By Stan Goodenough
Apr 02, 2007
Rumors of war were circulating again in Israel Monday, keeping the country’s security forces on their toes even as the Jews were preparing for their annual Passover celebrations, scheduled to begin at sundown.
Reports out of Russia suggested that the United States, which has been building up its armed presence in the Persian Gulf, could strike at Iran’s nuclear facilities at any moment. One source said Friday, April 6, was when it would happen.
Unnamed officials in Damascus conveyed fears that such an attack would be followed by an IDF offensive against Syria and Lebanon’s Hizb’allah.
Both parties have threatened to hit Israel if Iran comes under American fire.
Not wanting to be taken by surprise again, as Israel was in 1973, the Olmert government and upper echelons of the Israel Defense Forces have for weeks been ordering and overseeing intensive training by all branches of the military so as “to be ready for any eventuality.”
While the Muslim Arabs do not need an excuse to try and excise the hated Jewish ‘tumor’ from their midst, their habitually cowardly methods of fighting Israel have sensitized the IDF to intelligence information which their enemies may use as a cover to “justify” them attacking Israel first.
Israel believes the Assad government – which has been encouraged by sympathetic western leaders supporting the surrender of the Golan Heights to Syrian rule – could “misread” Israel’s military exercises and use them as an excuse to try and take the heights.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent a message to Syrian dictator Bashar el-Assad at the weekend, trying to assure him of Israel’s peaceful intentions vis-à-vis Syria.
The daily newspaper, Ha’aretz, quoted Olmert as saying Israel has “no intention to attack the Syrians.
“We prefer to make peace with the Syrians,” he continued, “but it is a fact that the army is carrying out very intensive training in all systems, all branches, all units, in all areas, and it will continue doing so as part of its annual plans, and it will be ready for any eventuality - including the possibility of what is called miscalculation ...
“But we take into account everything, and hope that the things that should not happen, do not happen.”
Other political sources said Sunday the question was “whether Assad is looking for an excuse ... so that he can carry out an attack against Israel in the summer, or whether this is a mistaken assessment.”
Despite the heightened military awareness, Jerusalem’s streets were active into the early afternoon Monday, then quieted down as businesses closed and people hurried home to complete their Passover preparations.
Those who hate the Jews have been trying uninterruptedly for millennia to destroy the nation of Israel. As they celebrate their deliverance from Egypt this week, many Israelis will doubtless be looking to God – at least in their hearts – to deliver them from their foes once again.
The Bible, a unique book that thousands of years ago foretold the modern-day rebirth of Israel in their ancient land, also records God’s promises to fight against Israel’s enemies, and defeat them.