What in the World is Happening in the Middle East

With the exception of Israel, there are almost no constants in the present day Middle East. I am going to try and give an overview of what is happening, realizing that it could change radically in the next five minutes. Certainly the Iranian nuclear project has worldwide implications and the Syrian situation has the potential to blow up into a regional war or even something worse.

Egypt

The military takeover has at least temporarily stabilized Egypt. I know this is neither the politically correct thing to say and it certainly is not what is being said by the governments and media around the world. The removal and arrest of Morsi has saved (again probably temporarily) Egypt from an Islamic dictatorship. That is the rock bottom truth.

General Sissi is in the same mold as Mubarak who ruled Egypt for 30 years. Mubarak had a "Supreme Military Council" who ruled with him and Sissi does too. While there was not democracy under Mubarak, there was relative stability, the economy though poor was functioning and the Egyptian Christians were given a good amount of protection.

Under Morsi the economy of Egypt has plummeted and poverty has greatly increased. Hopefully even without European and American aid, (Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States have promised massive aid to Egypt), Sissi will be able to get the economy somewhat back on track. As tourism was Egypt's biggest money maker, this will take some doing and some time of quiet before tourists are ready to come back to Egypt. The Christian communities while trying to keep a low profile are overjoyed that Sissi is ruling Egypt and not Morsi and the Moslem Brotherhood.

Quite some years ago I was at an international prayer gathering and I was quartered in a large room with the Nigerian delegation. Nigeria had just had a military coup and I asked my brothers what they thought of it. Their answer was very revealing. They thanked God that this General had taken over and delivered them from an Islamic government. They believed the General was God's provision for Nigeria at that time.

I have written before about Isaiah 19 and the prayer journey that I was a part of in 1991. When Morsi came into power I thought we might be seeing Isaiah 19:4 coming to pass.

And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them, Says the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 19:4

While Mosi has been taken out of the picture, for now anyway, we are seeing Isaiah 19: 2 in play.

I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

Isaiah 19:2

From an Israeli perspective, Sissi is one of the best choices to rule Egypt. He was the former chief of Military Intelligence and so he has had a working relationship with the IDF. Israel remains very alert on the Sinai border and is hoping for Sissi's success against the jihadist.He has been very serious about fighting the jihadists in Sinai and has closed most of the smuggling tunnels to Gaza. This has seriously affected Hamas's ability to rearm itself.

Syria

The situation in Syria is grave and has gotten much worse in the past week. Most of you will know of the use of poison gas in a Damascus suburb that has been held responsible for the death of up to 1,000 people - many of them women and children. The obvious blame lies with Assad's army but the proof is not there yet. Certainly Assad has the weapons and the means of delivering them but I do not believe that the jihadists are beyond gassing their own people to get the western nations to intervene on their behalf. It could be that we will not know the truth for a very long time.

However this use of chemical warfare is raising a cry in many countries for military intervention of some sort. Obama, the "lead from behind" US President is very reluctant to get involved and at this point the great majority of American People do not want the USA to intervene. I'm somewhat surprised at the American People's reaction or lack of reaction to this use of WMDs. I do know that the USA is emotionally and financially exhausted from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and it could also be that the American People are realizing that Obama has weakened America so much that they are not capable of intervening.

It appears that Obama will be dragged along (or shamed) by the British and the French into some kind of military action but his aversion to respond to previous uses of WMDs by the Syrians should be a clarion call to the leadership and the people of Israel - we cannot in any way trust the USA to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat.

Even a minimal military intervention in Syria could quickly lead to a much wider conflict. Let's remember that Syria is not only supported by Iran but Russia too. A Syrian response to American/British/French intervention could very easily involve Israel; either through a direct Syrian attack or by terrorist attacks or the firing rockets by Hezbollah. Iran and Syria are both warning that Israel will be the first victim if Syria is attacked. This could in turn lead to an attack by Israel on the Iranian nuclear project.

An American/British/French involvement in Syria also sets a precedent for an international military intervention in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. The Palestinians would love for this to happen. They want the U.N. to impose an ungodly, unbiblical mandate that would divide God's Land (Joel 3:1-2) and put the Nation of Israel at risk of survival.

We know Israel will survive, but the cost is not yet set.

Lebanon

Lebanon is once again on the brink of civil war. Iran's proxy Hezbollah has been deeply involved in Syria fighting for Assad in some critical battles. According to some reports they have lost hundreds maybe even one thousand men in the fighting. The civil war in Syria has a political dimension but at its heart it is a religious conflict between Shiite (Assad's Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shiite Islam) and Sunni Islam. This religious war has migrated to Lebanon. A bombing in Hezbollah's (Shiite) Beirut stronghold is followed by a bombing at a Sunni mosque. Lebanon has a rich history of religious warfare and it seems about to heat up once again.

The Lebanese - Israeli border remains our most volatile at the moment with constant Hezbollah activity on the Lebanese side.

Turkey

Israel's former ally and friend Turkey has now become diplomatically an open enemy. Obama forced P.M. Netanyahu to make an apology to Turkey's Erdogan in the hope that the bad relationship between Israel and Turkey would be healed. This has turned out to be another example of the total incompetence of US President Obama in foreign affairs. Most Israelis, me included were deeply offended by the P.M.'s apology to Turkey. Our soldiers were attacked and had every legal and moral right to defend themselves. The guilty party was the Turks on the ship and the Turkish Government who allowed them to sail to break a legal blockade of the Gaza coast.

