Israel and Syria - Several news items that look towards Isaiah 17

[Shammu]

Full text of king's message to Arab Summit
Rabat, Mar. 29 - King Mohammed VI addressed on Saturday a message to the 20th Arab Summit taking place in Damascus.

Here follows the text of the message.

During the two-day summit, the kingdom is represented by Prince Moulay Rachid, younger brother of king Mohammed VI, and Foreign Minister, Taieb Fassi Fihri.

Praise be to God               Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

 

My Dear Brother Dr. Bashar Al-Assad, Chairman of the Arab Summit,
My Dear Brothers, Your Majesties, Your Excellencies, Your Highnesses,
Mr. Secretary-General of the League of Arab States,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I should like, first, to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Bashar Al-Assad for the good preparatory work done for the Twentieth Arab Summit, which is being hosted by the sister nation, the Syrian Arab Republic.

Morocco, its King, Government and people wish to say how much they value the sincere, close brotherly bonds and solidarity between our two nations as well as the endeavours our countries are making to uphold the just causes of our Ummah and to defend Arab countries’ sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity. We remember, with deep reverence, the sacrifices of the Moroccan contingent and its heroic struggle, alongside the valiant Syrian forces, to defend the unity of the Syrian nation and to recover the occupied Golan Heights.

I am particularly pleased to express deep gratitude to my revered brother King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the tireless efforts he made as Chairman of the Arab Summit hosted by the sister nation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in order to implement the important resolutions adopted by our Conference.

This Summit Meeting is a good opportunity to take stock of joint Arab action and to pinpoint the obstacles impeding our work in order to forge ahead with the achievement of our objectives, in keeping with the commitment we made before our peoples to turn those objectives into reality. We need, to that end, to exert utmost efforts and bring about suitable conditions to overcome inter-Arab disputes, and to promote trust without which we cannot achieve our goals or fulfil the aspirations of our peoples for unity, concord and life in freedom and dignity.

Arab peoples are currently facing crucial challenges, both as an Ummah and as a regional grouping that are targeted by several parties. We need to join forces and muster all our resources to rise to these challenges; we also need to enhance our unity and to adopt a future-oriented approach. Allowing inter-Arab artificial disputes to worsen and narrow-minded calculations to have the upper hand over the supreme interests of our Ummah would only confirm our state of weakness and play into the hands of our enemies. Such an attitude would also be detrimental to our development efforts and impede the proper training of our youth and block their access to knowledge in a world in which qualified human resources are now the foremost asset.

More than ever before, we have to come up with realistic answers and objectives solutions to current challenges, adopting a bold albeit carefully tought-out approach.

Yet, such an objective cannot be achieved unless we protect our countries against the perils of division, dismemberment and weakness. At the same time, we need to adjust to global changes and the constraints brought about by the growing interdependence of international issues which call for collective action so that they may be properly addressed in a fast changing world. Whether at regional or international level, the world today is governed by forces which are neither balanced nor stable. Unless we adjust to the constraints around us, the conditions of our Ummah will remain unchanged. Worse still, the absence of decisive, clear-sighted and practical reforms could, God forbid, entail dreadful consequences for us.
To overcome this regrettable situation and stop the downward spiral, the first, urgently-needed step is to cleanse the inter-Arab environment. What this means is that we have to commit in good faith to constructive dialogue, avoid measures which impede joint Arab action, and stop using false excuses and pretexts to undermine all meaningful attempts to foster concord, solidarity and complementarity, whether these attempts are made through coherent regional groupings, or via a strong Arab bloc capable of fulfilling the true aspirations of our peoples for mutual progress and carefully planned integration. Needless to say, integration is an absolute necessity in today’s world of strong blocs and coalitions in which isolated countries are inevitably perceive as fragile entities, let alone fragmented countries.

In view of the above, I wish to reiterate Morocco’s commitment to continue to work with all sister nations and neighbouring countries in order to strengthen brotherly relations and to build a common future. My country highly values the excellent political relations it has with sister countries that are just as committed to defending our vital causes. This is a characteristic trait of our policy, be it at bilateral, regional or international levels.

