BEYOND GAZA Confrontation With Iran

BEYOND GAZA Confrontation With Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (right) embraces Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Source: Khamenei’s Twitter account, posted May 24, 2021. (Note: Haniyeh’s wealth is estimated at $4 Billion)

 

According to Iran, Iran’s main interest for launching the Hamas attack on Israel was—and remains—to prevent the United States from brokering the Saudi-Israel normalization deal.

Iran recognized, or I should say, Satan recognized, that a Saudi-Israel, U.S. led peace deal was NOT IN THEIR INTERESTS and presented too big of a threat for putting Turkey-Iranian interests out of reach. 

 

 

BEYOND GAZA
Confrontation With Iran

10/30/23 By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Iran’s leaders seem to have concluded that the objectives of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack—which they encouraged the terrorist group to undertake—were achieved in a manner that surpassed their expectations. They apparently see no need to sacrifice their most valued asset in the war (Hezbollah), and are therefore now trying to avoid getting Hezbollah, and their own forces, involved in a full-blown war with Israel.
The dramatic reinforcement of the US military presence in the region is certainly contributing to their concerns. Tehran has always regarded its Lebanese proxy—with an arsenal of 140,000 missiles, primarily as a deterrence against strikes on Iran’s own nuclear installations. For now, Iran’s goal is to deny Israel the chance of fulfilling its commitment to destroy Hamas and remove it as the ruler of the Gaza Strip. If Hamas maintains control of Gaza, even after suffering major punishment, Iran would consider that a great victory.

Iran’s main interest was—and remains—to prevent the United States from brokering Saudi-Israel normalization. Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian wasted no time declaring during the first week of the war that this goal had already been achieved. For his part, Prince Turki Al Faisal, former head of Saudi intelligence, has confirmed that in his view, sabotaging the deal was the aim of the operation.

The Iranians are extremely concerned that a Saudi-Israel normalization would pave the way for the establishment of a US-led security architecture in the Middle East, in which Arab and Israeli armies and intelligence services would cooperate. They are also worried that the deal would improve Israel’s standing in the region to a new level that would give them more access to the Temple Mount and possibly even give them the potential for building their temple. So they stepped in to stop it!

Oct. 7 dealt a severe blow to Israel’s image as a powerful actor, enabling Iran to pour cold water on those Arabs seeking reconciliation and collaboration with the Jewish state. Israeli intelligence was stripped of its formidable reputation, the armored units and infantry were not deployed properly for defense and the air force was not on alert. All this happened despite numerous pieces of intelligence that should have alerted Israel to the possibility that Hamas intended to go on the offensive.

The evacuation of 100’s of thousands of inhabitants from towns and smaller communities in the Gaza border region and the north of Israel is interpreted by them as a precursor to the unraveling of the Jewish state in the future.

By igniting pro-Palestinian sentiment all over the Arab world, the “Axis of Resistance”—as Iran and its allies define themselves—managed not only to stall progress on the Saudi-Israeli track, but to cause strain in the relations between Israel and its two oldest peace partners, Jordan and Egypt.

In the weeks preceding Oct. 7, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers, headed by Quds Force commander Gen. Esmail Ghaani, held secret meetings in Beirut and Damascus with Nasrallah and members of his “Jihad Council,” Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders. They assisted Hamas in adopting a version of the plan devised for Hezbollah’s commando troops, the Radwan Force, to mount raids into Israel.

Supposedly, for reasons of secrecy, the Iranians were not advised of the zero hour or exact scale of the attack. However, Hamas received from Iran a promise to open up other fronts, though not a commitment for an all-out war by Hezbollah or Iran. It is quite telling that a fortnight after the war broke out, one of Hamas’s top leaders, Khaled Mashaal, expressed in public his disappointment with the scope of skirmishes initiated by Hezbollah, declaring that ”history is not written with hesitant, limited steps.”

The Hamas military leadership—Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif and a handful of their colleagues—had to choose between opting for a limited raid to take hostages, that might later be exchanged for Hamas prisoners in Israel, or staging an offensive on a scale far bigger than ever before, all along the 70-kilometer (43 mile) border of walls and fences between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The Iranian promise of backing steered them towards the more ambitious course: a brigade-size assault by their commandos, the Nukhba (“Elite”), employing motorized gliders, pick-up trucks with machine guns and motorbikes for a dawn attack on 22 villages, two towns and 11 army bases. Some of the Hamas groups penetrated 30 kilometers (19 miles) into Israel.

