killing 39 civilians and devastating many northern towns. Beidatz also said Syria is reinforcing its military to prepare for the possibility of a new armed conflict in the region. According to reports in the Israeli media, Syria, aided by Iranian officers, has been boosting its army and navy. The reports, denied by Damascus, claimed Syria last week was moving troops closer to the border with Israel. The claim by Palestinian terrorists Iran is preparing for war come as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday his country's nuclear program cannot stop while a deputy foreign minister vowed Tehran was prepared for any eventuality, "even for war." "Iran has obtained the technology to produce nuclear fuel and Iran's move is like a train ... which has no brake and no reverse gear," Ahmadinejad said, according to Iranian state media. Manouchehr Mohammadi, a deputy at Iran's foreign ministry commented, "We have prepared ourselves for any situation, even for war." Iranian military commanders have said recent war games, the latest of which involved testing several missiles this month, show Iran's readiness to counter any attack. Meanwhile U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said over the weekend Iran's atomic ambitions must be curbed. He told reporters "all options" were on the table. During a visit to Australia, Cheney said it would be a "serious mistake" to allow Iran to become a nuclear power. An Australian newspaper quoted Cheney endorsing comments by U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that the only thing worse than a military confrontation with Iran would be a nuclear-armed Iran. Iran ignored last week's United Nations deadline to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to fuel for nuclear power plants or produce material for warheads. Tehran claims it wants to negotiate but has repeatedly ruled out suspending its atomic program. | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Islam | See any reason why Israel might attack Damascus? I would imagine that Syria would participate in the Gog/Magog invasion, but they are missing from the list of prominent attackers. You might think Syria would be part of that group since they're so heavily involved now... unless Israel attacked them first, prompting a backlash from Iran, Russia, and Turkey. Given the fear of Syria's missiles, they would want to wipe those out first in a pre-emptive attack. It may not happen that way, but keep watching it will happen.
Report: Hizbullah readying for war (February 26, 2007) - The Shiite group Hizbullah is building a new line of defenses in the United Nations-controlled zone in south Lebanon in preparation for a potential conflict with Israel, the Times of London reported Monday. Hizbullah gunmen have been guarding valleys and hillsides north of the Litani River where a military build-up is taking shape, merely six months since the end of last summer's confrontation with Israel. United Nations Resolution 1701, which ended the fighting, mandated a 12,000-strong international peacekeeping force to deploy south of the Litani River and stipulated that the Shiite group should have no visible presence there. The Times reported that Christian and Druze-owned land is being purchased by a Shia businessman, a move Hizbullah's opponents believe is aimed at creating a Shia-populated belt south of the Litani where the group can operate safely. “The state of Hizbullah is already in existence in south Lebanon,” the Druze leader and arch Hizbullah critic Walid Jumblatt told The Times. “There have been no instances of attempts to smuggle weapons into the area,” said Milos Strugar, a senior adviser for the UN force in Lebanon, adding that no armed fighters had been seen since September, the Times said. more... | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Islam | Do you see how peace is coming from the West and war from the East? They are coming about the same time and I think that fits perfectly into scripture because Ezekiel 38 places the attack by Iran, Turkey, Russia, and others when Israel is dwelling in safety in the land. When God destroys the attackers with fire and brimstone from heaven, then Israel will turn back to God in the only way they know, the way of their forefathers. Christ blinded them at the triumphal entry because they didn't recognize the time of His visitation as prophesied in Daniel 9. They are blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles and through that fall, salvation came to the Gentiles. Romans 11 So I expect to see the EU work its magic in the Middle East to stop the violence of Islam and gain the recognition of Israel by her Muslim neighbor governments. At the very least, bring safety to Israel, if only for a short time.
