SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 224

 

Jerusalem, Israel

COMBINED PRAYER UPDATE:  MAY 14 and MAY 15, 2024

Israel and the Nations

GPW News and Prayer Update

 

Israel’s 76^th birthday as a modern independent Jewish state was celebrated yesterday throughout the nation.

 

Today, is Nakba Day – what the Palestinians call the “day of catastrophe,” referring to the birth of modern Israel in May 1948.

 

Why couldn’t the Palestinians have been peace-loving inhabitants of the land? Some are. But, not the political force behind them.

 

 *PRAY that the Palestinian people will come out of bondage into freedom, so they can be blessed in blessing Israel, and not cursed in cursing Israel!  (Genesis 12:3).

 

 THE “STATE OF THE STATE” IN ISRAEL, BEGINNING WITH THE NORTHERN FRONT:

 

Israel is not just fighting a military war, but also a political war, a diplomatic war, a media war, and a war for public opinion. On all fronts, Israelis are being challenged and stretched.

 

Recently, ALMA Research and Education Center had a conference. This group has military experts that monitor the movements of Iran and its proxies on Israel’s northern border. They are exposing the goals of Iran. And, their eyes are centered on finding and sharing the truth!

 

 *STATISTICS:  By land, it takes 25 hours from Iran to Lebanon, about 1,850 kilometers. When the Iranians go through Syria, they have to take the long way, as the U.S. has troops in a key part of Syria. 

 

 *PRAY that the U.S. remains a defender of Israel in Syria.

 

*Syria is a key ally of Iran. Iran’s main military effort is entrenching and establishing itself in Syria.

 

 *As Iranian Shiites travel the route from Iran, to Iraq, to Syria, they garner relationships with the civil populations – especially through NGO’s.

 

 *The basic purpose of going through nations from Iran, to Iraq, to Syria, to Lebanon, is securing the Iranian Shiite corridor (some would call it the “Shia Crescent”). Through this corridor comes goods, services, pilgrims, and weapons.

 

 *At naval ports along the way, such as Latakia in Syria, weapons are unloaded.

 

 *There are aircraft routes through Damascus and Aleppo airports.

 

 *These are the Iranian “corridor” operations, and the Iranians operate them like an accordion.  If the Iranians are being attacked on land in the corridor, they focus on air and sea. And, if they are attacked by sea, they focus on land and air. And, so on… It’s constantly changing in intensity.

 

 *There is a Banias naval port in Syria. Through there are oil ships. The port is used for smuggling weapons. On March 11^th, 2024, a senior naval Iranian officer was seen at this port in charge of receiving weapons systems.

 

 *The Iranians utilize Russian infrastructure in Syria. A Russian naval base is used as an air base to smuggle Iranian weapons into Syria.

 

 *The Russians have a “safe zone” in Syria used by Iran since May 2023.

 

 *The Weapons Development Industry in Syria is called CERS.  Israel is concerned about its activities, which have not been thwarted, despite main military sites being bombed in Syria.

 

 *Among other things, the CERS centers are being used for the development of joint Iranian-Syrian and Hezbollah advanced weapons systems. The centers are responsible for developing and manufacturing chemical and biological weapons. Researchers at ALMA who are monitoring these CERS sites, state that Israel must strike and demolish all these sites and infrastructure on Syrian soil.

 

 *The fact that Syria has knowledge and development of chemical weapons needs to be addressed by the international community.

 

 *Iran continues to try and secure the corridor from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

 

 *Iran wants to use Jordan against Israel. There are “special purpose units” in the Iranian Shiite corridor near Jordan.  Hezbollah and Syria export weapons through Jordan.

 

Today, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, declared: “Jordanian authorities have uncovered an Iranian terror network composed of Muslim Brotherhood activists and Hamas terrorists, which aimed to smuggle weapons into Jordan to destabilize the Jordanian regime. Additionally, the network planned to smuggle weapons into Palestinian Authority territories to build a Hamas terror infrastructure and open another front against Israel.”

 

 *Since October 7^th, Iran has been unifying its alliances. It has also gained in strength in the information war.

 

 *Iran wants to reach Panama, and is collaborating with Venezuela, Nicaragua, Boliva and other countries in the backyard of the United States. There are Iranian ships that want to reach Miami. Hezbollah criminal activity remains in the Brazil-Uruguay triangle area, backed by Iran.

 

 *Jewish targets in Argentina (the Israeli Embassy and a Jewish Community Center) were allegedly hit by Hezbollah in the 1990’s because of this vulnerable triangle area where Hezbollah terrorists have been training and have power in the territory.

 

IRAN’S STRATEGIC PATIENCE:

 *The Iranians want to surround Israel from their Shiite corridor. They think they will eventually reach their goal. So, they take their time, building capabilities in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Hezbollah in Lebanon, for example, is much stronger than it was after the Second Lebanon War of 2006.

 

 *The Iranian strategy is that if they have strategic patience, time will be on their side.

 

 *Statistics:  There have been over 1,640 total attacks in northern Israel from October-May, 2024. About 250 strikes per month. About 50-60 a week. Almost all these attacks have been by Hezbollah against civilian infrastructure.

  

*Hezbollah has about 65,000 short-range missiles. Currently, there is a Hezbollah project. They are trying to make old Hezbollah rockets into precision rockets. These precision rockets can reach up to 125 kilometers.

 

*IN PRAYER, DECLARE THIS PROJECT NULL & VOID!

