Weekly Prophecy Review

News from around the world...

• Swiss banks have agreed to a settlement of $1.45 billion to Holocaust survivors and heirs of those who did not survive. Said one potential recipient, "This is not charity from the Swiss. My father deposited money there." For 50 years the banks sought to withhold assets which rightfully belonged to Jewish depositors. And, had it not been for a bank guard who gave key records to Jewish organizations, the banks would still be resisting the return of Jewish victims' assets.

• Speaking of settlements, the family of Alisa Flatlow may soon be able to collect at least some of a $247 million judgment against Iran. The Courts awarded that judgement when it was concluded that Iran was behind a 1995 terrorist bombing in the Gaza Strip which resulted in Ms. Flatlow's death. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation which would make it possible to sell certain Iranian assets which are frozen in the U.S., and give the proceeds to the Flatlows.

• The Presidents of Kenya and the United States warmly thanked Israel for its aid in the rescue attempts at the bombed American embassy in Kenya. On Sunday the Israeli team rescued a woman who had been buried in the rubble for 36 hours. Clinton said the speed with which Israel sent its aid was "both impressive and heart-warming."

• Meanwhile, the President of the American Civil Liberties Union also had someone to thank. Speaking at the World Pornography Conference in Los Angeles, Nadine Strossen recognized the pornographic film makers and actors for being "defenders of the right of free speech." Said Ms.Strossen, "I want to thank you [the porn industry] for your fight and contribution for First Amendment freedom."

• It would seem, however, that the ACLU does not intend to stand idly by and allow those First Amendment rights to include displaying the Ten Commandments. After the South Carolina Attorney General announced schools in that state could display the "infamous" decalogue, the regional director of the ACLU announced "we will be gearing up our legal machinery in anticipation of taking a number of these issues to court."

• United Methodist ministers who perform homosexual marriages may be defrocked. That is the ruling of the Methodist church council which recently elevated a guideline against the practice into canon law.

News from Israel...

• At least Erud Barak is an honest politician. This week the leader of the Labor party explained to American audiences why he isn't more dovish. Said Baraak, "It is not a matter of being right; I want to win the election."

• The Vatican, at the urging of the PLO, has appointed a Palestinian as Archbishop of Galilee. Prime Minister Netanyahu has indicated this new appointee will not be allowed to enter Israel to assume his position.

• The Palestinian deputy commander of Dahariya was arrested this week for possessing a stolen pick-up truck. This marked his second arrest under that charge. This time, however, he had an alibi—the commander replied that, believe it or not, he was on his way to turn the vehicle in to Israeli authorities. (Even Madeleine Albright would have trouble believing that one.)

• For the first time in 10 years, the defense budget in Israel will be increased. The Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces successfully argued that the extra money was needed to respond to missile threats aggressively—with Arrow anti-missile missiles—rather than passively with gas masks.

• A new cancer treatment was introduced at a hospital in Tel Aviv. The new technology freezes cancerous cells, which halts their spread in almost 100% of the cases, thus eliminating the need for surgury or other treatments.

News that might actually have something to do with prophecy...

Yassar Arafat has instructed the Palestinian parliament to begin preparations for his coming unilateral declaration of independence (supposedly on May 4, 1999). Arafat claims the current freeze in peace negotiations is entirely the fault of Israel, so the Palestinians have no choice but to turn their attention to preparations for statehood.

This declaration, should it occur, would set the stage for fulfillment of the prophecy recorded in Ezekiel 35.

"Because you have said, 'These two nations [Israel and Judah] and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,' although the Lord was there, therefore, as I live," declares the Lord God, "I will deal with you according to your anger and according to your envy which you showed because of your hatred against them; so I will make Myself known among them when I judge you" (Ezekiel 35:10-11).

Till He Returns...