Gospel Music Radio Hits Japan! (February 26, 2007) - Japanese DJ Ikarashi Yoshitaka says, “We see what we are doing is introducing Gospel Music to Japan as well as helping new Japanese Artists as an extension of the long history of Christianity in Japan.” What Ikarashi is referring to is “Gospel Revolution”, the first Gospel Music Program on a regular Radio Station in Japan. Begun, just a year ago the program is gaining not only market share and a good solid listener base, but also regular sponsorship. Station Representative, Hirofumi Araki, says, “At first we were surprised and a bit hesitant of having a Gospel Music program. Now we are considering extending the time as well as expanding the program content. The program has brought a new audience to our station that we have no previously had. In particular it is great to see the vision and excitement of the young people and all the new talent being introduced on our station.” In a country traditionally thought of as Buddhist and Shinto, a revisionist view of History has come to the fore, led by new discoveries into the history of Christianity in Japan. A book entitled, “Japan: The Nation of the Cross”, which is now available in secular bookstores throughout the country, traces a much stronger Christian history in the country than previously thought. Beginning in the first century, Assyrian Christian migrants are believed to have brought the faith to Japan culminating in the beginning of the 17th century when the Christian population of Japan was estimated by Historian Masaru Anesaki to be approximately 30%. The Japanese Holocaust which began in 1600 and lasted until 1859 is the longest recorded sustained persecution of Christians in modern history. It is estimated that nearly one million of the “hidden Christians”, known as “Kirishitan” in the vernacular, were killed, often hung upside down and tortured. Ikarashi says, “We have a huge debt to the ‘Kirishitan’ who went before us and have recently heard that what we though was only a 1% Christian population is now closer to 6% and growing. Having attained the ‘economic miracle’ of rising from the ruins of World War II, Japanese young people are now searching for meaning in life.” A special feature of the weekly Gospel Music Program is it is featuring some of the nearly 100 new Japanese Gospel Music groups. A weekly prayer meeting in which these groups gather to pray for the program and for a higher profile in an economically strong but spiritually weak Japan is believed by some observers as some of the beginning signs of a long predicted spiritual revival in Japan. “We are hoping Christian Music publishers from throughout the world can help us with DVDs of new artists, permission to broadcast their music and we believe that we are on the verge of a spiritual revival in Japan,” said Ikarashi Yoshitaka. Those interested in reaching the group and or sending unneeded DVDs of Gospel Music and Christian Books can send them to; Gospel Revolution, Box 65, Tokyo, Japan 106-8691 or by e-mail to: info@kirisuto.com
Documentary shows possible Jesus tomb (February 26, 2007) - Filmmakers and researchers on Monday unveiled two ancient stone boxes they said may have once contained the remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, but several scholars derided the claims made in a new documentary as unfounded and contradictory to basic Christian beliefs. "The Lost Tomb of Jesus," produced by Oscar-winning director James Cameron and scheduled to air March 4 on the Discovery Channel, argues that 10 small caskets discovered in 1980 in a Jerusalem suburb may have held the bones of Jesus and his family. One of the caskets even bears the title, "Judah, son of Jesus," hinting that Jesus may have had a son, according to the film. "There's a definite sense that you have to pinch yourself," Cameron said Monday at a news conference. He told NBC'S "Today" show earlier that statisticians found "in the range of a couple of million to one" in favor of the documentary's conclusions about the caskets, or ossuaries. Simcha Jacobovici, the Toronto filmmaker who directed the film, said that a name on one of the ossuaries — "Mariamene" — offers evidence that the tomb is that of Jesus and his family. In early Christian texts, "Mariamene" is the name of Mary Magdalene, he said. The very fact that Jesus had an ossuary would contradict the Christian belief that he was resurrected and ascended to heaven. Most Christians believe Jesus' body spent three days at the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City. The burial site identified in Cameron's documentary is in a southern Jerusalem neighborhood nowhere near the church. In 1996, when the British Broadcasting Corp. aired a short documentary on the same subject, archaeologists challenged the claims. Amos Kloner, the first archaeologist to examine the site, said the idea fails to hold up by archaeological standards but makes for profitable television. "They just want to get money for it," Kloner said. Shimon Gibson, one of three archaeologists who first discovered the tomb in 1980, said Monday of the film's claims: "I'm skeptical, but that's the way I am. I'm willing to accept the possibility." The film's claims, however, have raised the ire of Christian leaders in the Holy Land. more... Here is an excerpt from an e-mail I got from Michael S. Heiser website. "Three years ago I wrote and delivered a paper at the Near East Archaeological Society meeting on the “Jesus Ossuary” – the same ossuary (bone box) now being trucked out again in a new (soon to be aired) documentary claiming that the family tomb of Jesus has been found. This “find” has actually been around almost 20 years, and no scholars have really paid it any attention – which should tell you something. " Michael actually wrote a response to this "find" in 2003 called, The Jesus Ossuary: A Critical Examination. Since I'm sure this will be a big deal to those who love to try and disprove the Biblical account of our Savior, I would like to address it. This If there is any doubt of the Biblical record being accurate, I feel the study HIStory, Our Future: Pearls for the Bride will help dispel any misgivings because it shows the Word of God as accurate and extremely detailed about events in history and how that's connected to right now! The Biblical account tells of Christ's resurrection and ascension. This documentary is an attack on the core foundation of Christianity as Paul points out. 1 Corinthians 15:12-58 To them that don't believe, it is all foolishness. To those who believe, it is our blessed hope because the coming of our Lord means the resurrection from the dead and the putting on of our eternal incorruptible temples with which we enter into heaven to stand before the throne and before the Lamb. Luke 21:34-36 & Revelation 7:9-17
