Current Events and Links

Prophetic Significance of Israel

Bodies of Israeli kidnapped teens found, government confirms

Jun. 30, 2014 -

The search for Eyal Yifrach, 19; Gilad Shaar, 16 and Naftali Frenkel, 16, who were snatched while hitchhiking, ended even as Israeli forces were conducting raids in the West Bank, where Hamas operates.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the kidnappings, and the Israel Security Agency identified two Hamas operatives from Hebron as key suspects.

Source: Fox

Prophetic Significance of Israel

Netanyahu blitzes foreign media over Iran’s nukes

Jun. 30, 2013 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu granted interviews to news networkd on the major world powers Sunday.

Netanyahu urged that a final agreement between the P5+1 countries and Iran be similar to that made with Syria over its chemical arsenal; that is, compete removal of the ability to manufacture the banned weapons.

He warned that Iran's proposed “surrender agreement” would allow them to maintain some of the equipment it needs to enrich uranium, and in the future Iran could “kick the inspectors aside, or deceive them, it’s done that in the past, and rush to make enriched uranium that is necessary to make nuclear bombs.”

Source: Times of Israel

Anti-Assad rebels said to seize 95% of Syrian Golan Heights

Jun. 29, 2014 -

Almost the entire Syrian side of the Golan Heights is now under the control of rebel forces, including radical Islamist groups, a senior Israeli military commander in the area said Friday.

So far the actual border region is still controlled by President Bashar Assad's military, but 95% of the Syrian portion of the Golan Heights is controlled by the al-Nasra front, which is opposed to the ISIS/ISIL movement that has spread into Iraq.

Source: Times of Israel

Israeli air strikes target Syria after Golan death

Jun. 23, 2014 - The Israeli military attacked nine targets in retaliation for a Syrian strike in the Golan Heights that killed 15-year-old Arab boy and injured two others.

Source: BBC

IAF strikes nine military targets in Syria - Times of Israel

Defense minister warns Assad against more attacks - Times of Israel

New Israeli President Opposes Palestinian State

Jun. 11, 2014 - Reuven Rivlin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, has been elected by Israel's parliament as their 10th president. He is known to be opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Rivlin subscribes to the more popular of the one-state solutions, which proposes granting the Palestinians a form of extended autonomy. Under the proposal, the Palestinians would be granted Israeli citizenship, but would vote for their own parliament.

Source: Israel Today

Fatah, Hamas spar in first major dispute since reconciliation

Jun. 10,, 2014 - The Hamas and Fatah formed a unity government about a week ago, but they are already having serious difficulty together.

Last week, the unity government began disbursing salaries to some 150,000 civil servants loyal to Abbas, but said it will take time to find a way to pay the former Hamas employees.

Hamas police responded by closing the banks so that Fatah employees can not be paid either.

Source: Times of Israel

Controversial show on Jewish ties to Israel finally goes on display

Jun. 10, 2014 - An exhibition about Jewish ties to the land of Israel will open tomorrow in Paris even though it was postponed in January because of Arab pressure, UNESCO exhibition, now cosponsored by US government, opens Wednesday in Paris.

The exhibit, entitled “People, Book, Land: The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People to the Holy Land,” was authored by Israeli historian Robert Wistrich for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which partnered with UNESCO on the initiative.

Source: Times of Israel

Israel denounces US for accepting Abbas’s Hamas-backed government

Jun. 2, 2014 - The US State Department announced that it will work with the new Palestinian unity government. Officials in Jerusalem disagreed with the US position, saying,

We are deeply disappointed by the comments of the State Department regarding working with the Palestinian unity government. This Palestinian government is a government backed by Hamas, which is a terror organization committed to Israel’s destruction.

They also called for the US to guide Abbas to end the pact with Hamas and return to peace talks with Israel.

Source: Times of Israel

Iranian hackers said to use Facebook to spy on Israelis

May 29, 2014 - Some 2,000 top-level Israeli politicians, diplomatic assistants and journalists have been duped during the past three years into providing secret information. There is strong evidence that the perpetrators, a group called "Newscaster," operate from Iran. The perpetrators have developed false but believable identities using social media. They claim to be journalists, defense contractors or governmental officials (not from Iran). They ask to be "friended" on Facebook, and at some point they are sent messages...

... directing them to links where they would be asked to provide personal information or enter a login and password (on the theory that most people use the same login/password for multiple sites).

