Watchman of Zion

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
2) The prospects for war with Syria and Iran
3) The prospects for economic collapse in the USA and the world

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton condemned Israel for plans to expand Jerusalem’s Har Homa neighborhood which is located beyond the 1967 borders. The EU does not recognize East Jerusalem as being a part of Israel. “Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible,” Ashton said. “The EU has repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem.”

In addition to the EU, South Africa does not recognize the Israeli settlements in the West Bank as belonging to Israel. The South African cabinet made a decision to approve a plan to require labels on products coming from the settlements in the West Bank to NOT be labeled “Made in Israel.” Israel Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon condemned the South African decision by saying it proves that South Africa is still an apartheid state.

If Israel attacks Iran, 10,000 Hezbollah fighters participated in the terror organization’s largest ever military exercise with the cooperation of Iran to “to conquer the Upper Galilee” reports a Lebanese newspaper. While Hezbollah is preparing to invade Israel from the north, the Muslim Brotherhood has taken over the government of Egypt through the decrees of Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi. After firing top army generals and replacing them with Muslim Brotherood sympathizers, Morsi is appointing new governors to the 27 regions of the country. Furthermore, Morsi is seeking to control the Egyptian media by replacing 50 editors from the countries leading newspapers. Finally, in possibly preparing to go to war with Israel, for the first time since the 1973 Yom Kippur war, Egypt is deploying troops and tanks in the Sinai Peninsula.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) EU’s Ashton slams Israel, again, over East Jerusalem expansion plans
2) Ayalon hits back: South Africa remains an apartheid state
3) ‘Hezbollah drill prepares to ‘occupy the Galilee”
4) Analysis: Brotherhood taking total control of Egypt
5) Egypt’s moves in Sinai alarm Israel

The French defense minister called for the establishment of an “international coalition” to implement a limited no-fly zone in Syria suggesting for the first time military action outside of the UN Security Council. However, he ruled out a no-fly zone over the entire country of Syria. The United States and Turkey have already discussed the possibility of a limited no-fly zone  perhaps between the Northern Syrian city of  between Aleppo and the Turkish border.

Russia rejected the idea of a no-fly zone in Syria.  Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “If you try to create no-fly zones and safety zones for military purposes by citing an international crisis — this is unacceptable,” he said. “We find it appropriate to defend the UN Charter that states the use of force can be only be decided by the Security Council,” Lavrov said. Russia also blamed the West for encouraging civil war in Syria. The Russian Foreign Ministry said  “Our Western partners have not done anything to influence the opposition and convince it to start dialogue with the authorities. They are openly encouraging the opposition to continue armed resistance instead. It is clear that these methods will not help in finding a political solution to the crisis.”

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama said the use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a “red line” that would change his thinking on intervention in the crisis. He said: “There would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons.”  DEBKA reports that US C130 transports stand ready at Middle East air bases to fly into Syria US elite units especially trained in combat against chemical and biological weapons and tactics for securing their arsenals. Those units are on standby at bases in Israel and Jordan. Also on standby for stealthy raids into Syria are British special operations forces in Cyprus and French units trained in unconventional warfare in Jordan. Regarding military intervention in Syria, the Obama administration is split between two factions – those who are pushing hard for direct US military intervention – both to end the bloodshed and Bashar Assad’s reign in Syria and to preempt a unilateral Israeli strike against Iran. The other faction is dedicated to no intervention in Syria and Iran.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17)  is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) French minister calls for limited no-fly zone in Syria
2) Russia Rejects No-Fly Zones As Ploy for Military Intervention
3) ‘Only UN should decide on force against Syria’
4) Russia Blames West for Fueling Armed Conflict in Syria
5) Obama warns Syria chemical weapons use may spark US action
6) US, UK, French elite units on standby for seizing Syrian chemical weapons
7) Russia, China warn West on unilateral action against Syria after Obama threats

Western diplomatic sources say that Iran has installed many more uranium enrichment machines in an underground bunker including putting in place additional enrichment centrifuges in its Fordow nuclear facility buried deep inside a mountain to protect it against any strike by the US or Israel. In an effort to be able to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities, talks were held between the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and Iran in Vienna, Austria. The talks concluded without an agreement and no further talks are scheduled. Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu accused Iran of making “accelerated progress towards achieving nuclear weapons”, adding that it was “totally ignoring” Western demands to rein in its atomic program.

