Lilos SWI Blogs.

Last week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added two key biblical sites to his list of about 150 national heritage sites. This action ensures that these heritage sites are kept in good shape for the worshippers.

Fifteen years ago, standing outside Ma’arat HaMachpela, the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hebron, Ariel Sharon declared, “What nation in the world has such a monument, where all the leaders of the people are buried, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Lea?! All foreign diplomats should be brought here, all visiting tourists should be brought here, and all Israeli school children should be brought here! This is our roots!”

Netanyahu’s action upset the Palestinians. They threw rocks and burnt tires. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said this move could spark what he called a “religious war.” Obama, himself a Muslim, sides with the Palestinians and criticized Israel Wednesday for designating the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and the matriarch Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem as Israeli national heritage sites.

The same day the East coast was warned to expect a strengthening storm to cause immobilizing blizzard damage. -The worst of the storm is yet to come, even as drenching rain is falling in eastern New England and snow is already accumulating and making roads slippery in the northern mid-Atlantic. Meteorologists expect the storm’s worst to take place from Wednesday evening into Friday morning in most areas as winds, snow, rain and related problems increase in intensity.

Coincidence or consequence?

Both Rachel’s Tomb and the Cave of the Patriarch’s are very important heritage sites to Jews and Christians and require upgrading and preservation. Rachel’s Tomb is the site of her actual grave and the spot is covered by a large rock and eleven stones resting upon it, signifying the eleven sons of Jacob still alive upon her death. The Tomb of the Patriarchs is the oldest structure built by Herod and is worthy just for that little known fact. The ancient building housing the graves of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah, according to tradition.

It was in the city of Hebron, that Avraham’s wife Sara died. It was here that David was proclaimed king and ruled for 7 1/2 years before going on to Yerushalayim and turning it into his capital.

In 1929, Arabs broke into a Yeshiva and massacred more than 50 people in cold blood. Because of the constant Arab violence, the Jews of the city were forced to leave.

The riots were instigated by Hajj Amin al-Husseini who had been appointed by the British as Mufti of Jerusalem. The riots started on Friday afternoon, August 23rd. Hordes of marauders attacked every Jew they saw. The next Shabbos, Aug. 24th, thousands of Arabs armed with knives, axes and pitchforks launched an attack on Jewish homes. The bloodthirsty mob killed, wounded and tortured the Jews in a most barbarous manner. Three days later, the British loaded the remaining Jews on trucks and evacuated them from the city.

In 1948, the U.N. gave this city to the Arabs and no Jew was allowed to enter it. It was only in June of ‘67 (the Six-Day War) that the Arabs fearing revenge, surrendered to the Israeli Army without a single shot being fired and Jews could once again pray at the Meoras Ha’Machpelah.

Jews have always lived in this holy city except when they were banned to live there by their foreign rulers.

What makes Palestinians think it belongs to them?  It was only in 1976 that they formed their movement. Before that they were Jordanians or something else.

Muhammad created his religion only in 610 C.E., after he had some dreams. This was over 4000 years after Abraham had bought a burial plot in Hebron, the Cave of Machpela, in which he buried his wife, Sarah. It clearly is, and always has been, a Jewish heritage place.

The  old rancher said, “Well, ya know, Obama is just a Post Turtle.”

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked, “What’s a “Post Turtle?”

The old rancher said, “Well, when you’re driving down a country road, and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a post turtle.”

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he continued to explain. 

“You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there, he sure as heck ain’t goin’ anywhere, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there in the first place.”

What is going on? – I was reading in our SWI news - my husband puts together everyday –that the U.S. deployed two Patriot missile systems into four Islamic countries–Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait. Furthermore the US is also keeping Aegis cruisers, which can shoot down medium-range missiles, on patrol in the Gulf.  

I guess, the idea behind the sales of anti-missile systems to those countries, is to deter Iran from launching attacks against its Sunni Muslim neighbors and to send a message to Israel that a pre-emptive strike against Iran is unnecessary.  By selling conventional American weapons, Washington hopes to stop a nuclear arms race in the region.

These are major defensive and foreign policy decisions all went forward without an “official” announcement. The news media seems to be lost for an explanation because this Administration has been so determined to engage Iran in talking rather than any action. This unannounced, sudden and substantial defensive fortification in the area is likely to raise tension not only with Iran, but also with Iran’s allies, Russia and China.

For almost ten years, America accused Iran of building nuclear bombs and the missile system to deliver them. The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency denied Iran’s intentions until recently, giving the terrorist sponsoring nation the needed time to build such weapons. Russia and China have continually blocked any substantial action against Iran from their positions on the U.N. Security Council. Here is what’s happening: The White House has been trying to prevent Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear sites. And now the White House has beefed up defenses in the Persian Gulf area and is selling more weapons to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states at an accelerated pace.

Arming Islamic enemies of Iran is a doubled edged sword. It is putting a huge amount of firepower in the hands of Islamic rulers whose hatred for Israel runs far deeper than their hatred for their Islamic brothers.