The hackers were then able to load the victim’s system with spyware that could stealthily collect other passwords and sensitive information.

Source: Times of Israel

After meeting Peres, Pope set to speak with prime minister

May 26, 2014 - Yesterday Pope Francis visited the Yad Vashem holocaust museum. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau were in attendance when he spoke there. He asked God to “grant us the grace to be ashamed of what we men have done,” adding that the Nazi genocide was a “massive idolatry” that must never happen again.

Today the Pope is scheduled to visit the Temple Mount and the Western (Wailing) Wall. He will also meet with Netanyahu.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Pope Extends Dramatic Vatican Summit Invitation to Israeli, Palestinian Leaders - NewsMax

Iran: Any aggression will be met with 'crushing and lethal response'

May 23, 2014 - Iranian Army’s Ground Forces Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan told the Fars news agency:

"The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will never be caught unawares, and should the enemy want to act on the immature fantasy of aggression, it will face a crushing and lethal response by the Armed forces.”

Source: Jerusalem Post

IRGC Official: Israel Fearful of Iran's Military Response - Fars News Agency

Iran defiant on Arak facility, right to enrich uranium as nuclear talks appear to falter

May 19, 2014 - Talks have ended between world powers and Iran over their nuclear program.

In comments carried by Iran's Press TV, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized that the Arak reactor would remain a heavy water facility and also stressed that Iran has the right to enrich uranium.

Source: Jerusalem

IDF, US Rehearse for Iran Missile Attack - Israel National News

Iran nuclear talks: Deal still possible, says Tehran - BBC

Hagel: US Won't Allow Iranian Bomb - Voice of America

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day

Apr. 27, 2014 -

Today, we remember the six million Jews that were murdered by the Nazis, including 1.5 million children. Today, we honor their memories, and pledge ourselves never to forget them.

Source: Joel Rosenberg

The Auschwitz Escape - Joel Rosenberg - Amazon

In Rare Statement, Palestinian Leader Calls Holocaust 'Most Heinous Crime' - NewsMax

Israel's Air Force Chief Warns of 'Sudden' War

Apr. 23, 2014 - Israel's air force chief Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel warned that the situation in Syria could lead to a sudden war with Israel.

Syria has invested in the "best air defenses it could buy," Israel's air force chief said on Wednesday. That could embolden Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to do things he might not have done in the past.

The Assad regime could collapse at any time and those weapons could be used against Israel.

Source: CBN

Video: Joel Rosenberg on the Holocaust, Israel, Iran, the Peace Talks

Apr. 13, 2014 - Joel Rosemberg discusses his latest novel, based on the true story of a daring escape from the Auschwitz death camp during World War II. He also comments on vital issues facing Israel's peace talks and Iran nuclear progress

Source: Fox

Remembering four heroes of the Holocaust

Mar. 20, 2014 - Joel Rosenberg names the four real-olife heroes who escaped from Auschwitz death camp. They were the inspiration for his great new novel, The Auschwitz Escape. Their names were changed in the novel.

Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler were Slovak Jews. They escaped from Auschwitz on April 7, 1944. Arnost Rosin was also a Slovak Jew. Czeslaw Mordowicz was a Polish Jew. Together they escaped from Auschwitz on May 27, 1944.

Source: Fox

Israel budgets $3 bn for strike on Iran - report

Mar. 19, 2014 - According to a Tel Aviv news source three members of Israel's parliament said that earlier this year approximately 3 billion dollars (one fifth of Israel's total military budget) had been designated for an air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The amount has remained the same in spite of Iran's promises to reduce its nuclear program.

Source: Russia Today

Syria confirms Israeli airstrike, warns against endangering stability in region

Mar. 19, 2014 - Following an attack by Syrian elements on the Golan Heights Israel struck three Syrian targets near the town of Qunaitra. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said it is necessary to take "aggressive action" so that the quiet in the north will be maintained.

Source: Jerusalem Post

Israel can’t rely on ‘weak’ US to deal with Iran, Ya’alon warns

Mar. 18, 2014 - Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon told an audience at Tel Aviv University Israel could not afford to rely on the Obama administration to lead an action against Iran’s nuclear program. He explained that the Obama administration had lost ground in the discussions about Iran's nuclear program, and it is broadcasting weakness throughout the world. This will invite further terrorism against US targets.