The US and Israel continue to remain at odds over the Iranian nuclear threat. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey said that Israel and the United States view the Iranian nuclear threat differently. “Israel sees the Iranian threat more seriously than the US sees it, because a nuclear Iran poses a threat to Israel’s very existence. You can take two countries, give them the same intelligence and reach two different conclusions. I think that’s what’s happening here,” Dempsey said.  Dempsey added: “At the same time, we admit that our clocks ticking at different paces. We have to understand the Israelis; they live with a constant suspicion with which we do not have to deal.”

As a result of these developments, Israel is concerned that the US is not fully committed to stopping the Iranian nuclear program. Former Military Intelligence head Amos Yadlin said that there are several things that the US can do to give Israel greater assurance. Yadlin presented a five-point plan to the Obama administration designed to convince “allies and adversaries alike that military action is real, imminent and doable.” He called on Obama to visit Israel and tell its leadership – and, more important, its people – that preventing a nuclear Iran is a US interest, and if we have to resort to military action, we will.” Next, Yadlin said that the US should provide Israel with advanced military technology and intelligence, contingent on Israeli pledges to delay a strike. Furthermore, Yadlin suggested that Obama to notify Congress in writing that he reserves the right to use military force on Iran. He added that the US should increase its military presence in the Persian Gulf and should also publicly commit to the security of its allies in the region.

Israel’s Channel 10 TV is reporting that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is determined to attack Iran before the US elections.”

Concerned about Israel possibly striking Iran before the November 6 US Presidential elections, the US is holding discussions with Israeli officials to find out what the US can do to stop an Israel attack upon Iran. Israel is willing to delay an attack against Iran this fall if the US would commit to attacking Iran by the spring of 2013 should Iran continue its effort to achieve nuclear capability.

If Israel does attack Iran, Israel could face retaliation from more than 10,000 missiles based in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, according to Uzi Rubin, the founder and first director of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) ‘Iran expands nuclear capacity underground’
2) PM accuses Iran of accelerating work towards atomic weapons
3) IAEA-Iran nuclear negotiations break down
4) Dempsey: Israel, US differ on seriousness of Iran threat
5) Yadlin to Obama: Visit Israel to allay Iran fears
6) US-Israeli deal on Iran? No Israeli strike now if Obama pledged a spring attack
7) Israel Attack on Iran Runs Risk of Massive Missile Retaliation
8) Netanyahu ‘determined to attack Iran’ before US elections, claims Israel’s Channel 10

Paul Tucker, the deputy governor of the Bank of England, told an October meeting of the chief executives of Britain’s largest banks that there was a serious chance that their could be a banking and financial crisis by the end of 2012.

Concerned about an economic crisis prior to November in Europe,  the Obama administration is pressuring European governments not to let Greece fall out of the eurozone before the US November’s Presidential elections.

The summer Olympics ended with an occult ceremony heralding a New World Order and nations and people worshiping the new system.

In anticipation of the collapse of the earo in the near future, Lord Rothschild has taken the position through RIT Capital Partners, an investment trust of which he is executive chairman of shorting – or selling down – the euro. In June, billionaire investor George Soros said that European leaders at that point had a “three-month window” to save the euro.

Also anticipation of a financial crisis, in an SEC filing it was revealed that both George Soros and John Paulson had increased their investment in SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest publicly traded physical gold exchange traded fund (ETF). George Soros now has 884,400 shares of the ETF gold fund while John Paulson bought 4.53 million shares, bringing his stake to 21.3 millon. These are significant positions in gold expecting it to rise significantly in the near future.

Worldwide economic collapse resulting in a one world government with one-world currency is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker warned banks they could collapse ‘before Christmas’
2) Barack Obama asks eurozone to keep Greece in until after election day
3) The Occult Symbolism of the 2012 Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies
4) Lord Rothschild takes £130m bet against the euro
5) Are we about to see a Chinese gold rush?

