Splinters 2020
Splinters 42
eTPL30, January 3, 2019
Stirring the Hornet’s Nest
The restraint of the American president reached its limit on Thursday, January 2, when an unmanned drone aircraft approached the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport just as a Syrian passenger plane from Damascus had discharged its passengers. The passengers included the second highest political and military officer in Iran – General Qassam Soleimani – a man who has reportedly killed hundreds of Americans, the last of which was a military contractor at a facility in Iraq which was attacked by Iranian missiles under his command. Soleimani is the equivalent of the US armed forces chief of staff, and some considered him equivalent to US Vice President Pence in the Iranian government.
Just after their midnight touchdown the passengers boarded two vehicles which would transport them to their local destination. As the vehicles were leaving the airport perimeters, the silent overhead killer, an MQ9 Reaper drone, aimed its Paveway II laser-guided missiles at vehicle and then the other – two for each target. Within three seconds both vehicles were obliterated killing all occupants, their twisted, burning hulks littering the exit road from the facility. General Soleimani’s twisted body was later identified by an ornate ring that he always wore. In addition to the general, the highest-ranking leader of a splinter-group of Hezbollah in Iraq was also eliminated in the strike. In total, five victims were claimed by the drone attack. <>From press reports
Jews “Need to Learn Self-Defense”
Personal attacks upon Jews continue apace as Jewish voices call for more strident measured of self-defense. On January 1, David Suissa, a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, wrote, “Look at Israel: Is there a nation in the world that has faced more anti-Semitism? The Jewish state has survived for so long because it has understood that bullies are stopped not by reason but by force. It’s not pretty, but it’s reality.”
Because most of the recent attacks in the northeast have used knives and fists rather than guns, the author posits that a self-defense expertise like Krav Maga could be extremely valuable in both countering and deterring such attacks. What is Krav Maga? Its website shows it to be a widely diverse system of self-defense using little more than common sense and ready reflexes – and that it is useful to anyone from any age group. The courses are multiple, are online, and cost about ten dollars each.
Until the Master arrives and calls His scattered brethren home to Israel, these vicious attacks will continue ... and likely get much worse. The phenomenon is illustrative of the “hunters” of His People still prowling the earth (Jeremiah 16: 16). The world will finally come to its senses, but only after its enlightenment by the Teachers who go out to all the world to teach the everlasting Gospel, bringing all the nations under the cloak of enforced enlightenment. Then multitudes of ordinary Gentiles will take hold of the skirt of him that is (an enlightened) Jew, saying, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Zechariah 8: 23. <> J. Post
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 43
eTPL 30 January 12, 2019
Benefits of the Rainy Season in Israel are Abundant
The rivers and lakes of Israel are reaching their highest water levels in years due to the heavy rains of the past week. One Israeli lost his life in Nahariya as he tried to assist a family whose car had been caught up in the cross-currents of water flooding the streets of the city. By Wednesday the death toll had climbed to a total of five due to the weather. There was widespread property damage from both flooding and high winds. Many people missed school and work from people contracting seasonal maladies which kept them at home.
More precipitation is forecasted for the coming weekend. But the best news is that the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) has reached its highest level in years, making gains against the low levels it has experienced for several years. <>Jerusalem Post
Let’s Please Try to Understand This...
A recent, widely circulated online video on Bible Prophecy was promoted with the following descriptor:
“Ezekiel 38 is invaluable to us for understanding the signs of the times because it goes into incredible detail in describing the invasion of Gog. This invasion immediately precedes the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (sic). The situation in the world immediately before Christ’s return is outlined (sic).”
In our studied opinion this statement is entirely misleading despite the long-standing and sincere conviction of some that this really is the case, and we ask for a critical, scholarly re-think of what is presented by Ezekiel.
It’s an extremely easy prophecy to understand as laid out in God’s word. Every word of it is critical...
In our opinion, scripturally it does not bring the return of Christ to the earth; instead, it occurs well after Christ has come and defeated Israel’s enemies round about, and has established the ‘peace and safety’ for His people which are mentioned as one of the two prerequisites of the Gogian invasion.
Conditions in the Land are stated as Israel being “the land of unwalled villages;” about which Gog declares, “ I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.” It is not now “unwalled” by any standard!
The other stated prerequisite is that Israel in that day has amassed a “great spoil and a prey.” (Ezekiel 38: 11, 12)
Neither of these conditions is prevalent today ... not even approximately.
Something MUST occur to create those two conditions BEFORE Gog is brought against the Land.
In our opinion, the current challenge of Israel by the nations “round about” of this day is the obstructing factor – and must be settled by a significant event prior to the Gogian invasion. Until that is accomplished there can be NO peace for God’s people in their land; also THAT EVEN will result in a massive increase in wealth for Israel of the future!
What is it? It involves that complex and detailed history which is explicitly prophesied in the chapters immediately precedent to those important chapters in Ezekiel – the utter decimation of those enemies round about, named as being Ammon, Moab and Edom (modern Jordan) and the Philistines (Gaza today) in chapter 25-28; Egypt (chapters 29-32); and others, and Israel delivered from these enemies by “David My Servant” (the Lord Jesus Christ) “and they shall know the Lord” (chapter 34-36); then there follows the notable record of God’s continuation of the people being resurrected and returned to their Land from the Valley of Dry Bones (the Diaspora) of Ezekiel 37 – an unique end-time event which many of His servants have watched closely for decades (notably since 1948).
All these exhaustive conquests occur at the same time as the summary prophecy of Psalm 83 is fulfilled; they are integral portions of that prophecy of Asaph...and involve all the entities named there.
All these events are noted to precede the invasion of the Gogian cohort and must do so in our opinion in order to accomplish the stated conditions above: dwelling safely, and holding an immense hoard of wealth – a great spoil, which shall have been gathered into her treasuries by Christ and the Saints (the wealth of the Gentiles – cf., Zechariah 14: 14).
When the Gogian host attacks Israel these two specified conditions shall have been met by precisely one collective event – Messiah’s utter victory over all the Gentile nations lying round about them from the Nile to the Euphrates.
It is the scriptural circumstance which describes the personal return of the LORD Jesus Christ from the heavens and His lightning conquest over the physical enemies of Israel which now encircle her and threaten her existence hourly!
The prophecy of Obadiah 1:18-21 reveals that all these vile enemies lying between the Rivers and the Seas shall be defeated in one convoluted, major conflict, and that “saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.”
That condition cannot be specified without the personal return of Christ to His People to save them from their enemies and those who hate them as spoken by Zacharias in Luke 1: 71.
We are aware that some readers may wonder why we continue to hammer on this point. We do so in order to assist our readers to understand the scriptural order of the coming events. Baptized and faithful Believers of today are destined to be part of those events – not observing them from the perimeters – and accomplishing the godly judgments of the LORD Jesus Christ as He visibly enters into the affairs of the nations and begins His work of final redemption of Israel!
In our conviction, after thirty years of concentrated study, the premise of the second sentence of this item is patently wrong. Whoever has these expectations will be surprised to realize that their scholarship has been inadequate, and their beliefs have been wrongly guided by other well-meaning but inadequate students of God’s word.... <HEL>
Development of Laser Weapons by Israel is Moving Ahead Rapidly
Incoming ordnance of many types is difficult to defend against; Israel and others have been seeking a means of effective defense against these projectiles for years – weapons ranging from ballistic missiles and drones to mortar rounds and balloons bearing firebombs. Israel’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, January 8th, that it has brought into production a laser-based system for intercepting aerial threats of many kinds after about ten years of intense effort.
The announcement was made by Brigadier General Yaniv Rotem, head of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Research and Development. He stated “We are entering a new age of energy warfare in the air, land and sea. The R&D investments made by the DD [Directorate of Defense] R&D in recent years have placed the State of Israel among the leading countries in the field of high-energy laser systems.”
The text of the article revealed some of the difficulties that they encountered. One of the major hurdles was developing a laser beam which would remain collimated over great distances – that is one that would arrive at the target with a profile of a coin’s diameter rather than being much wider – spread out, ineffective. The result has been achieved by harnessing several laser generators to produce a single, very “hot” beam which does not scatter or widen over long distances. The sharper it is at the receiving end, the more effective. And this one is extremely “sharp,” and HOT.
One of the great advantages of laser weapons is the cost-effectiveness of each discharge of the weapons as well as their unlimited magazine; as long as there is an electrical supply there is “ammunition” which will not be depleted as with conventional shot and shell. Another is that it operates at the speed of light.
In addition, the cost of each discharge is extremely low – and the discharge is both invisible and inaudible. It is also much easier to aim as it travels in a straight line, unaffected by gravity. He summed up: “This technology enables the development of highly effective operational systems that will serve as an additional layer of defense to secure the State of Israel by air, land and sea.” <>Israel Defense Ministry
Iranian Military’s Incredible Ineptitude
For a nation which claims technological superiority, the Iranians certainly have not demonstrated this level of proficiency. Firstly, in retaliating for the American killing of Iranian General Qassam Soleimani a few days prior, Iran, in supposed “reprisal,” fired missiles against the US military facility at Ain al-Assad Airbase near Baghdad.
The Iranian missile salvo did not hit a single notable target from all reports. It seemed as if they actually planned to miss any important targets that were strategic on this huge airbase!
Then, in the immediate aftermath, they inexplicably allowed local commercial air schedules to be maintained, even though the Revolutionary Guard said they were expecting reprisal missiles from the United States forces in Iraq.
In the darkness of that same evening, January 8th, Ukrainian International Airlines, flight PS752, a Boeing 737-800 jet, lifted off from Tehran International Airport bound for Kiev, Ukraine, carrying 176 passengers. As it climbed out of the airport and started to achieve its vector to Kiev it suddenly blew up and spiraled to earth killing all the passengers and crew.
At first, the Iranian government claimed the crash was due to mechanical difficulties. But the crew had not issued a distress call to that effect. The crash scene after daylight revealed unmistakable tell-tale signs that the plane had been shot down by a missile. At first Iran denied this conclusion. Later they could see that the evidence of it having been shot down was too overwhelming, and were forced to admit that they had mistaken it for an incoming missile – an event which, recall, they had expected.
In a condition of extreme readiness (as Iran claimed to be at the time), it seems incredulous that their “superior technology” could not discern between a giant passenger plane and a ballistic missile.
In the first place, Iranian radar should have monitored the departure of the Ukrainian craft as it left Tehran – and to have “labeled” it for protection from ground fire. This can easily be done by the aircraft’s transponders which identify every radar blip on the screen specific to flight number and air carrier if it represents a civil or military aircraft.
Secondly, the IRGC should have monitored their air defense systems closely. Surely this “friendly fire” was a potential of which they would be aware – especially given that the airport is equipped with anti-aircraft installations, which are usually set to seek and lock onto targets automatically...and even to fire missiles at their targets automatically.
Iran is said to be extremely remorseful that the civilian passengers and the plane were destroyed and blamed a “junior officer” essentially of being “trigger-happy.”
Thirdly, Tehran is located several hundred miles from the Iraqi border to the west. Surely, if a ballistic missile were indeed incoming as retaliation from the attack on al-Assad airbase, it would have been reported by Iranian radar long before it approached Tehran International Airport; there would have been prior notice of an incoming missile.
There was no logical excuse for this terrible lapse in protocol. <>from press reports
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 44
eTPL 30 January 20, 2020
Philippine Volcano only one of Many Volcanic Eruptions since First of this Year
January 15, 2020. An alarming phenomenon is occurring world-wide according to scientific observers around the world. It involves convulsions of the earth in several aspects: volcanic activity, ocean warming, polar shift, and wildfires – even unprecedented changes in solar activity.
The scientific community reports that it has never seen such a rash of significant changes in the natural environment as are now happening. They outlined at least several major changes going on at this moment – changes which have gone unreported by the news media...and subtle enough that they have not been noticed by the general populous.
The posted article in Quora Digest began: “The sun is behaving very strangely, freakishly cold weather is breaking out all over the world, ocean temperatures continue to rise, volcanoes all over the globe are shooting ash miles into the air, Australia is experiencing the worst wildfires that they have ever seen, and the north magnetic pole has been moving at a pace that is deeply alarming scientists.” We summarize the articles...
1. NASA reports that solar activity has decreased to the lowest level in 200 years. Its website forecasts that the next solar cycle will be the weakest in that amount of time, measured in terms of sunspot number – a standard measure of solar activity. They say it may be 30 to 50% lower than the one just completed. The cycle begins this year and extends to its maximum in 2025. Worries are that this decrease in solar activity could spawn a “Little Ice Age.” One such period extended from 1645 to 1715, causing lower atmospheric temperatures in Europe and N. America.
2. Records show that very cold and snowy winters – such as those being observed at the present time – occur. Cairo, Egypt, experienced snow for the first time in 112 years – a location which sees less than 1” of rainfall a year!
3. The world’s oceans are heating rapidly. Off the California coast, ocean temperatures have been setting all-time high levels – a strange phenomenon in light of such low solar activity...
4. Wildfires during the past year have been unprecedented in recorded history. The Amazon rainforest lost millions of acres last summer, while Australia bushfires have been 46% larger than those in the Amazon. An estimated one billion wild animals have perished in Australia. Smoke from these fires will travel entirely around the globe before dissipating.
5. Since December, volcanoes all over the world have been coming alive with a vengeance, shooting giant clouds of hot ash miles into the sky. The Taal volcano (40 miles south of Manila, Philippines) shot ash nine miles into the air just last Sunday. Its effects have been felt in Manila to the north, shutting down the city’s international airport and disrupting other public functions. It is unclear if this volcano is somehow related to the largest caldera ever discovered (it’s located on an ocean plateau named Benham Rise just off the Philippines coast) with a subsurface potential crater 93.2 miles wide, as estimated by GNS Science group. It is colossal compared to the 22 mile-wide caldera at Taupo, north of Auckland, N.Z., and the 37 mile-wide caldera at Yellowstone, Wyoming. Just image volcanoes this immense!
6. While all these events are taking place the north magnetic pole is moving toward Russia at a rapid pace. CNN reported that “The north magnetic pole has been slowly moving across the Canadian Arctic toward Russia since 1831, but its swift pace toward Siberia in recent years at a rate of around 34 miles per year has forced scientists to update the World Magnetic Model – used by civilian navigation systems, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and US and British militaries – a year ahead of schedule.”
7. And besides all this, the weakening magnetic field of Earth has many experts greatly concerned. Journalist C. Stuart Hardwick recently cited satellite data such as that collected by the European Space Agency’s SWARM Mission, proves that the magnetic field has been weakening by about five percent each century. Although the measurement means little to non-astronomers, the current strength of the magnetic field is 29.5 microteslas – about 14 percent weaker than three centuries ago when, presumably, the level was first established. The SWARM satellites noted the greatest deterioration within regions of North America, which weakened by about 3.5 % in three years. Although the statement was not fully explained, the journalist said, “If it simply gets weak enough, dwelling on the surface [of the earth] is going to become exceedingly difficult.”
Events of such significance should not alarm Believers of God’s word; we can be fully assured that our Father has everything under His control. At the same time, such knowledge should give each of us impetus to place our trust more firmly in our Heavenly Father as the coming of Messiah draws nearer. The scriptures warn of such drastic changes in natural affairs as harbinger of that Event of the Age – seeming without doubt to be signaling His displeasure with the rampant evil that one sees in every part of the earth. <>Abstracted from news reports
Why all the New Volcanic Activity all over the Globe?
