Volume 2 Issue
20All articles linked to this newsletter are for reference only.
Volume 2 Issue
20Force 17, Tanzim
And Aqsa Brigades Placed on Terror Groups List
By Randy Loudenslager
The backbone of Arafat's power base, the militant Tanzim and Aqsa Brigades along with his personal presidential guard, Force 17, have been added to the growing list of terror perpetrators comprised by the Bush Administration. This is a crushing blow to Arafat's power. Arafat's alliances with Iraq and Iran are solid, but will be of little help during this time of anti-terrorism since America would need little reason to strike either country should they do anything against Israel.
The Palestinian rhetoric streaming from Ramallah is that the Palestinians now fear increased Israeli aggression due to their perception that Washington would approve. Israel doesn't want to attack Palestinians and aside from strategic occupations of Palestinian controlled areas for self-defense purposes they will continue to exercise constraint. Israel will continue to carry out assassinations against militants who attack Israeli targets, but the Palestinian population will find that they are not general targets for Israeli search and destroy missions. The Palestinian's have cut-off all of their economic lifelines by perpetuating the Intifada. Israel won't allow Palestinians to work in Israeli controlled areas because of the terrorism threat. The Palestinian's weak economy has almost ceased to exist as Israel tightens it's security nooses around Palestinian areas and restricts their movement. Unable to convince the world of their innocence or affect a serious blow upon the Israelis, Palestinians will become disenchanted with Arafat. Able to draw tens of thousands in rallies in the past, he has only drawn three thousand in support during the last rally outside his Ramallah compound. Europe and Russia are unusually sedate in their defense of the Palestinians, suggesting that no one is willing to argue with the evidence that fingers Arafat as a king of terror.
Other Palestinian officials have voiced great concern that America is withdrawing support for the Palestinian people, but in fact America is only withdrawing support for Yassar Arafat. The media reads as if this is a temporary move on Washington's part and that as soon as Arafat reigns in the terrorists who are attacking Israel Washington will return to normal relations with Arafat. No one in the American, European or Russian governments seriously believes that Arafat will or at this point can comply. Repeatedly he publicly utters his prayer to his god to allow him to be martyred in the Palestinian liberation of Jerusalem! This man does not desire peace, he came to power through violence and will attempt to hold on to power using violence.
Beyond Yassar Arafat may lay the peace covenant spoken of in Bible prophecy. Alliances are being forged between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria and others. Russia and Iran are hurriedly rushing to reform Afghanistan into their image. We may be witnessing the formation of the beast's empire, built on the ruins of four other past empires (Daniel 2:27-45). This empire will not have the power of the past empires, and three of it's ten member states will have to be subdued by the antichrist (Daniel 7:19-27). Egypt will be in opposition to this confederation (Daniel 11:25-43). It has been recently revealed that Arafat was involved in the attempts by Iran and Iraq to undermine the governments of Egypt and Jordan.
No one knows the day or the hour that the LORD Jesus will come again, but he told us to watch for the signs of his coming. He told us that the signs could be seen by those who stand firm and we would know when he was close to coming. Watch the signs!