This is Jim Goll of Ministry to the Nations in Franklin, TN. The following overview that you will read is written by a dear friend of ours who lives with his family in Israel - Avner Boskey. He is a wonderful psalmist, teacher, historian, theologian and one who loves the presence of God.

We have walked together for several years and his words are well chosen. I wanted to endorse this overview and commend you to passing it on to others.

Jim W. Goll www.jimgoll.com

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[ ISRAEL ] AVNER BOSKEY ON MIDDLE EAST STRATEGIES THAT CAN INFORM YOUR PRAYERS

By Avner Boskey

Avner's email: psalm67@netvision.net.il

Thursday, March 14, 2002

Dear praying friends!

It is hard to keep track of fast-paced developments in the land of Israel. Nightly news shows a white hot blur of suicide bombers, rumbling tanks, shootings at bar mitzvahs and wedding parties, missions of war and peace (Cheney’s, Zinni’s), Saudi ‘peace plans’, US sponsored UN resolutions advocating a Palestinian state – never a dull moment!

The goal of this letter is to give you a mini-snapshot of the strategies of the main player-countries in today’s Middle East – strategies that can inform your prayers.

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SAUDI ARABIA

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Saudi Arabia has been on the media ropes lately. Fifteen out of 19 terrorists involved in the 9/11 bombings were Saudi citizens, and most of Osama Bin Laden’s support has come from Saudi Arabians. Right now Saudi Arabia is trying to take the heat off of itself by portraying itself as an advocate of Arab-Israeli peace. But the Saudi plan has been weighed in the balances and found wanting. It calls for Israel to permanently hand over large portions of its divinely promised eternal homeland (see Psa.83:1-8, Ezek.36:1-6, Joel 3:1-2) to Arab Palestinians. It calls for a re-division of Jerusalem (playing into the prophetic scenario of Zech.14:1-3) and for the Temple Mount to remain eternally under Islamic control (Rev.11:2; 2Thess.2:3-8, Isa.2:2-3).

God takes His own promises very seriously and He will judge all those who disregard or mock His plans for Israel. Pray to the God of Israel, asking Him to frustrate and overturn Saudi Arabia’s anti-God, anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli strategies as per Psalm 83.

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IRAN

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Ayatollah Khomeini and Iran’s spiritual leaders strive to be the leaders of the Islamic world. Iran is developing nuclear weapons (operational by 2005) and has already developed guided missiles for chemical warfare. Recently it has publicly suggested ‘nuking’ Israel as a distinct strategic possibility. Iran is arming and supporting anti-Israeli Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran’s recent arms ship bound for the PLO, the Karine A, was intercepted by Israel with over 50 tons of weapons valued at $15 million USD.

Iran has extensive trade relations with Asia and Europe, and many US companies are standing in line waiting for a change in American policy which would allow them to reconnect with Iran. The price for renewed trade and Iranian oil is turning a blind eye to Iran’s support of world terrorism, and lending a hand to international anti-Israel moves. President Bush has recently focused on Iran as part of an “axis of evil� and has allowed it to become known that an Iran nuke would be met with a harsh American response.

Pray for Iran, that its anti-Israeli and anti-American terror strategies will be blunted and broken, and that its nuclear weapons program would be terminated.

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IRAQ

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What Iraq has done to Kuwait and to many of its Kurdish and Shi’ite minorities, it desires to do to Israel and America. Saddam Hussein’s pursuit and acquisition of atomic, biological and chemical (ABC) weapons has brought repeated UN censure and Allied attacks. Iraq repeatedly threatens Israel with ABC attacks, and is suspected of actively supporting both World Trade Center bombings and the anthrax mailings. Like Iran, Saddam sees himself as the real leader of the Arab/Islamic world, and his saber rattling is an attempt to demonstrate this.

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ISAIAH 14, IRAQ, AND SATAN'S WORLD STRATEGY

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Isaiah 14 draws a connection between Babylon the country (that territory is today called Iraq) and Satan’s world strategy. It seems that ancient and evil forces have an established spiritual stronghold within Iraq that the secular West cannot recognize or discern. Recent prophetic warnings have been sounded that there is one nation in the Middle East that is like a volcano of intense Islamic hatred, and that intercessors should pray that the US should not invade that nation. Whether or not that nation is Iraq, it should be a matter of earnest prayer that Saddam Hussein’s evil empire would be blocked, frustrated and ultimately would fall – both for Israel’s and America’s safety, and also for the suppression of satanic strategies in the entire Middle East.