Noting the close relationship with the lead article above, we consider the recently renewed activity of Mount Popocatépetl in Mexico, which was reported by Prophecy News Watch in its blog dated yesterday. About 26 million people live within a 60 mile radius of the center of the volcano, so it is obvious that the potential for death and destruction could happen on a scale that is hard to imagine. In ancient time, the mountain buried entire Aztec cities in superheated mud...then went dormant for 1,000 years. But it began awakening again in1990. Its activity since January 1st is its most severe in recent time...
Other types of seismic activity are notching upwards, too. Readers will possibly be aware of the recent 1,000 earthquakes that have shaken Puerto Rico in a swarm of quakes both large and small. The territory was just jolted by another severe earth-shock, adding to the island’s recent stress from hurricanes and other wicked weather.
Last Tuesday, in Alaska, one of the state’s most lethal volcanoes shot ash 25,000 feet into the air after Shishaldin Volcano erupted at 5 a.m. Initially the ash cloud ascended to about 19,000 feet, obscuring the mountain. Activity let up for a few hours then re-started on a heavier scale, and the ash level then reaching 25,000 feet.
The eruption or Mt. Taal in the Philippines (noted in lead article) caused great concern earlier in the week.
Then, on Thursday, Mt. Popocatépetl in Mexico re-erupted, throwing debris, including incandescent rocks, nearly four miles into the sky. The mountain is described as a stratovolcano, meaning that its eruptions are composed of explosively erupted cinders and ash with occasional lava flows – a most dangerous output...
At about the same time, in South America, the Sabancaya Volcano in Peru shot a plume of volcanic ash up to 24,000 feet above the surface.
Yet hardly anyone is paying attention to the Peruvian event because of the spectacular eruption of Mt. Taal in the Philippines, which has now ejected ash and rocks up to NINE miles above the earth! As already reported Manila’s airport was closed and the city is experiencing mild ash deposits and air pollution.
Scientists – volcanologists – are puzzled by these accelerated seismic events, wondering just what could be causing them at this particular time. Most of the activity is noted to be in volcanoes located in the highly active “ring of fire” surrounding the vast Pacific Ocean, but Puerto Rico’s ‘quakes are an exception. <>Prophecy News Watch
Ayatollah Alamolhoda of Iran: U.K. Ambassador Should be Chopped into Pieces
The Ayatollah Khameini of Iran is not Mr. Nice Guy. In a memorial service for the victims of the Ukrainian airliner, he vilified the U. K. ambassador, saying on Iranian TV that he leads “English and American spies” (in Iran) and should be “chopped into pieces.” He further claimed that “hundreds of thousands of American soldiers were ‘turned to dust and ashes’ by the missiles that Iran launched at the Americans’ Ayn Al-Assad air base in Iraq” in retaliation for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Preposterous! It seems that Islam fully supports such liars as this highly placed representative of the Ayatollah Khameini in Tehran... <> Breaking Israel News
The Mahdi and the Mosque
Mohammed wasn’t much of a creative writer; he deftly copied and corruptly parroted many of the dogmas of “Christianity” as he understood them from the Jews and the Catholic Church of his day and incorporated them into his “religion” as prophecy. One example is his avid expectation of the reappearance of “the Twelfth Mahdi” at his supposed judgment at the end time...a direct copy of the Christian Messiah-expectation of long standing. So hokey!
The myth was perpetuated recently by the hoisting of a blood red flag atop the “famous” Jamkaran Mosque in the “holy city” of Qom, Iran. Telecasts showed the flag being raised and pointed out the “message” it was sending to the world. The mosque is supposedly closely connected with the Twelfth Mahdi. The meaning of its hoisting reflects one of the few actions that the Moslems are really good at utilizing: symbols. The flag points to the assassination of General Soleimani as “blood spilled unjustly” in their thinking, and their call for revenge; it symbolizes both principles.
The flag is said to bear a line of text which is a reference to the death of the grandson of Mohammed. It reportedly reads, “Those who want to avenge the blood of Hussein," and refers to the heir who was decapitated in 680AD as the second Islamic Civil War was being waged over the successor to the “prophet.”
It was reported that as the flag was raised in Qom, the mosque loudspeakers called, “O Allah, hasten your custodian reappearance,” which referred to the expected Muhammad al-Mahdi returning from the well into which he disappeared centuries ago (in 869 AD)! The enemies being referred to are all the enemies of Shia Islam. Their supposition is that the 12th imam reappears along with Jesus (!) during a time of chaotic war to “bring peace to the world and establish Islam as the ruling faith across the globe.” Such are the illusions of grandeur of your average local imam...
They say the trigger for the Mahdi’s reappearance will be a great war, which is why the Shi’ites seemingly have no fear of war. If they die in such a war as martyrs they will be rewarded as martyrs in the afterlife; but if they live through the coming holy war (“jihad”) they will see the coming of the Mahdi helping to institute the global rule of Shia Islam.
For this quite clear reason, there will be no letup in the Shi’ite push for their warped goals, and all the more reason for Believers to see that it will require the thunderous appearance of Israel’s Messiah to defeat...and to eradicate all Islam – drastic as that may seem! As we have pointed out on previous occasions, Obadiah1: 18 sums it up, “...there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.” <> Abstracted from Prophecy News Watch
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 45
eTPL 30 January 23,2020
Kill Trump – and Be Awarded Three Million Dollars
An Iranian lawmaker from Kerman province has made a public offering of $3mm to anyone assassinating President Donald Trump of the USA. His offer came in the wake of the killing of Iranian General Soleimani at the Ain Al-Assad air base last month – an achievement that infuriated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and drew a reprisal in the form of nearly twenty ballistic missiles being fired upon a large US military facility near Baghdad.
We have often pondered that possibility – the assassination of the US president. His free and open appearances throughout the nation would seem to be hazardous to his wellbeing. He has made enemies widely during his three years in office largely because he is cognizant of – and acting against – the harm that has been done for years to this republic by foreign powers in unequal trading partnerships and through peripheral military threats (such as from China in the South China Sea, and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz). Now that he is deftly promoting US advantage he has drawn the fire of many...
The Iranian authorities have announced that they will no longer abide by the limitations of the nuclear deal that was signed with Iran by President Obama and that they will press ahead with the advanced refinement of nuclear materials which would allow them to manufacture nuclear weapons earlier.
Since the events of December, some of the European nations have agreed to add sanctions of their own to Iran, making it harder for the rogue state to conduct its affairs on an international scale. <>From news reports
Netanyahu: “I will annex all Israeli Towns in Judea and Samaria...and the Jordan Valley”
Jerusalem. January 21, 2020. Acting Prime Minister Netanyahu renewed his earlier pledge “to extend Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea” region if re-elected prime minister in the upcoming elections. The PM was launching his third attempt to be reelected prime minister in less than a year ... a process which has thrown the internal operation of the state into turmoil and disarray. His claim was widely viewed as a boisterous conservative move to help assure his reelection. Many have asked why he has not already done so during his previous administrations.
The White House is said to be opposed to the annexation of the stated areas, objecting that it might have a profound effect upon the “Deal of the Century” that is soon planned for release to the region. Our wonder is why hasn’t this wonderful ‘solution’ been presented prior to this time in history as it was said to be completed many months ago. President Trump’s team is now saying it may be released for public view sooner than the Israeli election (early March).
The pales****** reaction has been predictable. Abu Abbas (current chairman of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah) has said he will not even give the plan any consideration because it was initiated by President Trump – the person who has moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and has sanctioned Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Mr. Netanyahu’s plan apparently would include annexation of the city of Jericho – a town inhabited almost exclusively by pales******* just north of the Dead Sea. It would certainly include such large Israeli cities as Ma’ale Adumim located east of the Jerusalem city limits, as well as Homs to the south – both being large “bedroom” communities of citizens working in Jerusalem, and both located well within the pale of the pales****** territories. We can understand the extreme reaction that such a move would create in the opposing (Arab) camp. We think we see in Israel an increasing feeling of complete frustration with the current state of affairs, of their having to live with the monotonous drone of threats to their existence, and concrete moves to place those threats into motion as the weeks go by.
The Jordan Valley is a large and important strategic area. Its kibbutzim are some of the most productive agriculturally, and its lands are relatively well-watered and green. Forests abound there, and wildlife is prolific. It is the natural eastern frontier of the state as well. Israel considers its control of the River Basin a prime requisite to its safety, and an “early warning” line of defense against the eastern potential enemy and Edom (Jordan). <>World Israel News
Israel’s Coldest Day of the Winter, and an High Water Mark in Kinneret
The weather in Israel during the early and the latter rainy season is always of interest, and it certainly appears that the country’s rainfall is markedly increasing in recent months. The rain and snow of the last few days have raised the level of Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) about 7 centimeters (cm) which is 2.8 inches as a result of 15 cm (5.9”) of snow which fell early in the week on Mt. Hermon (the Mt. Hermon ski lodge is closed to visitors at the moment due to enemy threats). The surface of the Sea of Galilee now stands at just above 210.6 meters below sea level and only about 1.8 meters below the upper red line – a measurement which indicates that when reached, the Kinneret is at full capacity (any excessive accumulation will be automatically drained into the lower Jordan Valley and allowed to make its way southward toward the Dead Sea). This is a marked increase since our visit 16 months ago.
Photos of the aircraft of foreign dignitaries landing at Ben Gurion International in Tel Aviv show a wet and foggy tarmac welcoming their arrivals. They are gathering at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in observance of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945 by the Red Army. <> Arutz Sheva
Putin’s “Soft Spot” for Israel and the Jews – an Enigma
It goes without saying that Russia’s President Putin has a “soft spot” for the Jews and Israel. Why so? Because he is well aware that over a million Russian Jews have immigrated to Israel and that Russian is a prominent second language in the country. When Mr. Putin comes to Israel he often visits Netanya – an area with a concentrated Russian Jewish population. He is in Israel at this moment after a nine-year absence, attending the 75th commemoration of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in Poland by Red Army troops in WWII, a place that saw the deaths of 1,410,000 Jews who were mostly gassed.
But there is another reason for Mr. Putin’s friendship with Mr. Netanyahu and Israelis.
The former KGB chief lived with his parents in an apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia. From reports by Israeli media in 2018, an elderly Jewish couple in his apartment building “cared for the boy.” Although no details were provided as to the nature of the “care” the young Putin received, this could be the main reason for his friendship with Israel at the moment. His feelings run so deeply that Putin purchased an apartment in Tel Aviv for his former teacher, Mina Yudistskaya.
Now a current Jewish publication Dwash Shabbat, a news sheet closely connected to Rabbi Dov Kook, a kabbalist (a Jewish mystic) has brought new facts to life about Putin’s relationship with his Jewish neighbors in St. Petersburg.
The publication claims its source as being Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, head of the Chabad movement in Russia.
It reveals that Putin’s parents were hard-working and very poor Russians who were struggling to feed themselves and their child. Even though the Putin family was surrounded by other Russian families, the Jewish couple was the only one that took care of the young Putin in their building even though everyone was aware of the family’s dire circumstances. In the routine care that they gave young Vladimir they noted when he was home alone and invited him to meals at their home – and to Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur and Shabbat eve as well.
He routinely heard Jewish prayers and observed his benefactors’ culture. In that way he became comfortable with Jewish traditions and habits. They even bought clothing for him and provided for his basic needs, much to the gratification of his natural family we can be sure.
Even though this wonderful present relationship with Israel is probably going to change for the worse in the future (how long we know not – and even whether Vlad Putin will still be in charge when Gog is drawn down upon the People of God), why shouldn’t Vladimir Putin presently feel friendly to the Jewish people? He has no beef with them whatsoever. He even seems to understand the reasonable caution of Israelis (the IDF) for the enemy forces a-building in Lebanon and Syria – round about Israel – and has not interfered with the Israeli raids upon either the Iranian insurgents or the forces of Hezbollah ... a curious symbiotic relationship to be sure! So let’s keep a keen surveillance on Mr. Vladimir Putin, and give him credit for his present friendship with Israel! <>Abstracted from Arutz Sheva reports
Israel Doubled the Number of its Unicorns in 2019!
The writer formerly knew the unicorn as a single-horned, beautiful, gentle mythological beast. He admits to being perplexed when he read this headline in Milestones to the Kingdom (Pearce) recently; had Brother Don lost his senses??
Well, no! “Unicorn” is also a business term meaning a privately-held tech company worth more than $1bn (billion).
It is notable that only three countries claim more unicorns than Israel: they are the US, China, and the UK.
The report, from Globes of December 25 opines that 2019 was the year that Israel’s technology sector came of age.
Nine new unicorns emerged during last year, bringing the total to twenty! Because of the unusual Israeli approach to business ventures, being an unicorn is a sign of a tech company’s maturity.
A decade ago every Israeli startup entertained the dream of being bought out by a tech giant or a Wall street initial public offering (IPO - of stock) – a maneuver in which a private company raises public funding for ongoing operations and business independence.
Israel’s universities act as “incubators” for many business ventures in a milieu in which a private enterprise acquires a new discovery or product developed by a university laboratory (such as a new cancer drug) and makes that product or idea the central core of a new private company – and then of building it into a growth company worth $1billion or more.
Israel has more unicorns than France, Germany, and Australia combined!
These are names we probably will come to recognize in the near future: Gett – a taxi-hailing company; Cybereason – a cybersecurity firm; Monday – a team management systems developer. These were founded last year. In the previous year these emerged: DevOps – a platform developer, JFrog; Riskified – a fraud protection company; 3D imaging company Vayyaar Imaging; Fabric – a retail imaging company; and Lemonade – an insurtech company (the writer has no notion of just what an “insurtech” company consist of – perhaps reinsurance?). And the good news is that even companies who raised less than a billion dollars are well on their way to that goal!
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 46
eTPL 30 January 27, 2020
“Deal of the Century” to be Released at the White House on Tuesday
President Trump has labeled it “The Deal of the Century,” but the “Palestinians” refuse to consider it. The proposed deal is being widely and enthusiastically described as “the most favorable plan for Israel ever presented by a US administration,” and there have been several attempts in past time. On every occasion, even when the “Palestinians” were awarded more than they could reasonably have expected, they inexplicably said, “No!” Yasser Arafat plainly declared that he would settle for nothing less than ALL Israel ... an unworkable solution from the beginning...
Israeli leaders Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu (Likud) and leader of the Blue and White Party, Mr. Benny Gantz, have just arrived in Washington, a day ahead of their planned separate meetings with the Trump administration in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
The visit is fraught with political overtones and symbolism. Each man does not want to be seen cooperating with the other – or appearing to be in any way subservient to the other – during the upcoming sessions. But Netanyahu holds the high ground at the moment; it was he who was invited last week to come to Washington – and it was he who suggested that Mr. Gantz attend also. Both men are leaders of the two largest political parties in Israel.
Both hope to win enough votes to form a workable coalition in the upcoming elections (March 2) without having to resort to cooperation with each other. But, failing that, it will be necessary for their two parties to form the majority coalition – a conclusion which, in two previous elections, has eluded them up to now.
Most observers are viewing this as the last, best hope for an Israeli-Arab accord, and see a high probability that if it is refused outrightly by the “Palestinians” that Israel will go forward speedily with the annexation of much of the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea areas, leaving the Arabs with even less territory under their control. After all, the ongoing dispute has lasted over fifty years with no progress whatever – ever since Israel was forced to fight for its existence in the Six Day War resulting in the conquest of Jerusalem, the “West Bank,” the Golan and the Sinai, some of which was later ceded back to Egypt (the Sinai) in exchange for a peace agreement.
