Israeli forces this week are gearing up for the annual "Land Day" marches by Arabs inside Israel and outside its borders. The event, scheduled for this Friday, promises to be a more severe challenge this year after regional powers like Iran, Hizballah, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas became actively involved in planning the march.

Thousands of people from the Middle East and other parts of Asia have reportedly arrived in Syria and will begin their trek to the Israeli border in the coming days. Similar marches are planned from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and from within the Palestinian Authority-controlled territories.

The Land Day marches are a protest of Israel's sovereignty over lands the Arabs claim as their own. This year, the international effort is focusing on Jerusalem amid claims that Israel is increasingly trying to "Judaize" the city. Most Arabs deny the Jews' historical and religious connections to Jerusalem.

"Our aim is to end the Zionist policies of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and Judaization, which all harm the people, land and sanctity of Jerusalem," read a statement on the official Global March to Jerusalem website. "The GMJ is comprised of a diverse coalition of Palestinian, Arab and international activists who are united in the struggle to liberate the holy city of Jerusalem (the city of peace) from illegal Zionist occupation."

"... in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!  "...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned..." 2 Timothy 3:1-14