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Post by Keith on Jul 21, 2006 12:23:45 GMT -6
Can we not also view this as the longest blood feud in history? I've been reading some on the story of Ishmael and how the Arabs view him as the true son of Abraham who not only was supposed to be the recipient of God's Covenant but also they believe was the one brought to be sacrificed. Some also trace the lineage of Mohammed through him to Abraham. Interesting reading. I was not aware either that Ishmael was the patriarch of twelve chieftains as well. Thoughts and comments welcome. You are correct on all points Sybaelle: "And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation." (Genesis 17:20 KJV)Ishmael's twelve descendants are outlined in Genesis 25:12-18. One must consider the dual blessing that the Hebrew's were given the land, the Arab's the oil under it. Unfortunately, the Arabs are blind to this...
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Post by sybaelle on Jul 21, 2006 12:28:45 GMT -6
I'm just finding all this totally fascinating as I watch what's unfolding. Arab World Stands Behind Hezbollah Friday, July 21, 2006 Israel Bombs Palestinian Foreign Ministry CAIRO, Egypt — The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah exposed divisions across the Arab world, not only between Shiites and Sunnis but also between Arab governments and their citizens. Key Arab allies of the United States, predominantly Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, fear the rising power of Shiites in the region: Hezbollah militants who virtually control southern Lebanon, Iraq's majority Shiite government, and — most worrisome — the Shiite theocracy that has run Iran for decades. Yet many ordinary people, Sunnis as well as Shiites, are cheering the Lebanese guerrillas because of their willingness to stand up to Israel. Sitting in the shade as he sold figs in downtown Cairo, Hasan Salem Hasan, a 25-year-old Sunni, summed up a prevailing attitude of the so-called Arab street: "Although Hezbollah is a Shiite party, we are all Muslims, and all Arabs will defiantly support them and fight the Jews." On the one hand, predominantly Sunni Arab states are tacitly encouraging the destruction of Hezbollah, concerned it could stage attacks and create militant cells outside of Lebanon. There is also fear that militant Sunnis could join with Hezbollah — as the Palestinian militant group Hamas has done — to build a super terrorist network. www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204905,00.html
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Post by Keith on Jul 21, 2006 12:54:52 GMT -6
Interesting: Fox News anchor Martha McCallum just quoted some woman who had commented on the Israeli operation. Martha quoted the woman as saying "this is a 'birth pang' in the Middle East".
The woman's quote didn't imply it had anything to do with End Time prophecy, but for some reason she chose to use that analogy. This has been happening quite frequently since the onset of this conflict. People are using this terminology and don't even recognize how prophetic their words are...
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Post by Keith on Jul 21, 2006 13:08:54 GMT -6
Lebanese Defense Minister just reiterated Lebanon's stance on an Israel assault against Hezbollah in Lebanon, "We will defend Lebanon."
Fox News
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Post by Keith on Jul 21, 2006 13:11:36 GMT -6
Three people just arrested in Tel Aviv by Israeli Defense Forces for a terror threat against Tel Aviv...
Fox News
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Post by sybaelle on Jul 21, 2006 15:03:02 GMT -6
Muslims Around World Protest Israeli Actions Friday, July 21, 2006
CAIRO, Egypt — Thousands across the Muslim world used Friday's Islamic day of prayer to protest Israel's attacks on Hezbollah, urging Sunni-Shiite unity to defeat the Jewish state.
Waving posters of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, thousands gathered after Friday prayers at Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque, the most prominent Sunni Muslim institution in the Arab world.
"Sunnis or Shiites (there is) no difference; all together to resist the enemy," Sameh Ashour, head of the Arab Lawyers Union, told the crowd. "Resistance is the solution."
The fighting between Israel and the Shiite guerrillas in Lebanon has exposed divisions, as leaders in some predominantly Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have criticized Hezbollah's actions. But many people — both Sunnis and Shiites — support Hezbollah because of its willingness to fight Israel.
During a fiery sermon at a Damascus mosque, one of Syria's most prominent Sunni Islamic clerics assailed his Arab neighbors for condemning the capture this month of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas.
"Our Arab people have been surprised by our Arab leaders who have ignored what is being said on the streets," said Sheik Salah Keftaro.