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
2) The prospects for war with Syria and Iran
3) The prospects for economic collapse in the USA and the world

The Palestinians have asked foreign diplomats to support a bid for a non-member observer status at the United Nations. The request would be put to the UN General Assembly where approval would require a simple majority of those present.  No individual country has veto rights at the UN General Assembly. Being a non-member observer state – a status held by the Vatican – would improve the Palestinians’ chances of joining UN agencies and the International Criminal Court. Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee member, said “Even though the timing has yet to be determined, we are co-ordinating our efforts with Arab and Muslim countries, as well as with the international community.”

The European Union is refusing to recognize the city of Modi’in as being a part of Israel. As a result, products exported from there fall outside the parameters of the free-trade agreement known as the EU-Israeli Association Agreement. The Israeli foreign ministry objected to the decision.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood has completely taken over power in Egypt.  Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi fired leaders of the pro-American Supreme Military Council who has been ruling Egypt since Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow. Furthermore, Morsi has gained control of the media in Egypt. Finally, he called for regime change in Syria. Morsi would like to see the Muslim Brotherhood come to power in Syria in an effort to establish a Sunni-Islam Caliphate run by Sharia law.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Palestinians appeal for support for UN member-state bid
2) For the first time, EU puts Modi’in outside Israel
3) Muslim Brotherhood anti-army coup in Cairo. Tanks move up to Israel border
4) Egypt’s New President Moves Against Democracy
5) At Islamic conference, Egypt’s Morsi calls for regime change in Syria

Russia warships are heading to the Mediterranean. Chinese warships docked in Israel. As odds increase for foreign military intervention in Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar told their citizens to leave Lebanon. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned the possibility of establishing  a no-fly zone over some parts of Syria to help the rebels defeat the Assad government. A no-fly zone is one in which outside nations prohibit flights over parts of another country and enforce it militarily. The creation of such a zone over Libya last year seriously constrained the use of pro-Gaddafi aviation and artillery. France, Britain and then NATO made ample use of it to eventually bring about a regime change in Libya. However, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says plans to set up a no-fly zone over parts of Syria are “not on the front burner.”

Turkey has sent the Syrian rebels fighting in Aleppo their first shipment of shoulder-carried, anti-air FIM-92 Stingers. The Stinger is a heat-seeking missile. Turkey manufactures the Stingers under American license and is obliged by contract to obtain US permission for their transfer to a third party. It was granted by Washington on the quiet.  BritishForeign Secretary William Hague said that his government had granted Syrian rebels $8 million of “non-military support.” The Syrian rebels’ Western and Arab sponsors have given them 20 Russian-made T-62 tanks from Libya. As the rebels are increasingly being armed with greater weaponry, the danger continues to increase that Assad may decided to use unconventional weapons to try to remain in power.

On the other hand, Iran is playing a growing role supporting the Syrian regime and is helping to build and train a militia to fight against opposition forces. While the US provides vital help to the Syrian rebels, they condemn those who are helping Assad to remain in power. Clearly, Syria is deeply entrenched in a proxy war being waged between the West and Arab countries against Russia, China and Iran.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17)  is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Russian Warships Head to Mediterranean
2) Chinese Warships Dock in Israel
3) Gulf States warn citizens to leave Lebanon
4) US mulls no-fly zone over Syria
5) Panetta: Syria no-fly zone not on front burner
6) Clinton: Chemical warfare is planned for. Rebels get first anti-air Stingers
7) Syrian rebels armed with first T-62 tanks
8.) Iran is building, training militia in Syria, Pentagon says
9) US Hypocritically Accuses Iran of Sending Pro-Regime Militias to Syria

The US has imposed new sanctions on Iran in an effort to punish banks, insurance companies and shippers that help Iran sell its oil. Russia  called the measures “overt blackmail” and a “crude contradiction of international law.” Russia flexed its military power to the US by positioning a nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks which went undetected by the US Navy.

Israel continues to warn that “time is short” for diplomacy to work to convince Iran to give up its nuclear program.  Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said that because the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany have so far failed to negotiate a compromise, Iran is expected to buy more time to install additional centrifuges to produce more uranium that would be hidden inside fortified bunkers beyond Israel’s reach.

Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the new US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran as confirming that both capitals understand that not much time is left for making decision on whether or not to go on the offensive against Iran’s nuclear facilities and when, because, he said, “a nuclear Iran is taking shape right before our eyes.” Regarding the possibility of an Israeli military strike against Iran, Barak said, “it would be much more complicated, much more dangerous and much more expensive – to deal with a nuclear Iran in the future.” Concerned that Israel might decide to attack Iran in the next several months, US President Barack Obama has requested a meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the next UN General Assembly session to be held at the end of September. Sources close to Obama admit that the dialogue on Iran with Israeli leaders has run its course since neither side believes it can change its opposite number’s mind. Nevertheless, Israel media reports that Obama will seek to assure Israel that the US will use force to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons drive by next June at the latest if Iran has not halted its program by then, In preparing for a war with Iran, Israel has designated 60 privately owned garages and underground lots as bomb shelters than can be used by 800,000 people. They have also successfully tested a mobile text-messaging warning system to alert people of a possible missile attack.

DEBKA reports that Iran will have the capability to make one nuclear bomb by October 1. Reports from Israel media outlets indicate that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ‘close’ to ordering a strike against Iran. However, Israel is willing to delay this action if Obama would do several things.  First of all, Obama must repeat, publicly (at the UN General Assembly for instance), that the US will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and that Israel has a right to defend itself, independently. Second, Israel is also demanding that Washington inform Iran that if significant progress in the negotiations with the P5+1 group (the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) is not made within the next two weeks, the talks will be suspended. Third, Israel is also urging the US and the European Union to increase the direct economic pressure on Iran. Government officials in Israel have admitted that the sanctions are very effective but they claim that the Iranian military nuclear program is advancing faster than the sanctions’ “hourglass.” Another Israeli demand refers to the so-called “red line” of Iran’s nuclear program. The Obama administration claims that it will strike once intelligence agencies identify a “breakthrough” in the development of nuclear weapons, as defined by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel argues that Iran must not be allowed to even come close to achieving nuclear “breakout” capability. In order to discourage Israel from unilaterally attacking Iran, the US has told Israel that they would not necessarily join in were Israel to launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear program.  White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US was committed to giving talks with Tehran a chance to bear fruit. He said, “We continue to believe there is time and space for diplomacy, the opportunity remains for Iran to take advantage of this process.”

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) New U.S. sanctions on Iran are ‘overt blackmail,’ says Russia
2) Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say
3) Israeli envoy warns time is short for Iran diplomacy
4) Barak: A nuclear Iran is taking shape before us. Time for decisions is short
5) Barak: Waiting on Iran would be more dangerous
6) Obama initiates September meeting with Netanyahu to renew Iran dialogue
7) Tel Aviv designates 60 underground parking lots and garages to serve as bomb shelters for 800,000
8.) Israel tests missile text-messaging warning system
9) Iran can build an N-bomb by Oct. 1. Cairo coup hampers Israeli action
10) Benjamin Netanyahu ‘Close’ To Ordering Strike Against Iran
11) Israeli demands from Obama
12) ‘US message to Israel: Don’t rely on us to finish the job in Iran’
13) Obama set to assure Israel that, if all else fails, US will attack Iran by June 2013 — TV report

China and Japan continue to move away from using the US dollar. This year, China and Japan has started bilateral trade using their own currencies. In 2010, 1% of Chinese trade was settled in their own currency. This year, it is 10%. There are many signs that the US government and major US banks are preparing for the collapse of the financial system. The U.S. government has been secretly directing five of the biggest banks in America “to develop plans for staving off collapse” for the last two years. Over the past 12 months, hundreds of banking executives have been resigning and corporate insiders have been selling off enormous amounts of stock.

In the offfice of the comtroller of the currency derivatives report for the first quarter of 2012, we are told that there are $228 trillion dollars represented in derivative contracts. The four largest commercial banks represent 93% of this amount. They are JP Morgan-Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Citibank.  The combined assets of the top five banks holding derivatives is just $4.8 trillion. Therefore, they have an eye popping 46 to 1 leverage! JP Morgan-Chase holds over 70 trillion dollars worth of derivatives. The entire world has a little more than $700 trillion in derivative exposure and JP Morgan-Chase  has 10% of all the derivative exposure on the planet!  81% of total derivative amounts are held in interest rate derivatives. With a sudden and dramatic spike in interest rates, the entire world financial system could collapse. JP Morgan-Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Citibank are among the top financial contributors to the presidential campaign of Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

