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
Last week, it appeared that Israel was going to have early elections. However, at the last moment, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an agreement with the opposition party, Kadima, and its new leader Shaul Mofaz to establish a national unity government. It will have a large majority of 94 Knesset members with only 61 needed to have a majority. The agreement was based upon the following four principles:
1) Legislation to replace the Tal Law meant to cause Orthodox Jewish men to serve in the Israeli army
2) Approval of a responsible state financial budget
3) Reform of the political electoral system by the end of 2012
4) The promotion of a responsible peace process with the Palestinians as agreed by Netanyahu and Mofaz
Analysts suggest that the agreement between Netanyahu and Mofaz was made for several reasons. Polls suggested that Kadima would have lost around 50% of its current seats and would have made Mofaz a weak leader of a minority party. Kadima no longer would have been the main opposition party. Netanyahu needed a strong government coalition to deal with the Iranian and Palestinian issues. Mofaz has a military background. Without elections, Ehud Barak can remain as defense minister. It was projected that his party would not have won any seats in new elections.
Israel’s national unity government sent a strong message to the US that Israel is now more than able and would have the political will to attack Iran. Meanwhile, the US now believes that Netanyahu should have political backing to make an agreement on the parameters for a PLO state. The US is also insisting that Israel give a positive response to the Palestinian letter of Mahmood Abbas given to Israel on April 17.
An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles are as follows:
1) No elections: Kadima to join government
2) Netanyahu and Mofaz: Our coalition is broadest in Israel’s history
3) Netanyahu emerges as strongman with unity deal
4) Washington: Netanyahu is here to stay, so is Israel’s military option on Iran
5) Clinton to Netanyahu: Use unity cabinet to advance Mideast peace
12,000 special operations troops from 17 nations, including the US and other NATO members, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are now positioned on the Jordanian side of the Syrian border for possibly military intervention to remove Syrian President Bashar Assad from power. In response, Syria moved some of its heavy missile launchers north toward Turkey and south toward Israel to possibly be used against Turkey and Israel. The UN and Arab League sponsored cease fire negotiated by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan remains fragile as fighting continues between the Syrian government and opposition forces.
A war with Syria where Damascus is destroyed (Isaiah 17) is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles is as follows:
1) Syria Moving Scuds to Israel, Turkey Borders
2) Multinational force massed on Jordanian-Syrian border as 55 killed in Damascus bombings
Iran has started to accept the Chinese currency as payment for oil shipments. This continues a trend by countries like China, Russia, Japan and India to no longer use the US dollar in bilateral trade. This weakens the role of the US dollar to be the world’s reserve currency and contributes to conditions for the collapse of the US dollar.
DEBKA reports that Iran is building a new chain of underground facilities deep inside the Dasht e-Kavir (Great Salt Desert) – all linked together by huge tunnels – as a way to continue its nuclear program while being free from outside inspection. Iran continues to have secret talks with the US about its nuclear program. The next meeting by the P5 + 1 powers (China, Russia, France, Britain, US and Germany) with Iran over its nuclear program is May 23 in Iraq.
The Iranian leaders believe that war against them and Syria and the destruction of the US and Israel will usher in the 12th Imam, known as the Mahdi, the Islamic Messiah within six months of the beginning of a war against Syria and Iran. Because of these beliefs, it is unlikely that Iran will agree to stop its nuclear weapons program. Based upon the newly formed Israeli national unity government and the likelihood that Iran will not give up its nuclear program this spring or summer, it seems that war with Iran is likely to happen sometime this fall.
A US war with Iran is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles is as follows:
1) Petrodollar Warfare: Iran Accepts Renminbi for Crude Oil
2) Iran readies secret salt desert bunkers for clandestine nuclear facilities
3) US officials said to be fearful of looming Israeli strike on Iran
4) Is Netanyahu’s New Government Set for an Iranian Surprise?
5) Tehran Bargains for Regional Partnership through Secret Track with US
6) Iran Preparing For ‘The Last Six Months’
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