In Iraq, radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr predicted Israel would collapse like the World Trade Center if Sunnis and Shiites join together to fight.
"I will continue defending my Shiite and Sunni brothers, and I tell them that if we unite, we will defeat Israel without the use of weapons," al-Sadr said in the southern city of Kufa.
Protesters in Cairo shouted anti-Israel slogans and condemned Arab leaders' reluctance to show their support for Hezbollah.
Thousands of police surrounded the demonstrators, beating some with batons when they tried to move into the streets. Police said three protesters were injured.
Protesters also took to the streets in other cities, including several thousand in Tripoli, Libya. About 2,000 angry demonstrators shouted praise for Hezbollah in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
"No to the Arab silence on the Zionist crimes," read one banner.
Police used batons and smoke grenades to break up hundreds of protesters who blocked traffic in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Demonstrators in Pakistan burned Israeli and U.S. flags, and protesters in Indonesia and Malaysia accused Israel of terrorism.
About 2,000 Muslims also marched in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital.
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Post by Steve on Jul 21, 2006 17:09:40 GMT -6
However, Israel's secret weapon in the size war is it's reserve. Israel has a reserve force of 1,200,000 (!) that can be activated and in combat within 48 hours, a remarkable feat. Something that happened today does an excellent job of illustrating this. Several Israeli armored units were sent to the Lebanon border today from their posts in Gaza and interior Israel. Three thousand reservists were activated to replace them. In the U.S. this activation would take 48-72 hours (2-3 days) with 4 or 5 days being more realistic. The Israeli reserves activated today were in position within six hours. These folks don't mess around.
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 21, 2006 17:16:19 GMT -6
Israel massing military on Lebanon borderBy BENJAMIN HARVEY, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 7 minutes ago ON THE ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER - Israel massed tanks and troops on the border Friday hours after calling up reserves and confirmed some units were already operating in Lebanon, as the army announced plans for a ground operation to destroy Hezbollah's tunnels, hideouts and weapons stashes. With Hezbollah's rocket attacks and Israeli bombings undiminished, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would visit the Middle East beginning Sunday — her first trip to the region since the crisis erupted 10 days ago. But she ruled out a quick cease-fire between Israel and the Shiite guerrillas as a "false promise." Israel, which pulled its troops out of Lebanon just six years ago after a lengthy and costly occupation that caused painful divisions within the Jewish state, was poised to carry out its third large-scale ground operation in Lebanon since 1978. This time, however, the Israelis signaled they did not want to stay long.
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 21, 2006 17:53:25 GMT -6
Israel plans more Lebanon incursions, not invasionBy Tom Perry 10 minutes ago BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Israeli army plans to step up incursions into southern Lebanon but not launch a mass invasion in its war against Hizbollah, an Israeli military source said on Saturday. Thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled north fearing Israel would invade and expand its 11-day-old bombardment of Lebanon which has killed 345 people, mostly civilians. Amid mounting world alarm at the war, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday announced a diplomatic drive but said the conflict's root causes had to be tackled before a truce. Israeli war planes overnight launched one of their heaviest raids yet on the town of al-Khiam, just north of the border, and destroyed five trucks in strikes in eastern Lebanon, witnesses said. Israel on Friday ordered several thousand reserves to report for duty. The call-up came a day after Defense Minister Amir Peretz spoke of a possible land offensive. Israel wants to stop Hizbollah from firing rockets into its northern territory. Hizbollah rockets, reaching as far as Haifa, have killed 15 civilians in Israel in the war. Nineteen soldiers have also been killed.
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Post by S F Lord on Jul 21, 2006 20:52:55 GMT -6
The IDF - Israel Defense Forces has there own web site. It was interesting to see that the name they have given to this conflict/operation is SUMMER RAIN.
Does anyone have any thoughts or insight that this might be a prophetic name given to the operation?