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Morocco is seeking to bolster this approach with concrete measures and realistic policies in which the economy is the central element. Not only is the economy the driving force of change and the gateway to fulfilling the aspirations of our peoples, but it contributes directly to the development of our societies and has a direct bearing on the daily lives of our citizens.

Without the contribution of the economy, our shared history would remain a mere chapter in the collective memory of our peoples; a distant recollection and a lamentation over past glory; an impassioned but nonetheless empty slogan.

Now is the time to join forces, adopt unified stances and work resolutely and in good faith to rise to the real challenges confronting the Ummah by pledging to preserve our countries’ sovereignty, territorial integrity and distinctive national values. We need to coordinate our action in order to defend our collective security and our stability in the face of the terrorist threat looming not only over our countries but the entire world. We also need to join forces to achieve sustainable development through effective mechanisms and concrete projects.

This is precisely the approach used by Morocco, both domestically and in its foreign policy. It has launched constructive initiatives through Arab joint ventures and local human development efforts. I wish, in this respect, to praise the co-operation relations my country has with sister Arab nations, especially with the fast developing Gulf States. I am also keen to ensure the promising Agadir Free Trade Agreement, which is open to Arab Mediterranean countries, is effectively and properly implemented.

Morocco will do its utmost to foster regional integration for this is the very basis of the much-desired Arab unity. Hence, building on the justness of its cause and the legitimacy of its rights, my country will continue to work in good faith for the revitalization of the great Arab Maghreb Union, regardless of current obstacles and arguments which do not tally with the desired unity and solidarity. Not only is our commitment dictated by the time-honoured bonds of brotherhood, but it also constitutes today - as it will in the future - an indispensable strategic approach and the bedrock for the consolidation of this Western part of our Ummah. It is a commitment which is fully in line with the letter and the spirit of the Union’s Marrakech founding treaty, a covenant which is based on respecting Member States’ national unity and territorial integrity, and on preserving their characteristic principles and distinctive national features. I should like, in this regard, to commend the fruitful example of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as the close, multi-faceted partnership and the effective, brotherly relations of solidarity Morocco has with its member countries.

Consistent with its innovative approach to boost the mechanisms of joint Arab action, Morocco’s endeavours are not restricted to inter-governmental action only, no matter how important that is. Its action also includes various political, representative, economic, social, cultural and associative stakeholders.

Excellency, Mr. President,
Your Majesties,
Your Excellencies,
Your Highnesses,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Palestinian question remains one of our foremost concerns. Morocco wishes to reiterate its unwavering support for the legitimate Palestinian National Authority, under the leadership of our militant brother, His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, especially in the current difficult circumstances the Palestinian people are experiencing, and which make it incumbent upon them to close their ranks.

We strongly condemn the aggressive practices of the Israeli occupation forces, especially the unjust blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.  We also condemn the acts of aggression against innocent civilians, particularly children and women, which are a blatant violation of international agreements and of international humanitarian law.

We call on the Israeli government to stop the policy of occupation and collective punishment against the Palestinian people. This policy is a threat to all constructive peaceful initiatives, particularly the Arab Peace Initiative, which constitutes a balanced, realistic approach that opens up prospects for a just, comprehensive and lasting solution in the Middle East; a solution which guarantees the establishment of a viable Palestinian State, with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital; a solution based on full Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories. Morocco wishes to reaffirm its readiness to exert efforts and support all peaceful initiatives in order to put an end to the occupation.
We also call on all parties to make the most of the environment created by the Annapolis Conference, lest despair replace the flicker of hope brought about by that conference concerning the reinvigoration of the peace process in the Middle East. This means all parties should avoid any unilateral action which might constitute a violation of their obligations under the relevant agreements, the Road Map or any other related instrument.

Similarly, we hope states and international financial institutions and organizations will step up the pace of providing financial resources to the Palestinian National Authority, in keeping with the decisions of the Paris Donors’ Conference. This would rekindle hope among Palestinians and encourage them to become actively involved in the peace process we are all yearning for.

As Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, I call upon all influential international powers to adopt a firm stance towards Israel in order to preserve the legal status of this holy city, and to force Israel to give up its plans to alter the city’s religious and cultural features.

While it welcomes all measures designed to bring peace in the region, Morocco believes it is high time Arabs showed initiative, not only to assert their sincere quest for peace, but also to put an end to this dark episode and to stop waiting for solutions which might or might not come. This, however, cannot be achieved unless we close ranks, adopt unified stances and seek to address - collectively - the real problems of our Ummah, instead of wasting our energies on artificial disputes and desperate radical stances. Our peoples have grown particularly weary of these attitudes which are, in fact, used by our enemies to undermine our cultural values and to distort the essence of the pristine Islamic faith.

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Consistent with the same spirit designed to foster concord, close ranks and encourage unified positions in tackling the real problems of the Ummah, and having been one of the foremost players in the formulation of the Taef Agreement, Morocco will continue to exert all the efforts needed to help achieve a consensual agreement based on the plan adopted by the Council of the Arab League; an agreement which preserves the interests of Lebanon and protects that country’s national unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, stability and security, while ensuring the prosperity of neighbouring countries and of the entire region.

The tragic, extremely painful situation in Iraq is also a matter of deep concern for us. This country ought to be able to recover its full sovereignty and preserve its territorial integrity. I therefore call upon all political and religious factions to opt for wisdom and to make sincere efforts to put an end to the crisis and to the deadly cycle of violence, destruction and terrorism. The supreme interests of the Iraqi people and their aspirations for unity, concord, peace and security should trump all other considerations.

In the same spirit of unity and concord, Morocco wishes to reiterate its support for all goodwill initiatives to promote peace, understanding and harmony in the Sudan, Somalia and the Comoros. Whatever the circumstances, our guiding principle is to ensure respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arab countries and to overcome current disputes and disagreements.


Excellency, Mr. President,
Your Majesties,
Your Excellencies,
Your Highnesses,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Kingdom of Morocco will continue to work in good faith, launch constructive initiatives and contribute to all meaningful efforts to lay the groundwork for integrated Arab partnership, and to develop a collective system designed to improve the mechanisms of joint Arab action. Such an innovative, efficient system should provide for conditions conducive to inter-Arab co-operation, promotion of investments, better economic performance and more qualified human resources. It should also be able to help us rise to the challenge of globalization, and allow us to be effectively involved in the knowledge and communication-based society, and to uphold the principles of democracy and human rights, taking into account the specificities of each country and people, as well as their own free will and development pace.

I pray that Almighty God guide our steps, grant us wisdom and help us achieve the success of this Summit Conference in Damascus, the stronghold of Arabism. Not only would this enable us to fulfil the aspirations of our peoples and to strengthen time-honoured brotherly bonds between us – thanks to effective solidarity, sincere unity, sound integration and comprehensive development - but it would also allow us to overcome the obstacles impeding our action, and to play a regional and global role commensurate with our Ummah’s potentialities.


Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh. 

Full text of king's message to Arab Summit

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Syria and Palestine first
By Akiva Eldar
28/03/2008

Once every few months the reports about the negotiations with the Palestinians are replaced by news about the Syrian channel. The news this week was that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told foreign correspondents he is willing to make peace with Syria and expressed hope that circumstances will be ripe for renewed talks with Damascus.

This was preceded by leaks about secret contacts mediated by Turkey and open messages via Russia. Again the politicians are repeating the argument that it is easier and safer to do business with Syrian President Bashar Assad's sovereign regime than with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' weak government. Again the pundits are writing that Jerusalem's rapprochement with Damascus will keep Syria away from Tehran, undermine Hezbollah's strength and restrain Hamas. Four birds with one set of negotiations.

And again, before we discover whether this time we are talking about genuine developments, the call "Syria first" is being heard. Until next time.
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Thus the Syrian option is hovering in the political atmosphere and conveying the sweet illusion that if the Palestinian channel is blocked, Israel will not be bereft.