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THE PLO

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Yasser Arafat controls the PLO, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the main Palestinian terrorist groups Tanzim, Al Aqsa Brigades and Fatah. Arafat’s goal (openly described in his still legally binding PLO Covenant) is to use political pressure on Israel to obtain as much of the land as possible and then, having obtained the maximum through negotiations, to return to armed warfare to obtain the “land that remains�.

Arafat’s present goal is to cause enough Israeli casualties that Israel responds with great force against Palestinian terrorists. Arafat then hopes to issue a call for either the US, UN or European forces to enter Israel with international ‘peacekeeping troops’ and observers. If that fails, he would then call for an international Islamic jihad against Israel.

The PLO’s strategy also involves getting the world media to portray Palestinian terror as a ‘just armed struggle’. CNN and BBC daily state that Israel is using wanton force on Palestinian non-combatants. The truth is stunningly different. The IDF is using extreme care not to injure civilians, and is prosecuting a war with extreme regard for civilian human life – all this at a time when Palestinian suicide bombers are shooting indiscriminately into Israeli bar mitzvahs, coffee shops. shopping malls and school buses.

Pray for the PLO leaders, that their evil strategies of terror and conquest of the land of Israel would be exposed and defeated. Pray that Palestinian civilian casualties would be kept to a minimum. Pray that the gospel would go forth in purity, truth and power among Arab Palestinians. Pray that the lie of anti-Jewish hatred and replacement theology would be broken over the Palestinians, so that the curse of Gen.12:3 would not fall upon their constituency in all its power.

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THE USA

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The United States has taken a bold stand in light of 9/11 – terrorism in all of its forms is to be opposed and defeated methodically and systematically. The resolute invasion and bombing of Taliban and al-Qa’ida forces in Afghanistan have demonstrated great courage and determination. But the US has been recently showing a double standard when it comes to Palestinian terrorism.

US bombers may have caused perhaps 4,000 Afghani civilian deaths, but that has not stopped Secretary of State Colin Powell from rebuking Israel for its war against terrorist forces, insinuating that Sharon has determined to kill as many Palestinian civilians as possible, and that military force will never be able to defeat Palestinian terrorism.

General Zinni was originally sent to Israel to pressure Arafat to stop shooting and to pressure Sharon into handing over Israeli land to the Palestinians. When Israel captured the Karine A PLO arms ship, and it was conclusively proven that Arafat was behind continued terrorism and arms procurement, Zinni was recalled to the States. It was stated that he would not return until Arafat began to stop terrorism. The past few weeks have not seen a stoppage but a radical escalation of PLO terrorism, with Arafat’s Tanzim and Fatah forces spearheading over 50% of the attacks. Yet Zinni is being sent back to the Middle East. Why?

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COMING WAR AGAINST IRAQ

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The answers lie in the coming US war against Iraq. As the US and Britain are readying forces for a decisive attack on Iraq, their strategy calls for a weak and fragile Arab consensus, a political and media fig leaf for these operations. The State Department very much wants to declare “Our Arab friends in the Middle East are standing with us!� as Stealth bombers light into Baghdad. The US knows that Arab hatred of Israel is actually greater than their fear of fellow Arab Saddam Hussein. Therefore American strategists are trying to win over the Arab once again by applying pressure on Israel. This is a repeat of the Gulf War strategy of 1991-92 – wearing down Israel’s resolve to defend its own people, and restraining Israel’s hand as it fights its own implacable enemies.

Unfortunately America has found itself in the unenviable position of declaring to its own citizens how determined the USA is to uproot terrorism in all of its forms, while attempting to hobble Israel’s efforts to uproot Palestinian terrorism. America is telling Israel and the Arab world that US priorities and coalition building are more important than Israel’s defending its own citizens. Israel is once again being leaned on to prop up the broken reed of a basically anti-American and anti-Israeli Arab coalition.

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FIRST EVER AMERICAN VOTE FOR PALESTINIAN STATE

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With the above in mind, on March 13 2002 the US ambassador to the UN John Negroponte sponsored Resolution 1397 (2002) which calls for the partitioning of the biblical land of Israel into a Palestinian and a Jewish state: “The Security Council, recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973); affirming a vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders. . .� This US sponsored resolution marks the first time that the US has voted for a Palestinian state. Negroponte said, “We advanced this resolution to assist them and those who are trying to help them in the region�.