Source: Times of Israel

Defense minister leans toward Israeli operation in Iran, as Obama portrays 'weakness' - Haaretz

Israel Fears Attack from ‘Hijacked’ Malaysian Flight MH370
Iran’s Role Still Suspected

Mar. 18, 2014 - The Times of Israel reported that a former global security chief for El AL believes that the disappearance of Malaysian flight MH370 points directly to Iran. Meanwhile, Israel has tightened security in its airspace, fearing that the airplane could launch an attack anytime.

Source: International Business Times

Missing Malaysia Airlines plane 'deliberately diverted' - Prophecy Central Terrorism section

Iranian linked to stolen passports on doomed jet - USA Today

'Israel, Prepare For Armageddon And Forget US Help'

Mar. 13, 2014 - Henry Schwartz, founder of EMPact America, said that US President Barack Obama has given Iran permission to build a nuclear weapon through a "bogus deal."

Schwartz warned the Jewish state must "prepare for armageddon," given the clearly expressed Iranian intentions to destroy Israel coupled with the Islamic regime's nuclear program.

Source: Israel National News

EMPact America Prepare Hub

Iran’s Finger on Trigger to Destroy Zionist Regime

Mar. 11, 2014 - Addressing some 5000 volunteer commanders in Tehran at a conference called ‘The Islamic World's Role in the Geometry of the World Power,’ Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards General Hossein Salami said that Iran was ready to destroy Israel.

“Islam has given us this wish, capacity and power to destroy the Zionist regime so that our hands will remain on the trigger from 1,400km away for the day when such an incident (confrontation with Israel) takes place,” he added.

Source: FARS News

Israel to show long-range rockets from 'Iran arms ship'

Mar. 11, 2014 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed the contents of a shipment that was intercepted from Iran to Gaza.

As hoards of journalists and foreign military attaches gathered on the quayside at a naval base in the southern resort town of Eilat, the weapons seized during last week's Red Sea raid were laid out in full view.

The shipment included 40 long-range M-302 rockets, 181 122mm mortar shells and approximately 400,000 7.62-calibre rounds.

Source: Z News

In seizing Gaza-bound missiles, Israel prevented a game-changer - Haaretz

Netanyahu slams world's hypocrisy in not strongly condemning Iran's arms shipment to Gaza - Jerusalem Post

Netanyahu: Like Iran hid arms, it's hiding nuclear ambitions - YNet

IDF intercepts major Iranian missile shipment to Gaza

Mar. 6, 2014 - Israeli naval commandos boarded a merchant ship, the "Klos-C," carrying medium-range missiles from Iran to the Gaza Strip. The ship was in the Red Sea when it was apprehended.

The army said soldiers carried out a preliminary inspection of the ship and found several dozen advanced Syrian M-302 missiles, with a range of up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) and a payload of up to 170 kilograms (375 pounds).

Source: Times of Israel

Analysis: Hezbollah unlikely to respond to Israeli air strike in Lebanon

Feb. 26, 2014 - Analysts think that Hezbollah is not likely to respond directly to the reports that Israel attacked their missile base on the Lebanon-Syria border because their attention is focused on helping the Syrian regime survive. A statement from Hezbollah said,

“All that is occurring [in] our arenas will not accomplish our enemies’ goal of diverting our interest and concern from the Palestinian Cause,”

Source: Jerusalem Post

Israeli warplanes 'strike eastern Lebanon'

Feb. 25, 2014 - Lebanon's state news agency reported that Israel has conducted air strikes in eastern Lebanon near the village of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa Valley. Details are not yet known.

Security sources say the targets may have been trucks of weapons from Syria destined for Hezbollah.

Source: BBC

Ahead of nuclear talks, Iran flexes muscles (fires two missiles)

Feb. 12, 2014 -

With negotiations between Iran and six world powers on a permanent nuclear deal set to get underway next week in Vienna, Iran is continuing to flex its muscles.

Iran reportedly tested two new domestically made missiles. One of them, named "Bina" ["Insightful"], is a long-range ground-to-ground device with a fragmentation warhead, capable of striking targets with great precision.

Iran already has its Shahab missiles, which they claim can reach 1,250 miles - far enough to strike Israel and U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Source: Israel Hayom

Hamas can hit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem with dozens of rockets - Times of Israel

Evidence points to secret Israeli strike on Syrian missile launchers

Jan. 28, 2014 - Just before midnight Sunday Lebanese media reported sightings of Israeli aircraft in Lebanese airspace. Then news sources reported a loud explosion in the Syrian port city of Latakia. Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems are thought to be located there.