Perhaps expecting a collapse of the banking system in the near future, billionaire and elitist George Soros has sold all his stock in Citigroup (420,000 shares), JP Morgan (701,400 shares) and Goldman Sachs (120,000 shares), leaving him with no position in any major ban stocks at all. Furthermore, Soros bought  884,000 shares (approx. $130 million) of Gold via the SPDR Gold Trust. Why is Soros dumping over a million shares of stock in major banks and purchase more than 100 million dollars worth of gold? In addition, billionaire John Paulson has been buying gold like crazy and his company now “has 44 percent of its $24 billion fund in gold.” Finally, according to the World Gold Council, the amount of gold bought by the central banks of the world doubled during the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Prior to 2009, the central banks of the world had been net sellers of gold for about two decades.

The US government may be preparing for a collapse of the financial system and civil unrest as the Social Security Administration plans to buy 174,000 hollow point bullets which will be delivered to 41 different locations all over America. In March, Homeland Security purchased 450 million rounds of .40-caliber hollow point bullets that are designed to expand upon entry and cause maximum organ damage.

Worldwide economic collapse resulting in a one world government with one-world currency is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) How China And Japan Are Slashing Their Dependence On The US Dollar
2) Are The Government And The Big Banks Quietly Preparing For An Imminent Financial Collapse?
3) Office of the Comtroller of the Currency Derivatives Report: First Quarter 2012
4) Five Banks Account For 96% Of The $250 Trillion In Outstanding US Derivative Exposure
5) Understanding Interest Rate Derivatives
6) Systemic Risk Is Everywhere
7) The Banks And Derivatives: Too Big To Fail Or Too Exposed To Be Saved?
8.) Mitt Romney Top Financial Supporters
9) EXCLUSIVE: U.S. banks told to make plans for preventing collapse
10) Startling Evidence That Central Banks And Wall Street Insiders Are Rapidly Preparing For Something BIG
11) Hedge fund Soros Funds has filed his quarter 13-F report with the SEC
12) World Gold Council: Central Bank Gold Demand Doubles in Second Quarter
13) Insiders are selling. Should you?

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l

You may view the 5 minute update this week via audio:

1) Listen to the audio

In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:

1) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
2) The prospects for war with Syria and Iran

In order to encourage the Palestinians to enter into direct negotiations and deflect criticism that Israel may be the obstacle to having direct peace talks with them, Israel agreed to a series of goodwill gestures. However, the Palestinians refused to make any reciprocal goodwill steps toward Israel. Instead, the Palestinians are more interested in getting recognition of a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital at the United Nations General Assembly. In doing so, the Palestinians would get their United Nations status upgraded to a non-member state. The Arab League has agreed to support the Palestinians in their effort at the UN General Assembly. Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly at their annual meeting on September 27. The date for presenting the application to the UN General Assembly will be made by the Arab League in a meeting to be held on September 5. Mahmood Abbas will file the application. United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Mahmood Abbas recently that if the Palestinians sought a bid before the US elections, the Palestinian Authority would be subjected to political and economic sanctions. In an interview with Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Wolf Blitzer of CNN indicated that all US Presidential administrations from Lyndon Johnson in 1967 to the current Obama administration views East Jerusalem as being occupied in non-recognition that the entire city of Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Therefore, the United States doesn’t oppose a PLO state with East Jerusalem as its capital, its rather an issue of the method and timing to achieve the goal. The Palestinians are expected to get 130-140 countries to vote for their request. As a result, the proposal is expected to pass when there is a vote. A vote is expected by the end of 2012. As a result, PLO Foreign Minister Riad Malki told reporters in Ramallah: “In the year 2012, we will achieve a PLO state that enjoys the status of being a non-member of the United Nations.” After achieving this goal, the Palestinians plan to ask the UN Security Council to recognize a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles are as follows:

1) Israel ‘angry’ at PA failure to reciprocate goodwill
2) Arab League supports Palestinian bid for non-member UN representation
3) PA prepares for showdown over statehood bid
4) Israeli-Palestinian showdown shapes up at UN