Our opinion is that this “wonderful solution” will not be implemented as presented because the “Palestinians” will continue their standoffish ways and accept none of the billions of dollars said to be offered in the package as well as peace with their host nation, Israel.
In that case, Israel may feel constrained to move ahead unilaterally, establishing the “state of things” as they wish, regardless of the “Palestinians’” agreement. There comes a time when one must move ahead ...
The Apostle wrote of these fragile days when he addressed the brethren at Thessalonica – I Thessalonians 5: 1: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. Paul is not saying that the day of the Lord comes stealthily to the Believers ... just to the world in general, those who are not paying attention to God’s word.
This is just such a time. Many of the new arrivals in Israel have come to Israel with great expectations of redemption, believing that their presence in the Land is required for Messiah’s appearance. The Prophet Micah and others seem to bear out this fact. But the regathering of Israelis into their recovered Land was not to be a time of peace and tranquility with their neighbors.
Paul’s next words reflect that unsettled condition: the people present in their Land, awaiting the Master are seeking peace and security (safety), because such has eluded them, as he writes in I Thessalonians 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Sudden destruction? It is not the expected result by those who are involved in the negotiations that might bring about this supposition of peace. We often hear Brethren speak of this as the “peace and safety cry,” and perhaps in a sense it is – a plea for such. But it seems more likely to our thinking that it is a statement which those in authority believe to be FACT: a statement of a condition believed to have been attained – that “peace and safety” at last has been achieved by some mechanism brought about by their personal leadership and planning.
But these are not expecting what is shortly destined to come to pass – the Second Advent of the Lord from heaven – an event which we must stress will be completely beneficial to the returned Israelis in the Land – but not to their enemies “round about” – the proximal Islamic neighbors that surround them on every side...
The Brethren of Christ, however, are in no way surprised; note Paul’s next words: 1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The awareness of the nearness of the Master’s return is even now acknowledged by large numbers of “Christian” folk who have unfortunately put the wrong construction on events to come. They are expecting “the Anti-Christ” prior to the coming of Jesus Christ, and in our opinion will fatally mistake His arrival as being the arrival of that evil personage that they envision. Unfortunately, they have not closely comprehended the Plan as laid out in God’s word because their misunderstanding of so many other facets of scripture have prevented their correct understanding of these key end-time events.
The “Deal of the Century” has been kept close to the vest by the Trump administration. Some of its financial details were discussed at a meeting in Bahrain last year, but it is still largely secret so as not to compromise its acceptance by the parties involved (at least that’s their plan).
But now, observers seem to think there has been some major breakthrough in Israel-Arab relations that are to be revealed during PM Netanyahu’s visit to Washington this week. But at the present time, even each party’s closest associates are not in on the secrets of the plan. We do believe PM Netanyahu is highly encouraged by the prospects of the meeting, for he said upon departure from Israel, “Very dramatic things are happening.”
The secrecy is logical for two reasons: premature news releases could sink the mysterious treaty as Arab leaders could back off at the last moment. In addition, all parties should meet and discuss the plan simultaneously so as to prevent drawing erroneous, early conclusions, and failing to understand the whole.
This observation is not an admission of any opinion on our part to believe the plan has a chance of success. Our reasoning is based on the Prophet Joel, for one, who wrote, “when He should bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (this present day),” I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2.
Those words are decidedly indicative of the end of days – and of Israel’s redemption. But note carefully that the inspired words decry “parting My land,” which has been done on two previous occasions (by Great Britain’s creation of Trans-Jordan in 1922, and by the United Nations Partition Agreement of 1947). In addition, Israel itself has divided its land on two other occasions by returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in the Sadat-Begin Peace accord of March 25, 1979, and again by Arik Sharon’s ceding the Gaza Strip to the “Palestinians” a few years later. Both these areas are destined to be part of the “first dominion” of Christ’s Kingdom as verified by Micah 4: 8 and Psalm 83. They should not have been given up to the enemy.
The high estimation of the Deal’s worth was inherent in a statement made by PM Netanyahu last week: Netanyahu said, "I suggested that Benny Gantz be invited to this event as well because I think that it's important that we do not lose this historic opportunity. With such friends in the White House, with such backing from the United States, we should get as broad a consensus as possible around the efforts to achieve security and peace, peace and security for the State of Israel.” Note his stress on the elusive conditions spoken of by the Apostle to the Thessalonians ... peace and security for Israel – the most elusive qualities of modern times.
Our closing query is, “Is this a fulfillment of the presumed attainment of peace and security referred to by the Apostle?” We cannot know for sure until the entire scenario has exhausted itself – an accomplishment that may require months more to reach its fruition. Our obligation is, in our opinion, to consider it a possibility until we can discern its effect in the longer run. It seems certain in our mind, that Believers must give the utmost gravity to any such prospect as this “Deal of the Century,” considering its possibilities of fulfilling this landmark prophecy of the Apostle Paul ... but that depends upon its acceptance by all parties.
And we must add this sober note: We pray several times a day for “the peace of Jerusalem,” and the settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict on scriptural terms – which means the utter defeat and expulsion of all foreign forces and influence from all the lands between the Rivers and the Seas.
And that supplication takes into consideration the other grave factor in the equation: that prior to this “showdown” – this “sudden destruction” that Paul says falls upon the enemies of God’s people – the resurrected and living responsible dead are, in our conviction, to be called before the Judgment Bema of the returned LORD Jesus and meet him face to face. May we approach this long-awaited encounter with deep faith that the LORD of all living will treat each of his beloved brethren with compassion and mercy, and allow us triumphant entry into the Kingdom which He shall establish. <>Abstracted from DEBKAFile and The Jerusalem Post
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 47
eTPL 30 February 12, 2020
360 Billion Locusts and Expanding: A Plague of Biblical Proportions
East Africa: February 10. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that the immense locust swarms that are invading Ethiopia, Kenya, and neighboring states are perhaps unprecedented. "It's certainly the most dangerous migratory pest in the world, desert locust," said Keith Cressman, FAO's senior agriculture officer. "A swarm the size of Rome can eat enough food in one day as everybody in Kenya." And some of these swarms are actually bigger than the city of Rome. (Daily Mail)
And this alarming report tells perhaps less than half the story...
Recent cyclones (with heavy rainfall) have increased the breeding season of the desert locusts over wide swaths of the tropics including Saudi Arabia and the prospect is that the pests will spread as far east as Pakistan and India! The expansion of the locust population is expected to grow until the dry weather of July arrives.
That margin of time is highly unfavorable to all the tropical populations of these regions. Unbelievably, the size of the swarms could get many times larger than they are before the world gets any relief from them; some estimates are up to 500 times larger, which is impossible to comprehend...
The pests are extremely mobile with each being able to travel nearly 100 miles per day, and each one consumes its own body weight in food every 24 hours! Their swarms are up to 40 miles wide at the present time and are expected to grow as they move into new territories.
So, effective resistance is urgently needed. Kenya is said to be employing its five crop-dusting aircraft but the number is inadequate and insecticides seem to be making little difference to the locusts’ rapid multiplication.
Scientific American magazine wrote that a major concern is a famine. The food supplies of East Africa are always marginal at best. This has prompted officials in Rome to mount a money-raising campaign to fight the pestilence before it develops into a full-fledged crisis of widespread famine.
Those who downplay this crisis just don’t understand the problem!
The food supply of Saudi Arabia – always meager – is threatened with near wipeout by the locusts. Photographs of a swarm in the Peninsula show that the density of the locusts nearly blocks out the sun.
According to authorities there has never been a plague of this scale before in recorded history. The magnitude and implications of it are inestimable. It is surely fulfillment of the Biblical prophecies of pestilence striking the earth in the last days, e.g., Zechariah 14: 8. It is part and parcel of the numerous other unusual outbreaks which we are seeing at this time: earthquakes nearly everywhere; cyclones and hurricanes; typhoons; volcanic activity; and tsunamis – all events of blind nature we might think, although the scriptures assure us that they are under the control of the Almighty (Psalm 148:8) by which they assure compliance with His way. <> From press reports
Did the Jews Create the Corona Virus?
The neo-Nazis are up to their old tactics – blaming the Jews for the newest plague to appear among men – the Coronavirus. The Anti-Defamation League issued this statement: “Extremists hope the virus kills Jews, but they are also using its emergence to advance their anti-Semitic theories that Jews are responsible for creating the virus, spreading it to increase their control over a decimated population or they are profiting off it.” <>World Israel News
Senator Tom Cotton: Corona Virus may have come from a Chinese Superlaboratory
The Arkansas Senator, speaking to the Senate’s Armed Service Committee last week, described the Corona Virus as “bigger than Chernobyl,” and the biggest and most important story in the world. He indicated that he believes Chinese officials have misled the public as to the origins of the super-virus that has now killed many hundreds of people and sickened over 30,000 worldwide. As a deadly plague, it has already surpassed the total effect of the dreaded SARS virus of some years ago – another pestilence that originated in China. That’s saying something!
He stated that for almost two months (until last week) the Chinese claimed it originated in a “wet seafood market” in Wuhan. But he referred to an article in the prestigious British Medical Journal, Lancet, saying “That is not the case.”
Why so? Because, of the original forty cases, fourteen of them had had NO contact with the seafood market, including Patient Zero (the first case). He pointed out that, instead, he suspects another origin: he noted that “Wuhan is the location of China’s only bio-level four ‘super laboratory’ that works with the world’s most dangerous pathogens, including, yes, corona virus.” He was referring to Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is China’s first Biosafety Level 4 Lab – and it investigates “the most dangerous pathogens,” according to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “So,” he said, “We still don’t know” where the virus came from. <>Arutz 7
Iranian Flights to China Continue as Usual
In our estimation, the colossal obtuseness of the Iranian regime is evident for this reason: it is stubbornly continuing regular unregulated flights of Mahan Airways (owned by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps – the IRGC) into and out of China, including to and from Wuhan Province. The decision protects Iran’s trade with Beijing and is causing fear among many Iranians that the lack of controls will mean the entry of the pandemic coming into Iran. (Gateway Pundit)
And, listen to this: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif issued a Tweet in Chinese in which he “expressed appreciation and gratitude for China’s successful measures to fight the pandemic. China not only prevented the epidemic from deteriorating at home but also prevented the epidemic from spreading internationally.”
Really? Where are the most cases and fatalities to date? – China. And it has spread all over the world!
He continued the Tweet in condemning the United States for doing a poor job in controlling the H1N1 flu in 2009.
He reinforced his assertions by saying that as descendants from Adam, “the Chinese are brothers – which means they are brothers and sisters (!).” Pity he doesn’t feel that way about the Israelis.
Such an attitude is disturbing to the citizens of Iran – innocent and helpless bystanders to entry of the pestilence. It illustrates clearly that the regime gives more value to its trading relationship with China than the health and safety of its own citizens. The social media is full of reports that protective face masks are almost impossible to obtain because the expatriate Chinese community in Iran has bought up the entire supply for itself. <> Breaking Israel News
Naftali Bennett: Agent for Change!
All who pay attention to Israeli affairs have seen a marked uptick in defensive activities under the new Defense Minister Naftali Bennett. Near the end of December, the minister froze NIS650 million in taxes and import fees which Israel had collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The amount is roughly equivalent to the funds needed by the PA for it “pay to slay” program – the payments it awards to Pales****** terrorists in Israeli prisons and families. It is an expression of the US Administration’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against the PA; the US has curtailed such payments to the PA also. It puts a severe limitation upon the PA’s ability to pay each prisoner approximately 12,000 shekels a month – an extremely large amount for one living under the PA’s administration.
About a week later, Bennett initiated action against illegal buildings constructed in Area C of Judea and Samaria, by appointing three responsible officers to lead a task force that would take positive action against such structures, most of which are funded by donations from the European Union. Mr. Bennett says it is a matter of defense...
In addition, he has decided that firm resistance to Pales****** terror coming from Gaza (Hamas and Islamic Jihad) where the incendiary balloons, mortar grenades, and rockets are launched against southern Israel, so he has increased pressure.
He halted the passage of dual-use materials into Gaza – materials which could be used for Hamas’ missile production and the building of terror tunnels. Hamas’ ongoing activities hurt no one but themselves and their people...
In addition, he has ended the usual Israeli policy of returning the bodies of terrorists who were killed in terror attacks against Israeli targets. He shortened the fishing zone off the Gaza coast after Hamas was discovered smuggling weapons into the strip ... and materials for producing new rockets.
And now he has halted the import of Pales****** agricultural products into Israel and even curtailed exports to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge Crossing (near the Dead Sea).
Speaking at an election rally near Tel Aviv, Mr. Bennett connected these restrictions to the “war between wars” against Iran in Syria, the ongoing Pales****** terror-war against Israel being part and parcel of that same effort.
But perhaps the most significant action he is taking involves attacks against Israel’s security problem in the north: up until now, only about 20% of Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria have been attacked.
This is now changing; Israel will attack every single shipment of which it becomes aware even in the face of recent Russian objections. He said Israel must protect her sons in this action called Protective Edge (the Third Gaza War) and the Second Lebanon War, now ongoing since 2014. It appears that the minister is “fed up” with the status quo!
He appeared tacitly to declare that Syria would become a “destruction zone” that would become “Iran’s Vietnam” while inferring that Israel has been behind all the attacks in the north (did anyone doubt that?).
There will now be two zones of activity, he said: he revealed that “Israel and the US have decided to divide Iran’s orbit into two large zones: one is Syria where the Israeli military is responsible for walking back Iran’s presence and influence while the US Army will act against Iran in Iraq that effectively has been turned into another Iranian proxy state.” He ominously told the newsgroup that Israel will not tolerate another two- or three-day mini-war against the Pales****** terror groups – that he is formulating a “significant” military operation that “would change the equation in Gaza. Targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders is an integral part of this decision, he said, and “none of their leaders will be immune.” The decision has impacted “Abu Abbas,” the PA’s chairman, who is currently in Jordan; he fears that Israel will not allow him to return to Ramallah! (Don’t laugh ... it has happened on prior occasions!)
Our observation is that these actions are past due and that the actions of Mr. Bennett may have the effect of speeding the pace of events that we want to see happen...??
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 48
eTPL 30 February 20, 2020
Iron Dome Updated by Israel
An advanced version of Iron Dome has been tested and proven successful by Israel. It will enable the Jewish state more effectively to combat missile-swarms launched against it – a high likelihood due to the increasing missile installations of Hamas and Hezbollah on its borders.
Iron Dome is already highly successful having intercepted over 2400 real-time missile-firings into the country by various terror groups in its ten years of operability. The latest innovation is designed to combat “missile swarms” which are expected from enemies round about the Jewish state, including so-called “cruise” missiles, which Iran is now striving to establish in Lebanon and Syria.
Readers will know that Iron Dome is one of four layers of air defenses for Israeli skies, the others being David’s Sling (against medium to long-range rockets, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and others), the Arrow 2 system that defends against ballistic missiles in the upper atmosphere, and the Arrow 3 system that kills ballistic missiles in outer space. It is the only country to own such a broad scope of missile defenses.
Israel’s enemies know that they cannot defeat Israel in a ground war; therefore they are concentrating on an offense against the civil population via ballistic missiles. Their doctrine is that Israel is not designed for long-term wars in which the civilian population would suffer massive, daily rocket attack, and would quickly come to a full stop, creating economic havoc and disruption. Given the colossal installations of such weapons in outlying adjacent areas, Israel’s greatest threat lies in such an attack at the present time. Even if 90 percent of the incoming missiles were intercepted, the remaining ten percent would wreak havoc...