Meanwhile Arab voices were fanning Middle East war fever Wednesday night, Feb. 3. Debkafile’s military sources report that not only are Syrian leaders beating war drums - Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem said in Damascus: “Israelis, do not test the power of Syria since you know the war will move into your cities” - but Egyptian military sources have put out information purporting to outline Israel’s preparations to strike Iran.”

At this time, the terrorist group Hezbollah has reportedly 40,000 missiles aimed at Israel. Iran’s leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says “Iran will deliver a telling blow to global powers on February 11,” –the anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution.”

Are we approaching the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy, where Adonai speaks of Russia, Persia and all the nations in the region in the latter days: “…you will invade my people Israel like a cloud covering the land?” (Ez.38:16)?

You already heard about the Delta jet heading into Detroit on Christmas Day, when the Nigerian passenger who lit a device intending to blow up the plane.

Passengers on the flight saw Abdulmutallab go to the bathroom for approximately twenty minutes. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset and he pulled a blanket over himself. His seat in aisle 19 was over the fuel tanks of the jetliner and at the window, where an explosion would have had maximum effect. But terrorist didn’t expect the quick-thinking response of a fellow passenger, Jasper Schuringa, a video director from Holland.

The minute Schuringa heard the firecracker-type popping, smelt the smoke and saw the fire coming from the opposite side of the plane, he leapt over seats and passengers to get to the source. - When he got to Abdulmutallab, Schuringa started searching his body for explosives and took a syringe that was melting and smoking from the Nigerian’s body.  He used his hand to put out the fire.  - Then fire started under his seat.

“Water, water”, screamed Schuringa.  Cabin attendants rushed with fire extinguishers to control the flame.

But the Dutchman was not satisfied that all was under control, and along with an attendant, dragged Abdulmutallab from his seat into the first class compartment where “we stripped him to see if he had any more explosives”. They then handcuffed the suspect to a stationary object. – Thank G-D for a man like Schuringa, who acted quickly and with courage!

23 year-old Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab is an engineering student at University College of London. He was flying from Nigeria to the United States for a “religious ceremony”. Really? What kind of a “religious ceremony”? Islamic Jihad on the air-plane??

An FBI analysis found that the device AbdulMutallab carried aboard the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, contained the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate, known as PETN.

The amount of explosive involved was sufficient to blow a hole in the side of the aircraft, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Sunday.

Penthrite was first synthesized in 1891 by Bernhard Tollens and Wiegand by nitration of pentaerythritol. In 1912, after being patented by the German government, the production of PETN started. PETN was used by the German Army in World War I.

PETN seems to be used as an igniter for TATP, acetone peroxide, an organic peroxide and a primary high explosive. It takes the form of a white crystalline powder with a distinctive acrid odor which seems to be the explosive of choice if its homemade. Many suicide bombers were found with both PETN and TATP in the explosive vests they used. In December 2001, PETN was the igniter used by  - “shoe bomber” Richard Reid - in his attempt to blow up American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. He had intended to use the solid triacetone triperoxide (TATP) as a detonator.

On 28 August 2009, PETN was used in an attempt to murder the Saudi Arabian Deputy Minister of Interior Prince Muhammad bin Nayef by a Saudi suicide-bomber (Abdullah Hassan al Asiri) linked to an Al Qaeda cell based in Yemen. The target survived, and the bomber died in the blast. The PETN was hidden in his anal cavity.

And sure enough, Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack on a plane about to land in the U.S.! - In a tape released four days before the attempted destruction of the Detroit-bound Northwest plane, the leader of al Qaeda in Yemen boasted of what was planned for Americans, saying, “We are carrying a bomb to hit the enemies of God.”…Which God? Allah, the moongod? -  Jihad again came to America! But president Obama keeps ignoring Flight 253 jihadist’s ties to Al-Qaeda and Fort Hood imam, and calls him “isolated extremist”. Say what? Al-Quaeda just admitted they sent him and they will send more.

Nigeria’s “This Day” newspaper said he had been given the nickname “Alfa” — a local term for an Islamic scholar — while at school in Togo, for his preaching to other students. He also made two trips to Yemen during his student days for short Arabic and Islamic courses, according to a family friend…. Why is it as soon as Muslims begin studying the Koran and believe its content, they start killing people?? – Isn’t it supposed to be a peaceful religion?

To top it off, Abdulmutallab was on a terror watch list, and had been known to anti-terror officials for several years. This didn’t prevent him from boarding Flight 253 - showing that such lists and even official scrutiny are as useless as taking off your shoes in the airport security line. What’s more, the Jihadi’s father warned American officials about his son, who was being watched already. And still nothing was done to keep him from boarding the plane….He was even able to board the flight in Amsterdam without his passport.

Nevertheless, he made it on the plane with Jihad Jockeys. The underpants came with a special pouch sewn by al Qaeda’s finest seamstresses. In it was a condom packed with 80 grams of PETN, a compound that’s a key ingredient in the plastic explosive Semtex. The suicide bomber tried to set it off by using a hypodermic needle to inject it with a powerful acid, while trying to hide his actions by putting a blanket on his lap. Luckily he only managed to set his crotch on fire. – Do you think he still gets 72 virgins?