Around the corner awaits a more attractive Syrian bride. First we will sign a peace treaty with Syria, and eventually, when the Palestinians turn into Finns, as Dov Weissglas said (as though the Syrians are Swedes), we will talk to them about what remains of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

It would be irresponsible to repeat the strategic mistake of Ehud Barak, who put then-PA chief Yasser Arafat on ice until the treaty with Hafez Assad ripened.

With Syria, Israel has a border conflict (until proven otherwise). On the other hand, the conflict with the Palestinians touches on the roots of the state's ethnic national identity and its symbols.

Jerusalem is sacred to the Arabs, including the Palestinians, unlike Majdal Shams. A peace treaty with the Palestinians, which would offer a consensual solution to the dispute over the Temple Mount, would bring about a significant change in Israel's relations with the Arab and Muslim world.

It is difficult to assume that such a change would take place in the wake of peace with Syria, at a time when the bloody conflict with the Palestinians continues, centering on the question of Jerusalem and the refugee problem.

Let's assume Barak had not gotten cold feet at the last moment and had returned home in January 2000 from the Shepherdstown talks with a peace treaty with Syria. The central item then-president Bill Clinton submitted to the parties in the draft agreement was a full withdrawal form the Golan.

After Syria had received the Golan Heights, to the last meter more or less, Arafat would have been pushed into toughening his stance on the territorial issue in general and Jerusalem in particular.

At present the confrontation with Hamas limits the margins of Abbas' concessions even further.

On the other hand, boycotting Syria does not promote progress in the Palestinian channel, to put it mildly. The threads from Damascus (and Tehran) lead to the bastions of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From there they infiltrate the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and here and there they also reach the Arab community in Israel.

The question is therefore not whether Israel is interested in renewing diplomatic negotiations with Syria and opening the way to an agreement with Lebanon. It is hard to exaggerate the value of a peace treaty with an Arab country on the Israeli border that is stockpiling long-range missiles.

Even if Syria does not hurry to part from Iran and sever its connections with Hezbollah and Hamas, an end to the conflict between it and the Jewish state would be an achievement for the pragmatic axis (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan) in its difficult struggle with the extremist Sunni-Shi'ite axis.

It may turn out Assad is interested only in negotiations and not their outcome. But Olmert must put the seriousness of the Syrian president's intentions to a real test.

We should talk to everyone, about everything, all the time. After all, Olmert claims he accepts the principles of the Arab peace initiative. It says there: a full peace in exchange for all the territories. Without exceptions. To receive concessions we need negotiations.

Syria and Palestine first

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Arab summit divided by no-shows

By SALAH NASRAWI, Associated Press Writer Fri Mar 28, 4:08 PM ET

DAMASCUS, Syria - Top Arab leaders are boycotting this weekend's Arab summit in Damascus to protest Syria's hard-line stances in nearly every crisis in the Mideast.

The gathering has deepened the rift between the region's pro-U.S. camp and Iran's ally Damascus.

The no-shows by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon are an embarrassment to Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose government had hoped the summit on Saturday and Sunday — billed as "the summit of joint Arab action" — would boost its prestige.

By staying away, the countries aimed to show Damascus the diplomatic cost of its hard line on Lebanon and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But it is likely instead to strengthen Damascus' alliance with Iran and the Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups.

"There are now two axes — Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah are on one side and the rest are on the another," said Wahid Abdel-Meguid of the Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

Arab summits are all about protocol and symbolism, and in that language, the show of disdain from top U.S.-allies Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan could not be more clear.

In an unprecedented move, they are sending minor officials rather than their heads of state — or even their prime ministers or foreign ministers. Egypt's delegation will be headed by its parliamentary affairs minister. Saudi Arabia and Jordan are sending their Arab League ambassadors.

Lebanon is boycotting the summit completely, the first time an Arab country has refused to send a delegation since Arab leaders began holding annual summits in 2000. The Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora accuses Syria of blocking attempts to elect a new Lebanese president.

Even Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh decided Friday not to come, sending his vice president in his place — perhaps to curry favor with its powerful neighbor Saudi Arabia or because the summit appeared unlikely to endorse a Yemeni proposal for reconciliation between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas.