Hamas decided to risk this large-scale attack out of a desire to make sure the Israeli response would be a declaration of war rather than just one more round of air strikes lasting at most a few weeks, without substantial ground operations. One can assume that Hamas felt that Hezbollah and Iran would be hard pressed not to deliver on their promise for a multifront response once the IDF was maneuvering into Gaza. The coming days will show whether this bet was justified.

The Evil Principles of Hamas
Muqawwama [Resistance] Doctrine

To understand the calculations of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, one has to bear in mind the principles of the “Muqawwama [Resistance] Doctrine” adhered to by them for decades. This doctrine was refined by the late Qassem Soleimani, founder of Iran’s regional network of militias, who was assassinated by the United States near Baghdad in 2020.

There is no published document elaborating this doctrine, but its main pillars appeared in an article in The Jerusalem Report a few years ago:

Peace is not an option. The Arab world must not, because of temporary hardship, be dragged into recognizing Israel and accepting its existence through peace agreements. When in need of a respite, it is permitted to reach hudna (“armistice”) agreements, valid for a limited period only, with the “Zionist regime.” Thus both Hezbollah and Hamas could maintain long periods of calm along Israel’s borders.

It is not necessary to wait for there to be a balance of power. On the contrary, even when the balance of forces is clearly in the enemy’s favor, they uphold the imperative of continual warfare, if only on a small scale. The military disadvantage can be narrowed through innovative tactics.
Do not fight over territory. The goal of the Muqawwama is the methodical erosion of the enemy’s resolve. There is no need to defend territory against Israeli occupation, or to try to conquer land. The essence is to spill blood, and since that is the case, it is better to focus on the civilian population as the primary target. The motto is blood, not land, and the effort is directed at denying victory to the enemy, not at achieving a quick result.
Jihad is not a national struggle. Fighting is undertaken for the sake of Allah, and not out of patriotic sentiment.

The Arab state is not a suitable vehicle. The Muqawwama is not merely a military system, but a comprehensive alternative regime. The Arab states constitute a flawed and inefficient apparatus, unfit to conduct the historic battle. The task must be shouldered instead by the Islamic movements that, alongside their military activity, engage in societal reform through educational, health and business institutions.

By encouraging and supporting Hamas’ “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, Iran managed to subvert, for the time being, US President Joe Biden’s vision for a broad Arab-Israeli partnership in the Middle East. Yet Israeli success in destroying Hamas’s military capabilities may turn the tables. Taking Hamas out of the regional equation would constitute a painful setback for Iran’s aspirations to become the dominant power in the Levant.

The Israeli “Swords of Iron” counter-offensive must be given ample time to carry out its mission, including its focus on minimizing losses of Israeli soldiers and Gazan civilians. No one should expect a quick campaign. The IDF can break through into the heart of Gaza and sit on top of the large tunnel network in a matter of hours, but will not opt to send soldiers underground and must keep in mind that hostages are held there. This dilemma may translate into attrition tactics, waiting for Hamas to exhaust its fuel supplies, which are used to ventilate the tunnels. We may be looking at a series of major raids instead of one decisive offensive, while the air force maintains pressure by hunting down Hamas operatives and destroying infrastructure.

Whatever the tactics chosen by the IDF, they need our prayers!

20 Democratic Senators Voice Concerns Over Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal

20 Democratic Senators Voice Concerns Over Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Photo: Saudi Foreign Ministry)

20 Democratic Senators Voice Concerns Over Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal

10/6/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

A group of 20 liberal Democrat senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday to express support for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal, but also to raise concerns for the Palestinians in the potential agreement.

The senators, led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), shared with the president what they consider to be “the parameters of any potential proposal that aligns with U.S. security goals and advances your stated goals for long term peace, stability and justice in the region.”

The Biden administration would need to go through the Senate to approve certain aspects of the deal, such as a U.S. defense alliance with Saudi Arabia, and potentially with Israel too. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that if normalization talks with Riyadh would progress, the Biden administration would receive support from Israel in the effort to secure the two-thirds needed in the Senate vote.

