This recent bombing, claimed by the Islamic military group Hamas (according to French News Agency AFP), wounded over 190 people and killed 7, including three school girls, ages 12, 14 and 15. The Hamas callers claiming responsibility for the attack alluded to a September 14, 1997 deadline by which Israel was to release Palestinian prisoners or suffer additional attacks.

After the blasts, Israel closed the West Bank and Gaza Strip, confining the Palestinians to their own towns and businesses. Arafat immediately denounced Israel for serious violations of the Peace Accords, but it appeared unlikely he would meet Israeli demands to arrest dozens of Hamas activists. The Hamas was also implicated in the July 30 double-suicide bombing.

Netanyahu has accused Arafat of "not lifting a finger" to fight Hamas since April of 1994, when the suicide attacks began. He blames Arafat for being indirectly responsible for the September 5th attack. Although Arafat claims no responsibility for the Hamas attack (he is blaming the Syrians and Iranians), Netanyahu observed that: "He kisses and hugs them [the Hamas leaders] and the message they get from that is very clear -- that they can operate in the area under his [Arafat's] control."

Showing his true colors, Arafat recently hosted the "National Unity" talks, attended by Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders (PLO terrorist groups). According to an article in "Al-Ayyam", an Arab newspaper that was published only three days before the suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem, "the forces participating in the conference discussed a formula and a mechanism for joint action aimed at confronting the Israeli challenges." Was it coincidence that Arafat cancelled his Thursday night meetings with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad -- the night before the terrorist attack? Arafat's Palestinian Authority Security Chief, Jibril Rajoub, hailed the Islamist groups as "partners in the struggle."

The peace process has been in crisis since March of this year when Netanyahu gave permission to build the 6,500-unit "Har Homa" housing development in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as the future capital of Palestine. Incidentally, the land chosen for the "Har Homa" development was unreclaimed desert land, located for the most part far from existing housing (with the exception of a few illegal dwellings). Netanyahu has vowed to retain control over East Jerusalem and "never give into demands to divide Jerusalem, which shall remain the capital of Israel."

It was only about a week ago that the last restrictions on Bethlehem were removed. These restrictions were put in place after the July 30, 1997 suicide bombings, which killed 16 people. At that time, it was felt that there were active Hamas and Jihad units there that were preparing for attack. It appears that the concerns were justified.

After an emergency cabinet meeting the Friday of the attack, where it was decided that no new territory would be handed over to the PLO. Israel also indicated that it was ready to take its own action within areas already controlled by the PLO. Analysts feel that such a move could erupt into wide-spread fighting.

Of prophetic significance is the increased call for peace and security. Responding to the terrorist attack in Jerusalem, Secretary of State Madeline Albright noted that "the peace process can only move forward in a secure environment." Arafat stated on September 1, 1997 in response to Netanyahu's linking of the continued peace process with the PLO's crackdown on terrorism, that: "All Netanyahu wants is security." Arafat went on to threaten: "Our patience is not unlimited -- all options remain open." The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) continue on high alert, with the possibility of additional bombings in advance of a visit by Madeline Albright on Wednesday ., September. 9, 1997.

"For when they shall say, peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thes 5:3)

Sooner or later, the peace and security of Israel is going to be guaranteed. This is when the "Man of Peace" (the Anti-Christ) will make his entrance onto the stage of World History. It appears that the day may not be far off.

The prophet Zechariah noted that the Day (of the Lord) is coming when God will ".... make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zech 12:2-3)

Israel is fast becoming that burdensome stone, as the "peace" initiatives continue to run into obstacle after obstacle. What will it take to bring a resolution to the ongoing problems in the Middle East? One possibility is the prophesied Ezekiel 38 invasion of Israel, which involves the use of nuclear weapons. If this should occur, the world will want peace at any cost: enter, stage right, the "Man of Peace"

The Ezekiel 38 invasion is a real possibility, as alignments continue to be orchestrated. At a September 3 interview, Prime Minister Netanyahu gravely spoke about an Iranian ballistic missile buildup, in which Russian experts are actively involved. He indicated that if this does not stop, the balance of power in the Middle East will shift, negatively affecting existing peace agreements, as well as those not yet reached. Netanyahu contended that Iran's ultimate objective in arming their missiles with biological, chemical and nuclear warheads is to threaten the entire world, while enhancing efforts to disseminate its extremist ideology.

Indeed. Here is an excerpt from the weekly Friday sermon at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount and broadcast on the "Voice of Palestine," clearly illustrating the Islamic will for America (and any other nation that is not Islamic in ideology and faith): "Oh Allah, destroy America, for she is ruled by Zionist Jews. Allah will paint the White House black! Clinton is fulfilling his father's will to identify with Israel...The Muslims say to Britain, to France and to all the infidel nations that Jerusalem is Arab. We shall not respect anyone else's wishes regarding her...Allah will take revenge on behalf of his prophet against the colonialist settlers who are sons of monkeys and pigs...."

The reaction on Capitol Hill to the latest terrorist attack against Israel was one of outrage. Republicans and Democrats alike renounced Arafat as a villain who was unwilling to stop the terrorism and threatened to cut off U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority. At a press conference on Thursday, September 4, Congressman Schumer stated, "We also need to stop Hamas activities in America. We passed the 1996 terrorist law, which gave the State Department the power to designate Hamas as a terrorist group and ban its activities here....yet 17 months later, the State Department has not designated a single terrorist group, even Hamas."

