Signs of the Times

Arab Journalist To Palestinians- Recognize Israel

While Israel continues its incursions into the Gaza Strip, which it had unilaterally evacuated 10 months ago, some Arabs recognize a new reality on the Israeli-Palistinian conflict.

One letter was written by senior Egyptian journalist Youssef Ibrahim and published in the New York Sun. Ibrahim served for 24 years as a senior reporter for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and had interviewed almost every Arab leader during those years. Since 2001, Ibrahim serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank in New York.

Al-Aqsa Official- Jewish Temples Existed

Contradicting most of his colleagues, a former senior leader of the Waqf (Islamic custodians of the Temple Mount) told WorldNetDaily he has come to believe the first and second Jewish Temples existed and stood at the current location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel Synagogue Desecrated

The Great Synagogue in Petah Tikvah (seven miles east of Tel Aviv) was broken into and desecrated on May 4 in the morning. The perpetrators drew swastikas on the walls, on the ark (Torah closet), and on Torah scrolls. They also wrote ”Hitler” on the doors of the synagogue and flung the contents of the ark onto the floor.

Impending World Jihad “Tsunami”

In May, former Military Intelligence chief Aharon Ze’evi warned of an impending world jihad “tsunami” that he said may soon descend on the entire Middle East.

Al-Qaeda Supports the Palestinians

In February, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen] announced that Al-Qaeda cells had infiltrated and are operating in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] and Gaza.

“We have intelligence information that Al-Qaeda is in the West Bank and Gaza. I am very concerned about this,” said Abbas. “If they succeeded in infiltrating in such a way, and if no one watches over them, the result could be disastrous for the entire region.”

A Tornado…In Israel?

Spring in Israel blew in with the fury of a roaring lion. High winds and heavy rains raged across the Western Galilee, and ping pong ball-size hailstones were reported. A tornado––not reported in Israel in at least 50 years––was witnessed by residents around Acre [Acco] on the north shore. Sandstorms in the Negev covered some roads in 20 centimeters (8 inches) of sand.

Iran’s First “Embassy” in Territories

Iran has opened an “ideological embassy” in the Palestinian territories to espouse Shia Muslim beliefs––including Islam’s waging of a final, apocalyptic battle against “evil”––and to help spread Iranian theocracy and rule throughout the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Gaza Strip.

Although Tehran has long financed Palestinian terror organizations, the opening of its office here marks the establishment of Iran’s first official agency in the Palestinian areas, senior Palestinian security officials said.

Iran Holds Huge Military Exercise

Iran has completed a huge military exercise that tested Teheran’s ability to attack Western shipping and Arab oil facilities in the Gulf.

Western diplomatic sources said that in December 2005, Iran completed its largest military exercise in years. The sources said the military conducted an air and sea exercise designed to test capabilities to strike the United States and Arab targets throughout the Persian Gulf.

North American Aliyah Highest Since 1983

The aliyah (immigration) rate from North America this year is the highest it has been since 1983, according to the Jewish Agency. More than 3,100 North Americans moved to Israel by the end of 2005.

Tony Gelbart, cofounder of Nefesh B’Nefesh— Jewish aliyah organization, insisted, “This is just the beginning. We are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work…you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Syria And Iran Sign Pact

Syria has agreed to store Iran’s nuclear material, and Iran will grant asylum to Syrian officials implicated in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Harriri, according to Jane’s Defense Weekly, a London-based defense magazine. The two countries signed a strategic accord to help each other resist international pressure regarding their weapons programs and misdeeds.