EU plans to renew aid to PA once int'l terms have been met (February 26, 2007) - The European Union has formulated a plan to renew economic aid to the Palestinian Authority, if and when the new unity government agrees to meet international demands. According to the program, the details of which were handed over to Israel, Europe is prepared to grant humanitarian and economic aid to the Palestinians. The program also includes "economic construction" to help bolster Palestinian governmental capabilities, as well as aid to build institutions for a new state, to create a legal system and support for a "blue" police force. If the Palestinians agree to international demands, the current system of humanitarian aid - a program known as the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM), which bypasses contacts with Hamas - will be replaced with the International Mechanism, a program which will deal directly with the Palestinian government. The program was presented and well-recieved last week during a summit of the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators. European leaders have told PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that the new unity government must clearly meet international demands to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept interim peace deals for sanctions to end, Abbas aides said on Sunday. "We have asked the Europeans to help us lift the sanctions but their response was that the Palestinian government must be clear in its acceptance of the Quartet conditions," senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said after a European tour in which Abbas sought support for his power-sharing deal with Hamas Islamists. Israel on Sunday welcomed the European Union's initial reaction to the Palestinian deal, saying European leaders remain committed to their demands of any Palestinian government. Meanwhile, Egypt on Sunday rejected imposing any conditions on the new Palestinian unity government and said it was up to the Palestinians to convince key international mediators to end the U.S.-led financial sanctions. Jordan's King Abdullah has said there was common Arab ground that the unity government must adhere to the demands of the Quartet. The king's remarks in an interview broadcast on Saturday cast doubts on the willingness of major Arab donors to sidestep a U.S.-led embargo of the Hamas-led government. more... | Israel | Islam | EU/UN | Recognition of Israel and stopping the violence are conditions to money flow to the PA. The moderate nations of Islam are in agreement with the quartet putting forth these conditions. They need outside funding and support to survive because they can't govern themselves as has been clearly seen in history. Look at what happened in Gaza once Israel pulled out. For instance, they left standing a greenhouse facility for the PA to utilize. The first thing they did was tear it apart and scrap it. They can't keep from fighting amongst themselves for power and wealth. They clearly don't have the common people in mind. They are pawns used to try and lay claim to what they have no claim to. Read From Time Immemorial: The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict over Palestine by Joan Peters for more detail on the history of the land of Israel and the false claims to it by Islam. There is also an asserted effort by Islam to cover up and destroy any and all evidence of Jewish existence on the Temple Mount. The piles of rubble they carted out from there are full of archaeological evidence of Israel's existence there. Yet the world drones on in the loudest mantra they hear out of fear, turning against Israel in favor of those who kill each other and war against those who don't accept Allah. What gets me is that these people favor appeasement even as "death to America" is chanted by the very people they're trying to appease! I guess it's true, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. I believe Romans 1:16-32 speaks directly to the humanist liberal mindset that permeates the world today.
Olmert: Prepare for war with Syria (February 25, 2007) - While chances for all-out war with Syria in 2007 are deemed low by Israel's top intelligence officials, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert instructed the defense establishment on Sunday to prepare for the possibility. The cabinet heard intelligence assessments from the Mossad, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Military Intelligence, the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry. Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin opened the briefing and told the ministers that "Israel is surrounded by negative processes... that create more instability in the Middle East than in the past." Yadlin and Mossad head Meir Dagan agreed that the chances for war with Syria are low, but they differed concerning the sincerity of Damascus's calls for peace talks. Yadlin said the chances that Syria would initiate an all-out conventional war "like the Yom Kippur and Six Day Wars" was low, although it was likely that President Bashar Assad would respond aggressively to any Israeli action along the border. In June, IAF warplanes buzzed Assad's summer home to convey a message to Syria to use its influence with Hamas to release captive IDF Cpl. Gilad Schalit. The overflight prompted no reaction from Syria, but intelligence officials told the cabinet Sunday that if such a flight was made now, it would be met with an aggressive Syrian response. "The chances for a full-scale Syrian-initiated war are low," Yadlin told the ministers. "The chances are high, however, that Syria would respond militarily to Israeli acts." Dagan agreed, saying in his briefing he did not believe Israel would go to war in 2007. He supported the IDF's forecast that while Syria would not initiate a war, it would respond to Israel operations. He refrained from elaborating, but officials said that war could erupt in response to a renewed conflict with Hizbullah or to IDF action in Syria. "I want us to be ready, even in the areas where the probability for a conflict are low," Olmert told the ministers, adding that in the next few weeks, he plans to begin a series of security consultations on practical conclusions drawn from the annual intelligence assessment. Military Intelligence warned the global Jihad movement saw Israel as a target, and that Sunni-Shi'ite tensions could spread throughout the region. more... | Israel | Islam |
