You may view the 5 minute update this week via 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
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh visited Ramallah to encourage Mahmood Abbas to continue peace talks with Israel. Abbas told him that the PA will not resume Mideast peace talks without an Israeli settlement freeze. PA President Mahmood Abbas plans to send a “political letter” to Israel next week which Palestinian officials described as the “mother of all letters.” They said that it would hold Israel responsible for the failure of the peace process because of its insistence on building in the settlements and refusal to recognize the pre-1967 lines as the basis for a two-state solution. It will set conditions to continue the peace talks which will include an acceptance by the “Israeli government to the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with the possibility of a limited exchange of equal pieces of land and a full halt to the building of settlements including in East Jerusalem.” Furthermore, the conditions will also include “the release of prisoners, especially those who have been detained before 1994, and canceling all the decisions taken by the Israeli governments since 2000.”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh is expected to deliver the message to Israel after it is reviewed by the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) and other countries. The Palestinians are waiting to see the results of a Quartet meeting which will be held in New York next week before they release the letter.
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy promised that if re-elected his second foreign visit would be to Israel and the Palestinian territories to push a European peace initiative. Sarkozy also expressed doubt that, given the US electoral calendar, that the United States would be able to play its usual role as the main guarantor of the Middle East peace process during 2012. “There is also a presidential election in the United States,” he said. “President Obama, who is a very great president, won’t take the initiative before he’s re-elected — and I hope he will be — but there’s a place for France and a place for Europe,” he said. Meanwhile, the Obama administration has told Palestinian leaders to expect little help with their statehood bid during the U.S. presidential campaign the Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki said in an interview. He also said that the US held out the promise of vigorous U.S. mediation in the Mideast conflict if President Barack Obama is re-elected.
An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles are as follows:
1) Jordan FM hears Palestinian ‘no’ to renewed talks
2) ‘PA sets conditions for resuming peace talks
3) Abbas to deliver ‘mother of all letters’ to Israel
4) Sarkozy promises Middle East peace initiative if re-elected
5) AP Interview: US asks Palestinians to sit tight
The Obama administration is moving to provide direct assistance to the internal opposition in Syria for the first time marking a shift in U.S. policy toward a more aggressive plan to help oust President Bashar al-Assad. Last week, a group of senior Obama administration officials met to finalize a package of options for aiding both the internal and external Syrian opposition to include providing direct humanitarian and communications assistance to the Syrian opposition. However, the initiative does not seek to provide direct military assistance to the armed opposition. Even so, the US has decided to not oppose, either in public or in private, the arming of the rebels by other countries. U.S. policy is now more directly aligned with enabling the opposition to overthrow the Assad government. In commenting regarding the current situation in Syria, US President Barack Obama said it was only a matter of time before Syrian President Bashar Assad left office. US officials said that the US was committed to diplomatic efforts to end the violence rather than direct military intervention, saying the US wanted to isolate Assad, cut off his sources of revenue and encourage unity among his opponents. Four Syrian generals have defected from supporting Assad and have fled to Turkey.
If Syria is attacked by outside forces as it cracks down on its own people, Iran, Syria and the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon will attack Israeli and American targets with missiles, sources within all three entities have said. According to an Iranian media source run by its Revolutionary Guards, sources in Syria report that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last Thursday issued a secret directive that should the country be attacked by the US that its military will counterattack. This directive includes an immediate response to fire a barrage of missiles from the three allies not only toward Israel but also at American assets in the region. The report said that that any outside aggression against Syria will be met with a heavy missile response from three fronts: Syria, Iran and Hezbollah.
A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles is as follows:
1) Obama administration moves to aid Syrian opposition
2) UN assesses Syria draft; Obama: Assad ‘will fall’
3) White House says focused on diplomacy on Syria
4) Syrian Generals Flee to Turkey After Quitting Assad Army
5) Iran, Syria, Hezbollah Threaten Military Attack
US President Barack Obama said that he opposed containment on Iran and would use military force if necessary to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons but said there was still time for diplomacy to work. He also said that Israel has the right to make its own decision to protect itself. Speaking before the Israel organization AIPAC Obama said, “I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests.” But he also emphasized that, “I firmly believe that an opportunity still remains for diplomacy, backed by pressure, to succeed. Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in, and to sustain the broad international coalition that we have built.” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that International sanctions against Iran are the “toughest ever”. The US secretary of state said that, coupled with the robust sanctions imposed on Tehran, the international community remains committed to reaching a settlement through diplomacy.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton accepted an offer by Iran to meet with six powers – the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany – to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The initial meeting is expected to be held next month in Istanbul, Turkey. Russia said that Iran has proved that it was ready for serious negotiations. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned that Iran is seeking to build an “inter-continental nuclear weapon.” The International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran has tripled its monthly production of higher-grade enriched uranium and that they have “serious concerns” about possible military dimensions to Iran’s atomic activities. The six world powers have requested that Iran let the IAEA international inspectors visit a suspected Iranian military site at Parchin. Iran said that it will give the IAEA access to the facility based upon certain conditions. US President Obama said, “We won’t let the Iranians drag out the negotiations, try to deceive us and continue pursuing their nuclear program under cover of the talks in Istanbul.” Obama went on to outline the conditions the Iranians would be required to meet in the first two months of the talks with the six world powers due to begin in April – or else Obama would personally cut them short. It is not expected that Iran will agree to these conditions.