Israel’s counter-doctrine is rapidly to advance physically into the enemy territories and destroy them. Prophetic inferences are that at some time in the near future the enemies will employ all means to destroy Israel in a hot conflict of immense proportions such that Israel readily sees that it cannot defeat the attack by means of its current defense system.
In such a case, Isaiah’s prophecy of chapter 59, we believe, will come into play: a key prophecy which foretells the inculcation of “fear” into their enemies ... and victory for Israel that shall be unprecedented (and unexpected by them) from an unexpected Personage. This shall be so because it is an example of the most well-defined O. T. prophecy of the Second Coming of Christ. “So shall they (the enemy) fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a Standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the LORD”- Isaiah 59: 19, 20. <>United With Israel
Maps of Israeli Expansion are now Being Prepared
Prime Minister Netanyahu is going rapidly forward with his preparations of the official maps which will define the new Israeli borders of the Trumpian “Deal of the Century.” In making this program known, he told a cabinet meeting earlier in the week that the maps will meet the plan proposed by President Trump when he recognized Israel’s right to apply sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. It is another “plus” for the American president – and another thorn in the side of Israel’s enemies!
In naming the team who will accomplish the work, Bibi added: "This team will be in close contact with the settlers and the security forces to complete the task soon. We are making our homeland in Judea and Samaria part of the State of Israel forever.”
Many of the critics of Israel will laugh at this last remark. Readers may know that serious assertions have even recently been made that Israel and the Jewish people are destined AGAIN to be overrun by their enemies round about, the population largely slaughtered, and their land taken. It is a preposterous proposal- and unscriptural! Our well-studied (and documented) opinion is that such is NOT in the offing, but that the Prophet Amos’ words will prevail – the God-breathed words of divine inspiration – which prophesy this order of events...
Amos 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old (now being accomplished): 12 That they (Israel) may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this (in the near future). 13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. (This feature of the prophecy is seamless with the anterior portion; Israel is now forever established in the Land!) <>Arutz Sheva
Israel’s Growing Power creates a “New Path” in the Middle East (Netanyahu)
Jerusalem: Monday, February 17. World Israel News published a unique news story which struck an especially familiar chord in our sensibilities; it concerned a meeting of an organization with the ponderous name, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem – a conglomerate of 53 American Jewish religious and political organizations organized to promote a “consensus among the largest Jewish Diaspora community.” It is an advisory council of sorts for the Israeli government...
In his address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “told the delegation of American Jewish leaders that the ‘accumulation of power (by Israel) is creating a new approach for Israel’ in its relations throughout the Middle East, and particularly with Palestinians.”
He emphasized the principle that the new initiative by Israel will go forward in these matters of, for example, the features of the previous article above: the “mapping” process of the territories to be annexed. And he stated that the explained mechanics (procedures) of the newly-released “Peace to Prosperity” Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal will be regardless of Palestinian acceptance of the plan!
He touted (his words) the changing relations between Israel and its Muslim nations.
In our opinion, this is the feature that has been missing – and makes this new, widely-touted “peace plan” so important, even perhaps giving it the status of the sure harbinger of the approach of the Second Coming of the LORD from heaven – the “saying” that is given by inspiration by the Apostle Paul: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape – 1Thessalonians 5: 3.
Is this a preposterous assumption? No, it is not in our opinion. Such acceptance by all parties involved (even given the expected Pales****** holdout), would fulfill those requirements. This assumption is stated because we can see NO possible Pales****** agreement with any “peace proposal” made by anyone.
But if such an agreement could be forced upon the Pales******* by sheer numbers, it could easily fulfill the scriptural requirements that (the nations) shall have said (claimed, that), “peace and safety” (have been attained). That is precisely the sense in which we believe Paul’s prophecy was forwarded to his readers, because the nations’ claim is manifestly FALSE, ending as it does, in the enemies’ “sudden destruction.”
That destiny for them is certain, regardless of the manner in which it comes about...
Mr. Netanyahu explained that, as prerequisite, the Pales******* will need to “stop paying terrorists, and to withdraw all their claims against Israel and the ICC in The Hague.” He then said that in order to complete the negotiations, Palestinians would need to: “recognize Israel as the Jewish state; recognize the united Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; recognize Israel as the power responsible for security everywhere West of the Jordan; recognize our sovereignty in the places that I mentioned; and also adopt a constitution, a democratic constitution that assures democratic rights, free speech, free elections, freedom of religion and a few other things.”
“This is a short list. It’s longer,” Netanyahu said, adding that “they also have to dismantle, disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza.” And the determination as to whether the enemy had fulfilled these conditions, that the two powers of the United States and Israel would jointly make that decision. Entirely arbitrary, and final...
Then, referring to the Trump Plan, he said, “This is something I would say that has been long overdue and I congratulate President Trump for putting it forward.” He added that “the change that we’re witnessing today is part of the reemergence of Israel is a power among the nations.” <>World Israel News.
“CoughSynch” – an Israeli Innovation to Throat Suctioning in Pneumonia Patients
One of the most vicious features of pneumonia – such as that almost always brought on by respiratory diseases such as Covid-19 – the newly adopted name of the Corona Virus – is the accumulation of phlegm in the airways of the patient. Its suffocating effect makes its removal necessary, until now by an extensive and uncomfortable physical method: manual airway suction. This procedure may cause airway damage and bleeding. It exposes hospital staff to the infection. It is uncomfortable for the patient. But it is also necessary.
Enter ... CoughSynch – an Israeli invention which automatically performs all removal of mucus membrane (phlegm) without the patient even having to cough. It saves valuable nursing time required for the alternative (suctioning) to be performed and does so without any discomfort or damage to tissues. Patients are said to be released from care days earlier when the device is used in their care. Covid-19 has infected at least 70,600 people and over 1,775 have died from the flu-like respiratory illness. The need for CoughSynch will be filled by being manufactured in China and supplied to the world market.
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 49
eTPL 30, February 29, 2020
Israeli Scientists to Produce Covid-19 Vaccine Soon
In an extremely fortunate series of events, Israeli scientists at MIGAL, The Galilee Research Institute, are perhaps nearer than any other group to planned production of a vaccine for Covid-19.
Spokesmen say that the vaccine could be ready for use within a few weeks – around 90 days.
The announcement was made by Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis, who offered congratulations to the research group. He said “I am confident there will be further rapid progress, enabling us to provide a needed response to the grave global COVID-19 threat.”
The following discussion is highly technical, so bear with us!
The veterinary group had been working on a vaccine for IBV (infectious bronchial virus), a disease that targets bronchial systems in poultry. He explained the group’s approach as being “[A] scientific framework for the vaccine ... based on a new protein expression vector, which forms and secretes a chimeric soluble protein that delivers the viral antigen into mucosal tissues by self-activated endocytosis, causing the body to form antibodies against the virus.”
The meaning of this complex language is this: A “chimeric” protein is one composed of material such as DNA or a polypeptide from two different species of organisms created in the lab by gene-splicing (resulting in a chimeric gene) ... these antibodies are genetically manipulated to fuse variable regions of (the DNA of) mouse antibodies with a constant region derived from human antibodies in human experiments.
The technology is also easy to apply in the veterinary world in principle.
“Endocytosis” is an extremely sophisticated process in which the chimeric antibodies are brought into a cell by surrounding the cell membrane, forming a vesicle, or recess, which then contains the ingested material. From that protected position, antibodies may be released as challenged (demanded). The process has worked very well in poultry...
But the “lucky” part is this: The team had decided a year or so ago, to choose the current strain of coronavirus as a MODEL by which to prove the effectiveness of their technology as applied to poultry (as the challenging agent).
After they defined the sequence of the DNA of the unique coronavirus causing the worldwide human outbreak of Covid-19, they discovered that the poultry coronavirus which they had been targeting is highly similar, genetically, to the human one, and uses the same infective mechanism (method of attack), which increases the probability of achieving an effective human vaccine in a short period of time.
The scientists at MIGAL recognized an opportunity to “make a difference” also in human biology. All they needed to do said the CEO of MIGAL, David Zigon, was “adjust the system to the new sequence.” They are well advanced in that process at the moment and “hopefully in a few weeks we will have the vaccine in our hands. Yes, in a few weeks, if it all works, we would have a vaccine to prevent coronavirus.”
After it is developed to a satisfactory level the vaccine would go through a (hopefully, enhanced) regulatory consideration, then into clinical trials followed by large-scale production. The entire process is being “fast-tracked” for obvious reasons. Zigon said that the vaccine could probably achieve safety approval “in 90 days.” It will be an ORAL vaccine, so will be particularly easy to dispense within the public domain. <>JPost
Another Hezbollah Terrorist in Syria Killed by Israeli Drone
A “senior” Hezbollah officer, Imad at-Tawil, was killed last week by an Israeli drone strike in the Syrian Golan Heights according to a Syrian news source. He was said to be creating an Iranian-based terror network near the Israeli border in order to create an arms-length theater of operations against the Jewish state. His car was destroyed by an air-to-ground missile as Israeli aircraft maneuvered nearby. His death was the fulfillment of an Israeli warning to Hezbollah that it will not allow the terrorists to form an organized network on the Syrian side of the border. <>Jewish News Service
Second Israeli Victim of Coronavirus Emerges
A second Israeli who had returned to Israel from the Diamond Princess cruise ship has tested positive for Covid-19 and is in isolation at Sheba Medical Center. The news services reported a “mild panic” across Israel as citizens learned that a large group of South Korean tourists which had passed through the country earlier in the month had later been diagnosed with the lethal virus; these folk may have had the virus while in Israel and may have infected some of the hundreds of Israelis with whom they had contact. Further precaution taken by Israel has been the cancellation of a school trip by Israeli students that was planned for Poland and limiting participants in Tel Aviv’s Marathon race to Israelis. <>JPost
Iran’s Super-Enemy Donald Trump Strikes Again
Although not explaining the means by which this was accomplished by the president, an Iranian “cleric” has claimed that the coronavirus outbreak in the “holy” city of Qom was a result of Donald Trump targeting the city and its population! It’s an outrageous claim, of course, but it makes sense to the “religious” leaders of Iran. A week ago there were 29 people infected in the city and six had died. The Friday prayer imam, named Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Saeedi, said US President Donald Trump had targeted the city to “make Qom look like an unsafe city, and to take revenge for all its defeats (sic).” He further claimed "Trump will die frustrated in his wish to see Qom defeated."
That statement was in reference to President Trump’s Tweet in January in which he warned that if Iran strikes any Americans or American assets, the US had targeted “52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 hostages taken from the American embassy years ago) – some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture.” Qom is such a place: Saaedi stated that the city is "shelter for the Shi'ites of the world, the center of religious seminaries and the city where Shi'ite sources of emulation live." <>JPost
Earthquake in Eastern Turkey Kills Eight
Eight people have been killed and dozens injured as a fairly major (5.7 Richter) earthquake struck in eastern Turkey near the Iranian border. Over a thousand buildings collapsed devastating the local infrastructure.
Search and rescue has uncovered three dead children and rescue operations are ongoing.
The quake is another of a series of major temblors that have struck Turkey and Iran recently. <>JPost
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett is moving Along with the “Deal of the Century”
In a recent Splinters, we noted how remarkably aggressive is Mr. Naftali Bennett in his relatively new position as defense minister. In yet another forward-looking move he has just approved 1,900 new housing units in Judea and Samaria, not ‘holding back’ as advised by President Trump’s people in order to give the Plan a better chance for approval by the Pales*******.
His reasoning is that Israel’s answer to the enemy’s demands is new construction. And he reiterated that “Israel will not hand over a centimeter of the Land of Israel to the Arabs.” (Attaboy!!)
Most of the housing units will be built in Shvut Rachel and in Eli, more than doubling their previous inhabitants. Much of the expansion is being built in the wilderness area between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, a prominent community in the Judean wilderness east of Jerusalem on the Jericho Road. The move will facilitate the annexation of all that territory making Ma’ale Adumim a (connected) eastern suburb of the expanding city of Jerusalem.
The defense minister is side-stepping the old excuse of slow-moving expansion of housing for Israelis. Things are no longer ‘complicated,’ or stuck in the machinery of bureaucracy in this minister’s operations! <>World Israel News
“Methuselah” is Alive Again!
No, we are not referring to the oldest living man. THIS Methuselah is an ancient species of date palm – Tamar, the Judean date palm – grown from a seed discovered in a clay pot at Masada in 1963, and carefully preserved since that time at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Ketura, Israel.
Elaine Solowey, a researcher at the Institute, in 2005 planted three of the six date palm seeds that had been found at Masada. She admitted some skepticism, supposing that the seeds’ endosperm, an element which initiates early growth (sprouting) would no longer be viable.
She treated the seeds with a hormone-rich solution and fertilizer, and then planted them on the institute grounds where Methuselah stands tall and vibrant today! Only one of the seeds produced a viable date palm sprout and was marginal as to survivability for some time. But eventually, with intense care, it grew vigorously and is today over ten feet tall.
The seeds were verified by radiocarbon dating to have been produced between 155BC and 64AD! They are over 2,000 years old – giving new weight to the specimen’s name, Methuselah. They are the oldest seeds yet to be successfully germinated and the tree, being male, is being utilized to fertilize contemporary female date palms to revive the ancient species in the Land of Israel. It flowered for the first time in 2011, producing pollen, which enabled it to reproduce with modern date palms, which it did beginning in 2015.
The species has great cultural implications for the region. David named his daughter Tamar – the Hebrew name of the beloved date palm tree. It is depicted on both ancient and modern Hebrew coins. It was erased from the landscape by years of devastating drought, wars, and foreigners’ neglect. Ms. Solowey is involved in producing a grove of the variety with emphasis on investigation into the purported medicinal properties of the plant, which modern date palms don’t have. <>Touchpoint Israel
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <>HEL
Splinters 50
eTPL 30, March 6, 2020
Observations from a Correspondent
March 2, 2020. A correspondent wrote: We've always wondered how it could be that the USA would not be able to help Israel against her historic enemies, the "nations round about," which if ever those partly strong and partly weak nations ever consolidated, could launch an attack that even the Iron Dome could not repel.
Well, this coming election in the US could just be a precursor to the answer.
If the socialists ever get a foothold in this country the strength of the USA will be severely crippled (and) perhaps even gone...
Shelves will be empty, factories will be closed, the economy will be crippled, and all efforts will be (on) self-survival, not to mention that the administration will be Godless and anti-Semitic and will adopt infanticide not too farfetched from Moloch, and partial birth abortion as even now practiced by Planned Parenthood. Just let the infant's head emerge; then ram an instrument through its head, and pesto, still birth! Imagine that! Who would ever have thought all this could happen in this Christian founded country! <>RP
Destroying the Tombs of Esther and Mordechai in Iran
The Times of Israel reported that “The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said on Twitter that it was “troubled by reported threats to the tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan, Iran, and emphasizes the Iranian government’s responsibility to protect religious sites.” The threat was made by a “student” Bisij group in Hamadan province, the location of the shrine; they threatened to raze the entire structure and build in its place a Pales****** consulate.T
They are pouting over President Trump’s “Deal of the Century” released in January. The news came as Purim was about to be celebrated in Israel (Purim begins March 9th this year) = see our related article at this web address: Purim Explained: Haman’s Antitype <>Times of Israel, February 2 2020
Momentum: Israel’s new War Plan for Iran ... and others
Israel has an unchallenged technical edge over its Islamic enemies surrounding the Jewish state. In mid-February the IDF revealed its landmark development of a comprehensive plan to coordinate its finest warplanes and anti-missile systems in a comprehensive, detailed plan to confront Iran and all its proxies, among others. The plan, named Momentum, builds on the Gideon five-year plan that was proposed in 2015. It will bring down redundancy, thus saving costs and wasted effort; it will introduce more entirely new technologies. It reduces the necessity for much of the reserve force, focusing on cybernetic air-defense systems such as Iron Dome and Laser Sword, utilizing the F35i as the country’s premier first air squadrons, two of which already exist (a third is planned); there could eventually be 75 of these planes.