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Post by heavenbound on Jul 22, 2006 6:28:28 GMT -6
Not in prophetic terms, but in human terms, we often pray for summer rain to cool things down?? YSIC, Diana
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Post by S F Lord on Jul 22, 2006 13:15:03 GMT -6
I think it will take a little more looking into but the word "rain" shows up in a very important chapter for end times prophesy:
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 22, 2006 14:43:58 GMT -6
Israeli army continues Lebanon offensiveBy BENJAMIN HARVEY, Associated Press Writer 42 minutes ago ON THE ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER - Israeli tanks and hundreds of troops moved in and out of Lebanon on Saturday, taking over a village and battling Hezbollah militants by land, sea and air as part of a limited ground campaign. The soldiers — backed by artillery and tank fire — moved into the large Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras in several waves and took control, military officials said on condition of anonymity. Tens of thousands of Lebanese fleeing north packed into the port of Sidon to escape the increased Israeli offensive. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the conflict had displaced at least 700,000 Lebanese so far, and Israel's destruction of bridges and roads has made access to them difficult. "I'm afraid of a major humanitarian disaster," he told CNN. As part of an effort to avert a possible humanitarian crisis, Israel eased its blockade of Lebanon's ports to allow the first shiploads of aid to arrive. It remained unclear how that aid would get to the isolated towns and villages in the south, where the fighting has been centered over the past 11 days.
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Post by mamazar on Jul 22, 2006 19:50:55 GMT -6
wonder just how big that fella thinks Israel is geographically anyway... I know...it isn't Israel's size, it is the size of Jehovah...compared to Allah... Here's the thing about size (militarily, anyway). Israel has an active military of approximately 600,000; second largest in the region behind Iran. However, Israel's secret weapon in the size war is it's reserve. Israel has a reserve force of 1,200,000 (!) that can be activated and in combat within 48 hours, a remarkable feat. By comparison, the time to full activation for the U.S. reserves is 30 days, longer to actually get into combat. The closest in the region to Israel is again Iran with 700,000 personnel and a much longer activation time. Furthermore, Israel's reserve is not a bunch of "weekend warriors". Israel has a two year compulsory service, so these people received the exact same training as the full-timers. There is a joke in Israel that civilians are "soldiers on an eleven-month furlough." Isa 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. Jer 31:10-11 Hear The Word of THE LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For THE LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know THE LORD: for they shall all know ME, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith THE LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
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Post by Nita on Jul 23, 2006 12:30:40 GMT -6
The IDF - Israel Defense Forces has there own web site. It was interesting to see that the name they have given to this conflict/operation is SUMMER RAIN. Does anyone have any thoughts or insight that this might be a prophetic name given to the operation? Summer rain is not a good thing. Proverbs 26:1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool. Gill commentary As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,.. Which were very undesirable and unseasonable, yea, very hurtful to the fruits of the earth; and a great obstruction to the labourers in the harvest, and a hinderance to the gathering of it in; and were very rare and uncommon in Judea; it was even a miracle for thunder and rain to be in wheat harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool: for a wicked man; such should not be favoured by kings, and set in high places of honour and trust; "folly set in great dignity", or foolish and bad men set in honourable places, are as unsuitable and inconvenient as snow and rain in summer and harvest, and should be as rare as they; and they are as hurtful and pernicious, since they discourage virtue and encourage vice, and hinder the prosperity of the commonwealth; such vile persons are contemned in the eyes of good men, and are disregarded of God; he will not give, theft, glory here nor hereafter; the wise shall inherit it, but shame shall be the promotion of fools, 1 Samuel 12:17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. Love in Christ, Nita
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Post by Keith on Jul 23, 2006 16:32:22 GMT -6
Interesting: Fox News anchor Martha McCallum just quoted some woman who had commented on the Israeli operation. Martha quoted the woman as saying "this is a 'birth pang' in the Middle East".The woman's quote didn't imply it had anything to do with End Time prophecy, but for some reason she chose to use that analogy. This has been happening quite frequently since the onset of this conflict. People are using this terminology and don't even recognize how prophetic their words are... FOUND IT!!! It was said by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice during her news conference last Friday in regard to the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Here's the quote: "What we're seeing here, in a sense, is the growing -- the birth pangs of a new Middle East."Full transcript: WashingtonPost.com
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 23, 2006 17:48:19 GMT -6
Arabs press Syria to help end violenceBy KATHY GANNON, Associated Press Writers 1 hour, 25 minutes ago SIDON, Lebanon - Mideast diplomats were pressing Syria to stop backing Hezbollah as the guerrillas fired more deadly rockets onto Israel's third-largest city Sunday. Israel faced tougher-than-expected ground battles and bombarded targets in southern Lebanon, hitting a convoy of refugees. Israel's defense minister said his country would accept an international force, preferably NATO, on its border after it drives back or weakens Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. But his troops reported encountering an intelligent, well-prepared and ruthless guerrilla army whose fighters don't seem to fear death. With Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arriving in Israel on Monday, both the Arabs and Israelis appeared to be trying to set out positions ahead of Washington's first diplomatic mission to the region since the fighting began. The United States backs Israel's refusal to talk about a cease-fire until it completes the military campaign against Hezbollah, but is under increasing pressure to foster a plan to end the growing suffering and destruction in Lebanon.