Head of the National Security Council Maj.-Gen. Ya’akov Amidror said that Israel must be ready to act against Iran should talks between the international community and Tehran fail. Israel has reportedly communicated to Obama when Netanyahu came to the US this past week that unless Obama makes a firm pledge to use US military force to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb, Israel may well take matters into its own hands within months. The real urgency comes from the fact that Israeli intelligence has concluded that it has only between six and nine months before Iran’s nuclear facilities are immune from a unilateral military strike. In order to give sanctions a chance, Netanyahu would effectively have to give up Israel’s ability to strike Iran and leave the country’s fate in the hands of the United States – which is why he is demanding a clear sign of commitment from the American president. Speaking for AIPAC, Netanyahu said: “Never again will our people have to live in the shadow of annihilation.” DEBKA reports that Obama admitted privately to Netanyahu that Iran’s Fordow underground uranium enrichment plant can no longer be destroyed by bombs and missiles. Netanyahu replied to Obama that Iran is building not one Fordow but ten. We can’t wait much longer. How much is “much longer” is the subject of debate, but one thing is clear: Israel won’t wait beyond 2012 or until after the US presidential election in November. Israel’s Channel 2 reported that the decision has already been made by senior Israeli leaders to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. ”
All U.S. intelligence officials are confident the Israeli leadership has already decided to attack Iran, unless a significant change happens in the coming weeks or months with the Iranian nuclear program,” the channel, quoting a “senior American official,” said. As a result, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that an attack on Iran could take place within a matter of month. Obama has made it clear to Israel that a military strike would be “premature” and economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure and negotiations must be allowed to run their course before a military option is considered as a last resort. Obama said that there is a “window of opportunity” to stop Iran’s nuclear program. He said he didn’t expect a breakthrough in the first meeting but added that it would be quickly possible to see how serious Iran was commenting to the voices of American politicians’ “beating the drums of war,” saying those who speak so loosely should consider the consequences of their words. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that it was important to ensure that Israel is fully aware of the potential consequences of a military strike on Iran.
Israeli state officials expressed disappointment with the results of the Netanyahu-Obama meeting at the White House on March 5. “It was clear from recent months that there are differences between ourselves and the Americans. We have different perspectives when it comes to the question of time and red lines.” Obama said he did not believe that a decision by Israel on whether to attack would have to be made in the next two months. While Israel is skeptical of Iran being persuaded to stop its nuclear program from the talks that will be held next month, it seems that they will wait until the conclusion of the talks to possibly attack Iran. Obama and Netanyahu have agreed to meet again regarding the situation with Iran in July. Therefore, while Israel seems to be willing to attack Iran as early as May, the US doesn’t seem willing to attack Iran until about August at the earliest. US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that while “Military action against Iran is the last alternative if all else fails, the US will act militarily against Iran.”
A US war with Iran is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles is as follows:
1) Obama: There’s still time for diplomacy on Iran
2) Clinton: Sanctions against Iran ‘toughest ever’
3) EU’s Ashton accepts Iranian offer of nuclear talks
4) Russia: Iran has proved it is ready for nuclear talks
5) Iran ‘seeking to build nuclear weapon’, warns David Cameron
6) IAEA voices ‘serious concerns’ about possible military dimensions to Iran nuclear program
7) World powers to Iran: Open military site for IAEA
8.) Iran says it will allow IAEA into military complex
9) Iran Will Have to Meet 7 Provisos to Keep Nuclear Talks Afloat
10) ‘Israel must be ready to strike Iran if talks fail’
11) Israel delivers ultimatum to Barack Obama on Iran’s nuclear plans
12) Netanyahu to Obama: We can’t wait much longer, Iran has not one but ten Fordows
13) Netanyahu, in the role of his life, confronts Obama on Iran
14) PM: I’ll never let Israel live under shadow of annihilation
15) Report: Israel Has Already Decided to Strike Iran
16) Netanyahu: Strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities possible within months
17) Adamant Obama confronts Netanyahu with a lone decision on Iran
18) Obama: Iran strike would have ‘consequences’
19) ‘Israel must be aware of danger behind Iran strike’
20) Obama meets Netanyahu, says all options open on Iran
21) US bunker-busters, aerial refueling for Israel alongside diplomacy for Iran
22) Israeli state officials disappointed with Obama meeting
23) Obama Estimates July-August, Netanyahu Projects Early May
24) Will the US and Israel Strike Iran Separately or Together?
25) Panetta: US will use force against Iran if all else fails
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