Because of its ultra-superior qualities, the F35i would be the basic foundation of Momentum, because it virtually assures Israeli air superiority in any conflict. <>The National Interest per Don Pearce
Israel Can Soon More Easily Attack Iran
Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel has repeatedly stated that Israel does not intend (he has said “Israel will not allow”) Iran to achieve production of a nuclear weapon. Presumably, the means by which such would be prevented would be by pin-point bombing of Iranian nuclear plants. Israel’s modified F35i has an adequate mission range to accomplish such a feat, but could be compromised if required to “loiter” over the targets, or to search for alternative targets.
Therefore, aerial refueling is advisable. Aerial refueling is an exacting procedure: jet fuel’s transfer from a tanker aircraft to the F35 at high speeds and altitudes. Israel’s present fleet of tankers is nearly obsolescent (some nearly sixty years old!). The need for their replacement is critical.
So, just in time, the US State Department has approved the Israeli request to purchase eight such craft – the KC-46A Pegasus aerial tankers. The package includes spare parts and support materiel and is priced at $2.4billon USD. The first tankers would arrive in Israel in 2023.
The agreement enhances another basic doctrine of the US defense department: that of placing residual assets in Israel for Israel’s use, but as also being available in case of their need in warfare by the US Air Force – expressed as “redundant capability.” And of course the purchase increases Israel’s national security posture in a significant way.
The KC-46A is another designation for the Boeing 767 commercial airliner. It is fitted with advanced radar jammers and sensors which assure its increased survivability in action. Its reconfiguration makes it able to carry 106 tons (over 210,000 pounds) of fuel over an extended range of 6,000 miles! There are currently 31 of them in the service of the US Air Force. The critical feature of the remotely-controlled refueling “boom” (an extended fuel pipe which precisely transports fuel to the receiving aircraft in midair) has had some “glitches” but these are being addressed.
Although Iran may not agree, the choice was said not to alter the basic military balance in the region.
Israel’s defense procurement section has already acquired fifty F-35i planes – a model of which the “i” designates the Israeli modification of the craft, which, for one thing, is fitted with specially-mounted external fuel tanks. [Its internal fuel capacity allows for a 1,350 mile range.] Jerusalem to Tehran is just short of a thousand miles each direction... so aerial refueling is an absolute necessity for best results.
Such a mission as bombing Iran’s nuclear plants would also involve Israeli F15I fighter-bombers, too, and these also require aerial refueling, sometimes more than one per mission. <>The National Interest
Three Supermoons this year ... all of them on Jewish Festival Dates
A Supermoon is a sign of new governments (Israeli sages). Therefore it may be significant that all these in 2020 will appear on Jewish Festival days: on Purim (March 9, 10), on Passover (April 8-16), and on Rosh Hashanah (September 18-20) according to Rabbi Yosef Berger. The rabbi regards the phenomena in a special way; he said, “A supermoon on all these holidays means that the Davidic dynasty is about to return.” The statement reflects the expectations of many Israelis of today – that the appearance of Messiah is imminent. Esther 3: 15 informs that the city of Shushan was “perplexed” (or confused) at the decree of death to the Jews issued by Haman. Similarly, the Shushan Supermoon (March 10) comes in a time of great confusion ... on several fronts...
Israel just held its third election in about a year and still can reach no conclusive result. It appears that PM Netanyahu will again be unable to form a working coalition of governing parties. A fourth election may become necessary as the confusion intensifies.
The election had been determined by law to be held on Purim, but because of the holiday, the date was moved to a week earlier. That feature itself was confusing.
The US is at the same time going through political primary elections which are nothing less than confusing. The Democratic Party may even reach its convention date without a clear nominee and go into a “brokered convention,” which in itself can generate confusion of great magnitude.
In addition, many nations such as China, Iran, Italy, and the Vatican are being confused and challenged by the Coronavirus Covid-19.
The stance of Iran and North Korea on nuclear weaponry are problematic and a source of confusion to the United States and other nations.
And confusion of almost unintelligible magnitude is seen in the war-stance of the nations of the Levant.
Gender identity has even become a source of great confusion all over the world;
And further “confusion” is indicated by same-sex “marriage” as approved by the US Supreme Court and the legal bodies of some other nations.
The almost universal practice of abortion is reflective of the confusion of Babylon and its successor nations – all idolatrous and hedonistic. <>Breaking Israel News
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 51
eTPL 30 March 14, 2020
Nigeria: Slaughter of Christians is Hideous
Boko Haram’s bloody slaughter of Christians in Africa’s largest population has exceeded the number of deaths of ISIS’ enemies in Iraq and Syria combined.
Prophecy News Watch has posted a gruesome story of Christian persecution in Nigeria which is laid to the savagery of Boko Haram, the radicalized Islamic militia that is terrorizing Nigeria’s north.
Quoting some portions of the gruesome story ...
“They were on their way to a wedding – her wedding. Chatting away in the car, surrounded by her two best friends, Martha's mind was probably on last-minute details, the ceremony, and the excitement of seeing everyone again.
“She and her fiancé were getting married New Year's Eve, just a few days away, near her family home in Adamawa State. It was a seven-hour trip from Maiduguri down the dusty, Nigerian roads. A trip that, for Martha and her bridesmaids, came to a sudden and horrifying end.
“They were only a couple hundred kilometers into their journey when they saw the men – fighters, armed by the Islamic State. Every Christian in the area had been warned about Boko Haram.
“Take extra precautions, they were told. Things were getting worse.
“So when Martha was ordered to pull over and get out, she knew what it could mean. Terrified, she felt her hands being pulled behind her back. Satisfied that the women were believers, the men unsheathed their weapons. One at a time, their screams floating on the empty desert air, the girls were beheaded. An entire bridal party of innocents, left in a bloody heap by the side of the road.”
Western news media are not reporting on these vile deeds with any regularity or accuracy. The nation’s Christians are having their houses burned down, children slaughtered at a whim, the hideous whack of machetes falling upon innocents, leaving them dead in the streets – severing hands, arms, heads, and penetrating pregnant bellies – just because “the victims are Christians.” In the two months since Martha’s demise, hundreds of additional Nigerians have been slaughtered.
America is being asked to intervene; otherwise another Darfur – or even a Rwanda – may come about. Thousands more will certainly die; an effective expansion of the terror-base will develop. The International Committee on Nigeria has mounted a campaign named Nigeria’s Silent Slaughter – a group which hopes to draw the crisis to the attention of the world. Their claim is self-evidently valid: it is absolutely unacceptable for Christians to be murdered because of their faith....” <>Prophecy News Watch
Has Vladimir Putin just elected Himself “Gog of the Land of Magog?”
Moscow: March 11. Of course, we cannot make that determination for certain. But the President of Russia has succeeded practically in assuring his leadership well beyond 2024 when his present term ends – until 2036. On the third reading in the Duma, the Kremlin-controlled lower legislative body, a set of amendments to the constitution now establishes his term extension by a 383-0 vote! A nationwide vote is to be cast on the amendment on April 22nd. Putin, a former KGB officer, is now 67 years of age.
Mr. Putin has ruled Russia for more than twenty years. It is not his first manipulation of his terms of service. After serving as president for two four-year consecutive terms – the limit specified in the present constitution – he shifted to the prime minister’s office in 2008, giving the presidency over to his close ally, Dmitry Medvedev as a “placeholder” for Putin.
While Medvedev was in the office, the length of the presidency was extended to six years; in 2012 Putin returned as president, and in 2018 he was reelected for another six years. The latest constitutional reform would allow Putin to run for president two more times after 2024 – by which time we should reasonably conclude that history shall have moved forward to the time of the Gogian decision to invade Israel.
The only barrier would be a refusal by the Constitutional Court which, we may be fairly certain, the president already has “in his pocket.” <> Associated Press
Locust Swarms Invade Southern Iran
March 20. The insect invasion of East Africa and Saudi Arabia has moved further north and is enveloping South Iran, according to Daily Alert’s report drawn from Radio Farda.
Since late February, enormous swarms of locusts have been encroaching on Iran’s south. The report said "The density of locusts in the swarms is so high that a 10- to 15-cm. layer of dead locusts forms on the ground after spraying pesticides," according to Reza Mir, spokesman for Iran's Plant Protection Organization on Tuesday. Two and a half centimeters (cm) is about an inch, so the layer of dead locusts (for US readers) is about six inches deep! <>Milestones report by Don Pearce
Arabs Revive Blood Libels as Israel Saves Their Lives
During just the last week of February, Israel admitted 105,495 patients for humanitarian medical treatment in Israel from the “West Bank.” Is that gesture appreciated by the Arabs?
Apparently not.
Vicious Arab (aka “Pales*******”) rumors are circulating in which it is claimed that herds of wild boars for the past two decades have been introduced into the “West Bank” where they ravage Arabs crops and gardens. Yet no photos of any Israeli trucks bringing in the animals have surfaced. It should be remembered that many thousands of Jews live in the area, too. We wonder how the wild boars can distinguish between the Arabs and the Jews! And just what sophisticated method was used by the Jews to educate the predators?
A similar libel has been leveled against the Jews of Jerusalem as the Arabs persistently claim that the Jews are bringing in cages full of rats and releasing them in the Old City to drive out the Arab inhabitants! It is difficult to find an Arab not toting a cell phone – all of which have cameras. It is beyond belief that NONE of them have photographic evidence of the caged rats set to be loosed in the City. And do the circulators of such vicious rumors not realize that thousands of Jews live among the populous of the City and would be harassed by a rogue rat population? There are no reports of such dangers...
In the current crisis, Israel is exerting tremendous gratuitous efforts to assist the Arabs to contain the Covid-19 outbreak. Several Arabs in Bethlehem have been admitted to Israeli hospitals for treatment after testing positive for the lethal virus. Hundreds of Covid-19 test kits have been shipped to the PA; training sessions for PA personnel have been organized for orderly study of the virus in the “West Bank” towns. Expensive health care equipment is regularly supplied to the PA in addition. Yet, rather than showing appreciation to the Israelis for their assistance, the PA and its media outlets and high-level officials continue their campaign of incitement against the Israelis.
The continuing attacks and false reports (blood libels) against Israel while Israel is working at all hours to save PA lives from coronavirus illustrate how they repay those who try to help them. <>Gatestone Institute
Oh! Now Things will be better: Pope Places Virgin Mary in Charge...
Vatican City, March 13. The occasion was a celebration of the “Holy Mass” that was held in the absence of an audience (“the faithful”) as promoted by Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis at the Shrine of “Our Lady of Divine Love” on the Day of Prayer and Fasting. Pope Francis sent a video message in which he addressed his prayer to the Virgin (Mary) and (not Jesus, as mediator!) in these crucial times of medical emergency. He entrusted the city, Italy, and the world to the protection of the “Mother of God” as a sign of salvation and hope. <>Milestones, per D. Pearce
Covid-19 may Accomplish a Unity Government in Israel
Covid-19 may bring about a result that has been unattainable through three failed elections in Israel ... a unity government. The pandemic has caused the crash of global markets, panic buying and drastic curtailment of travel and public gatherings unique to modern times, including in Israel. The country has closed schools and universities, has cancelled all events involving more than 100 people, and has taken moves to stabilize the economy to the maximum extent under the leadership of Acting Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Might the pandemic now lead to the forced creation of a workable Israeli government?
It is possible. Only ten days after the March 2 election, both PM Netanyahu (Likud) and his rival, Benny Gantz of the Blue and White party have shifted their efforts to both of them calling for an emergency national unity government. In light of the unprecedented crisis facing the country and the world, it is nearly certain that this mutual call for unity is not something that either side can walk away from. <>Israel Jewish Affairs Council
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 52
eTPL 30, March 21, 2020
GLBTQ “Rights” – a Major Plank in Biden’s Campaign
It just never stops ... this insane insistence of the Democrat Party and its emerging presidential candidate (2020) on the promotion of the homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender, and queer “rights.” And it boils down to the summary deprivation of your and my religious freedom in the strictest sense.
Joe Biden recently outlined his plan under the title "The Biden Plan to Advance LGBTQ+ Equality in America and Around the World.”
He is indicating his “reach” to be far beyond the borders of this nation – to include “the World!”
The man and his ilk are insanely misguided by Jezebel herself, Hillary Clinton, who in 2015 stated, "Yes, we've cut the maternal mortality rate in half, but far too many women are still denied critical access to reproductive health care (read: “abortion”) and safe childbirth (read: termination of childbirth), and laws don't count for much if they're not enforced. Rights have to exist in practice — not just on paper. Laws have to be backed up with resources and political will. And deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed" (emphasis ours), Clinton said at the sixth annual Women in The World Summit in New York City.
Joe Biden has fallen for that bait – hook, line, and sinker.
And so have multitudes of ignorant and hedonistic citizens of the world!
He is seeking to undermine the (limited) freedoms secured under President Trump and the multitude who agree with him. For the first time in history Biden’s nefarious plan would use the full force of the American government to attack traditional Christian values.
And may we add, it is a program that goes directly against the sacred teaching of the Bible ... whether he (and everyone else) agrees or not. The Almighty has made His doctrine on that point entirely clear.
To be sure, it is “politically incorrect” for us to say so in a public forum. But we will NOT be restrained from agreeing with the scriptures, and speaking out to our readership: The man is severely misguided ... as are all his deviant followers who believe and promote the same lack of principles and morals.
Yes – deviant!
Although the Law of Moses, in our studied opinion, has passed off the scene as the supreme LAW, it still expresses the Father’s standard of righteousness; and the words of Moses come into mind here, in Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
The Creator’s penalty for such abomination was death ... by stoning! – A painfully slow process of execution at the hands of the perpetrators’ peers. And, if I remember correctly, their parents were to be the first to cast the stones of execution!
The plank in his platform has not just recently been put forth. Vice President Biden had stated his support for same-sex “marriage” as early as May 2012, well before President Obama stated the same conviction. On the public forum, Meet the Press, on May 6, 2012, he clearly stated, "Who do you love? Who do you love? And will you be loyal to the person you love? And that's what people are finding out is what all marriages, at their root, are about."
That outrageous conviction was followed up on January 25, 2020, when he tweeted, "Let's be clear: Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time. There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights."
Oh! Such gravitas! Such a ponderous, serious, thoughtful position! You would think Old Joe was a philosopher of sorts who feels fully qualified to assess the overall moral standards of humanity.
Well, even if we don’t like to think so, perhaps he has done just that.
His instinct (or that of his handlers) has latched onto one of the worst and most ungodly proposals one can imagine. It means war on everyone who holds to Biblical ethics – all those who recognize only male and female sexes – you and me. We would be punished by Joe Biden’s administration for our “violation of human rights” without any regard for moral uprightness or adherence to scriptural teachings.
The Biden plan clearly states his “principles:” "Donald Trump and Mike Pence have given hate against LGBTQ+ individuals safe harbor and rolled back critical protections for the LGBTQ+ community." Please deliver us from this filthy and ungodly agenda. <> Compiled from notes: AskDrBrown.