Instead of an improvement of relationship, Erdogan has exposed his deep seated anti-Semitic heart. Earlier this summer there were riots in Turkey and Erdogan blamed the international Jewish community for them. Now he has actually said that Israel was behind the military takeover in Egypt. This was such gross foolishness that even the Americans had to comment on it. Not that it will do much good. Remember Obama called Erdogan his best friend in the Middle East and a partner.

Since the 1960's Turkey's military removed three civilian governments (mostly Islamic) and ruled for a season before returning the government to civilian rule. Actually they have not only the right but the obligation to do this according to the Turkish constitution.

Erdogan has preempted the military and more than 250 senior officers are in prison on charges of plotting to overthrow his government. Actually Turkey has more military officers, journalists, academics and young people in prison than any other country including China. So much for "moderate Islamic" governments. Erdogan is now trying to change the constitution so that he can rule as President as he is barred from another term as Prime Minister.

Kurdistan

The Kurds are a Moslem people group of about 35 Million people. They live in Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran. They have been persecuted by the nations they live in and have fought (often with terrorist means) for independence. The Kurdish independence movement has its beginning with the fall of the Ottoman Empire and really took off in the 1970's. They have been most severely persecuted and killed in Iraq where some estimate that one million people disappeared since 1960. In the 1980's under Saddam Hussein the Kurds were gassed killing 6,000 people. The world of course did nothing.

The Kurds are the largest stateless people group in the world, many times larger than the so called Palestinian People but without a sponsor to help them form a nation. As a result of the 2 Gulf Wars an autonomous region of Northern Iraq has been created by the Kurds. Now in Syria, the Kurds who have supported neither Assad nor the rebels are also trying to create an autonomous Kurdish region in North East Syria.

While the Kurds are a Sunni Moslem people they had good relationships with the Jews who live amongst them. In more recent history Israel has helped some Kurdish groups with training and reports of missionaries tell us that some Kurds are coming to the Lord.

IF (and it is a big IF) a Kurdish nation came out of this turmoil and bloodshed it might be the only good thing to come out of the upheaval of the Arab Spring.

Iran

Iran continues its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and hegemony in the Persian Gulf and the Islamic World. The election of a new president has changed nothing but it has given the world powers another excuse to keep talking instead of demolishing the Iranian nuclear project.

Rouhani is a former nuclear negotiator who is well practiced in talking. He has appointed to his cabinet a former Revolutionary Guard leader who led the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Lebanon that was responsible for the murder of 241 US Marines, 58 French Paratroopers and many IDF soldiers.

In a letter-to-the-editor article in last weekend's Sydsvenska Dagbladet" (Swedish newspaper) the writer claims Rouhani is co-responsible for the mass execution of 30000 Iranian political prisoners as a revenge for the ceasefire between Iraq and Iran in 1988.

"Peace Process"

Under intense American pressure Israel agreed to release 100+ Palestinian murderers to bribe the Palestinian Authority to come to the negotiating table. We have already released 26. In a world upside down, crazy is normal. If the Palestinians want a State, you would assume that they would like to negotiate with Israel. Wrong all the way around. The PA does not want to negotiate with Israel; they want the world to impose a settlement of their liking on Israel.

We don't know what kind of threats or promises the Americans used to get Israel to agree to this, but knowing the American track record of keeping its promises to Israel, this was a bad move on Israel's part. Not only is it a bad political move, it is immoral. In the Bible it is clear that not only must Justice be done, it must be shown to be done. When Israel releases unrepentant murderers for some kind of political agenda it destroys the rule of law and makes justice of no account.

I do not have an inside picture of what is going on in the Israeli government nor in any other government and I am not prophesying. However these are all very possible scenarios in a number of very fluid, unstable and dangerous situations.

Pray for:

• Mercy for the innocent throughout the region.

  Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

  Psalm 6:2

• Many Moslems to realize that their god is evil and the cause of their suffering. May their thoughts and hearts be directed to Yeshua who loves them so much He was willing to die for them.

  Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.

  John 17:24-26

• Israel's security services (IDF, police, military in telligence, Mossad and ISS) to be alert and ready for all possibilities.

  For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.

  Psalm 83:2-4

• Israel's government to make the right decisions in response to the events in the region. Abba deliver the Israeli government from dependence on the USA, may they look to You and accept responsibility for Israel's security. IF this is Your time for Israel to strike Iran, may we do it!

  He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

  2 Samuel 22:49-50

Pray against:

• The use of WMD: chemical and biological warfare agents.

  As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.

  Job 7:9-10

• Syria's poison gas stockpiles falling into the hands of the Syrian jihadists or Lebanon's Hezbollah.

• As these days unfold before us let us remain alert and on our watch. Our battle is in prayer and may we be faithful to our calling knowing that He who hears us will also answer from heaven and upon the earth.

  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.
  Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge;
  His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
  A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
  Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
  In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
  "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.

  Psalm 91

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Eliyahu Ben-Haim, Jerusalem

27 August 2013