It’s time to wake up!  - Real Christians don’t make pilgrimages to a Muslim shrine!

Mecca, 25 Nov. (AKI) - The grandmother of US president Barack Obama arrived in Saudi Arabia for the ‘Hajj’ or Islamic pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, a Saudi daily said on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. - Sarah Obama, 87, is being accompanied by a nephew and Obama’s cousin, Omran.

Sarah Obama, one of her grandchildren and 10 people from her village in Kenya made the pilgrimage at the invitation of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, the newspaper reported.

Obama’s grandmother, a Muslim known locally as “Mama Sarah,” lives in Kogelo, a tiny village near the Ugandan border. She was in Washington, D.C., in January for Obama’s swearing-in ceremony. Sarah Obama is also the woman who affirmed her elected grandson was born in Kenya, prompting doubts that Barack Obama is eligible to serve as president of the United States.

The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Yes, you heard right, it is Mecca, not Jerusalem!

All Muslims bow and pray towards Mecca. (Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Koran). The Hajj is currently the largest annual pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a moral obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah.

Even though torrential rains and heavy floods slammed and engulfed western Saudi Arabia on Wednesday killing dozens of people, it appeared Thursday that none were Hajj pilgrims making the obligatory journey for Muslims across the globe.

But the rain had cleared by Wednesday night, making it easy for pilgrims to make their way to Mount Arafat on Thursday, a sweltering and windy but cloudless day where pilgrims trekked to seek forgiveness for their sins. Sarah Obama was in the valley of Mina with an African delegation, according to the Saudi daily Okaz.

On Thursday, a few million people headed a few miles southeast of Mecca to Mount Arafat where by tradition they pray for Allah to pardon their sins. The gathering at the site is where the Prophet Muhammed made his farewell address.

Pilgrims went from Mount Arafat to Muzdalifa to spend the night and collected pebbles for the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina on Friday.

After the “Stoning of the Devil”, the pilgrims perform animal sacrifices, to symbolize God having mercy on Ibraham and replacing his son with a ram, which Abraham then sacrificed. - Obviously they didn’t get this part right from the Bible, because they think the son who was supposed to get sacrificed was Ishmael and not Isaac.

“Ms. Sarah Hussein Obama was very adamant that her grandson, Senator Barack Hussein Obama, was born in Kenya, and that she was present and witnessed his birth in Kenya, not the United States,” Shuhubia states in the affidavit. “During the conversation, Ms. Sarah Hussein Obama never changed her reply that she was indeed present when Senator Barack Obama was born in Kenya.”

Even though Obama claimed to be a Christian during his election campaign, public records in Indonesia listed Obama as a Muslim during his early years, and a number of childhood friends claimed to the media Obama was once a mosque-attending Muslim.

Are you waking up?

On Saturday the sixth annual Saban Forum began in Jerusalem and Ramallah. The two-day forum runs through Monday, and is supposed to be a dialogue between senior officials from both countries on US-Israel relations and Middle East strategic issues such as the Iranian threat, Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, will be held behind closed doors.

Attending are former US president Bill Clinton, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham - the highest-level US delegation ever to attend the conference.

Among the Israeli participants are Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) director Yuval Diskin and Director of Military Intelligence General Amos Yadlin.

The delegates are scheduled to meet with Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer to discuss economic development.

Unique to this year’s event, the delegates travelled today to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.

Founded in 2004, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy has been working to promote independent policy dialogue between Israel and the US. Founder Haim Saban called the timing of the event “a critical moment in US-Israel relations.”

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced Sunday that the PA they is preparing to ask the United Nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, without Israel’s consent because they are losing faith in the peace talks. - A senior Palestinian official told Fox News that the Palestinian Authority plans to call for Palestinian statehood through a UN resolution in the next few weeks — a similar maneuver to that by which Israel was created.

Despite widespread assumptions the U.S. would veto any such U.N. Security Council resolution, the PA negotiator said that in initial discussions, the Obama administration did not threaten to veto their conceptual unilateral resolution.

“There is no substitute for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and any unilateral attempts outside that framework will unravel the existing agreements between us and could entail unilateral steps by Israel,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told a high level gathering of Israeli and American policy makers at the Saban Forum in Jerusalem on Sunday night.

Both Palestinians and some Israelis believe that there is growing support in the international community for such a measure.

Asked to comment on the plan, an American official said that such a UN resolution, while
not a cure-all, could be expanded upon eventually. Still, he added: “It’s a measure
that would make you feel good for five minutes. Then what?”

The Palestinians seek an independent state that includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
The Palestinians already declared independence unilaterally on Nov. 15, 1988. The declaration was recognized by dozens of countries, but never implemented on the ground.

For Israel, the creation of a Hamas-controlled, Iranian-influenced Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria-the heartland of the Jewish people and key to Jewish national security-would amount to national suicide.

But G-D has only one plan, because unlike man, he sees the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:9-10). We don’t have to look far in the Bible to see that Israel is in G-D’s eternal plan. He doesn’t have a “Piece Plan” - he has a “Peace Plan” - for Israel and the whole world.