In frustration over the situation in Syria, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has resigned from his role as the U.N.-Arab League mediator in the 17-month-old uprising in Syria against the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Foreign nations are preparing to fight in the Syrian conflict. Turkey sent a convoy of about 20 vehicles carrying troops, missile batteries and armored vehicles to the border with Syria. The U.S. continues its covert war against Syria. The US is mounting a secret but limited effort to speed the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad without using force by having spies and diplomats block arms and oil shipments from Iran and passing intelligence to the front-line of the Syrian rebels. Behind-the-scenes efforts by the Central Intelligence Agency, the State and Treasury departments and the military point to a broader American role in the effort against Mr. Assad to remove him from power than previously acknowledged is now being admitted by the Syrian rebels . Senior US Officials also say that the US has been providing intelligence about developments in Syria to the Turkish and Jordanian militaries working closely with the Syrian opposition. US President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing support for Syrian rebels seeking to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government from power. Obama’s order, is known as an intelligence “finding,” and broadly permits the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the Syrian rebels oust Assad from power. Seeing a deterioration in the situation in Syria, a Chinese destroyer sailed through Egypt’s Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea in the past week. Meanwhile, Russia is sending three large landing ships with marines aboard to a Russian naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus. In supporting the Syrian opposition, Russia accuses the US of supporting terrorism. Meanwhile, Iran is firmly committed to supporting the Assad government. Saeed Jalili, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and also Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator in the P5 + 1 talks with Iran over its nuclear program went to Syria and expressed strong support for Assad. Iran has now sent more than 3,000 Iranian snipers to fight in the capital city of Damascus. Iran has also now invoked a 2008 Mutual Defense Pact to come to the aid of Syria against foreign aggression. Furthermore, Jalili held talks with Hizballah leader in Lebanon Hassan Nasrallah. Without a doubt, Jalili talks with Assad and Nasrallah about possible future military plans against Israel.

The Syrian opposition started a new strategy against Assad which was successful in Libya that helped to remove Muammar Qaddafi from power by trying to capture one of Syria’s largest cities, Aleppo, which is located in North Syria.  The city is a strategic asset for both the Assad government and the opposition. Aleppo is a commercial town and Assad enjoys strong support there from the merchant class. The rebels would like to use Aleppo and the area as a designated safe zone. Because it is close to the border of Turkey, it could also be used to organize, train, and get all the arms needed for a major onslaught against the Assad government. After the rebels had initial success, the Assad government has now gained control of the city.

The Syrian prime minister has joined the opposition by defecting to Jordan. His defection is not surprising given that he is a Sunni Muslim who was a member of a Shi’ite Muslim government. However, his defection along with others who have done so in the past including army generals and soldiers indicate that Assad’s hold on power is cracking. For this reason, the US and Israel continue to believe that Assad will fall from power in the near future. As that day approaches, the questions remains, ‘How would Assad be removed from power?’ Will it take the involvement of Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the US, the European Union and others which will be opposed by Russia, China and Iran and cause a regional war in the Middle East involving Israel ? Pastor Lindsey Williams has given an update from his elitist retired oil executive friend indicating that the elite are 6-8 months BEHIND on their plans for the Middle East because Assad has not been removed from power yet. If Assad believes that his end is near, will he make good on his threat to attack Israel with missiles? If he does, will we see the fulfillment of Isaiah 17 that Damascus will be destroyed? Only time will tell but it is possible that this event may happen in the near future as we watch the current events unfold.

A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17)  is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Annan quits as international Syria mediator: U.N.
2) Turkish military convoy heads for Syrian border
3) U.S. Mounts Quiet Effort to Weaken Assad’s Rule
4) Exclusive: Obama authorizes secret U.S. support for Syrian rebels
5) Chinese destroyer enters Mediterranean via Suez
6) ‘Russia sends navy vessels, marines to Syria base’
7) Russia accuses US of justifying terrorism in Syria
8.) Rebels: Iranian combatants in Syria to aid Assad
9) Iran reaffirms ‘unbreakable’ alliance with Syria’s Assad
10) Jalili in Damascus underscores Iran’s commitment to Assad
11)  High Iranian official in Beirut for urgent talks with Hizballah on Syria, Israel
12) Tehran Invokes 2008 Mutual Defense Pact with Damascus
13) Syrian rebels say fight for country’s largest city has begun
14) For Syrian rebels, Aleppo is prize
15) Experts: Aleppo Crucial to Both Regime and Rebels
16) Amid the ruins in Aleppo, Syrian rebels say victory is near
17) The bid for Syria’s first safe haven in Aleppo region is thwarted
18) Syrian rebels hold off regime push into Aleppo
19) Syrian fighter jets strike Aleppo, Assad rides crest of disintegrating country
20) Syrian prime minister defects to Jordan to protest ‘terrorist regime’
21) Assad’s time is running out in Syria
22) Lindsey Williams Interview: Liberty rig, Syria and derivatives