Investment Adviser Lays it on the Line
“I’ve never seen a more frightening scenario,” writes Hilary Kramer, a prominent trader in stock options. He lists his reasons for so stating ... and they have a far wider significance than financial (which is not our focus by any means). They concern devastating damage to the world economy, and therefore to the well-being of everyone. But our emphasis is on spiritual values ... not carnal ones.
Oil prices are sinking …Global supply chains are broken…
Consumers are beginning to hoard everything from toilet paper to household cleaners...
Discretionary spending is collapsing…
Retail shops are closing…
Hated politicians are lining up together to fight this crisis…
Investors are fleeing to cash…
And while I can’t tell when the next shoe will drop, I can tell you this:
We’re at the beginning of massive volatility and not at the end…
His newsletter pulls no punches: he begins today’s edition with this sobering statement:
“Make no mistake about it: the coronavirus is coming for you – and there’s simply no way to stop it. No vaccine ... no antibiotics ... no nothing.” And he adds: “As the disease continues to spread, it’s only a matter of time before the healthcare system will be overwhelmed, workers are laid off, corporate earnings vanish, and stocks fall even further and take your wealth with it.”
That scenario will bring the world as we know it today to its knees – hopefully in prayer. But don’t hold your breath; no “pandemic of repentance” by the world is in the offing. Instead, the world in general is accepting gender confusion, homosexuality, lesbianism, and wholesale abortion – even allowing “unwanted” infants to die after viable delivery) in magnitudes not seen since the days of Lot and Noah. The eras of Ba’al and Molech have returned by the defiance of the people to obey God...
The words of the Master summarize out times uniquely (they have never occurred prior to this time): Luke 17:26 “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded...”
Notice that the general conditions of society in this text are not necessarily concerned with warfare of any sort – just the mundane affairs of daily life: eating, drinking, marrying, buying and selling (think stock markets), and building – all of them not directed toward one’s relationship with the Creator.
Today is such a time – an era of concern for self-preservation beyond any other in our extended experience. Not even Pearl Harbor or the fall of the Twin Towers have generated so much concern in such a brief period of time.
Just think: last Thanksgiving (November 28) NONE of this present danger was even suspected.
The stock markets were roaring ahead seemingly unchecked; unemployment was at record lows for many decades; consumer confidence was at near-record highs. Things were good on all fronts ... and the outlook seemed bright and happy even in the midst of “rumors of war” (cf., Luke 21: 9).
But at that exact time, Chinese Patient Zero was emerging into the public domain in Wuhan Province. He had just returned home having purchased perhaps a plump bat – or a vibrant snake – at the “wet market in the capital – a city of some seven million residents. A “wet market” is in our culture a repugnant place where citizens can purchase “exotic” animals for human consumption – a popular practice in Chinese society.
And now a new event occurred in Patient Zero’s life – and began to impact the world at large!
The coronavirus now known as COVID-19 made its fatal leap from Patient Zero’s market basket to his respiratory system for the first time in recorded history. The lethal virus was consumed by him, beginning the most uncontrollable pestilence imaginable – the Covid-19 Chinese Pestilence. The virus targets mostly gut cells (cells of the gastrointestinal tract) and even more likely, pulmonary cells – the cilia-bearing cells which normally remove foreign particles from the lungs. Once inside such cells, the virus takes control of its host’s DNA, commanding it to replicate the virus by thousands (millions) of times. Finally, the engorged cell bursts, releasing millions of clones of the virus into the region – all now free and unrestrained in their quest to overwhelm their host.
A vaccine against this intruder will require perhaps a year to perfect and test. Meanwhile, only symptomatic treatment is possible. We will soon see if any of these medications are efficacious. <> from notes.
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 53
eTPL 30, March 27, 2020
Iran and Hezbollah Abandon Damascus Base
Israel Air Force attacks on Iranian Guard Forces and their proxy Hezbollah has forced a sudden move further north, possibly to lessen Israel’s ability to attack them. DEBKAFile just reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah recently moved their HQ from Damascus to the far northern province of Aleppo.
The new location is also home to the Al-Assad Military Academy, seven km SW of Aleppo center. It can house 2,000 armed soldiers. Hezbollah forces are tasked with securing all approaches to the new facility.
Debka opines that Russia’s approval made this relocation possible. The move is being facilitated by the new IRGC commander Brigadier General Esmail Ghaani who arrived not having received any Syrian welcome. He had arrived to supervise the formation of the new command center, which will operate under his command. <>DebkaFile
Massive Asteroid will fly past Earth on April 28th
An asteroid measuring between one mile and 2.5 miles in diameter has been being observed since July 1998 and was first noticed by astrophysicists at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii. It will sizzle past the earth at an estimated speed of 19,461 miles per hour. Although classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid, it will miss the earth by four million miles, or about 16 times the earth-moon distance.
Astronomically it is designated Asteroid (52768) 1998 OR2. The asteroid’s orbital pathway has been charted for the next 200 years; its closest approach to Earth will occur in 2079! It is being watched carefully by astronomers who hope to get an unobstructed view of its surface. This specimen of asteroid is only one of 22 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids being observed; none of them is projected to be on a collision course with earth. <>From news reports
Profitable Use of Your Quarantine Time?
We hope you aren’t wasting your time during these difficult days of self-quarantine in many locations. In the dreadful year 1606, the Black Plague closed nearly every public activity including theaters. So playwrights and actors stopped earning money, just as many in the present closure are suffering.
A playwright known as William Shakespeare was among the persons on lockdown.
Bill didn’t mope; instead, he used his downtime to write three of his most successful plays: King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra while closed in by the pestilence! But most of us are not writers of that quality. Instead we might study Bible topics related to the end-time, or memorize a few Psalms, or compose a children’s instructional book in Bible principles ... maybe even study Hebrew or Greek. By all means, don’t squander this opportunity on Netflix or some other such drivel. <>HEL
Israeli Researchers Closing in on Covid-19 Vaccine
Researchers at Migal Galilee Research Institute in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, are swiftly preparing a coronavirus vaccine which should be ready for clinical testing in less than 10 weeks, according to the institute’s CEO. David Zigdon had already reported that the researches have been working for about four years toward a vaccine which could be adapted to combat various human viruses, but is now being focused against Covid-19, the human strain of coronavirus.
IBV (Infectious Bronchitis Virus), is a disease affecting poultry, and has been the institute’s focus until now. Researchers have successfully made the required genetic adaptations of the vaccine to Covid-19 and are applying their efforts to achieve the safety standards that will allow in-vivo testing (testing in live subjects) to move forward. The vaccine will be administered orally, which will make it easier to access and administer once it is available. <>Jewish News Service
Is the European Union Crumbling?
The supreme test of Covid-19 is placing unusually heavy duress upon the European Union – the experimental supranational arrangement entered upon about sixty years ago by the people of Europe.
Gatestone Institute – a think-tank which explores international affairs in great depth, reports this morning that the organization, “Faced with an existential threat, EU member states, far from joining together to confront the pandemic as a unified bloc, instinctively are returning to pursuing the national interest.”
It observes that, after several years of slamming US President Donald Trump for promoting ‘America First’ policy, European leaders are reverting to the supra-nationalism they have stridently claimed to despise!
The Coronavirus Test has largely been failed by the EC leaders, who are showing almost none of their claimed, high-minded solidarity with their fellow-member states that they have pushed on the world as the bedrock of European unity ... and have shown it to be an empty basket of moralizing fiction.
Can this feature bear upon its description in Daniel 2: 41 as being composed of “iron and clay?”
Soeren Kern, a researcher at Gatestone Institute, writes, “In recent weeks, EU member states have closed their borders, banned exports of critical supplies and withheld humanitarian aid. The European Central Bank, the guarantor of the European single currency, has treated with unparalleled disdain the eurozone's third-largest economy, Italy, in its singular hour of need. The member states worst affected by the pandemic — Italy and Spain — have been left by the other member states to fend for themselves.”
A photograph in the detailed, summary article (referenced below) shows a line of trucks and vehicles in a long stagnant line on the Austrian-Hungarian border that stretches beyond sight. Another such line was measured as being 35km in length awaiting border clearance at a Polish-German crossing. Yet all such delays had been claimed to have been eradicated by the EC, which was founded on the “four freedoms” of the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The comprehensive article may be found at this hyperlink: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15803/coronavirus-european-union-unravels. <>Gatestone Institute
PM Boris Johnson Has Tested Positive for Covid-19 Infection
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for Covid-19, and is displaying mild symptoms. He is self-isolating at the ministerial residence, Number 10 Downing Street, for the next two weeks on the advice of England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, as reported on the British Broadcasting Company (BBC).
Early this afternoon in Britain, Mr. Johnson tweeted: "Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus." He added that he is now self-isolating, “but will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference.... Together we will beat this.” <>Arutz Sheva
Benny Gantz is Elected Knesset Speaker
Sometimes it takes a virus to achieve forward motion in vital matters. We refer to the landslide victory yesterday of Benny Gantz, chairman of Blue and White, to serve as the next Speaker of the Knesset on Thursday.
The vote was supported by the Likud and by Prime Minister Netanyahu, but was opposed by some members of Blue and White on the left; indeed, some such members resigned from the party.
The vote lays the essential groundwork for the formation of a national unity government in Israel – a goal that has eluded the most stringent efforts of the Israeli government for over a year and following three national elections!
It has been tentatively reported that the present Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu, would remain in office for the first 18 months, and then give way to Mr. Gantz who would serve until the next elections – about 18 months.
It had become apparent in intense discussions during the past week that both leaders (who had stubbornly refused to cooperate to form such an arrangement for over a year) were leaning in this direction. Both soberly have realized that their cooperation is being forced upon them morally to get their acts together, literally, and move forward with the affairs of state, which have effectively been stalled by the impasse. <>Arutz Sheva
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 54
eTPL 30 April 20, 2020
Over Half the World’s Population Now under Self-Isolation Rule
The United States is said to be leveling off in new cases of Covid-19 at mid-April even as about two thirds of the US population is being told to shelter at home. The crisis has devastated the economy and disrupted the supply chains in nearly every class of commerce. Massive amounts of government money have been appropriated for financial relief as millions of jobs have been lost and businesses have had to close – many for good.
It was hoped that the widespread, voluntary closures would stifle the pandemic – and it has seemed to do so to some extent. Some 3.8 billion people are under stay-at-home curfew presently.
But from an epidemiological viewpoint there was no “good” (perfectly correct) way to handle the crisis of Covid-19.
What do we mean by that statement?
On one hand, Sweden placed none of the strict restraints on its population and has seen no rampant spread of the pandemic in that country. Some Swedes have developed the full spectrum of symptoms, and some have died. But others have not become clinically sick at all. As a result, many Swedes doubtless have acquired the infection at a low level and have survived – many with no symptoms at all.
Then there is the opposite case.
Given the widespread sequestering of the population placed upon much of the rest of the world, the possibility now exists that when the isolation of people ends and they go back out in public, to work and to school, many who have not been exposed even to a low level of the infection, may now contract the disease from carriers of it, and a second wave will break out. The exact scenario cannot be known with certainty, but that is the probability.
The only viable approach lies in either effective medications or an effective vaccine being administered to all citizens, but neither is available yet – and won’t be for several months, according to the best estimates. <>R. T.com
New York’s Governor Boasts of Slowing the Covid-19 Pandemic
N. Y. Governor Andrew Cuomo, in an unwarranted bluster of bravado, has said, “Our behavior has stopped the spread of the virus. God did not stop the spread of the virus.” We recall a similar boastful statement from the past in which the shipbuilders of Clyde, Scotland, admiringly remarked about the Titanic, “Even God could not sink her.”
It would seem that no matter how loudly the Almighty speaks, many of the leaders of secular society are simply unable to admit the complete lack of control they have in their own bailiwicks, but also the puny level of their “power.”
Such statements might seem to be justified by the surreal tent-hospital that has been erected in Central Park, but is belied by the refrigerated trailers brought to several N. Y. hospitals to act as temporary holding for corpses awaiting a proper burial. Then there are the hundreds of indigent people (unclaimed victims) every week; these are being buried in long deep tranches cut by bulldozers on Hart Island, which has served as New York City’s potter’s field since around 1800. The weekly burials have climbed to about 120 bodies per week instead of the usual 24 per week.
The entire statement that Cuomo made was even more audacious: He said, "The number is down because we brought the number down," he told the press. "God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that... That's how it works. It's math. And if you don't continue to do that, you're going to see that number go back up. And that will be a tragedy if that number goes back up." <>Compiled from press reports.
Millions Say Coronavirus is a ‘Wake-up’ Call from God
In this age, when many people are reluctant to discuss Bible prophecy and the end-times, a survey has shown that 29% of Americans said “they believe that this crisis indicates that ‘we are living in what the Bible calls the ‘last days.’” But a colossal 44% of American polled said they see “the global coronavirus pandemic and economic meltdown” as “a wake-up call for us to turn back to faith in God (as) signs of coming judgment.”
The poll was commissioned by the Joshua Fund and conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, a nationally-ranked polling company, from March 23 through March 26. The questions were asked of 1,000 likely American voters. It was reported by Joel C. Rosenberg, the well-known religious and political pundit and author – and founder of the Joshua Fund.
Forty percent of self-identified Christians of all denominations told the pollsters that they are reading the Bible more than ever, watching and listening to Bible teaching and Christian sermons online since they cannot go to church, and searching online to better understand Bible prophecy and God’s plan for the future of mankind. That’s a good start!
Even more encouraging is that one-in-four non-Christian young people (28%) reported that they are reading the Bible and listening to sermons and learning more about Bible prophecy.
It is clear that these are no ordinary times, when Americans are in full lockdown and are understandably anxious. The result seems to be that millions are turning to God, to the Bible, and to counselors for answers – many for the first time. As Rosenberg says, this may be the most important silver lining to this crisis so far. <>Notes from DWW – Myles Kaufman
Russians Mistake Award of “Vacation” as a (real) Vacation
Russian President Putin’s announcement of a nationwide vacation of Russian workers took an unintended turn as droves of people spilled onto the streets. It took 48 hours before authorities made it clear that people were meant to stay at home and indoors – not go out on the town!
Earlier in March, Russia sent a planeload of medical supplies to New York in a gesture of international good will. The government apparently did not think the virus would do any great damage to Russia itself. The supplies even included the expensive, hard-to-get ventilators. But on March 25th, the president felt compelled to order self-isolation, which he expressed as a “vacation.” So the order was issued that people who could do so should work from home. All others had free time off work – but the time off was not a holiday in the classical understanding of the word.
By that time, Russia had reported nearly 2,400 cases of Covid-19, and seventeen deaths...
A photo of President Putin in full protective regalia appeared in newspapers and on TV across the country – a visual acknowledgment of the crisis that had now arrived belatedly in Russia. <>Yahoo News
US Oil Price Plunges Nearly 40% to 22-year Low
The Times of Israel reported this morning that the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price for May delivery dropped to $11.31 per barrel. It was added that the market was hit also by “technical trade” ahead of the contract’s expiration later today (exact meaning not clear). The price dropped to the lowest level since 1998, extending a heady plunge to almost 40% on the strength of abundant supplies and Covid-19-sapped demand.
This means that it is not cost-effective for oil producers of either liquid crude oil or shale oil to continue in operations, yet a shut-down would cost them huge sums. The problem is that all the reserve storage facilities are full to the brim; no more crude oil can be stored or shipped. <>Times of Israel.
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 55
eTPL 30 April 22, 2020
The Coronavirus has been described as “Slippery” for Good Reason
A Chinese study of the Covid-19 organism has shown just how “slippery” the virus has proven to be – “slippery” being the term used to describe its propensity to mutate into various strains. At least thirty strains of it have been identified at the date of this writing!