Israel seeks all clear for Iran air strike (February 25, 2007) - Israel is negotiating with the United States for permission to fly over Iraq as part of a plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, The Daily Telegraph can reveal. To conduct surgical air strikes against Iran's nuclear programme, Israeli war planes would need to fly across Iraq. But to do so the Israeli military authorities in Tel Aviv need permission from the Pentagon. A senior Israeli defence official said negotiations were now underway between the two countries for the US-led coalition in Iraq to provide an "air corridor" in the event of the Israeli government deciding on unilateral military action to prevent Teheran developing nuclear weapons. "We are planning for every eventuality, and sorting out issues such as these are crucially important," said the official, who asked not to be named. "The only way to do this is to fly through US-controlled air space. If we don't sort these issues out now we could have a situation where American and Israeli war planes start shooting at each other." As Iran continues to defy UN demands to stop producing material which could be used to build a nuclear bomb, Israel's military establishment is moving on to a war footing, with preparations now well under way for the Jewish state to launch air strikes against Teheran if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the crisis. The pace of military planning in Israel has accelerated markedly since the start of this year after Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, provided a stark intelligence assessment that Iran, given the current rate of progress being made on its uranium enrichment programme, could have enough fissile material for a nuclear warhead by 2009. more... | Iran | Israel |
Survey: 75 percent of Israelis want to join the EU (February 25, 2007) - A survey carried out by the Israeli office of a German political foundation has found that three quarters of Israelis would like to see Israel join the EU. The study by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Israel office and conducted by KEEVOON Research, Strategy & Communications, also revealed that Germany has a very favorable image among Israelis, with 67 percent seeing Germany in a positive light and the same number saying they would like to see a more dominant Germany within the EU. The poll came just a few weeks after Germany took over the presidency of the European Union and promised to place the Middle East peace process high on the agenda. The Germans also placed emphasis on the importance of the EU partnership programme which promotes ties between the eU and non-member states such as Israel. This is the first comprehensive poll that was sanctioned after the Quartet Peace Initiative that examined Israeli attitudes towards the EU and not EU attitudes towards Israel. Dr. Lars Hänsel, Director of the KAS Israel office said: "The results show how deep the German-Israeli bond is and will help to bring Europe and Israel even closer. Germany is committed to Israel’s security having recently sent Peace-keeping forces to the shores off Lebanon to help protect Israel and subsidized the sale of three Dolphin class submarines to the Israeli Navy. This poll proves that Israelis want to strengthen the German-Israel ties, too". Further results from the poll showed that Germany is one of the EU countries with the most positive image amongst Israelis. Accordingly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of the most favored in Israel (50 percent favorable as opposed to 9 percent unfavorable). Israelis also believe that Merkel’s election as the first woman Chancellor improves Germany’s image throughout the world (60 percent). The poll also discovered the strong patriotic sentiments in Israel and showed that despite the fact that 77 percent of Israelis feel that Israel is not on the right track, only 11 percent would immigrate to Europe if given EU citizenship. more... | Israel | EU/UN | This is exactly what the Bible talks about, a beast with 10 horns representing 10 kings who give their power to the little horn. The EU has 10 voting members who have elected Javier Solana as their High Representative. The EU, with Javier in the lead, is now pushing this peace in the Middle East that everyone seems to be going for except the radical elements. These are the groups I believe the man of sin will go forth conquering in order to bring peace and security. Eventually, all religious fundamentalist believers will come under his attacks, including Christians and Jews. However, I believe it will remain focused on the clear radical elements in Islam for now. Once that peace is developed and Israel is living in safety, that's when Ezekiel 38,39 spells out the Gog/Magog invasion. I believe that God saving Israel from that sudden attack will be what prompts Jews worldwide to Aliyah as well as demanding the temple be rebuilt as well as a return to the daily sacrifice once the rebuilding is accomplished. Islam, having just been spanked, won't be in a condition to stand against God, but once their messiah shows up in the form of the antichrist, they will see themselves powerful enough to accomplish their goal of the destruction of Israel. God will allow it, but with the promise of the saving of the remnant of Israel in the wilderness. The bottom line is though, that Israel's wide acceptance of the EU and desire to participate will eventually spell disaster for them since this group only appears peaceful and once the restrainer allows the revealing of the man of sin, the EU and the world will turn on Israel in a most vicious way. Pray for Israel!
A Web of Peace Herb L. Peters (February 24, 2007) - Traveling close to icebergs can be dangerous. That's because friendly looking icebergs can roll over at any time. When they roll, because most of their huge mass is hidden beneath a calm surface, the event can be surprising and violent. Well, our lull in the prophecy related news appears over. And once again, I'm scrambling to fit the new pieces. While posting the links to this morning's news Read about it here I Here I Here I And here, I struggled for a way to describe what we're seeing. It's obvious that today many of the news reports coming from the Middle East and Europe are, in one fashion or another, related. But, figuring out exactly how they're related isn't always easy. The description that came to mind was, A Web of Peace. I think that's what we're seeing. And, I think Israel is the target. All serious students of Bible prophecy should be standing up and taking notice. These Arab peace summits are unprecedented. So is Israel's desire for bringing about a permanent end to the Palestinian conflict. The interesting thing is, as far as many in the so-called "moderate" world community are concerned, the remaining stumbling blocks to finding lasting peace in the Middle East are religious in nature -- with the Hamas part of the new Palestinian government, and with powerful political elements within American. Perhaps that's one reason Jordan's King Abdulla II will soon be pitching the 2002 Arab Peace Plan before a joint session of the U.S. Congress Read about it here I And here. Friends, I believe we are seeing the end-time prophecies being fulfilled before our eyes. And if so, this