Syria Next Target?

Jerusalem • 10/12/2003

NORTHERN WATCH

As I prepare to leave for the States later this month, I am as always keeping a close eye on news developments in the Lords special land, especially the situation in the north (where heavy rain caused some flooding on Sunday). Tensions remain high along Israels border with Lebanon, even as the Sharon government prepares to release around 450 Arab prisoners in exchange for the remains of three IDF soldiers kidnapped there by Lebanese Hizbullah militiamen three years ago. Also scheduled to be set free is Israeli businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum, who was captured soon afterward by Arab agents working for the Shiite Muslim group.

Many Israeli leaders and security experts are strongly opposed to the prisoner exchange, saying it rewards terrorism and could encourage more Hizbullah kidnappings of Israeli civilians traveling abroad. Some are also upset over media reports that Tannenbaum was in the middle of an illegal drug deal when he was kidnapped. However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharona former army generalseems determined to fulfill Israels longstanding commitment to its captured soldiers to do everything possible to secure their release (Tannenbaum is not an active serviceman, but is a reserve army officer).

Although the Israeli cabinet narrowly approved the highly controversial deal by a vote of 12 to 11 on Sunday, it looks like the prisoner exchange may not take place at all due to Israels understandable refusal to release a jailed Lebanese man with blood on his hands. The convicted prisoner, Samir Kuntar, participated in a 1979 terrorist infiltration into the northern coastal town of Nahariya. An Israeli policeman and a young couple and their toddler were killed in the terrorist attack. Hizbullah has threatened to pull out of the prisoner exchange, mediated by Germany, if Kuntar is not included in the swap.

I will be speaking about this topic and other news developments on the Chicago-based Moody Broadcasting Network later today. You can listen live via the internet around the world beginning at 5:00 PM EST, 2:00 PM PST, which is 22:00 GMT, by going to their main web site, www.mbn.org, or to www.primetimeamerica.org

INTERESTING TIMES

Whether or not the lopsided prisoner swap falls through, I expect tensions to escalate still further along the northern border in the coming weeks. If Israel refuses to release Kuntar and the anticipated exchange collapses, look for Hizbullah to retaliate in a major way. This could easily lead to another Israeli air strike on Syrian territory, potentially sparking a larger conflict.

All this comes amid unsubstantiated media and internet reports since last Wednesday that American air power is being significantly beefed up in the region. Some say this is part of preparations for pending US military action against Syria, as the White House weighs possible responses to escalating attacks against US forces in neighboring Iraq. Several reports claim that President Bush is now convinced that Saddams non-conventional weapons were smuggled into Syria late last year, as Ariel Sharon stated in media interviews at that time.

Israeli media outlets have been noting in recent days that many Mideast Shiite Muslims are in a heightened state of religious fervor this month. They are said to view Novembers solar and lunar eclipsesboth occurring during the holy fasting month of Ramadanas celestial signs that the long-waiting Madhi is about to appear. Experts say that intense excitement over this prospect may prompt terror groups like Al Qaida and Hizbullah to carry out additional attacks in the region and around the globe.

As many of you already know, most Shiite scholars and preachers believe that another Muslim prophetnearly as great as Muhammadwill appear on the earth just before the end of days. He is officially known as the Twelfth Imam, but more popularly as the Madhi. He will supposedly restore the lost glory of Islam and help it to rapidly take control over all the earth.

The Bible foretells that a Very Important Person will indeed appear in Jerusalem in the historical last daysIsraels Jewish Messiah. It further reveals that this unmatched VIP will come in the clouds with great glory (Daniel 7:13-14). As the prophesied signs grow that His appearing is drawing very near, please continue to pray for the millions of Jews and Arabs who currently live in the troubled Promised Land.