"Syria is losing friends, one after the other," said Mansour Hayal, a Yemeni political analyst.

America's Arab allies are angry at Syria in particular over Lebanon, where they demand Damascus open the way to the election of a president. The two camps are in a yearlong struggle for control of Lebanon — the United States, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are strong supporters of Saniora's government, while Syria backs Hezbollah, the militant group that leads the Lebanese opposition.

The opposition has been boycotting Lebanon's parliament for months, preventing it from electing a president, a post that has been empty since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud's term ended in November.

Arab countries, which are mostly Sunni-led, are also nervous about Syria's controversial alliance with Shiite Iran.

In all, nine heads of state from the Arab League's 22 members are not attending the Damascus gathering.

The annual summit is frequently plagued by no-shows, often because of personal disputes among leaders. But this year, the differences are sharper and the snubs even more pointed.

With the no-shows, the headliners at this year's summit are Assad, Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who were arriving with other delegations Friday.

But Damascus may benefit from the absences, which ensure the summit will not pressure it to change its stances toward Lebanon or the Palestinians. Also, Syria showed it won't be forced to exchange its strong alliance with Iran for approval from Arabs.

"The Syrian axis is coherent and they have a clear objective and they are working in an organized way," said Abdel-Meguid, the analyst in Cairo.

Arab summit divided by no-shows

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Syria Deploys Troops to Border
CBNNews.com
April 2, 2008

CBNNews.com - According to the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi, Syrian troops are on high alert against an Israeli invasion.

Three Syrian armored divisions, nine infantry brigades and Special Forces have been deployed along the border with Lebanon's Bekaa valley.

According to the paper, Syrian officials believe remarks by senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials and statements in the Israeli media indicate that Israel is preparing for war.

In response, Syria is conducting military maneuvers at the border, calling up reservists and warning its citizens to prepare for war.

This weekend, Syria's interior ministry will announce the results of an investigation into the assassination of arch-terrorist Imad Mugniyeh, killed by a car bomb in an upscale neighborhood of Beirut, on February 12.

The report is expected to concur with accusations by Hezbollah spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, claiming Mossad (Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations) agents targeted Mugniyeh.

The article stated that Hezbollah has refrained from revenge attacks to avoid giving Israel an excuse to attack them, but others believe the pinpoint assassination frightened them.

The same fear prompted leaders of Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip and West Bank (Judea and Samaria) to exercise caution in their day-to-day activities.

"If Israel managed to get to Mughniyeh, leaders of Islamic Jihad, Hamas and others will be an easy target," one official said.

Meanwhile, in a briefing Tuesday to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Israeli intelligence officials said Hezbollah may engage a third-party to strike Israel.

"We clearly identify a great deal of activity among Hezbollah. It is growing stronger on all levels, improving its systems, its units and is receiving a great deal of weapons and missiles for medium and long distances," intelligence officials told committee members.

"Hezbollah is readying itself for an escalation that may break out in the north as a result of an operation against Israel. We are not discounting any possibility. There are assessments that they may carry out an operation in the north through another organization," the officials said.

"Hezbollah is operating in southern Lebanon, mostly in villages, in secret and in civilian garb," said the officials.

On Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Harel and GOC Northern Commander Major General Gadi Eisenkut toured the northern border.

"We are looking at this calm and quiet view, but we know that underground there is a great deal of activity," Barak said.

"Hezbollah is growing more powerful, but so are we, and we are following developments," the defense minister said.

"Meanwhile, Hezbollah is deterred, but we are on guard. There is daily activity of combat troops, and we are learning the lessons of the last war. Israel is the strongest country in the region, and I would not recommend that any one from the other side of the border test us," Barak said.

Check out this post I made back on Mar. 16, 2008 Syrian FM: War with Israel possible At the same time remember Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

Syria Deploys Troops to Border

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Syria to hold emergency drill

(Video) Damascus announces nationwide drill aimed at testing security forces, civil administration's readiness for emergencies, natural disasters
Roee Nahmias

VIDEO - Syria, watchful of Israel's nationwide emergency drill, announced Wednesday it would be holding a home front emergency drill of its own in the coming days.

Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari briefed his cabinet on the coming drill, which is expected to include all of Syria's provinces.

According to Syrian media, the drill will test the country's readiness and ability to handle natural disasters. Al-Otari called on all Syrians to cooperate with the authorities and follow security forces and civil administrations' instructions during the drill.

General Hassan Turkmani, Syria's defense minister, stressed the importance of holding the drill as means to boost coordination between the various emergency authorities in Syria, saying the drill will "help all (authorities) work together in times of crisis, to ease their subsequent damage as much as possible."

Syria's armed forces, he added, would do all in their power to assist the civil authorities participating in the drill.

Syria to hold emergency drill

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For those of you that don't know how big Damascus really is here is an aerial view of Damascus............

http://www.geoeye.com/gallery/ioweek/archive/01-11-11/index.htm


The Damascus skyline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DamascusSkyline.jpg

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Syria bracing for Israeli attack
04.14.08

Qatari newspaper al-Watan reports of Syrian preparations against Israeli strike during coming summer; says Israel looking to May, June as possible window for attack
Roee Nahmias

VIDEO - Is Syria preparing for war? Qatar's al-Watan newspaper reported Monday that political and media sources in Damascus expressed concerns that war may breakout between Israel and Syria before long.

According to the report, the nationwide emergency drill held by Damascus in response to a similar drill held by Israel last week, is one of the preemptive steps taken by Syria, which is supposedly responding to reports of Israel holding strategy meeting with the US in an attempt to devise an attack on both Syria and Iran.

Israel, claimed the report, is eyeing the period between the end of May to mid June as a possible window of attack; and the proof, as a senior Syrian official told al-Watan, is in the fact that the Israeli drill covering the Golan Heights was closely monitored by a high-ranking American general.

This close cooperation, added the source is evident that the two wish to send a message to the "resistance" in the area, namely Syria, Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas, that any the US is aware of the fact that any American strike against Iran may entail the latter bombing Israel and launching two new fronts against Syria and Lebanon.

Though titled a readiness drill against natural disasters, the Syria-crossing drill, added the report, has raised public concerns of a Mideast war pending in the summer.

Syria bracing for Israeli attack

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Russia sells air defense system to Syria
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:17:31

Russia 'has started the delivery of the most modern self-propelled short-range missile air defense system, Pantsyr-S1, to Syria'.

On Tuesday a Syrian military delegation arrived to Tula, Russia, where the system is produced, to take its first order, the system's designers told Reuters.

Pantsyr-S1 is a short-range, mobile air defense system, combining anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles. It can simultaneously engage two separate targets, ranging from aircraft to missiles and guided bombs.

United Arab Emirates funded the development of the system and were the first to make an order.

Last year Israel, angered by the deal, said Syria took delivery in mid-August of 10 batteries of the Russian Pantsyr-S1.

Russian officials including First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov denied the allegation and said: “Only in 2008 Pantsyr will be delivered to customers.”

Russia sells air defense system to Syria

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Russia sure is getting all Israel's enemies armed to the teeth. Iran, Syria, Libya. And the US is getting Israel set up and ready too. It's as if they all know a major war is about to break out. Isn't it amazing how all the end time players are all involved in all of this?? And how Israel is the center of world attention. And, how it all will come down to Jerusalem??

How can people doubt God's Word is truth??

[nChrist]

Russia sure is getting all Israel's enemies armed to the teeth. Iran, Syria, Libya. And the US is getting Israel set up and ready too. It's as if they all know a major war is about to break out. Isn't it amazing how all the end time players are all involved in all of this?? And how Israel is the center of world attention. And, how it all will come down to Jerusalem??

How can people doubt God's Word is truth??

Good Morning DreamWeaver!

Brother, the hundreds of prophecies completed perfectly should be enough to convince anyone. However, many people choose not to believe the Bible at all, or they choose to believe only portions of the Bible that they like. Sadly, this includes many Christians. CREATION and Bible Prophecy are just two examples.