naturally brings up many important questions. Right now we'll only consider one: As we see the prophecies being fulfilled, how should we respond to those who are involved? I believe the Bible provides us a clear answer. From the cross, Jesus asked His Father to forgive His killers because they didn't know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). And Paul explains why. He says our enemy is not flesh and blood, but the spiritual powers of wickedness in heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). So, we believers today should see things no differently. Yes, I believe we're seeing a web of peace -- false peace -- being spun around Israel, just like the Bible so long ago foretold. If so, it won't be long until all the final events of Bible prophecy will happen. If by now you're not a believer, your odds of experiencing eternal life are growing slimmer by the moment. When Jesus appears, our time of grace will be over; the friendly looking iceberg will suddenly roll. And unbelief and ignorance will be no excuse. | Israel | Islam | EU/UN |
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to Visit the Middle East PDF (February 23, 2007) - On the eve of her visit, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said, "We all have an interest in maintaining the political momentum of recent weeks. I look forward to discussing with all parties how we can each play our part in keeping the hope of progress towards peace in the Middle East alive." She added, "Through the ENP the EU offers its neighbors a privileged relationship that brings advantages to both sides. It strengthens our co-operation in areas of mutual interest like trade relations, energy, migration and visa issues and people to people contacts. Through our joint Action Plans, we are deepening our political relationships and economic integeration - supporting reforms where they are needed, always in line with each country's own priorities for itself." Continues with itinerary... more... | Israel | Islam | EU/UN | The EU views the ENP as the tool to bring economic prosperity dependent upon participation in peaceful trade, etc. Can you see how this could bring about a false peace in the Middle East? There's money involved, which will bring people to the table that wouldn't come without incentive since many of them refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist. How trustworthy are those "peacemakers?" Outward appearances to those who don't pay attention to what they are saying may think things are turning around. The truth is that they've been blindfolded by the controlled media whom they trust. Many believe if it's really important, the news will cover it. However, the Bible is quite clear that the majority of people in the world do not believe in the True God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It also describes a people of this world who are so wrapped up in their world that they don't see the sudden destruction coming upon them and they won't escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Have you obtained salvation by our Lord Yeshua the Christ?
Spain, Italy agree to help relaunch EU constitution (February 22, 2007) - The prime ministers of Spain and Italy on Tuesday agreed to join efforts to relaunch the stalled European Union (EU) constitution to further push the bloc's integration process forward. At a bilateral meeting held on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Ibiza, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called the two countries to support the holder of the current EU presidency Germany's efforts to break a stalemate on the draft charter. Germany, which took up the EU presidency early this year, has repeatedly said that it wants to see the charter -- in some form or the other -- adopted by 2009, but has given no further indication as to how that might be achieved. Calling Italy a "brother" country and a "partner in the European Union," Zapatero told his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi that Spain supports bids to find ways to allow the nations that have not ratified the constitution to reconsider the issue. Our goal is to maintain the essential idea of achieving a more united and efficient Europe with new ways of working, he said. The EU draft constitution provides for a bill of rights, and an EU president and foreign minister to replace the current system of a rotating leadership. So far, the charter has been ratified by 18 states among the now 27-member bloc, but suffered stunning defeats in Dutch and French referendums in 2005. more... | EU/UN |
Peretz urges Israel to avoid verbal escalation with Syria (February 22, 2007) - Responding to a Haaretz report that Syria is boosting its army and moving troops closer to its border with Israel, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Thursday that Israel should refrain from making further statements regarding Syria, and urged officials to avoid a verbal escalation of tensions. Speaking at his weekly meeting with Defense Ministry officials, Peretz said that the situation would be assessed based on concrete information, and that the army would prepare itself as necessary. Earlier Thursday, Israel Radio quoting Syrian parliament member Mohammed Habash as denying the Haaretz report. According to the radio, Habash told the Dubai-based Al Arabiya satellite channel that nothing has changed in terms of troop size along the border, but "Syria is fully prepared for any situation [that may develop]." Habash warned that should "Israel decide to do something stupid, it would pay a heavy price." Addressing the charge that Syria's military buildup is being funded by Iran, the radio quoted Habash as saying that the "cooperation between Damascus and Tehran is no secret, as both are being faced with a direct threat." The Syrian armed forces are being strengthened in an unprecedented way in recent memory with the help of generous funding from Iran and its troops appear to be moving closer to the border with Israel. The Syrians are bolstering their forces in all areas except the air force, which has been believed to be weak for some time. The main emphasis of the efforts has been missiles and long-range rockets to compensate for the weak air force. The Syrian navy, after years of neglect, is also being reinforced with an Iranian version of a Chinese anti-ship missile, similar to the one used by Hezbollah during the second Lebanon war to strike the Israeli destroyer INS Hanit. In addition to the overall strengthening of the armed forces in Syria, there has been a redeployment of forces along the front lines. It appears that the Syrians have moved forces closer to the border with Israel on the Golan Heights. more... | Iran | Gog/Magog | Israel | Islam | This tension could very well build up to the destruction of Damascus prophesied in Isaiah 17. Keep watching!
