Weekly Prophecy Review

News from around the world...

• Evangelist Arthur Blessitt has achieved his goal of carrying a 12-foot cross to every nation in the world. Since 1969 he has taken that cross through 277 countries, islands and territories. During his 30-year pilgrimage Blessitt has walked 32,580 miles. He has also been arrested 24 times and once faced a firing squad.

• The American Bible Society will encourage Americans to read the Bible during the next year. Surveys show 90% of Americans own a Bible but less than half read it regularly.

• Florida Tax officials refused to grant an exemption to Billy Graham's crusade scheduled for Tampa Bay, October 22-25. As a result, the sales tax the crusade will incur could reach $81,000. Previous Graham crusades, including two in the 1980's, were granted exemptions.

• No sooner did the Democratic National Committee (DNC) pay off its 1996 election debts, than the Federal Election Commission auditors asked it to return all of the $13.4 million it received in matching funds. The auditors determined the so-called "issue ads" paid for by the DNC were clearly intended to promote Mr. Clinton's re-election.

• President Clinton's personal lawyer, David Kendall, claims that although his client has apologized, he is, nevertheless, not guilty.

News from Israel...

• Thousands of Chabad hassadim (a group which stresses religious fervor, and strict adherence to laws and customs) gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. They held a prayer service hoping to prevent a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria.

• Many were surprised last week when Yassar Arafat abruptly backed out of what had been reported as an already agreed-upon deal for a 13% redeployment. Arafat now says he doesn't recall coming to an understanding with Israel on the agreement.

• The Minister of Absorption suggests millions of Jews are currently considering aliyah (returning) to Israel. This from the fact that Israeli Consuls and representatives are reporting inquiries about visas to Israel have increased dramatically in recent weeks.

• The Prime Minister of Turkey is in Israel this week. Trade as well as military relations between the two nations have grown considerably in recent years. This trend is said to be worrisome to Egypt, Syria, and Iran.

• Senator Jesse Helms recently reaffirmed it is Congress' position that Jerusalem should be the site of the U.S. embassy. "Israel is the only nation in the world that has been denied the right to choose its own capital. This second class citizenship among nations must end," said Helms. Of course, to accomplish this move, the current administration would need to be removed....(developing)

• The resort of Eilat has recently opened a beach for religious people. Said one official, "Now it will be possible for vacationing Haredim to get tans as deep as their non-religious counterparts while not compromising modesty."

• Israeli Government statistics show more people have been killed by Palestinian terrorists since the signing of the Oslo treaty 5 years ago (279 killed) than in the 15 preceding years (254 killed). So much for the peace process.

Feature story

U.S. still seeking to undermine Netanyahu

In Oslo, Norway a celebration was held commemorating the 5th anniversary of the signing of the Oslo Peace Accords. In attendance were Yassar Arafat (PA), Shimon Peres (Labor Party), and Dennis Ross (U.S.)—all parties to this prophesied land grab by the Palestinians (see Ezekiel 35:10-11). Prime Minister Netanyahu declined to attend the event.

At the same time as the event in Oslo, a gathering took place at a synagogue in Washington. Its purpose was to encourage the U.S. "not to turn away in the face of Netanyahu's delay and denial of the peace process." Among those in attendance at this meeting were Leah Rabin, wife of slain Israeli PM Rabin, and Martin Indyk, now U.S. Assistant Secretary of State. Israeli officials were "astonished and outraged" that Indyk would participate in "an anti-Netanyahu rally in the guise of a pro-Oslo peace process gathering." But such behavior is par for the course for Indyk.

We remember him first from when he was American Ambassador to Israel. At the time Israel was commemorating the 3,000th anniversary of Jerusalem as Israel's capital (something that doesn't happen every day), Indyke could not be present. He said he had to attend the grand opening of a McDonald's in Tel Aviv.

According to Arutz-7, it was Indyk who persuaded Bill Clinton to take the unprecedented step of supporting a particular candidate in a foreign election—namely, Shimon Peres over Binyamin Netanyahu. It was Indyk who was responsible for Clinton refusing to meet with Netanyahu for several months, though he found ample time to meet with Peres and Leah Rabin. Moreover, sources in Congress say Indyk was the architect behind Madeleine Albright's recent ultimatum to Netanyahu, in which his subsequent visit to Washington was conditioned on his acceding to U.S. demands. Israelis must be thinking, with friends like Indyk, who needs enemies?

When House Speaker Gingrich called Albright "an agent for the Palestinians" he was unjustly criticized by the scofflaws at the White House. Gingrich's biggest mistake, however, was that he did not go far enough. He also should have acknowledged the key role Albright's assistant, Martin Indyk, has played in formulating the regrettable U.S. policy toward Israel. Rest assured, when the the Lord returns, He won't make the same mistake.

Till He returns...