YES - the world appears to be getting RIPE for the End Days of this Age of Grace. Many think that the time is growing short, and I'm one of them. So, how long is short? The ONLY answer is GOD'S PERFECT TIME!

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

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Syrian official: We won't cut ties with Hizbullah and Iran for peace
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST    Apr. 30, 2008

A source close to Syrian President Bashar Assad claimed Syria will not sever its ties with Hizbullah and Iran, even in the framework of a peace agreement with Israel, reported Army Radio Wednesday.

In an interview on Hizbullah's Al-Manar satellite television station Tuesday night, Dr. Samir Al-Taki said that "it would be naïve to think we'd neglect our strategic alliances."

Referring the concept of Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, he said that "no one can rule in Damascus without holding the release of the [Golan Heights] as a priority."

According to Army Radio, Dr. Taki, is the Syrian representative in indirect contact with Israel.

Syrian official: We won't cut ties with Hizbullah and Iran for peace

[nChrist]

Syrian official: We won't cut ties with Hizbullah and Iran for peace
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST    Apr. 30, 2008

A source close to Syrian President Bashar Assad claimed Syria will not sever its ties with Hizbullah and Iran, even in the framework of a peace agreement with Israel, reported Army Radio Wednesday.

In an interview on Hizbullah's Al-Manar satellite television station Tuesday night, Dr. Samir Al-Taki said that "it would be naïve to think we'd neglect our strategic alliances."

Referring the concept of Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, he said that "no one can rule in Damascus without holding the release of the [Golan Heights] as a priority."

According to Army Radio, Dr. Taki, is the Syrian representative in indirect contact with Israel.

Syrian official: We won't cut ties with Hizbullah and Iran for peace

Good Morning DreamWeaver,

Christians should quickly note the Promise of GOD that Damascus will be reduced to ruin, so this should infer that Syria will have a role in the WRATH that is to come. GOD'S WORD proclaims it, so it WILL BE DONE! Realistically, we shouldn't expect anything good from the nations that will come against Israel. If there is something good, it will be to deceive for another purpose and advantage for another time to strike Israel. It really is just this simple. Bible Prophecy should not be "spiritualized" or otherwise dismissed. They are the promises of GOD that will most certainly happen. No power in the universe can slow, hasten, or stop GOD'S Perfect Time. GOD'S WILL BE DONE, AND IT WILL BE! As Christians, we should be praying for Israel every day and always remember that JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF is the anointed KING of Israel, and HE will TAKE HIS Rightful Throne - The Throne of David in Jerusalem. No Power will be able to stop HIM, and HE Will subject ALL things under HIS FEET!

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

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'Peace isn't the only way to get Golan'
Jun. 14, 2008
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

Several weeks after Jerusalem announced the renewal of indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, one senior member of the foreign ministry suggested that if Israel did not willingly give up the Golan, then Syria would take it by force.

During a press conference to Jordanian reporters on Saturday, Syrian deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad said that Syria has "other options" to "liberate" the Golan, adding that should hostilities erupt, his country would be able to "protect its land within minutes."

Speaking directly to Israeli residents of the Golan - whom he labeled "settlers" - the foreign minister warned that they should not "raise their sons in the Golan, for this is not their place."

He addressed Israel with a question: Would it be better to return the heights to Syria "peacefully and without blood," or would a war be necessary?

Mekdad's message to the Golan's residents implied that in case of war, the civilian population there would be a Syrian target.

Also during the press conference the foreign minister offered a glimpse into the status of the indirect talks, saying that they were based on "Rabin's pledge." According to the Syrians, after negotiations between the two countries began in the early 1990s, former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin promised then-Syrian president Hafeez Assad that any agreement would include the transfer of territory to Syria.

Israeli media reported recently that the said "pledge" had been relayed to Assad without Rabin's explicit consent.

'Peace isn't the only way to get Golan'
~~~~~~~~

Sounds like Syria is trying to fulfill prophecy, and negotiations are getting a little testy.........