Blogger Gets 4 Years for Insulting Islam ( February 22, 2007 ) - An Egyptian blogger was convicted Thursday and sentenced to four years in prison for insulting Islam, the Prophet Muhammad and Egypt's president, sending a chill through fellow Internet writers who fear a government crackdown. Abdel Kareem Nabil, a 22-year-old former student at Egypt's Al-Azhar University, an Islamic institution, was a vocal secularist and sharp critic of conservative Muslims in his blog. He also lashed out often at Al-Azhar the most prominent religious center in Sunni Islam calling it "the university of terrorism" and accusing it of encouraging extremism. His conviction brought a flood of condemnations from Amnesty International and other international and Egyptian rights group and stunned fellow bloggers. "I am shocked," said Wael Abbas, a blogger who writes frequently about police abuses and other human rights violations in Egypt. "This is a terrible message to anyone who intends to express his opinion and to bloggers in particular." Judge Ayman al-Akazi issued the verdict in a brief, five-minute session in a court in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. He sentenced Nabil to three years in prison for insulting Islam and the prophet and inciting sectarian strife and another year for insulting President Hosni Mubarak. Nabil, wearing a gray T-shirt and sitting in the defendants pen, gave no reaction and his face remained still as the verdict was read. He made no comment to reporters as he was immediate led outside to a prison truck. Seconds after he was loaded into the truck and the door closed, an Associated Press reporter heard the sound of a slap from inside the vehicle and a shriek of pain from Nabil. His lawyer, Ahmed Seif el-Islam, said he would appeal the verdict, saying the ruling will "terrify other bloggers and will negative impact on the freedom of expression in Egypt." Nabil had faced a possible maximum sentence of up to nine years in prison. Egypt arrested a number of bloggers last year, most of them for connections to Egypt's pro-democracy reform movement. Nabil was arrested in November, and while other bloggers were freed, Nabil was put on trial a sign of the sensitivity of his writings on religion. more... | Islam | Just wait till Islam runs the world, that's their plan and I think the Bible might agree. The Fourth Seal

Lull In The Race Herb L. Peters (February 22, 2007) - I'm accustom to lulls in the prophecy related news. But this one feels different. It's more like a lull in a race. You may recall, as we approached the year 2007, the prophecy related news was coming so fast that it was difficult to adjust to it. Yet after the first of the year, it's like we all slipped into neutral. Going into the new year, my attention has been on the Middle East peace process. That's because we've seen an entire series of events in Europe, the Middle East and the broader international community that seem to match quite well the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. And these events point in one direction -- that we're soon going to see the final remaining events of end-time prophecy. What frustrates me is how so few of God's people are able to see it. But, I guess it's to be expected. The Bible tells us that, when the end-time comes, most believers will only listen to teachers who tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:1-4). And believe me, hardly no one wants to hear the message I'm bringing. At times I don't even like it myself. Nevertheless, facts are facts. And it's only the facts that I've been reporting. The way I see it, the stage may now be set for all the final events of prophecy. I can find no political or scriptural reason to say that it isn't. Sure, some disagree. But so far no one has been able to show me from either Scripture or the world stage where I'm wrong. What people may not realize is I wish someone could. In fact, you may recall it was while I was praying for God to send me someone who could show me where I was wrong that I stumbled on the Western European Union's Assembly Recommendation 666. Let's look again at the events. Israel was reborn in 1948. The Roman Empire began reviving in 1950. The Western European Union became an alliance of 10 nations in 1995. The first Mr. Europe appeared among the 10 nations and the reviving Roman Empire in 1999. After completing a covenant with many nations -- including Israel -- back in 1995, the first Mr. Europe began confirming his covenant with many for a seven-year period on January 1, 2007. And that's why, since the first of the year, I've been watching the Middle East peace process so closely. Don't underestimate these events. The only reason the U.S. and Israel haven't already walked from the recent peace initiatives is because neither have anywhere to go. U.S. support may only be around a little longer and Israel is desperately shopping a long-term peace. New power blocs are forming in the south, north, east and west, anticipating a possible American withdrawal. Last summer's war and political scandals have weakened Israel and removed options leaving Israel's leaders with almost nowhere to turn. Adding to the mix, Iran has become Israel's and the international community's nightmare of nightmares. Yes, there may be a lull in the prophecy related news. But after all the amazing events that we have witnessed so far, this one feels different to me. It's more like a lull in the race. | Israel | Islam | EU/UN | Keep watching with Herb. He is being used of God to speak the truth about the times we live in. I will try to keep bringing this information to you in the newsletter, but I recommend you also get involved in watching directly from his site and get involved with the conversations with other believers on his bulletin board. (FYI: I recommend using a hotmail account to set up your user on the board. Comcast seems to block the e-mails from Herb's website automatically so you won't be able to validate your account because you won't get the e-mail.)