 

*It’s a serious situation for Israel, with scenarios of thousands of precision and non-precision weapons hitting key places like the Krayot and Haifa. It includes Hezbollah coming out of underground tunnels, close to Israel’s northern border, and launching rockets and going back underground. It includes Hezbollah’s strategic inter-regional plans from one area of Lebanon to another. The transfer of equipment and forces from north and south of the Litani River.

 

 (See the Isaiah Chapter 17 prophecy against Syria. And, the Ezekiel War of Ezekiel 38 and 39).

 

 *Researchers said the major expanded war with Israel may breakout now. But, if not (because of some kind of diplomatic agreement), then they see this happening by the end of 2026.  

 

 *THROUGH PRAYER, THE LORD CAN CONSTRAIN SUCH AN ATTACK; DELAY IT; AND/OR WEAKEN IT!

 

 *ALMA researchers say that the international community needs to develop a strategic plan, with Israel, to fight this enemy in the north!

 

*There is talk about a need for pioneers in peripheral areas; and a call to young people to come live on the borders and fight!

  

*ALMA researchers’ state:

 

Americans have a ticking clock for the end of the war – their elections. We have a ticking clock for the end of the war – the start of the next school year. What is the Iranian clock? No one knows."

 

 *PRAY:  It’s an impossible situation…. BUT GOD!  THE GOD OF ISRAEL WILL REDEEM HIS PEOPLE!  LORD, show Your power and strength to Israel and the Nations! The greater the challenge to Your land, the greater Your protection; and the greater redemption of Your people! Nothing is too difficult for You!

 

*PRAY and DECLARE:

Psalm 27:1: “The LORD is our light and our salvation— whom shall we fear? The LORD is the stronghold of our lives— of whom shall we be afraid?”

 

Psalm 62:6: “HE is our defense; we shall not be moved!”

 

Hosea 1:7: “But I will have mercy on the house of Judah and will rescue them by the LORD their God, and will not rescue them by bow, sword, war, horses, or horsemen.”

 

Psalm 140:7: “Sovereign LORD, our strong Deliverer, You shield our heads in the day of battle.”

 

Isaiah 26:4: “Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner]; for the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

 

Isaiah 33:6: “In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure.”

 

Psalm 28:7: “The LORD is our strength and our shield; Our hearts trust in Him, and we are helped; Therefore, our hearts greatly rejoice. And, with our song, we will praise Him!”

 

Isaiah 45:17: “Israel has been saved by the LORD, with an everlasting salvation; She will not be put to shame or humiliated for all eternity.”

 

Isaiah 45:25: “In the LORD all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory.’ ”

 

Isaiah 60:19: The sun shall no longer be your light by day; nor, for brightness shall the moon give light to you; But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light. And, your God your glory!

 

ANTISEMITISM IN THE WEST; INFIGHTING IN ISRAEL:

 

Currently, there is a conflict aimed at the Jewish People in the West, with increased acts of antisemitism. Most of the clashes taking place are on college campuses in America.

 

In the midst of intense difficulties in Israel, there is infighting within educational institutes, non-profit/non-government organizations (NGO’s), and with members of the government and the Knesset. Israeli Jews overseeing these institutions are looking for an increase in their budgets from the Israeli government, while the government deals with an already large increase in its defense budget.

 

*PRAY that Israelis, and Jewish people, worldwide, would find peace and rest during constant turmoil and trauma.  

 

In a recent Knesset meeting, there were testimonies from U.S. students, and from heads of American Jewish organizations about the threats from a coalition of unholy alliances that are blocking Jewish students from getting an education in America. Furthermore, this unholy alliance is blocking Jewish professors and scientists from completing their dissertations or publishing their papers.

 

*PRAY regarding Jeremiah 16:16, as there is now evidence of the hunters on the scene in the West. Pray that the Lord would woo His Chosen People home before the enemy tries to hunt them down. 

 

Israel as a nation just went through Holocaust Remembrance Day and Israel’s Memorial Day, in sadness and sorrow.  It was followed by Israel’s Independence Day, but the activities that should have been full of joy and gladness were overshadowed by the current wars in Israel both in the north and in the south of the country.

 

There are other fronts that the IDF is fighting, with little help from the nations. In fact, a majority of nations just voted for a Palestinian State in the UN, while the Biden Administration delayed arms shipments to Israel. The White House finally released the arm shipments, but Israelis feel that their nation stands in isolation. They are being misunderstood in their intent on fighting the enemy and defeating him -- in order for Israel to survive!

 

There is a remnant of believers who stand with Israel in this battle. You have not given up, and neither have we!  Thank you!

 

As Mother’s Day was celebrated in the West on Sunday, May 12, 2024, these scriptures seemed appropriate for the mothers of Israel:

 

“But, Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me. And, the Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a mother forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely, they may forget. Yet, I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. Your walls are continually before Me.”  (Isaiah 49:14-16).

 

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children. And, refusing to be comforted, for they are no more.”  (Matthew 2:18)

 

May the LORD comfort the mothers in Israel; those who have lost sons and daughters in these current battles that still rage in this nation. Comfort the families of those whose loved ones are still in captivity in Gaza. Comfort all who mourn in this nation… mothers, fathers, children, family members and friends. (Isaiah Chapter 40).

 

*PRAY that the love of the LORD, His compassion, mercy, and His presence, fills this land. Thank You LORD for Your Word that says Your people will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sadness will flee away!  (Isaiah 51:11).

Bring Your People Home!

(Source: Global Prayer Watch News and Prayer Update)