In the letter, the senators said they are “concerned” about two demands that the Saudis have reportedly made in exchange for peace with Israel.

“Historically, security guarantees through defense treaties have only been provided to the closest of U.S. allies: democracies that share our interests and our values,” the senators wrote. “Further, the U.S. has long refrained from committing our nation to treaty-backed security guarantees in the volatile Middle East, a region rife with conflict.”

The senators underscored that it would take a “high degree of proof” to show that such a defense treaty aligns with U.S. interests. They mentioned Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record, aggressive foreign policy and involvement in the bloody war in Yemen.

Additionally, the senators raised their reservations about Saudi Arabia’s second demand from the United States – to help the kingdom develop a civilian nuclear program.

“While we should seriously consider whether it is in U.S. interests to help Saudi Arabia develop a domestic nuclear program, we should always maintain the high bar of the ‘gold standard’ 123 Agreement and insist on adherence to the Additional Protocol,” they wrote.

Under such, any nuclear deals between the U.S. and foreign nations require a commitment to nine nonproliferation criteria.

“The provision of more advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia should be done with careful deliberation to ensure that such equipment only be used for truly defensive purposes and does not contribute to a regional arms race,” they added.

The senators also urged the Biden administration to guarantee that the trilateral agreement would preserve the option of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They stressed that the agreement should include a “commitment by Israel not to annex any or all of the West Bank; to halt settlement construction and expansion; to dismantle illegal outposts (including those that have been retroactively “legalized”); and to allow the natural growth of Palestinian towns, cities and population centers and the ability to travel without interference between and among contiguous Palestinian areas.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who signed the letter, told reporters on Wednesday that he believes this “may be the last chance to salvage the possibility of a two-state solution.”

The letter to Biden was signed by Senators Murphy and Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

Prophetic Implications of Peace Between Israel and Saudi Arabia

Prophetic Implications of Peace Between Israel and Saudi Arabia

 

 

Prophetic Implications of Peace Between Israel and Saudi Arabia

10/3/23  By Tim Buck

Fotet.org

 

Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing an unprecedented, US-brokered deal that would see bilateral relations formed between Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Muslim world and Israel, the world’s only Jewish State. 

The momentum of these negotiations appears to be unstoppable and at this point, and a treaty seems inevitable. Which means, the hour is later than we think!

The Economist, a well-known periodical, has an article that says, “An Israeli-Saudi pact could upend the Middle East.”

Four key historic events occurred within the last two weeks, pointing favorably toward this Israel-Saudi peace and carrying significant prophetic implications:

 

September 20th — Bret Baier Interviews Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

In a Fox News interview with Bret Baier, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made some astounding statements.

“Mohammed bin Salman does little to hide his relish at the prospect of a strategic pact between America, Israel, and Saudi Arabia,” The Economist article stated. “In a rare television interview on September 20th, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the country’s de facto ruler acknowledged with a smile that an agreement is in the cards.”

“Every day we get closer. It seems it’s for the first time real [and] serious,” Mohammed bin Salman said, adding that a pact “would be the biggest historical deal since the Cold War.”

It was a fascinating interview. The United States is brokering this peace agreement, building upon the momentum of the Abraham Accords in 2020. What we see happening now is an extension of those Accords but much bigger and with much broader prophetic implication to include Saudi Arabia, the most important nation today in the Middle East.

The agreement could also have nuclear implications.

Part of the agreement could be to allow Saudi Arabia to begin nuclear enrichment under the condition that it be done strictly for civil purposes—nuclear reactors, etc. But of course, we know how that often expands into military use.

If that takes place, it would have major ramifications for the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran has already warned Saudi Arabia against entering into this normalization of relations with Israel. Their relationship, which has not been good in the past, is now even more at odds.

In the interview between Bret Baier and Mohammed bin Salman on Fox News, the two also discussed the prospect of the Iranians obtaining their own nuclear weapon. The Crown Prince said, “We are concerned of any country getting a nuclear weapon,” adding that, should the Iranians successfully develop such a weapon, “we will have to get one.”

Iran is a Shiite Muslim nation, and Saudi Arabia is the leader of the Sunni Muslim world. What he is saying here, in essence, is if there’s a Shiite bomb, then there’s going to be a Sunni bomb as well. As part of the negotiations, the US may allow Saudi Arabia to have their own nuclear enrichment facility, run by the Americans—which could ultimately set up a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

 

September 22nd — Netanyahu Addresses UN General Assembly On The ‘Cusp’ Historic Treaty  

On September 22nd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, delivering a fascinating speech laced with Old Testament biblical references.