For those who have been closely watching the bloody civil war in Syria, Assad's alliance with the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, a sworn enemy of Israel, has been troubling. Israel allegedly ordered a similar mission in the fall.

Source: Fox

Iranian official on nuke deal: 'We did not agree to dismantle anything'

Jan. 23, 2014 - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told CNN that the U.S. characterizes the six-month agreement made by Iran as a dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, but in reality, "we did not agree to dismantle anything." What they did to do was to agree not to enrich uranium above the 5% level. Zarif was in Davos, Switzerland to participate in the meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Source: CNN

Netanyahu: Iran 'military nuclear program will be stopped - Business Standard

Israel air strike kills two in Gaza

Jan. 22, 2013 -

Israel killed two Palestinian militants in an air strike on Gaza on Wednesday, blaming one of them for firing rockets across the border during former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's funeral last week.

The strike targeted Ahmed al-Za'anin, a former Islamic Jihad member who had joined the more secular Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Source: Guardian - UK

IAF airstrike kills Gaza terror chief - Times of Israel

After Gaza strike, defense minister warns Hamas of ‘heavy price’ - Times of Israel

Israel PM threatens to teach Hamas a lesson 'very soon' - Yahoo

Pope may seek to unseal Holocaust-era archives

Jan. 19, 2014 - Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka told The Sunday Times that he and Pope Francis have been close friends since the days when Francis was known as cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires. He says that the Pope, who has already improved the Vatican's relationship with Jews, told him,

He intends to take another step forward: opening up the Vatican archives to address accusations that the Holy See, led by then-pope Pius XXII, neglected the plight of Jews during the Holocaust.

Source: Times of Israel

Israel berates 'pro-Palestinian EU'

Jan. 18, 2014 - After last week's announcement by Israel that they plan to build 1,400 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Britain, France, Italy and Spain summoned Israeli ambassadors to tell them that the plans are "an obstacle to peace".

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned the ambassadors from those four countries to tell them is was "time to stop this hypocrisy" and "inject some balance and fairness to this discussion".

Netanyahu explained his actions to a meeting of foreign journalists:

When did the EU call in the Palestinian ambassadors about incitement that calls for Israel's destruction?"

Source:BBC

UNESCO cancels event on Jewish ties to Land of Israel

Jan. 17, 2014 - The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has cancelled an exhibit in their Paris headquarters called “The People, The Book, the Land: The 3,500-year relationship between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.”

The exhibit, created by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, was co-sponsored by Israel, Canada, and Montenegro. SWC worked closely with UNESCO on the exhibit since 2011, when UNESCO accepted Palestine as a member state, the first UN body to do so.

The event was canceled by UNESCO President Irina Bokova because representatives of Arab states said it would harm the peace process. Simon Wiesenthal Center's Dean Marvin Hier said that the decision was an “absolute outrage.”

Source: Times of Israel

Israel’s intel succeeded where US failed on Syria nukes, Gates reveals

Jan. 15, 2014 - Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates' book, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War,” explains that Israel was able to get vital top-secret information about a a nuclear reactor being built by the Syrians when the U.S. had limited knowledge of the project. Israel bombed the facility.

This information implies that Israel knows more about Iran's nuclear activities than the U.S. knows.

Source: Times of Israel

Israel's ex-PM Ariel Sharon dies

Jan. 11, 2014 - Ariel Sharon, Israel's former Prime Minister has died after eight years in a coma caused by a stroke.

He was always a controversial figure in Israeli politics...in mourning his passing, Israelis are marking the loss of one of the few public figures left whose career stretched back to the earliest days of their state.

Source: BBC

Sharon's Obituary - BBC

John Kerry lands in Israel to lay foundations for 'framework agreement'

Jan. 2, 2014 - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has returned to Israel to try to stimulate peace negotiations. It is his 10th visit to the region in less than a year. He hopes to establish the foundations of a "framework agreement" that could bring resolution to the nearly-deadlocked process. The key sticking-points are still the question of borders, security, refugees and the status of Jerusalem. Kerry says he does not expect a breakthrough on this trip. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman surprised observers when he praised Kerry for his efforts.

Source: Haaretz

Poll: Most Israelis, Palestinians support 2-state solution - Times of Israel