Arab ministers interested in relations with Israel (February 22, 2007) - Senior Arab officials on Thursday evening expressed their desire "to advance together toward recognition and normalizing relations with Israel." The remark was made in a joint statement issued at the end of a Spanish-Arab conference in Madrid hosted by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. The conference was attended by 19 members of the Arab League, including the foreign ministers of Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia. In the statement, the officials expressed their hope that the Mecca agreement signed between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah would lead to the establishment of a national unity government in the Palestinian Authority, "which could contribute to finding a solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." Moratinos said that the agreement expressed in the joint statement reemphasized the vision expressed in the 2002 Arab League summit in Beirut, but that in the meantime Israel pulled out from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian official Nabil Shaath called on the West to stop the boycott on the Hamas-led government, which he called "unfair and illegal" and harming peace efforts. At the start of the conference, Moratinos called for an end to negative perceptions diving the West and the Arab world and contributing to the creation of Islamophobia and anti-Western feelings. He said that he country wanted to work together with the European Union in order to enable a Palestinian government to be a partner for a dialogue with the international community. | Israel | Islam | EU/UN | Here is another example of the sudden shift in Middle East politics since the ENPI went into effect at the beginning of 2007. There are several reasons for it, one of which is the ENPI and serious push by the EU to bring about peace in the Middle East. With the funding through the ENPI, I believe that it has brought groups to the table for talks. Bible prophecy lays out two paths that intersect several times leading up to the abomination of desolation. One path is an apparent peace for Israel and rest that she so desperately desires. Israel will accept this peace. The other path is that of the people who have no problem making their hatred for the Jews known. I think this is all Satan's little chess game. Both paths, peace and war, are actually interlinked and run by the same dark spirit. By being in control of both and playing them off each other, that which is controlled by evil can appear good and deceive those so desperately desiring peace. I think radical Islam will be used so that the antichrist can go forth conquering by peace (subduing the radical elements). This makes him look like the good guy while biding his time for the restrainer to allow his revealing at the abomination of desolation. It also has another positive effect for his plans. Ultimately the antichrist will turn against all religious fundamentalism, including Christians and Jews, in favor of bringing about worship of himself. By Islam claiming sole ownership of the truth and acting as it does, time will eventually allow association of all religions claiming sole ownership of the truth to that kind of radicalism. In this way, the war will be turned to them.
Hamas’s Military Wing: Truce Is Over (February 21, 2007) - Hamas’s Kassam Brigade have declared an end to a cease-fire with Israel, according to a statement released on Wednesday evening [February 21]. The call to end the truce appeared on Hamas’s official Web site, in both English and Arabic, and is the first time in months that Palestinian armed forces directly under the control of the Hamas government openly threatened to attack Israel. Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Kassam Brigade, said in the statement that “the truce with the Israeli occupation is no longer valid,” citing the assassination of Islamic Jihad commander Mahmoud Qassem as the reason. He was shot dead in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] by Israeli Border Police on Tuesday, after security forces traced a foiled suicide bomb attack planned for Tel Aviv back to him.
In Hamas’s statement, Abu Obaida said: “This crime falls in line with a plan to liquidate Palestinian resistance in the West Bank in particular. The Zionist enemy continues to try to separate between the West Bank and Gaza, and we will not accept that. The assassination in Jenin comes as part of an attempt to take out the Palestinian resistance, especially in the West Bank. We demanded from the start that the cease-fire must include the entire homeland and not be divided at the enemy’s discretion.” Abu Obaida called for Palestinian organizations to “unite” and “retaliate” against Israel, saying that “the time has come to restore the honor of the Palestinian resistance.” He added that the Kassam Brigade was “reorganizing their lines in the West Bank after sustaining painful strikes.” Hamas’s terrorist cells were largely destroyed in the West Bank by Israel Defense Forces [IDF] operations in response to a series of bomb attacks between 2001 and 2004, although Hamas remains the strongest armed force in Gaza. Throughout the duration of the “truce,” rockets launched from Gaza have continued to land in southern Israel, and security forces say they foiled many terrorist attacks aimed at targets within Israel. The Hamas Web site also said that the Islamic Jihad Quds Brigade fired two “upgraded Quds missiles at Sderot and Majdal (Arabic for Ashkelon) as a premilinary retaliation to the assassination of Qassem,” on Wednesday. A Fatah faction claimed it too fired rockets, targeting an IDF post. It should be noted that the statement is not a formal announcement from the Hamas movement as a whole. Naif Hawatma, director of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said on Wednesday that Hamas is involved and supportive of the political process. more... | Israel | Islam |
Turkish PM Lauds Great Progress In Iran-Turkey Ties (February 21, 2007) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarked here Tuesday evening that Tehran-Ankara ties have witnessed great progress in recent years. During a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on the sidelines of the 19th session of the Iran-Turkey Joint Economic and Trade Commission, he said bilateral relations had never enjoyed such a boost in the past many years. Underlining the need for further expansion of trade cooperation between the two states, Mottaki said there were great potentials in both countries for advancement of ties. He stressed that the two countries have set a target of USD 10 billion in trade exchanges for the near future. | Iran | Gog/Magog | Islam |
US 'Iran attack plans' revealed (February 20, 2007) - US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, the BBC has learned.
