Prophecy and Current Events

Israeli officials are closely monitoring an apparent Syrian military buildup in Lebanon. The reported major troop movements follow a harsh verbal attack upon Israel by Syrian officials on Sunday. According to Beirut newspapers, Syrian armed forces began moving out of the Damascus area on Sunday, traveling in a convoy of some 100 trucks toward Beirut. Israel radio has been giving extensive coverage of the reported troop buildup today, which comes after more than half a million Syrians marched in anti-Israel demonstrations held in various parts of Syria on Sunday. One rally was addressed by Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas, who warned ominously that "Syria will support Lebanon against forces attempting to harm her and the Arab people." Vice President Muhammad Masharka spoke even more strongly, condemning Israel for allegedly employing "Nazi and Fascist practices" against the Palestinian people. He maintained that such "heinous terrorist practices" were not even carried out by the Nazis or their Fascist allies. He threatened that Syria "will not stand by idly" if such alleged practices continue. Tensions remain high in Lebanon following the recent arrest of around 150 Christian activists who have publicly protested the continuing Syrian military occupation of their country, which has been ongoing since 1976.

Israeli army inspectors discovered around 10,000 Israeli manufactured bullets being smuggled into the Gaza Strip on an Arab truck this morning. Officials said the bullets, being transported from the Palestinian-ruled town of Ramallah north of Jerusalem, were hidden under construction equipment. It was the second time in two months that illegal munitions had been intercepted on their way into the Gaza Strip. The discovery came after a Palestinian man and his two children were killed last night in unclear circumstances in the Gaza Strip. As usual, Palestinians immediately blamed Israel for the deaths, insisting that a rocket had been fired at the three. But foreign reporters who rushed to the scene found no evidence of such an attack, seemingly confirming Israeli army statements that no missiles been launched by Israel late last night. They said it seemed to be another case of a bomb being illegally prepared by someone who was apparently not fully trained how to manufacture explosive munitions. The dead man was known to be an anti-Israel activist, said both Israeli and Palestinian media reports. The militant Islamic Hamas movement indicated today that the dead man was a member of the group, and vowed to launch more suicide attacks in revenge. Israeli forces intercepted a terrorist on his way to launch a terrorist attack in Haifa late last week. Earlier yesterday, Israeli helicopter gunships fired at least two missiles at a Force 17 PLO building in Khan Yunis after Palestinians fired mortar shells at a nearby Israeli Gaza Strip community in the morning. Palestinian reports said three members of Yasser Arafat's elite guard and a civilian were wounded by the Israeli fire.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres says he intends to pass on a message to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat when he meets with Germany's visiting Foreign Minister tonight. Peres said he will continue to seek ways to implement a US-sponsored ceasefire that Arafat signed on to in June, but has failed to carry out. The message comes as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon confirmed media reports that he has ordered Israeli underground commando units to continue seeking out wanted terrorist leaders whom Arafat has failed to arrest, despite his ceasefire commitment to do so. Meanwhile the broad Sharon unity government is expected to get even bigger this evening when the five-seat Center Party joins it. Analysts say the addition of Center, headed by former Likud politician Dan Meridor, means that PM Sharon can probably stay in power if all or part of the left-wing Labor party quits his coalition, thus strengthening his ability to order tougher army action to quell the nearly 11 month violent "Al Aksa intifada."