He says, “There’s no question the Abraham Accords heralded the dawn of a new age of peace. But I believe that we are at the cusp of an even more dramatic breakthrough, an historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia will truly create a new Middle East.”

“As the circle of peace expands, I believe that a real path towards a genuine peace with our Palestinian neighbors can finally be achieved,” Netanyahu continued.

“Such a peace will go a long way in ending Arab-Israeli conflict and will encourage other Arab States to normalize their relations with Israel,” he explained.

Netanyahu further suggested that an agreement with Saudi Arabia could improve the prospect of peace with the Palestinians and “encourage a broader reconciliation between Judaism and Islam, between Jerusalem and Mecca, between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael,” taking this all the way back to the beginning (Genesis 12:1-315-1821:1-21).

A normalization of relations will “bring forth the blessings of a New Middle East that will transform lands once filled with conflict and chaos, into fields of prosperity and peace,” he concluded.

 

September 26th — Israeli Foreign Diplomat Makes Historic Visit As Saudi Arabian Envoy Travels To The Palestinians

On September 26th we saw
two more significant events took place.

First, Israel’s tourism Minister, Haim Katz, traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend a United Nations World Tourism event in Riyadh—marking the first time an Israeli minister has taken a diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia. This is a historic breakthrough.

The very same day, while Israel’s delegation led by Haim Katz visited the country, Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed envoy to the Palestinians made his first visit to the West Bank, presenting his credentials to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

This is key because the main sticking point between Israel and Saudi Arabia is the Palestinian issue. They’ve got to work out some solution to that problem before they’re able to broker this final piece.

 

Four Events, One Week

A deal this crucial to Bible prophecy and the end times, that’s come storming upon the world and seems unstoppable, tells me the Lord is allowing this to go through. And if the Lord is allowing this it’s another major sign we are now in the full run-up to the coming 7-Year Tribulation Period.

The elusive phantom of a comprehensive Mideast peace deal, which has been sought since Israel was re-established in 1948, now seems to be within reach.

The prophetic significance of this is monumental. This is a major step because the Bible predicts a broad Middle East peace deal during the end times that creates greater security for Israel. Daniel 9:27 says that Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years.

As Bible prophecy teacher Charles Dyer noted, “What is this covenant the Antichrist will make with Israel? Daniel does not specify its content, but he does indicate it will extend for seven years. During the first half of this time Israel feels at peace and secure. So, the covenant must provide some guarantee for Israel’s national security. Very likely, the covenant will allow Israel to be at peace with her Arab neighbors. One result of the covenant is that Israel be allowed to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.” 

Remember that the coming peace treaty with Antichrist is what begins the seven-year tribulation period, not the rapture. The rapture will end the church age, and then after an indeterminate portion of time, Antichrist will come on the scene and forge this peace deal with Israel. That’s what begins the final seven-year period we know as the Tribulation.

Another point of significance is that this Saudi-Israel treaty is being brokered by an outside party—the United States, who also brokered the Abraham Accords under President Trump. You now have a precedent for these kinds of deals being brokered by a third party. This seems likely to be what will happen when Antichrist comes on the scene. He’s possibly going to be the third party who will bring the two sides together.

Interestingly, Daniel 9:27 says that Antichrist will “confirm” a covenant with the many. The word “confirm” can mean to strengthen. So it could be that there’s a covenant already in place, but he comes in to strengthen or enforce it. “Confirm” can also mean to compel or strongly establish. We see the beginnings of that now.

Also, the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia will put Saudi Arabia at massive odds with Turkey and Iran. These two nations are both mentioned in Ezekiel 38 as the top two nations in the Muslim coalition attacking Israel. They’re already leveling all kinds of accusations and warnings.

We also see that in Ezekiel 38, Sheba and Dedan, which points to the Arabian Peninsula and modern Saudi Arabia, will be on the opposite side of Turkey and Iran, during the final battle when Gog (Antichrist) of Magog (Turkey) (Ezekiel 38:13) invades Israel during the Battle of Armageddon..