What about America's vulnerability to terrorism? "Intelligence Digest" concluded, in the issue of August 22, 1997, that the United States' continuing vulnerability to terrorist attacks means that any future international crises (particularly in the Middle East) would significantly constrain the U.S. response, for fear of a major terrorist attack on the U.S. mainland.

Gazi Ibrahim Abu Mezer, the Palestinian suspect in the plot to bomb the New York City subway in August, gained entry into the U.S. even after acknowledging he had been detained in Israel for "being a member of a known terrorist organization," as well as an illegal immigrant. In 1993, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, a radical Egyptian Islamic Cleric convicted of inspiring the World Trade Center bombing, gained access to the U.S. with a visa obtained from the American embassy in Sudan even after being implicated months earlier in his call to assassinate the Egyptian President.

According to the August 29, 1997 issue of "Intelligence Digest" , CIA Director George Trent (who testified in Congress earlier this year) noted that: "Terrorists, including militant Islamic groups, have expanded their activities and support networks in the U.S., and FBI agents say that Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Hezbollah all have the capability and infrastructure to launch attacks in the U.S." This statement is particularly provocative considering that, according to Alexander Lebed (Russia's Security Chief), Russia has "lost track" of 100 suitcase-sized nuclear bombs. These devices, designated as "Special Atomic Demolition Munitions", were designed for sabotaging assets behind enemy lines. In the wrong hands, these bombs would be the perfect terrorist weapon. The 1-kiloton nuclear bombs can kill upwards to 100,000 people and devastate a large portion of a moderately-sized city.

Lebed's report is disputed. However, in August, Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), a Russian expert who sits on the House National Security Committee, wrote letters to CIA Director George Trent and National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, expressing his concerns about the security of Russia's weapons. Jay Stewart, the director of foreign intelligence operations for the Department of Energy from 1990-1994, indicated that the U.S. and international community have reason for concern. He stated: "It is my belief that the Russian Ministry of Defense itself doesn't know where all the tactical nuclear weapons are and cannot account for them. If these suitcase devices have fallen out of national government hands, the question becomes where are they, who has them, and what are their intentions? In the former Soviet Union, everything is for sale."

If "Intelligence Digest" is correct in its assessment, a "constrained" U.S. response to a major confrontation in the Middle East (for fear of a major terrorist attack on the US mainland) fits very well with Ezekiel 38:13. This scripture text indicates that the U.S. essentially mounts nothing more than a diplomatic protest to the massive Russian-armed and Russian-led Muslim invasion of Israel.

Should the peace plan get back on track, Syria is still a wildcard in the negotiations. Netanyahu said, just a few days prior to the bombing, that he was encouraged by the role that President Assad played in the joint Israeli-Syrian effort to wind down the recent escalation in southern Lebanon. He credited Assad with reining in the Iranian-backed Hizbullah guerrillas and avoiding further bloodshed. However, within days of this statement, eleven soldiers of the Naval Commando Unit, headed by a naval unit commander, were killed in the clash with terrorists during an initiated action north of Tyre, in southwest Lebanon. The commando unit was attacking guerrilla positions that were firing rockets into Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "This is a time of heavy sorrow and bereavement for the people of Israel. In the criminal terrorist bombing in Jerusalem, we lost the best of our youth, and last night in Lebanon, we lost 11 of our best soldiers. The State of Israel is fighting a hard and bitter battle against despicable terrorists on two fronts, whose aim is to destroy the State of Israel and murder its citizens."

Syria has not changed its stripes. They continue to press hard that the armistice line that existed from mid-1949 to June 4, 1967 be the outer limit of the Syrian force deployment in the aftermath of the proposed Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights. The logistics of this demand is to again gain access to Lake Kinneret, on whose northeastern shore the Syrian army was camped until the outbreak of the Six-Day War." While pressing Israel for strategic advantage, they are also continuing to prepare for war by forging a strategic anti-Israel alliance with Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the other Gulf States, and Egypt. The September 5, 1997 "Intelligence Digest" reported that there is Saudi-Arabian support for the growing Iran-Syria-Russia anti-Israel axis. Apparently the 12 billion-dollar Syrian debt to Russia brought about the cessation of arms sales to Syria. but Iran stepped up to the plate and paid a sufficient amount of the debt to allow arms sales to begin again. "Intelligence Digest" reported that there is evidence that Saudi Arabia is also now involved in the latest Syrian arms deal. This deal is said to include: 48 Mig-29's, between 14 and 24 Sukhoi-27 interceptors, Sam-11 surface-to-air missile systems, Sam-12 missiles designed to counter incoming ballistic missiles and warplanes, modernization of Syria's 1,500 T-72 tanks, and 300 new T-80 tanks to replace Syria's aging T-62's and T54/55 tanks. "Intelligence Digest" concludes, on a disturbing note, that the acquisition of the Sukhoi Interceptors and Sam-12 missiles would be a challenge to Israeli air superiority.

It is clear that we continue to move closer to the prophesied Ezekiel 38/39 invasion of Israel. "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28)

Maranatha!

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Luke 21:28)

Maranatha!

Prophetic Links:

Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 1 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 2 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 3 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 4 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 5 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 6 Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 7