It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centres. The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment. The UN has urged Iran to stop the programme or face economic sanctions. But diplomatic sources have told the BBC that as a fallback plan, senior officials at Central Command in Florida have already selected their target sets inside Iran. That list includes Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. Facilities at Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr are also on the target list, the sources say. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the trigger for such an attack reportedly includes any confirmation that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon - which it denies. Alternatively, our correspondent adds, a high-casualty attack on US forces in neighbouring Iraq could also trigger a bombing campaign if it were traced directly back to Tehran. Long range B2 stealth bombers would drop so-called "bunker-busting" bombs in an effort to penetrate the Natanz site, which is buried some 25m (27 yards) underground. The BBC's Tehran correspondent Frances Harrison says the news that there are now two possible triggers for an attack is a concern to Iranians. Authorities insist there is no cause for alarm but ordinary people are now becoming a little worried, she says. more... | Iran | America |
Pastor with 666 tattoo claims to be divine (February 19, 2007) - The minister has the number 666 tattooed on his arm. But Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is not your typical minister. De Jesus, or "Daddy" as his thousands of followers call him, does not merely pray to God: He says he is God. "The spirit that is in me is the same spirit that was in Jesus of Nazareth," de Jesus says. De Jesus' claims of divinity have angered Christian leaders, who say he is a fake. Religious experts say he may be something much more dangerous, a cult leader who really believes he is God. (Watch followers get 666 tattoos for their leader ) "He's in their heads, he's inside the heads of those people," says Prof. Daniel Alvarez, a religion expert at Florida International University who has debated some of de Jesus' followers. "De Jesus speaks with a kind of conviction that makes me consider him more like David Koresh or Jim Jones." Is de Jesus really a cult leader like David Koresh, who died with more than 70 of his Branch Davidian followers in a fiery end to a standoff with federal authorities, or Jim Jones, the founder of the Peoples Temple who committed mass suicide with 900 followers in 1978? De Jesus and his believers say their church -- "Creciendo en Gracia," Spanish for "Growing in grace" -- is misunderstood. Followers of the movement say they have proof that their minister is divine and that their church will one day soon be a major faith in the world. But even de Jesus concedes that he is an unlikely leader of a church that claims thousands of members in more than 30 countries. De Jesus, 61, grew up poor in Puerto Rico. He says he served stints in prison there for petty theft and says he was a heroin addict. De Jesus says he learned he was Jesus reincarnate when he was visited in a dream by angels. "The prophets, they spoke about me. It took me time to learn that, but I am what they were expecting, what they have been expecting for 2,000 years," de Jesus says. more... Matthew 24:3-5, "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
Where the Anointing Flows Stan Smith (February 17, 2007) - I spent years seeking more of God. I wanted His anointing and power in my life because I wanted to be like Jesus. So I prayed and worshiped; I dug for truth in the Bible; I lived sacrificially. Then one day, He showed me another key to the release of His power and presence: to connect with people who need and hunger for Him. I had bought a used car “as is” with several minor electrical problems. Using a wiring diagram and a circuit tester, I repaired several accessories. With each, the power was going to the item and its switch; the problem was a bad ground, which meant there was not a complete circuit. And suddenly I sensed God telling me: “I want My power to flow, but it’s not enough for you to hook up to the Source. You also need a good ground. To make a complete circuit, connect with people in need.” Then He led me to reread Luke 4:18-19, which says the Spirit anointed Jesus to go to the poor, the brokenhearted, the blind, and those in captivity. This passage tells how to maintain a good ground: go to the people the Holy Spirit wants to reach. Obviously, a good ground alone does not create a complete circuit. We can’t neglect our connection to the power source, God Himself. Only with both connections intact can we see God’s power flow. People seek the anointing for many reasons. Some want to build something; some want to become more influential; some have self-image problems and want to be admired. Each of these motives can be godly. God calls some of us to build a church or a ministry. He sometimes tells us He wants to give us more influence. And He restores our soul, making us into people who become the head and not the tail. The anointing plays a part in these and other agendas. But in my own life, the anointing has increased the most when I used it to serve people. And as I have watched my friends grow in the anointing, they too seem to be at their best when they give themselves to others. If we get our eyes on ourselves – my ministry, my gifts, my calling – the anointing ebbs. If we get our eyes on the poor, the blind, the brokenhearted, and the captives, the anointing increases. Jesus makes it simple. He told us there are two main commandments: to love God with all our heart, and to love one another. The first commandment hooks us to the power source; the second commandment connects us to the ground. And this gives a complete circuit, and the power of God can flow. more...
Steorn announces plans for widespread deployment of its free energy technology post-validation (January 11, 2007) - Steorn, the Irish technology development company, has today announced that its free energy technology will be made widely available to the development community immediately after the independent scientific validation process that is currently underway. Under the terms of a modified general public licence and for a nominal fee, Steorn's intellectual property will be made available concurrently to all interested parties, from individual enthusiasts to larger research organisations. Steorn is taking this bold move to accelerate the deployment and acceptance of its technology for both humanitarian and commercial products. Steorn's technology is based on the interaction of magnetic fields and allows the production of clean, free and constant energy. The technology can be applied to virtually all devices requiring energy, from cellular phones to cars. Steorn placed an advertisement in The Economist in August 2006 to attract the attention of the world's leading scientists working in the field of experimental physics. It has now completed the selection of its jury of scientists who have embarked on the testing of the technology prior to publishing their results worldwide. Sean McCarthy, CEO of Steorn, commented: "We have experienced enormous levels of interest in our free energy technology from the product development community. "Experience tells us that opening up access to technology to all interested parties via the internet allows for rapid third party development. We believe that our technology can have a profound impact on people's lives and are confident that the delivery of our intellectual property via this type of online development and engineering support environment will lead to the rapid deployment of all kinds of different products." | Technology | Sound too good to be true? Keep watching!