 

Wrap Up

A Middle East peace is coming. According to God’s word, it will be temporary, a counterfeit peace, but it’s coming.

This comprehensive peace plan prophesied in Scripture is likely going to be finalized after the Rapture. So, if we can already see the initial dialogue, diplomacy, and the broad framework taking form, how close must the Rapture be?

This is another flashing red light on the dashboard of the ages, signaling that the Rapture is near. We need to remember and heed the words of Jesus in Luke 12:35-36,

35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.” 

WORLD NEWS UPDATE Israel and the Middle East

WORLD NEWS UPDATE Israel and the Middle East

WORLD NEWS UPDATE

Israel and the Middle East

10/2/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”

Psalms 2:1-3

 

In Israel 

five-man terrorist cell was recently arrested by Israel’s Shin Bet. The three Palestinians and two Israeli citizens were gathering intelligence for a plot to harm National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as a member of the Knesset. The cell was receiving its orders from Iran.

Israel Left Off Russia’s Financial Friends List

Last week, Russia published a list of more than 30 countries that are welcome to trade on their foreign exchange. Despite being included in the original draft created in the summer, Israel was left off the final document. This is just another sign of the deteriorating conditions between Moscow and Jerusalem brought on by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Netanyahu Addresses United Nations

It is said that one can tell how close they are to the truth by the number of people who attack them. If that is accurate, then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly must have been overflowing with truth. It was certainly one of the greatest speeches I’ve ever heard Bibi make in his long career as Prime Minister.

During his presentation, he spoke of a proposed trade route from India to the West that would pass through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. He emphasized the many new relationships that Israel is forging and showed a map of a new Middle East emphasizing these new friendships. He also said that the US and Saudi Arabia shouldn’t let the Palestinians have the right to veto a peace deal that would normalize relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh.

All the usual suspects took offense at what he said, including Iran, much of Europe, the U.S., and others.

Israel Joins US Visa Waiver Program

In a huge win for Prime Minister Netanyahu, the US has included Israel as the 41st country on its Visa Waiver list. This means that Israeli citizens may now enter the US without a visa and remain for up to 90 days. Netanyahu called the move a “significant and joyous moment for all Israeli citizens.”

Saudis Send Delegation Team to West Bank

Large strides have been made last few weeks in the pursuit of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Tuesday saw Saudi Arabia’s first ambassador to the Palestinian Authority arrive in the West Bank. The visit of Nayef al-Sudairi marked the first time a Saudi delegation has been in the West Bank since 1967.

At the same time, Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz arrived in Saudi Arabia for a conference, marking the first official visit of an Israeli minister to the country. Later in the week, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karai carried out an official visit, attending a conference in Saudi Arabia. The government of Israel is very optimistic regarding these developments.

Arab Nations Making Peace With Israel

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that he expects six or seven other Muslim nations to join Saudi Arabia in making peace with Israel. This would continue to expand the prophetic significance of peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia due to the wider impact of many Arab nations negotiating on the side of Israel for building their Temple on the Temple Mount.

Israeli Military Strikes Hamas in Gaza

Palestinians gathered Tuesday at the Gaza fence for a twelfth night of violent protests. After they floated incendiary balloons and kites over the border and threw all sorts of projectiles at Israeli forces, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck back hitting several Hamas targets. The next evening was more violence, and once more the IDF struck back destroying a border tunnel.

Deluge of Syrian Refugees Killing Lebanon’s Economy

Refugees of the Syrian Civil War are destroying Lebanon’s economy. The population of Lebanon is approximately 6 million. The latest estimate of Syrian refugees who have crossed the border is 2.5 million.

Lebanon is already in bad shape with the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group involved in every level of government. But to have the burden of these refugees is far more than the economy can handle. Other nations are calling on the EU and other parts of the world to help Lebanon before it, too, devolves into civil strife.

Ukraine Hits Russia’s Black Sea Headquarters in Crimea

Ukraine’s military hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Friday. In response, Russian missiles struck a high-rise building in Odessa used as Ukraine’s navy headquarters. Tuesday saw the Chkalovsky military airport near Moscow on fire following another Ukrainian attack. The back and forth of war continues.

