(War...no war...war)

(war…no war…war…)
09/07/2010

For the past few months we have been hearing rumors that a war is supposedly 'due' to occur in Israel this summer. Hezbollah has thousands of rockets, soldiers, and weapons in the towns and cities of the southern Lebanon. Cargos going to Gaza are no longer subject to the former stringent control that Israel has thus far subjected them to, so that the local weapon industry can now enjoy relative ease (not to speak of the hundreds of underground tunnels which serve to smuggle just about anything into Gaza from Egypt). Iran continues with its nuclear program. And so, let us ask again, will we have war this summer? In the past week some interesting analysis has come up as to why it appears that there will NOT be a war in and around Israel, at least this summer.

1. Hamas needs time to reestablish its political influence in the upcoming direct talks between the PA (Palestinian Authority) and Israel. It also needs to bring under its wings the other terrorist groups that float around freely. But more importantly, if the PA does start making headway towards a Palestinian State in the (so called) West Bank, Hamas could lose its supporters there.
2. Hezbollah, even though prepared to go to war, cannot do it alone. They need the backing (not just supplies) of Syria, Iran, and to a lesser extent Hamas. They also want to gain more influence in the Lebanese government, which is putting some restraints on them at present because this summer their economic growth (due to tourism) has sky rocketed, and a war would put an end to it.
3. As crazy as the Iranian leader may be, he is not dumb. Iran cannot afford a war with the United States. That is unless the US decides to strike first, in order to protect its oil interests, as President Bush did in 1991 when Saddam Hussein was of the opinion that he could just walk into Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and take over.

Don't be naive in thinking that all the US war equipment in the
Persian Gulf is there to protect Israel. The scenario could be similar to the ones in past Gulf wars, providing US strikes first (which will be encouraged and financed by the so called moderate Arab States), that is on the condition that Israel stays out of the conflict. But at the same time, those Islamic nations, like the Saudis, would love to see Iran and Hezbollah finish Israel off. Thus, the US, because of its need for oil is falling right into the hands of the Islamists.

The oil disaster in another gulf is linked directly to what is going on in the Middle East. Last summer we pointed out, based on words penned by the prophet Habakkuk that Islam is spreading throughout the Western nations. These Muslims are the hunters with the "net" (chrem) mentioned in Habakkuk chapter 1 and Malachi 4:6 (where it is translated "curse"). They are making their way into the nations that are financially indebted to the oil-rich countries. Thus the hunters may grab their catch/booty from the "net".

"'Woe to him who increases what is not his -- how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges. Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty" (Habakkuk 2:6-7). Many Western countries have made pledges (to repay debt) and are now financially indebted to, for example, the Saudi king. Hence these countries' leaders must bow and kiss the hand of their master (and President Obama is not the first one to do so). "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverb 22:7).

YHVH's judicial system is in operation, and hence He says: "I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there…" (Joel 3:2). Because Israel is the scapegoat in the above scenario, we will have to be alert watchmen, keeping our eye on the prophetic future. "Look among the nations and watch -- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you" (Habakkuk 1:5).

Ephraim