Despite no progress in the P5 +1 (US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany) talks with Iran to suspend its nuclear program since April, the US is still refusing to declare the P5+1 talks with Iran a failure. There was an agreement made with Iran to continue the talks at the end of August. Meanwhile, the US Congress passed the strongest sanctions against Iran yet.  These sanctions desire to punish banks, insurance companies and shippers that help Iran sell its oil. Obama has not yet signed the law. In any event, US President Barack Obama did enact new sanctions on banks in China and Iraq that the US says have helped Iran evade international sanctions. In doing so, Obama made the following statement: “Since taking office, we have presented the Iranian government with a clear choice: come in line with your international obligations and rejoin the community of nations, or face growing consequences.” China strongly condemned the action by saying, “The US has invoked domestic law to impose sanctions on a Chinese financial institution, and this is a serious violation of international rules that harms Chinese interests.”

While the US continues to be interested in holding nuclear talks with Iran and imposing stiffer sanctions, Iran continues to advance its nuclear program. New intelligence information obtained by Israel and four Western countries indicates that Iran has made greater progress on developing components for its nuclear weapons program than the West had previously realized. New commercial satellite photos continue to show that Iran is trying to cover up work started at the Parchin facility where high explosives tests related Iran’s nuclear program have been conducted. Iran is preparing to enrich uranium from 20% to 60%. Many believe that Iran could have a nuclear bomb within a year. For these reasons, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that time is running out for diplomacy. He said that while sanctions against Iran are having an impact, it is not causing Iran to consider stopping its nuclear program. Israel strongly believes that Iran is approaching the “zone of immunity” mentioned by Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak where it would not be possible to stop Iran’s nuclear program from a military attack. Israel does not believe that waiting on situation with Iran to change its mind over its nuclear program from either sanctions or talks will work. While the US and the EU are still promoting diplomacy, they are also preparing for war against Iran. The current disagreement with Israel is over the timing of a possible attack. The US is worried that Israel may not wait on the US but will instead attack Iran before the November elections in the US. Therefore, the US sent Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to talk with Israel about the situation. While Panetta said that no specific military plans were discussed, he did say that the US discussed with Israel various contingencies. It is widely expected from most analysts that in any war involving Iran that the US would attack Iran and Israel would concern itself with Syria and Hizballah. Concerned over the trend of the current situation, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, summoned his “last war council” and told them to prepare for war within weeks. As a result, it seems that war in the Middle East involving Iran is inevitable. The only question seems to be how long will before it happens. Depending upon how things develop, it could happen by the end of 2012.

A US war with Iran is a tribulation event.

The link to these articles is as follows:

1) Israeli official: US refuses to declare Iran talks have failed
2) Iran and World Powers to Hold More Nuclear Talks
3) US Congress passes ‘strongest’ Iran sanctions yet
4) Obama orders new sanctions on Iran
5) New intelligence reveals Iranian military nuclear program advancing faster than previously thought
6) Activity spotted at suspected Iranian nuclear test facility, analyst says
7) Iran prepares for 60 percent uranium enrichment
8.) Iran Could Have Nuclear Weapons Within a Year, Says Expert
9) Time Is Short For Iran Diplomacy
10) Netanyahu to Panetta: Time Running Out on Iran
11) Op-Ed:  Israel’s EMP Attack Can Send Iran Back to the Stone Age
12) Getting set for Iran war
13) US leaks plot to hit Iran N-plants
14) Wartime tasks split: US to smash Iran’s missiles, Israel tackle Syria, Hizballah
15) Khamenei Warns Iran’s Top Leaders: WAR IN WEEKS
16) Report: US pegs possible Iran strike in 18 months
17) Netanyahu: Iran unfazed by threats
18) U.S. presented Netanyahu with contingency plan for Iran strike
19) Waiting won’t work forever
20) Analysis: Not a question of attacking, but of timing

From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).

We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).

Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l