DEVELOPING NEWS:    
      THREE ISRAELI SOLDIERS WOUNDED; GAZA APPEARS ON THE BRINK OF WAR: Three Israeli soldiers have reportedly been wounded during multiple barrages of mortar shells and short-range rockets fired by terrorist forces operating out of the Gaza Strip. At least 50 mortars and rockets were fired into southern Israel on Tues. 29 May 2018. Israel has so far responded with targeted artillery and aerial strikes on terrorist positions in Gaza, but officials are hinting that the volatile coastal enclave could be facing a far more severe Israeli response if the escalation continues. (Israel Today)

   Intercede against the escalation of rocket fire and violent aggression towards Israel stemming from the Gaza Strip. Pray for the swift and complete recovery of the Israeli soldiers that have been injured.

IRAN’S SECRET MISSILE FACILITY EXPOSED: A California weapons research team has discovered evidence that Iran continues to develop advanced missiles at a secret facility, the NY Times reported Wed. 23 May 2018. An analysis of satellite images showed that the facility's activity is focused on the development of advanced rocket engines and rocket fuel, and that the activity is often carried out under cover of night. The facility is named the Shahrud Facility and is located about 250 miles east of Tehran. The discovery rekindled fears of Tehran's intentions to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) capable of reaching far beyond the Middle East. Such plans were thought to have experienced a major setback when a previous facility exploded in 2011. Michael Elleman, a missile expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called the evidence "disturbing." The work done at the facility could be the beginning of Tehran's plans for "developing an ICBM five to 10 years down the road, should Tehran wish to do so," said Elleman. (Arutz-7)

EMERGENCY SITUATION IN ISRAEL AS IDF TROOPS DEPLOYED TO ALL BORDERS: Israel is on high alert as her borders are threatened on all sides. Israel’s Defense Force (IDF) has increased the presence of both active duty and reservists to fortify the country’s borders. “These are not regular days in the Middle East,” said General (res.) Yehiel Gozal. “If this situation doesn’t quickly get under control, it is likely that a war will develop.” Gozal’s statement came following the news that 40,000 Palestinians were rioting at Israel’s southern Gaza border. Thus far, 62 rioters have been killed by IDF forces and at least 2,000 have been injured. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has proudly stated that of those killed, 50 were members of the Hamas terror group. “In the last rounds of confrontations, 62 people were martyred, 50 of the martyrs were Hamas and 12 from the people,” said Hamas official Salah Bardawil. Although the international media is reporting that the Palestinians were holding peaceful protests, films of the riots paint a very different picture.

Rioters have set tires ablaze, planted bombs, flown incendiary kites into Israel destroying Israeli fields, and hurled firebombs, Molotov cocktails, and stones at IDF troops. Serious escalation of the situation occurred when Palestinians directed machine gun fire from Gaza at IDF aerial vehicles. Several residences in the Israeli border town of Sderot were hit. Gozal told media sources that the IDF has increased its presence by placing both reservists and active duty soldiers on every one of Israel’s borders as well as in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. Every soldier is on high alert including Israel’s air force, navy, ground forces and intelligence. In addition to the present danger on Israel’s southern borders, Gozal pointed out that the Hezbollah terrorist group, along with Iran, “are waiting to join an attack on Israel from Lebanon on Israel’s northern border. All these happenings have placed Israel in an emergency situation.” (Breaking Israel News)

Bill Wilson, Daily Jot writes...

On August 15, 2005, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began forcibly removing Jewish settlers from their homes in Gaza under what was known as Israeli Disengagement. By September 12, Sharon had unilaterally given up Gaza as a peace offering to the "Palestinians," who had adopted the slogan "Gaza today, Jerusalem tomorrow." On August 15, 2005, The Daily Jot reported: "It is almost chilling to watch the events leading up to Israeli Prime Minister Arial Sharon's so-called "disengagement" plan as the world pressures Israel to unilaterally give up covenant land for the mere hope upon hope that there might be a semblance of peace between Israel and the Palestinians."

 

The 8/15/2005 Jot continued: "Former Sharon cabinet member and once Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu plead with Israeli leadership last week to end the disengagement plan and to come to its senses.  Like many, Netanyahu believes giving up land without concessions is a demonstration that terrorism pays and that Israel's national security will be forever threatened.  Certainly Israel's military understands the significance of Netanyahu's concerns.  Middle East News Line reports that Israel's military has revised its withdrawal plan to account for a scenario under which the eviction of Jewish residents from the Gaza Strip would be completed amid massive Palestinian fire and heavy Israeli casualties. 

 

"Netanyahu called disengagement an "evil" and urged Members of the Knesset to stop it. He said he has warned the Sharon government that the Palestinians will only use the Gaza land to establish a terrorist base of operations and that the nation of Israel's defense and security may be undermined by disengagement.  He said, "I am calling on all those who grasp the danger: Gather strength and do the right thing. I don't know if the entire move can be stopped, but it still might be stopped in its initial stages." And he warned, "The government is advancing in total blindness. They have eyes but don't see. They have ears but don't hear."" By June 2006, "Palestinians" were launching missiles from Gaza at civilian targets in Israel.

 

Fast forward over a decade later and the headlines read "Clashes erupt along Gaza-Israel border ahead of US Embassy inauguration" and "100,000 Palestinians gather for March of Return from Gaza." Reports are saying the Hamas-led "Palestinians" want to take Jerusalem and prevent the US from moving its embassy there. The 2005 Disengagement is a reflection of Jeremiah 6:14, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Netanyahu and others who opposed "Disengagement" 13 years ago look like prophets. Sadly, those who warned of the peril of Gaza at the time are experiencing the consequences of such foolish leadership today. 

ISRAEL ATTACKS 50 IRANIAN TARGETS IN SYRIA AFTER IRAN TARGETS ISRAELI BASES: After Iranian forces in Syria launched a rocket attack on Israeli army bases in the Golan Heights on Wed. 9 May, 2018, the IDF attacked more than 50 Iranian targets in Syria in "one of the greatest operations of the Israel Air Force in the past decade," IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis said. "It will take the Iranians a long time to rehabilitate." Israel said its targets included weapons storage, logistics sites and intelligence centers used by elite Iranian forces in Syria. It also said it destroyed five Syrian air-defense batteries after coming under heavy fire. It said none of its warplanes were hit. A source in the Israeli security establishment said this attack was the largest carried out by Israel since it signed a disengagement agreement with Syria in May 1974. The Israeli military warned Syria not to respond to its attack. Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said Thurs. morning 10 May, 2018 that the IDF had destroyed “nearly all” of Iran’s military infrastructure sites in Syria overnight in response to a rocket barrage on Israel’s north, and warned Tehran that attacks on Israeli territory will be met with “the strongest possible force.” (Ha’aretz/NY Times)

GUATEMALAN FLAG FLIES IN JERUSALEM: Guatemala's embassy in Israel moved on 31 April 2018 to its new location in Jerusalem. An official ceremony celebrating the move will take place on 16 May 2018 after the USA relocates its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. PM Netanyahu said that he is "excited to see the Guatemalan flag flying in Jerusalem ahead of the opening of the Embassy this month. Dear friends, welcome back to our eternal capital!" (Arutz-7)