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 24, 2006 14:19:42 GMT -6
Israeli forces push deeper into LebanonBy KATHY GANNON, Associated Press Writer 38 minutes ago SIDON, Lebanon - Israeli ground forces pushed deeper into Lebanon on Monday in fierce fighting and captured two Hezbollah guerrillas, while two aid convoys carrying food, generators and other badly needed supplies left Beirut for two southern cities. Four Israeli soldiers were killed — two in fighting and two in a helicopter crash — and 20 were wounded, military officials said. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Beirut to launch diplomatic efforts aimed at ending 13 days of warfare. Prime Minister Fuad Saniora told her his government is hoping to "put an end to the war being inflicted on Lebanon." He told Rice that Israel's bombardment was taking his country "backward 50 years." An official close to parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a close Hezbollah ally, said his talks with Rice failed to "reach an agreement because Rice insisted on one full package to end the fighting." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. David Welch, an assistant secretary of state traveling with Rice, said later it was "unfair" to say Rice's meeting with Berri went poorly. Israel has not bombed Beirut since Sunday afternoon and appeared to have stopped all airstrikes on the city in deference to Rice's visit. Rice later flew to Jerusalem. Saniora has pleaded with Washington to press Israel to call a total cease-fire in bombardment that has demolished Lebanon's infrastructure and killed hundreds. President Bush has opposed an immediate cease-fire, saying the root cause of the conflict must be resolved. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said in remarks published Monday the priority is for a cease-fire and he was open to discussing ideas on ending the crisis.
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 24, 2006 17:15:06 GMT -6
Battle for Lebanese town takes its tollBy BENJAMIN HARVEY, Associated Press Writer 22 minutes ago ON THE ISRAEL-LEBANON BORDER - The heavy guns thundered before dawn Monday, sending deadly shells crashing down into the Lebanese border town and paving the way for the advancing Israeli tanks and troops. By daybreak, bloody and bruised soldiers, shock etched deep in their faces, were streaming back over the border into Israel. The incessant crackle of gunfire pierced the air as explosions over the hills surrounding Bint Jbail kicked up plumes of gray smoke. All the while, tanks rolled back into Israel, ferrying the wounded over the rocky, barren landscape. Two Israeli soldiers were killed and at least 20 were wounded Monday, the army said, as guerrillas in the town, a Hezbollah stronghold, issued a withering barrage of bullets, anti-tank missiles and mortar shells. Maj. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, chief of operations for the Israeli Defense Force, said between 100 and 200 Hezbollah fighters were fortified inside the town, while much of the civilian population had fled. Hezbollah, he said, suffered dozens of casualties.
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Kristi
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Post by Kristi on Jul 25, 2006 1:29:38 GMT -6
Officials: 7 killed by Israeli missileBy LEE KEATH, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 21 minutes ago BEIRUT, Lebanon - An Israeli jet fired a missile into a house in south Lebanon early Tuesday, killing seven people, hospital and security officials said. At least one other person, a woman, was wounded in the attack in the market town of Nabatiyeh, officials said. It was not immediately clear why Israel targeted the house, which belonged to a man named Mohammed Ghandour. He, his wife and his son were among the seven killed, security officials said. They said a man named Saad Hamza, his wife, an unidentified man and two children were also The attack came a day after Israeli troops battled their way to a key Hezbollah stronghold in south Lebanon, seizing a hilltop in heavy fighting and capturing two guerrillas, according to the Israeli army. The U.S. completed its evacuation of 12,000 Americans and said it would switch to bringing in humanitarian aid. On the 13th day of Israel's offensive, its forces moved one step deeper into Lebanon as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made her first diplomatic foray since the conflict began — and immediately met resistance.
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