Despite heavy rains falling in the region today, a fierce firefight broke out this morning in the Gaza Strip near Rafiach between Israeli and Palestinian forces. Palestinian radio says two Arabs were killed in the armed clash, one a 14 year-old teenager, and around 20 others were wounded. The radio says two other Palestinians were killed when soldiers shot at an Arab fire truck passing through the Netzarim junction. Israel radio says Yasser Arafat's paramilitary policemen took part in the Rafiach clash. Palestinian gunmen shot at IDF forces in two other Gaza Strip locations overnight, including near the border with Egypt. Palestinians earlier fired at soldiers manning a roadblock near Jericho, and at several Israeli civilian vehicles north of Jerusalem. No casualties were reported. Meanwhile the army has lifted a blockade imposed around the Arab town of Kalkilya, just east of the Israeli town of Kfar Saba. The move came after a marked reduction of shooting attacks in the area.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami is scheduled to meet in Washington today with US President Bill Clinton as Mideast peace talks continue on an air force base near the capital city. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met separately on Tuesday with US Mideast envoy Dennis Ross and other officials. The media is being barred from the talks, which are expected to last until tomorrow evening when the Jewish Hanukkah feast gets underway. Today's Israeli and Palestinian newspapers say neither side is overly optimistic that a breakthrough can be achieved. Commenting on the renewed negotiations, Palestinian cabinet minister Nabil Shaath boasted that the talks are "a real Palestinian achievement" while the violent uprising goes on: "Because of our heroism and sacrifices, the rules of the game have changed. The intifada will go on until we achieve all of our goals."
Prime Minister Ehud Barak is sending some of his political cronies (and potential opponents) to various Mideast destinations to explain Israel's positions regarding the new talks. Justice Minister Yossi Beilen, one of the main architects of the collapsed Oslo accords, traveled to Jordan on Tuesday to meet with King Abdullah. Meretz party leader Yossi Sarid is off to Cairo to brief Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the Washington talks. King Abdullah reportedly told Beilen he is very worried that the Palestinian uprising could spread to Jordan and other countries if a peace deal is not sealed before Arafat declares a Palestinian state, possibly on January 1. Beilen told reporters after meeting with the young King that the violent uprising has "serious economic and other ramifications" for Jordan.
Another potential opponent of Barak's is expected to announce today whether or not he will be a candidate for prime minister. Cabinet minister Shimon Peres indicated last night that he is leaning toward entering the race against Barak and Likud leader Ariel Sharon. The former premier, who is 77, said that many people had contacted him to urge him to run. Barak was not among them, publicly pleading with his Labor party colleague last night to "come together with us as we charge toward peace." He urged the elder statesman to refrain from "lending a hand to division and dispute." Officials last night declared that the election will definitely be held on February 6, with a runoff scheduled for February 20 if no candidate wins 50% in the first round.
Israel radio reports today that the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, Diodoros I, has passed away in the Old City. A majority of local Palestinian Christians belong to the ancient eastern-rite church. The death came as the church is making final preparations to celebrate the eastern Christmas in early January. Meanwhile, a large evangelical Christian convention scheduled to take place in Jerusalem late this month has been cancelled. Organizers of the "Celebrate Messiah" international gathering said they were forced to call off the convention because they could not secure visitors visas for around 600 participants planning to come from various countries. Another 600 or so delegates were expected to arrive from First World countries where no visa is required. The necessary permits could not be secured due to an ongoing labor strike involving interior ministry workers.
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Things are heating up for Israel. She is surrounded by radical Muslim nations dedicated to her destruction. Russia is arming and preparing these troops exactly as the Bible predicted. And the peace process -- though fraught with problems, is continuing forward. When it eventually reaches conclusion, it may produce a false sense of security for Israel and may perhaps be the time that "Russia thinks an evil thought", and leads the radical Muslim nations in their ill-fated invasion of Israel. Or, perhaps, it is in the aftermath of the invasion that peace is achieved only to later usher in destruction as Israel cries out, Peace, Peace!
What Israel's enemies will not anticipate is God's intervention in the course of human history. The result is catastrophic for the invaders, but will change life for all mankind, as well. These events include nuclear weapons and an earthquake so large that it shakes the entire earth. But most important is that, during this time in history, God once again pours out His Spirit on the House of Israel, showing His greatness and holiness, and making Himself known in the sight of many nations. "Then they will know that I am the LORD". (Eze 38:23) God will "once again, in a little while, shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts."(Haggai 2:6-7) "And the desired of the nations shall come.''
``It is now the hour to awake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith.'' (Rom 13:11)
God's righteous judgements are always redemptive. He does not desire that anyone perish, but that all come to repentance and everlasting life.
This invasion could now take place at almost any time. To prepare for it, stay close to the Lord by purifying your heart and thoughts through the daily washing of the Word. Be careful not to forsake the Holy One of Israel. Soon the culmination of all things shall begin.
Purify yourselves daily by the reading of the Word. Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Church. ``Today is the day of salvation for many who are perishing; their tomorrow shall not see my return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Today is the day of their salvation." Don't delay. Time is short. You have no guarantee that you will even see tomorrow. If you die without receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your eternal destiny is fixed.
As we see the signs of His return drawing close, what manner of holy life should we be living? Remember that Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Bride. Whether His return is today or 10 years from now is irrelevant since eternity is only a heart beat away for any of us. So choose this day whom you will serve, ask the Holy Spirit to search you to see if there be any iniquity in you, and then call upon Jesus your Deliverer. He is faithful for forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unfaithfulness.
"Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Maranatha!
Blessings on you all as we all wait for the return of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Maranatha!
How to Be Saved Through Jesus
DAVID DOLAN is a Jerusalem-based author and journalist. He has written the monthly Israel News Digest for CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL since 1986. His just-released new book, ISRAEL IN CRISIS: WHAT LIES AHEAD? may be ordered in North America by phoning 888-890-6938 or by e mail at: resources@yourisraelconnection.org
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