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War Rumors Rock Israel
By David Dolan
Thursday April 3, 10:00 Pm
SHALOM FROM JERUSALEM,
Widespread media reports of
possible imminent war with Syria—probably initiated by an attack upon
the Jewish state by Syria’s puppet Hizbullah militia force in Lebanon,
supported by Palestinian Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, and possibly by
Iran itself—have spread like wildfire this week here in Israel. Military analysts say this indicates
something is indeed occurring on the ground to raise the war alert, as
confirmed by army sources. The
cancellation today of a scheduled visit to Europe next week by Israel’s
Defense Minister has only added to the war jitters.
On Wednesday, Deputy Chief of Staff
Dan Harel warned that Israel
will respond “with a heavy hand” against anyone trying to target the
country. Israel TV newscasts this
evening are all featuring reports and analysis of the tense situation along the
northern borders with Syria
and Lebanon. Analysts are saying that while neither
side probably wants war, the current tense situation could easily spiral out of
control, given the heightened military alerts on both sides.
This all comes as Israel makes final preparations for
the largest civilian home front war exercises ever conducted in the country, due
to begin on Sunday and last through next Thursday. The cabinet is scheduled to meet Sunday
morning in a special session meant to simulate an actual war emergency, followed
by war drills in many hospitals, army bases, emergency response services, municipalities,
police stations, etc. An actual war
siren will be sounded on Tuesday morning at 10 AM all over the country. People everywhere will be instructed by
the media in the coming days to respond then as if an enemy attack was in progress,
to test their preparations for the same.
Jerusalem Post military reporter
Yaakov Katz confirmed on Israel state television tonight that IDF forces are on
the highest possible level of alert in the north, in response to intelligence
information that the Iranian-backed Syrian regime—supplemented by major
army reserve call-ups reported in various Arab media outlets in London and elsewhere
in recent days—have recently moved two armored brigades into the Lebanese
Beeka Valley, where Hizbullah has its main military bases.
Katz said that while neither Israel
or Syria probably wants a full war right now, the Syrians are wary that Israel
will attack them if Hizbullah launches the promised “revenge” response
to the killing of arch terrorist Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus on February 12, which
the radical Lebanese group and its Iranian paymasters blame on Israel, despite
denials of responsibility from Jerusalem. Katz added that Syria may be preparing for war because it knows
that Hizbullah has a major operation pending against Israel, probably supported, if not ordered, by
Iran—whose
extremist Shiite leaders have vowed to avenge the car bomb attack on Mughniyeh,
who was closely associated with them.
Speculation that a major conflict
might be brewing grew substantially after the Israeli security cabinet held a
special meeting on Wednesday—usually only convened in times of heightened
military tensions or activity—mainly to discuss the situation in the north. The cabinet then announced that authorities
will begin distributing anti-gas mask and biological weapons kits to the general
public in the coming days—adding to the growing sense of crisis. Still, officials pointed out the distribution
process would take some time, and therefore did not indicate that Israeli leaders
thought major conflict was necessarily imminent. This assertion was repeated today by President
Shimon Peres, who said that mounting talk of imminent conflict was exaggerated.
Nevertheless, various Israeli media
outlets reported today that officials suspect that Syria may have transferred chemical
weapons to Hizbullah forces, including deadly Sarin nerve gas. This comes after Iranian Armed Forces Chief
Hassan Firouzabadi hinted in February that short range nuclear warheads might
have been sent to the rogue Lebanese militia force, which is partially commanded
by Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Meanwhile a Syrian parliament member was quoted in the Arabic media today
as confirming that his country is currently monitoring Israeli military communications
with the help of advanced Iranian equipment and listening outposts set up in Syria.
Today’s announcement that
Defense Minister Ehud Barak had cancelled a scheduled visit to Germany next week
because of the heightened war tensions with Syria has definitely caught the attention
of the Israeli public. All of the
new war talk comes as the country’s hotels are fuller than they have been
since just before the Palestinian Al Aksa terrorist war was launched in September
2000, with record numbers, especially American Jews, scheduled to come here next
month to celebrate Israel’s 60th anniversary.
I continue to do weekly radio news
reports (http://prophecytoday.com/html/ptrn.php)
on Israel
and the region for several media outlets, including a Saturday update heard over
the Prophecy Today radio network and a Monday report broadcast on the American
Moody Radio network (www.mbn.org). I recently appeared on two “Front Page Jerusalem” panel discussion
programs with Jerusalem Post columnist Calev Ben David, heard over the US Salem
Network, and I also continue to record weekly feature reports on Israel that are
broadcast during Janet Parshall’s national radio program.
Last week, I filmed some TV reports
in the besieged Israeli town of Sderot
and the Gaza Strip border area for the Inspiration TV network, scheduled to be
broadcast in May. I also received a final copy of a television special that I
host on camera about the biblical Ark of the Covenant, which should be broadcast
in the coming months—details to follow. I am currently completing a feature article
on Israel’s
60 years as a modern state for the Jerusalem Post’s Christian Edition, which
will also be printed in other publications connected to the International Christian
Embassy. The Post article is scheduled
to appear in May. I sincerely hope
it will not be trumped by yet another war before it is printed, but of course
I realize, given the present news, that this could well be the case. I was supposed to be in the United States
on a speaking tour at present, but cancelled that some months ago mainly due to
personal family reasons. Now I am
wondering if I was simply meant to be here for whatever action might take place
over the next two months—but obviously only time will tell. One thing IS certain: We who live here
do appreciate your prayers very much in these traumatic days.
David Dolan is a
Jerusalem-based author and journalist who has lived and worked in Israel since
1980.
·
HOLY WAR FOR THE PROMISED LAND (Broadman & Holman), his
latest book, is an overview of the history of the Israel and of the bitter
Arab-Israeli conflict that rages there, plus some autobiographical details
about the author’s experiences living in the land since 1980. It
especially examines the important role that militant Islam plays in the
conflict.
·
ISRAEL IN CRISIS:
WHAT LIES AHEAD? (Baker/Revell), which examines the political and biblical
prospects for a regional attack upon Israel, settlement in the disputed
territories, and related topics, is also available for purchase, along with
an updated edition of his popular end-time novel, THE END OF DAYS
(21st Century Press).
You may order these books at a special
discount price by visiting his web site at www.ddolan.com, or by phoning toll free 888-890-6938 in North
America, or by e mail at: resources@yourisraelconnection.org.
DAVID DOLAN'S DVD, "FOR
ZION'S SAKE"
which has been broadcast four times on nationwide television in the States, is
available for purchase. Click the
title under "BOOKSTORE" for more details.
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