The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever." (Genesis 13:14-15)
[All items below come from ICEJ News.]
1. Hamas launches cross-border rocket attack on Israel
Coinciding with Israeli Independence Day, Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched a heavy barrage of rockets and mortars into Israel on Tuesday, in what IDF officials are saying was an attempt to kidnap an Israeli soldier under cover of the missile fire. Hamas claimed its operatives fired as many as 41 Kassam rockets and 61 mortar shells at Israel in the attack.
2. Syria prepping forces, making homefront battle- ready
.. representative of Syrian capabilities - thanks to Iran.
According to a report in Ha'aretz, the Syrian army is increasing its battle readiness by increasing rocket and missile production, emergency stores, and acquiring more weapon systems from Iran. Damascus has reportedly purchased a large number of advanced anti-tank missiles from Russia, with whom it is also negotiating the purchase of Russia's latest anti-aircraft missiles.
3. Former Israeli-Arab MK suspected of aiding Hizb'Allah
Azmi Bishara, an Israeli-Arab and former member of Knesset, is suspected of having aided Israel's enemies during the Second Lebanon War, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post.
4. IDF: No alternative for security fence
Despite protests by environmental groups and orders by Defense Minister Amir Peretz to come up with "technological alternatives," the IDF, a senior officer told The Jerusalem Post over the weekend, has decided there is no choice but to construct a physical structure along the 30 kilometers of the security barrier that run through the Judean Desert.