The observation indicates just how difficult the virus may be to eradicate as the first wave of its infections slows into warmer weather. It is widely expected to return in even greater strength in the fall with the advent of cooler weather, and if so, its multiple strains may prove much more difficult to combat with either vaccines or medicinal agents...
An artist’s depiction of the virus and its anatomy presents a complex cell studded with proteinaceous projections and bulging with an incredibly complex strand of RNA (ribose nucleic acid) defining its genetic structure.
Known technically as Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus of Covid-19 has been shown to have mutated into multiple forms, substantially changing its pathogenicity (degree of infectivity) according to a current paper by Professor Li Lanjuan, head of a research team at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China.
So far, said Professor Li, the virus has been treated in hospitals worldwide as one disease, with patients receiving the same treatment regardless of the strain (the strain often being unknown to the medics) – which is an inadequate approach.
The team at Zhejiang University strongly suggests that it is necessary to define the mutations of various regions of the globe before effective treatment may be administered. These findings need to consider the impact of these accumulating mutations in developing drug and vaccine development in order to avoid potential pitfalls, he said. <> Alex Winston writing in Jerusalem Post
Oil Futures fall to Lowest Level Ever Seen
The worldwide glut of crude oil has reached epic proportions due to the greatly reduced use of automobiles during the current pandemic. The news wires were sizzling with the news about May oil futures as the pricing dropped to more than minus $35 per barrel today.
The new price level means, essentially, that producers would be required to pay “buyers” that price to haul away their oil and place it into their own storage facilities – because even at Cushing, Oklahoma, the US center for oil trading, there is no more storage capacity!
The news means that many marginal oil producers – drillers and “frackers” – many of which are highly leveraged as to credit – will have to declare bankruptcy. It is a crisis which oil producers thought they would never experience – a view shared by the banks which have loaned vast sums of money to the producers because of the “surety” of the loans (which have turned out to be not so “sure”).
One would wonder why production was not slowed (or halted) before this crisis situation was reached, but the entire train of oil production is a complex process which does not lend itself to much variation. It is extremely costly to close down an oil refinery, for example, as re-starting production is not only time-consuming but extremely expensive. <> HEL - From news reports.
Unity Deal Allows Start of Annexation of Judea and Samaria beginning July 1
April 21 – Jerusalem. The unity government reached on Monday by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Blue and White and White leader Benny Gantz gives Israel the “go ahead” to begin legislation to annex large parts of Pales****** occupied areas of Judea and Samaria and the entire Jordan Valley starting July first. The text of Clause 29 of the deal stipulates that Netanyahu “will be able to bring the agreement reached with the US on the application of sovereignty [in the ‘West Bank’]… for the approval of the cabinet and/or the Knesset starting July 1, 2020.”
There appears to be two legislative pathways to enact the official annexation. If the PM fails to gain a majority vote for annexation in the cabinet (some half of the ministers will be Blue and White members who may object), he can move the action to the Knesset where it is more likely to pass because a far larger percentage of persons favorable to the action will be seated.
The PM will be compelled to bring the proposal to the Knesset (it that becomes necessary) through his own initiative or through the offices of another Member of Knesset (MK) provided that lawmaker is from the Likud party. As long as the lawmakers ensure that the legislation is “identical to the version placed before the cabinet,” the initiative can move forward.
The agreement further reads, “The law will be passed as quickly as possible … and will not be disrupted or delayed by the chairs of either the House or the Foreign Affairs and Defense committees.” It also provides that the PM and Mr. Gantz will act in “full agreement with the US, including on the issue of [West Bank] maps, and in dialogue with the international community.”
The stated intention to move rapidly forward has raised the ire of Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the PLO in Ramallah, who raged that the deal will preclude any further pursuit of “the two-state solution” to the Israeli-Pales****** peace movement. Well, so what? By dint of Abbas’ non-cooperation (for over fifteen years) on such a “peace” deal, there has been not an iota of movement forward anyway because of his own intransigence! <> Times of Israel
Iran Shows Off its New Drones
Because it has virtually NO effective air force, Iran has been showing off a large group of various drones which it says can reach Israel, as what it believes to be an effective substitute for air power.
Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami unveiled the drones last weekend. He said that one jet-powered UAV can fly at speed of 900 km. per hour at an altitude of 12,000 meters, a performance level which rivals the best drones of the US and other powers. He claimed a range of up to 1,500 km. and the ability to fly for several hours – thus to “loiter” over a target waiting for the best opportunity to inflict damage. He is effectively saying, “We can reach you.” Some of the drones are designed as kamikaze type weapons intended to destroy targets by crashing into them physically with on-board ordnance. <> Jerusalem Post
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 56
eTPL 30 April 28, 2020
100th Anniversary of the San Remo Conference
On Sunday, April 26th, Jewish communities around the world marked the 100th anniversary of the San Remo (Italy) Conference – an event which was integral to the later establishment of the Jewish State.
Professor Efraim Karsh of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University in Israel said, “There is probably no more understated event in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict than the San Remo Conference of April 1920.” He noted that the Conference marked the first time the international community had given “unqualified recognition: to the Jews as a national group rather than just a religious community...
“It was an extraordinary feat of diplomacy … recognizing the Jews as a nation deserving self-determination in its ancestral homeland,” he remarked in a paper marking the century since the Conference. He wrote, “This is something that successive Palestinian leaderships have been loath to acknowledge to date.”
“The world powers recognized the ancient connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and the right of the Jewish people to a national home on that land was given the force of International Law,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said in a tweet marking the anniversary.
The Allied leaders at that meeting decided the destiny of the just defeated Ottoman Empire ... and gave international approval of the legal right of the Jewish people to a national homeland in Palestine. The participants at that time divided up the lands vacated by the defeated Ottomans, giving national status to the people of the Levant. It artificially created new countries such as Iraq and Syria, but it also established the principle of Palestine as a national home for the Jews for the first time since 136AD; the British Empire was named sole Mandatory (and facilitator!) of the project. It soon reneged, turning aside from its mandate.
Although given responsibility for that goal, Britain stubbornly resisted such for nearly thirty years and did everything it could to blunt Jewish sovereignty. But in the end, the UNO, the newly established replacement for the League of Nations, voted in 1947, to partition Palestine and set up Arabic and Jewish states in it. <> World Israel News
More Olim on Their Way to Israel in Face of Covid-19 Threat
The Jewish people keep coming home, even in light of the present coronavirus pandemic gripping the country. The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), since February, has sponsored 580 new immigrants! That group included 115 Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa, 100 of whom were quarantined.
In the face of the global travel bans now in place, Aliyah (return) to Israel continued as nine immigrants from Ukraine arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv yesterday. They will be settled in for a two-week quarantine with 36 other newly arrived Russian-speakers in living space provided by the government and the Jewish Agency.
We read the startling report at the end of last week that, based on inquiries to the Foreign Ministry of Israel, the country expects over 100,000 new immigrants to make Aliyah this year, spurred, evidently as a response to the coronavirus outbreak. Surges of immigration historically seem to occur after each such major event in Israel. <> Breaking Israel News and other sources.
Drastic Cuts to Beef and Pork Production from Coronavirus Pandemic in the USA
Perhaps you have noticed the scarcity of various cuts of beef and pork at your local supermarkets. That is directly due to the compromises forced upon meat producers due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Scores of workers in both beef and pork processing plants have been stricken by the virus and hospitalized. In a precautionary move, some of the largest pork processing plants in Iowa and other producing states have been closed for sanitizing and all employees sent home. Reopening dates are uncertain...
Estimates are that 25% of pork production and 10% of national beef production has been lost since the outbreak began, as closures affect plants in Washington State, in Colorado, in other states, and in Canada. The effects cannot help but be reflected in the availability and pricing of meat inventories of local markets.
Even 100 U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspectors have come down with the infection, and one has died. Some plant managers have voiced the fear of having the traveling food inspectors unwittingly bring the infection to their plant from others in the inspection itinerary.
The crisis has caused a spike in meat prices as one would expect: wholesale beef prices recently reached the highest price on record, and pork bellies (which are the source of bacon) recently gained over 125% in five days.
The crisis has caused a shock wave of disruption in the supply chain. With less beef and pork being processed, there is a greatly reduced market for cattle and pigs for slaughter. With younger animals on the way, producers are being forced to euthanize their animals that normally would go into the food processing chain. In Minnesota alone, it was reported, farmers may have to kill 200,000 pigs in the next few weeks – a drastic loss for the independent hog farmers. In this way, store shelves are emptying while potential food stocks are being destroyed because of the disruption.
On similar fronts staggering losses are also being suffered; dairy farmers are being forced to dump thousands of gallons of milk. Fruits and vegetables are rotting in the fields and orchards due to the drastic shortages of laborers for the harvest, for packaging, and for transport to stores.
Freezing food offers some hope of a cushion in the supply chain but on Wednesday the U.S. Gov’t. issued its monthly inventory of frozen foods; it showed that the combined pork, beef, and poultry inventory in cold storage warehouses now stands at about two weeks of the total American meat production. That complicates things because most plant shutdowns last at least 14 days according to sanitizing protocols – a fact which points up the looming possibility of drastic shortages of meats and poultry. <> Bloomberg News
PM Netanyahu Promises Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria within two Months
On Sunday last, PM Netanyahu announced that within “a couple of months,” Israeli sovereignty will be extended to Judea and Samaria, including the entire Jordan Valley.
The move will be made regardless of the objection of the Palestinian Authority, or even the Arab League. The Arabs have forfeited their opportunity for some negotiatory input in the approaching move, which is being mounted behind the impetus offered in the Trump “Deal of the Century” of last year. Making reference to that Plan, Netanyahu said, “Three months ago, the Trump peace plan recognized Israel’s rights in all Judea and Samaria and President Trump pledged to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Jewish communities there and in the Jordan Valley.”
“A couple of months from now, I’m confident that that pledge will be honored, that we will be able to celebrate another historic moment in the history of Zionism,” he said.
His remarks were issued in a speech commemorating the 100th anniversary of the San Remo Conference of 1920, which officially recognized the legitimacy of the Jewish wish (and dire need) for a homeland.
The announcement was not received well in other quarters. Josep Borrell, the European Union’s chief of foreign policy, said that such an annexation would be a violation of international law – a view which has been discussed in great depth during the last few years.
Israel gained the stated territories (Israel’s heartland) in the 1967 Six-Day War, in which it soundly defeated four Islamic aggressor nations which had attacked the Jewish state; but Israel, to this date, had resisted legal annexation.
Since that time, hundreds of thousands of Jewish citizens have purchase property within Judea and Samaria and have lived there among the Arabs for decades. About 200,000 Jews live in “East Jerusalem” which is part of the disputed lands. Whole cities, such as Ma’ale Adumim (just east of Jerusalem) are located in the territories. All these are intended for direct annexation by Israel under the Trump Plan for Peace. <>WIN
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 57
eTPL 30 May 5, 2020
New Israeli Method of Inoculation Could “Stretch” Dosages of Inoculation Five Times
Israeli researchers at NanoPass, an Israeli scientific research company, have announced a crucial new development of injection technology which could “stretch” the number of inoculations for the coronavirus to five times its nominal amount. The company has devised “micro-needles” which provide the same inoculation results yet use far less vaccine...
A company spokesman explained that the super-thin needles target immune cells of the skin by accessing “the skin’s potent immune system to improve vaccines,” the result being that the vaccine can work more efficiently while drastically reducing the dosage needed to achieve immunity.
Billions of doses of any vaccine will be needed immediately – a daunting task. Not only producing that much vaccine but also administering it could take years – an unthinkable prospect given that huge numbers of people would die of the virus while awaiting the vaccine.
Traditional injections used for intramuscular or subcutaneous injections bypass the first-defense layer of the skin. Micro-needles target these same cells – specialized dendritic cells of the upper skin layers that process and induce strong immune responses. By targeting these cells, the micro-needles permit reduction of vaccine doses by five-fold, thus reducing overall cost, required facilities and equipment, and production time, according to a director of the company.
By injecting vaccines into skin layers, antigens are placed closer to these cells resulting in much smaller doses of antigen required to induce an equivalent immune response to the ‘standard’ doses. The company’s research is backed by over fifty completed or ongoing clinical studies with similar vaccines in similar diseases.
Marketing Director Yarin Sinai remarked that “Using a vaccine administered by or technology could turn what is now 500 million doses of vaccine into 2.5 billion doses.” He added, “Taking into account the time needed to produce and distribute so much vaccine for billions of people around the world, we can cut that time drastically.” <>United with Israel
Immigrants Catch last Available Flights from U. S. to Israel
Part of the attraction for American Jewish immigrants admittedly is that Israel is handling the Covid-19 pandemic better than practically any other country; but an even stronger impetus among potential immigrants to Israel is their deeply-felt desire to live in their ancestral homeland and among their own people.
Only a few days ago, these last-minute immigrants caught the last-available flights to Israel to fulfill their dreams of living in the Jewish homeland. Singles, families and elderly Jews with plans to make Aliyah found themselves on the verge of missing their opportunity to move to Israel as flights were moved up or cancelled.
As a result, some were compelled to leave without being able to say a personal “good-bye” to loved ones, but were reassured by those same loved ones, that they had made the right decision...
The new arrivals were placed on a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, but many had family members already in Israel who were able to assist them; in addition, there are numerous organizations and individuals offering assistance for items one sometimes realize that he needs, such as shampoo and bed linens. Once their initial quarantine is over, the new olim will be allowed to proceed to their final destinations throughout the country.
One new arrival summed up the attitude of many of her compatriots, saying, “The only place I see my life moving forward is in Israel.... I’m so glad I am here. Everything I do has a purpose here, even the pain and confusion brought on by coronavirus and struggling with a new lifestyle. I am in the proper place for a Jew and with the people I belong. The human kindness here is amazing, and even though I don’t yet really understand what it means to be ‘Israeli,’ I know I am in the right place to be going through [the corona pandemic].”
Some of the new arrivals were homeowners in the U. S. One such couple said that their decision to move now rather than wait an indecisive time longer compelled them to leave the sale of their house in the hands of their attorney, but added, “All Jews should live in Israel and this is the place to be now.”
Tamara Levin’s driving force had another basis: “I hope to save the remnants of my descendants from assimilation,” she told UWI. “Even though my grandchildren are not yet moving to Israel, I want them to know they can crash on grandma’s couch here. Jews running from France today may have appreciated if their parents had moved earlier and prepared a landing place for their kids.”
About 1,000 individuals have moved to Israel since the coronavirus restrictions were instituted. Israel expects a large influx of immigrants once the crisis is over. Diaspora Minister Tzipi Hotovely recently stated, “The corona crisis requires preparations for [new waves of immigration] and a program for meeting the needs of every group of immigrants. Even now, immigration to Israel continues and the State of Israel will always remain open to all Jews of the world,” Arutz7 reported. <>United with Israel
Powerful New Israeli Disinfectant is made from Tap Water
Researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gat, Tel Aviv, Israel, have made an astonishing discovery in the field of sanitization and disinfection. Their discoveries have resulted in an antiseptic that kills microbes, including those that transmit coronavirus, and is 100 times more effective than bleach ... and it is made from tap water!
The disinfectants are incredibly sophisticated as well as deadly. Not only are they effective; they do not contaminate groundwater. And they have multiple other redeeming qualities...