Huge Explosion in Iran

A deafening noise accompanied a powerful tremor on Monday near the western Iranian city of Khorramabad. The authorities quickly explained it away as a minor 2.0 earthquake. “Not so fast,” said many. Near the epicenter of the event is an underground missile and weapons complex. According to witnesses, this below the surface cache was the source of what they say was a major explosion. The Iranian authorities deny the claim and Israel hasn’t said a word.

Canadian Parliament Unwittingly Honors Nazi War Criminal

Canada continues on it’s radical decline to the left.  On Friday, members of Canada’s parliament stood and applauded Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old World War II veteran, after he was introduced by Speaker Anthony Rota as a “Canadian hero”. The only problem was that Hunka served in a Nazi Waffen SS unit during the war.

There are certain things you just can’t come back from. Certainly for Hunka, who is now the subject of an extradition request by the Polish government. Also for Speaker Rota, who tendered his resignation Tuesday.

 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 19, 2023.
(Photo: Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS)

Saudi Arabia reportedly won’t make major Israeli concessions to Palestinians as a condition for normalization!

Saudi Arabia will not hold up a normalization deal with Israel if the Jewish state doesn’t agree to major concessions to the Palestinians, according to three regional sources who are familiar with the talks.

“The normalization will be between Israel and Saudi Arabia. If the Palestinians oppose it the kingdom will continue in its path,” one of the sources told Reuters.

“Saudi Arabia supports a peace plan for the Palestinians, but this time it wants something for Saudi Arabia, not just for the Palestinians.”

Riyadh would be satisfied with Israel’s pledge to ease certain restrictions that would fall well short of demands for Palestinian statehood, the source added.

Such concessions might include the transfer of some Israeli-controlled territory in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority (PA), limitations to the building of settlements and a pledge to not annex parts of the West Bank.

The Saudi Kingdom’s main goal in these talks is to receive a broad security agreement from the United States, according to the source.

While this probably won’t amount to a NATO-style alliance, an American source said that the agreement could be similar to U.S. treaties with Asian states like Japan or the U.S. agreement with Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet.

In addition, Washington could offer Riyadh the status of ‘Major Non-NATO Ally,’ a status that was already given to Israel and Egypt. While an Asian-style treaty would have to get passed by Congress, an agreement like the one with Bahrain would not face as many legal hurdles.

Saudi Arabia is willing to compromise on a NATO-style alliance but, in return, would demand additional guarantees for an agreement similar to the one with Bahrain.

Riyadh also showed a readiness to compromise on demands for a civil nuclear program, one source said.

On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the IDF and Mossad Intelligence would examine the Saudi nuclear issue before any agreement.

“Peace with Saudi Arabia is a welcome thing for Israel, but at the same time we will make every effort to hedge the risks and make sure that we are acting in the right and responsible direction,” Gallant said.

“The security system and I personally have been dealing with this issue since the beginning of the year. We have set up work teams for the issue and everything will operate on the right track through the IDF and the Mossad and then it will flow to the chief of staff and me. Every effort should be made to reach a move with Saudi Arabia,” he added.

 

 

 

Jewish men take part in the Hoshana Rabbah prayer on the seventh day of Sukkot at a lookout of the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Paying Attention:
The Rise of Israel’s Religious Right

The Rise of the religious-right in Israel, especially among Orthodox Jews, is an amazing site to behold and an increasing end-time sign aligning with Scripture. In the last days, a powerful religious element who believe in the Old Testament and who are seeking God, inside Israel, is necessary to successfully negotiate for Israel’s coming Temple.

 

PROPHECY UPDATE

PROPHECY UPDATE

PROPHECY UPDATE

By Tim Buck

9/14/2023

One of the most important international agreements in modern history is being secretly negotiated behind the scenes, and once it is publicly announced it could fundamentally change the geo-political make-up of the Middle East.

 

From a Bible prophecy perspective, what’s currently taking place has the potential to leap-frog us onto the doorstep of the Tribulation.

The ramifications of Saudi Arabia, the most fully committed Muslim country on earth, who serves as the religious authority and head of Islam, making a peace deal with the Jewish State is explosive enough. Add in the likelihood of Israel and Saudi Arabia partnering in support of a new home for the Palestinians and you have a whole new breakthrough in Bible prophecy.

 

That’s what we see happening in the near future and that’s why we’re asking for your prayers that our heavenly Father would graciously grant all of us a special discernment and wisdom in understanding His sovereign plan today!