Pray for the United States, that courage will be married to righteousness in the White House and State Department. Pray that President Bush will receive a revelation about Israel’s importance in God’s heart and in world affairs, and that he will act accordingly, standing with the Jewish state (Gen.12:3). Pray that divine wisdom be given to Bush and his aides regarding the right strategies to follow regarding Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the PLO and Israel.

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THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

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Europe is dependent on Arab oil and jealous of America’s power, success and influence. In the current US-led anti-terror campaign Europe sees its own interests as decidedly different from America and England. European strategists want to preserve and expand their own access to Arab markets and oil, as well as to weaken and outmaneuver US policies, especially in the Middle East. Europe continues to express arrogance and condescension towards Israel and its policies, while automatically lionizing and excusing Palestinian terrorist forces. It makes no secret of its desire to introduce European troops into the land of Israel under a UN umbrella.

Pray for the EU, that their leaders will receive a revelation of God’s heart for Israel, and that some EU leaders will take a stand for Israel and against Arab terrorism in EUC forums. Pray for the release of revival in Europe and a return to biblical standards of righteousness.

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ISRAEL

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Israel finds itself at war with terrorist irregulars who are armed, trained and directed by the Palestinian Authority. Yet, in order to avoid undue US pressure, Israel has agreed not to bring down Arafat’s terror structure, while still targeting terrorist masterminds and individual perpetrators. Israel is fighting a low-intensity war with one hand tied behind its back. But as the planned war against Iraq draws closer, the US is now censuring Israel for even targeting Palestinian terrorists! Powell and Boucher are calling Israeli counter-terrorism “violence�, the same word they use for Palestinian terrorism! Someone has said that this is like equating firefighters with arsonists since, after all, they both deal with fire.

The population of Israel is traumatized. Many on the left of the political spectrum still want to believe that if Israel only withdraws from Palestinian areas and from Jewish settlements, Arafat’s terrorists will instantly morph into gentlemen and pacifists. A small minority on the Left believe that they need to stop serving in the Israeli army as long as it holds onto Judea and Samaria. On the Right many believe that Israel needs to expel Arafat and totally eradicate all terrorist bases in Palestinian areas. Others believe that Israel should annex those areas, requiring all Palestinians who remain in those territories to either take a vow of loyalty to the Jewish state or move to other Arab countries.

Pray for the leaders of Israel, that they will make clear, righteous decisions regarding both dealing with terrorism and the security of Israel’s citizens. Pray that they will be able to neutralize the strategic ‘minefields’ of PLO, Iraqi, Iranian and Saudi tactics without getting ‘blown up’. Pray for the safety of Israel’s citizens and the peace of Jewish Jerusalem. Pray for the heart of this people to soften, and for a revelation of Messiah Yeshua to come to many.

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THE BIBLE'S PERSPECTIVE

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Since there are many intertwined factors at play in today’s Middle East, there is not only one facet of biblical truth which applies. Nevertheless, the main spyglass through which God gazes when He examines the Middle East is the ‘apple of His eye’, the nation of Israel (Zech.2:8: Deut.32:8-11). The leaders of this world will be judged with great accuracy based on their treatment of the Jewish nation (Gen.12:3; Jer.30:16-17) and on their arbitrary altering of Israel’s borders (Joel 3:2; Zech.14:2-3,12).

With that in mind, one should not lose sight of the fact that the nation which endorses or encourages anything similar to the Saudi ‘peace plan’ (which calls for Israel’s borders to be shriveled and the Temple Mount surrendered to Islam) will bring disaster on itself. Any nation which prevents Israel from destroying its sworn enemies, or which pressures Israel to abandon hot pursuit of murderers of Jewish people, is aiding and abetting Israel’s foes. This brings into operation the ‘curse’ clauses of the Abrahamic covenant against that nation.

This is a time to cry out for mercy, for divine wisdom, for great discernment and for angelic intervention – both for your own native land, its leaders and for the nation of Israel and their leaders (Isa.62:1,6-9).

Standing in the gap with you,

Avner Boskey

Final Frontier Ministries

BOX 121971 NASHVILLE TN 37212-1971

www.davidstent.org Jewish/Messianic resources on THE ELIJAH LIST:

http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/309/cat309.htm?364

Avner and Rachel Boskey Messianic worship CD's:

http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/309/cat309.htm?364