 

Spiritual discernment is the skill of separating truth from error which Scripture encourages us to do, “examine everything carefully” (1 Thess. 5:21). It is a call to believers that is especially relevant in the last days with such deception taking place daily. Without discernment, you can get virtually any biblical truth, cultural trend or political development wrong.

The last days are challenging times for all of us that require a fresh intimacy with the Lord, new empowerment, godly discernment, added strength to persist and stamina to prevail in all He’s called us to do.

 

While we’re engaging and studying this month, we‘re also praying for you because we consider you part of this ministry through your giving, serving and prayers.

 

As we pray for you, will you pray along with us? We believe the Lord can fully prepare us to fulfill what He has called us to, but we know that “apart from Him, we can do nothing.” Will you please join us?

A Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal? Who Wants What, and Why! Part Three

A Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal? Who Wants What, and Why! Part Three

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C), and (R) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

 

A Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal?
Who Wants What, and Why!
Part Three

Palestinians Demand Territorial Concessions from Israel in Exchange for Saudi deal

9/9/23  By Tim Buck

Fotet.org

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.”Zechariah 12:2

Note: You can read part one HERE and part two HERE

The Palestinian Authority in Ramallah presents its list of conditions for supporting US-brokered peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) recently presented a list of demands for Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States to fulfill for it to approve a deal that would see Riyadh establish diplomatic relations with Jerusalem while receiving a NATO-like defense pact from Washington and a civilian nuclear program.

 

In a meeting with Saudi National Security Adviser Musaed al-Aiban, top PA officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas’ handpicked heir-apparent, Hussein al-Sheikh, discussed their desires, which followed closely to those leaked over a week ago from a meeting they held with US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf in Amman.
According to a BBC report citing a “senior Palestinian official familiar with the discussions,” these included concessions from all three countries:

  • The PA wants the Saudis to renew their annual $200 million in financial support, which had been greatly reduced in 2016 and then ceased in 2020 due to Riyadh’s displeasure over Palestinian corruption and non-governability over parts of its territory.
  • Ramallah is also demanding the U.S. force Israel back to the negotiating table, starting off from the point talks broke down in 2014 in Annapolis, Maryland, when, for example, Israel was reportedly willing to give up sovereignty in the

    Jordan Valley as long as the IDF could have a presence there for an unidentified period of time in order to ensure Israel’s security.

  • Another demand made of the Americans was to reopen their consulate in Jerusalem that served as Washington’s informal representation to the PA, which president Trump had closed.

 

According to a report last week in the Times of Israel, the reported laundry list for Washington was even longer.It included Washington’s supporting recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN, and canceling legislation such as the so-called “Pay for Slay” law that proscribes funding the PA directly until it stops paying generous salaries to Palestinians imprisoned in Israel for having committed terrorist attacks.

While the Saudis have already offered to restore financial aid, and the U.S. would probably not be averse to hosting peace negotiations once more, the embassy reopening would legally depend on Israel’s permission, which even its previous unity government had refused to give.

But the thorniest demands are those being made of Israel. The Palestinians are insisting that Israel “completely” stop all settlement growth in Judea and Samara, and also transfer control over parts of Area C to the PA, thereby turning them into Area B and effectively enlarging its territory.

Meanwhile, although several top American officials have been flying into Riyadh for discussions regarding the agreement, the talks are far from reaching completion on any side.

Make The Lord
Center of Your Life

According to Ezekiel, God placed Israel in the center of the nations,“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. Ez. 5:5.

 

After placing Israel as the navel of the earth, then God placed Jerusalem in the center of Israel and after that He placed the glorious Temple Mount in the center of Jerusalem.The center of the Temple Mount is the Temple and the centerpiece of the Temple is the Holy of Holies where the ark of the covenant takes center stage as a picture of all the precious ministries of Jesus who would shed His blood in order to be central in our lives every day! 

When the Temple of Solomon was sanctified (2 Chron. 7:1-3), and God moved in, the Shekinah glory of God filled the place, the priests were prostrated, and the Spirit brought a holy hush to the sanctuary. As the worshippers assembled no one was able to stand because the presence of God was so powerful.

Thus the Light was set on the lampstand, and the city set on God’s holy hill that all the world might walk in its light.