The manufacturing process involves bringing water together with electrodes – an action which creates a cleaning material in a unique aquatic environment. No further details of the process were revealed in the press reports so far, but the compounds created bring about an extremely effective antibacterial capability including eradication of bacteria, viruses and spores; at the same time, it is safe for macro-organisms such as larger cells of skin and muscles.
Resultant forms of the product are spray-aerosols for environmental (surface) disinfection of appliances, beds, closets, bathrooms, containers of immersion, disinfectant wipes, hand-washing, shoe-washing, buckets for washing and disinfecting floors, air conditioning systems, washing machines, and dry fog air-purifiers!
The process seems to involve “electrodes” in a wide array of shapes and textures, making the technology suitable for almost any disinfection application – from air conditioner filters to food containers used for cleaning fish and meats – an astonishingly wide variety of applications.
Other electrodes are able to disinfect and remove pesticides from vegetables and fruits, and be utilized as mobile sprays, devices for the manufacture of disposable antibacterial cloths – even face masks and surgical gloves.
The usual antiseptic capability is said to be 100 times more effective than bleach; therefore, low concentrations of between 50 and 200 milligrams of the active materials per liter are sufficient to disinfect, unlike bleach, which requires between 5,000 and 20,000 mg/liter (5 grams to 20 grams/liter) – a vast difference.
The disinfectants do not cause burns to the skin, or dry skin. They may even be effective as topical treatment for wounds, an application now being investigated. They do not cause corrosion of metals. In very low concentrations they eliminate all kinds of viruses. <>United with Israel
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 58
eTPL 30 May 9, 2020
Biden Being Persuaded to Turn against Israel’s Annexations
A NY Sun editorial on May 7th reveals that many members of the Obama and Clinton administrations are leaning heavily upon Vice President Biden to persuade him to turn the party against Israeli policy. It is remarkable that the current voices of persuasion are not those of the newer members of Congress such as Ilan Omar and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, but belong to thirty former national security officials – men such as Strobe Talbott, former ambassador to Israel; Martin Indyk, former head of UNICEF; and Anthony Lake. <>NY Sun
Israeli Research Group may have Developed an Antibody to Covid-19
Israeli officials, including President Reuven Rivlin and Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, on Thursday toured the facilities of the Israeli Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) in Ness Ziona, Israel, which claimed earlier that it has developed an antibody that has proven to neutralize Covid-19 viruses, and will lend a potential cure for the disease.
During the visit, Mr. Bennett spoke to reporters saying, “I have instructed the military establishment and the Israel Institute for Biological Research to progress as quickly as possible to a treatment for everyone. We will not spare money or resources. Everything will be done to shorten the time to get to a commercial drug.” <>Algemeiner
Pestilence Watch: Murder Hornets and Tiger Mosquitoes
So-called Murder Hornets with giant bodies, as much as two inches in length, have invaded the U.S. from the Far East, and are reported to be deadly to honeybees, especially, and to have long stingers that can penetrate the protective clothing of beekeepers. Their stings are often fatal if a victim is stung multiple times.
And now we read that Tiger Mosquitoes have invaded France – insects which can spread dengue fever, Zika virus, and other equally serious infections just as France is lifting its isolation of its citizens.
France has placed 57 of its departments (equivalent to counties) on red alert against the new strain of mosquitoes as hordes of them cover the countryside, according to RT Reports. One entomologist estimated that France could be “fully colonized” by the pest by the year 2030.
The mosquito also is also known to transmit chikungunya viruses which cause fever and joint aches from two to twelve days after exposure; other possible effects are headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and a rash. Some of these effects can last up to one year. One in 1000 may perish from it. The French Ministry of Health warned, “Once installed in a district, the tiger mosquito is practically impossible to get rid of.” <>RT Reports
Coronavirus Seems to Spur Jews to Make Aliyah
With the onset of the coronavirus, thousands of Jews around the world are suddenly choosing to make Aliyah – to “go up” to Israel as permanent residents. The Jewish Agency projects that 100,000 new citizens will arrive within the next year – an increase of about 500% over previous years! The estimate is based on inquiries the agency has already received from Jews around the world asking for information on immigration. Many of the prospective new citizens have told reporters that they are impressed with the way Israel has handled the Covid-19 crisis and will feel safer living in Israel. <>United with Israel
Israel Approves Thousands of New Homes in “West Bank”
Spurred by U. S. approval to back de facto Israeli annexations in Judea and Samaria, Israel has announced its approval of “thousands” of new homes in the target areas. Acting PM Netanyahu says cabinet discussions of the plans will commence before July 1 when the annexation is due for finalization. All these plans are being pursued while the PM is trying to bring about a workable coalition government after General Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, decided to relent and bring his coalition into union with Likud, the majority party of Mr. Netanyahu, much to the disapproval of the Palestinian Authority. <>RT Reports
Israel’s Jewish Population on Independence Day: 6.8 Million!
On its 72nd Independence Day, the population of Israel had grown by 1.9% during the past year and now totals 9,190,000 persons as announced by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) last Sunday. Of the total, 6.806 million (74%) are defined as Jews, 1.93 million (21%) are Arabs, and 454,000 are defined as “other” (5% of the population). As noted above, about an hundred thousand new olim are expected to arrive within the coming year. <>Arutz Sheva Staff
A Pakistani Islamic “Cleric” Explains the Covid-19 Pandemic
Mufti Abu Hisham Masood of Pakistan has just enlightened his followers to his conspiracy theory: that the Jews created Coronavirus and will control any future vaccine. According to a publication which he issued entitled “Coronavirus, or Virus War?” the mufti claimed that “the Coronavirus too is an important part of the war underway in the name of the New World Order.” (It seems amazing the underlying admiration the Islamic world has for the Jewish mind – that the Jews have the ability collectively to perform all the amazing feats that Islam accuses them of doing! They have no notion of the status that they are placing on Israelis while intending to criticize and denigrate them! – Ed.) <> Algemeiner
Stalemate in Israeli Politics Finally Broken: Netanyahu to Form a New Government
President Reuven Rivlin on May 7th opened the state of Israel’s new parliament to an entirely vacant Knesset chamber in an eerily virtual ceremony...
The ceremony confirmed Prime Minister Netanyahu’s opportunity to form a coalition government in the shadow of his approaching trial on corruption charges later this month. The action brings him closer to a fifth term as PM after more than a year in a deadlocked political stalemate.
Seventy-two of the Knesset’s 120 members agreed to Netanyahu’s candidacy after parliament passed a law approving details of a power-sharing plan worked out between the premier’s right-wing Likud party and the center-right part of Benny Gantz – the Blue and White party. President Rivlin mandated the next 14 days for Mr. Netanyahu to get it done. Under the newly adopted plan, Mr. Netanyahu would serve as prime minister for 18 months, and then give way to Mr. Gantz, who would serve the next 18 months.
An huge legal hurdle was cleared three days ago when Israel’s Supreme Court dismissed challenges by opposition members and others, ruling that Netanyahu may form a government even in the face of his indictment for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust – charges which Mr. Netanyahu denies and says he can defend against. His trial is set to begin on May 24th. <>Algemeiner
Councilmen’s Expressed “Gratitude” to Samaritan’s Purse for its service to New York
It’s fortunate that Samaritan’s Purse’s motivation for service is not praise...
After entirely gratis treatment of several hundred Covid-19 patients in its field hospital in Central Park, the Billy Graham Foundation’s work will soon be done – an announcement which was met with a rather odd response by several liberal NYC council members who celebrated the end of the work essentially by telling the charity to Get out ... and don’t come back!
The foundation’s partner, Mount Sinai Hospital, says it now has become able to handle the patient load alone and thanked the charity profusely for its valuable assistance during the pandemic’s worst days. They added that no one would be able to thank Rev. Franklin Graham’s organization enough.
You might know that a violent disagreement with Samaritan Purse’s principles would be at the base of the councilmen’s rude remarks: City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, a Democrat, vented in a tweet on the same day as the announcement, trying to kick the charity group on its way out the door – saying that "(T)heir continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community." He added that “It's time for Mount Sinai ‘to sever its relationship’ with Samaritan's Purse.” <>Prophecy News Watch
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 59
eTPL 30 May 14, 2020
Is Sovereignty of Israel over “West Bank” and Jordan Valley Creating Rifts?
Observers are saying that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Israel this week is for the expressed purpose of delaying the Israeli official annexation of about 30% of the “West Bank” in the near future. But that is evidently only a fraction of the issues being discussed in Jerusalem – issues which include Israel’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the persistent tensions of both nations with the Iranian Islamic Republic.
The Secretary stressed to reporters last week that “the decision to apply sovereignty is Israel’s to make.” But he added that he wants to understand more fully what the new government thinks about that principle. The Secretary said he intends to discuss with (Israel) “the best way to implement the (Trump) peace plan which the prime minister has agreed to.”
The US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Israel Hayom, “Once the mapping process has been completed, and once the Israeli government agrees to freeze construction in those parts of Area C which are not designated for [Israeli] sovereignty, and once the Prime Minister has agreed to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of the Trump plan – and he already agreed to that this Sunday – we will recognize Israeli sovereignty in the areas which under the [Trump] plan will become part of it [Israel].”
Those are a lot of “ifs” it seems to us, and indicates a complex series of events some of which are highly unlikely to happen – such as negotiations with the Palestinians. They have simply refused even to hear the details of the plan to this date...
One thing has become clear: the US position is that Israeli communities of Judea and Samaria being incorporated into Israel are entirely legal under international law ... and that it is up to Israel as to how it will proceed.
And in the case that the Palestinians continue to refuse to negotiate the entire matter the plan seems to give Israel unilateral rights to proceed on its own course without further ado, regardless of PA objections!
That, in our opinion, should have been stipulated from the beginning. At the signing of the so-called Oslo Accords in 1993 in Washington, the PA (then under the thumb of Yasser Arafat) agreed to good-faith negotiations leading to the “two-state solution,” a stipulation that goes against scriptural principles.
That exact intention seems, from the words of Joel 3: 2, to be one of the two crimes of which the Islamic enemies of Israel are guilty – and the precipitating factor for the final conflict of the Valley of Jehoshaphat as noted in that passage: I will also gather all nations (those round about Israel), and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2. <> Compiled from news reports
Iran Reducing Troop Numbers within Syria
The relentless pressure of Israel upon Iranian assets in Syria may be showing palpable results in that Iran now appears to be reducing the numbers of its forces in the troubled country. That reduction is seen as the sole result of Israel’s continuing relentless attacks on those assets, causing the Iranians to pay a rising price for its presence in Syrian territory. We have contended for some time that the Iranian presence in Syria is merely a passing phase in the wormy conflict there and that the only scripturally-defined role for Iran (Persia, in scripture) is in the later Gogian invasion. The same principle, in our opinion, is operative as regards the Russian presence in Syria: it, too, will not be permanent – will evaporate through some means.
One factor tending to reduce Iranian activity in Syria has been the coronavirus pandemic and Iran’s requirement of using aircraft to transport medical goods instead of weaponry.
But a long list of Israeli Air Force victories over the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces in Syria has also strongly contributed to the new trend.
· Iran’s iconic military leader in the region was assassinated by an Israeli drone which killed Gen. Soleimani and several colleagues at the Damascus airport late last year.
· Aerial attacks upon a giant storage facility south of Homs, Syria, and bunkers near the Damascus airport, which were destroyed.
· In mid-April an Israeli drone destroyed a Hezbollah vehicle near the Lebanese border, the occupants of which abandoned the vehicle only seconds before the drone struck.
· Only last Monday, the (Syrian) Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), near Aleppo, which is used by the military industry for advanced weapons systems and missile production was destroyed; Syrian sources reported that 14 people believed to be Iranian and Iraqi fighters were killed in the stealthy strike.
The Iranian presence in Syria is expensive to Syria as well. While the Syrian army has been trying to reconstitute itself following the long civil war, it has been severely harmed in the Israeli attacks too, as special damage has been done to its Russian defense systems and Russian anti-aircraft batteries, which by the way, have entirely failed to repel the Israeli attacks.
The current reduction in Iranian forces is seen as a direct result of a new battle doctrine formulated by former Israeli army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot – a plan called the “campaign between the wars” that has governed Israel’s military strategy in Syria for the last four years. In that time period, Israel has executed hundreds of air strikes against Iranian proxies in Syria. Most of them have targeted military bases and manufacturing facilities in which Hezbollah is attempting to conduct a precision missile program; the arms produced are then transported overland to its operations in Lebanon. For this reason, President Assad of Syria understands quite well that Iran has become a liability to him, and that he pays a high price for their “help.”
It is extremely telling that the Israeli air strikes most often provoke no response from the Iranian forces. They just seem to hunker down and take their punishment! <> Gleanings from Mileposts (Pearce)
Potentially Deadly Sequel to Covid-19 in Children is Raging
Over 100 children from one to 18 years age in at least 14 states have developed a rare and potentially deadly inflammatory condition that is thought to be a sequel to Covid-19 infections. The new syndrome is being referred to as Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) in the US. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is now preparing guidelines for the uniform description of the disease.
The illness often takes up to 30 days to develop; it appears similar to toxic shock syndrome or Kawasaki disease which causes severe inflammation of the coronary arteries and other acute symptoms such as swelling of head and neck lymph nodes; cracked lips and bright red tongue; extremely red eyes with a thick discharge; a body rash especially in the genital areas; swollen red skin in the palms and soles of the feet; and extreme irritability. Fever is in excess of 102.2°F and lasts more than three days. At least five children in New York have died of the illness which is not at all well understood at this moment. The children often present at the emergency department with a high fever, dropping blood pressure and abdominal pain. There may not be a clear association with Covid-19 in all cases, making diagnosis difficult. <> Notes from Arutz Sheva
Watch this 45-Minute Virtual Tour of the Judean Hills South of Bethlehem
This video tour is conducted by a qualified Israeli tour guide and explores an area southwest of Bethlehem in the Judean Hills where a Herodian aqueduct has for more than 2,000 years collected water and conducted it to Solomon’s Pools located in the suburbs of Bethlehem. The region is not safe for visitors not accompanied by Israel Defense Forces soldiers, so we have not visited it since 1978, during safer times.
But today you can get a wonderful overview of it and the fertile hills and valleys southwest of Bethlehem as shown by Tour Guide Eve Harow, and see the incredible engineering feat of Herod who constructed this aqueduct with a “drop” of less than one inch per mile! It is located in a highly disputed portion of Area A on the Israeli map so you will get a realistic understanding of the tensions that exist between the Jewish residents and their Arab neighbors – and a feel of the disparity of rules as applied to Jews but not to Arabs in the area.
I found the video, though not highly professional in quality (the sound if often garbled and distorted by wind noise), will give you a good introduction to an area that is currently off limits to nearly all visitors.
Access it directly (if you are still connected to the World Wide Web) by left-clicking on this hyperlink: https://israelunwired.com/special-virtual-tour-of-fascinating-archaeological-site-in-judean-hills/
If that does not bring up the site, clip that address and paste it into your search engine for access. Turn on the closed caption feature for a better understanding of the commentary... <> Thanks to Milestones (Pearce)
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 60
eTPL 30 May20, 2020
Netanyahu Formally Brings Together the New Knesset
May 13: Jerusalem. Two days after the Gentile anniversary of Israel’s (72nd) founding, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu formally announced by a letter to President Rivlin that he has successfully formed a working government. The accomplishment brought an end to almost 18 months of political confusion during which three elections were held without a satisfactory conclusion.
Now comes the complex process of assigning ministries and the maneuvering associated with that meticulous process. Much of that work will be foregone in order to entertain U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who also had arrived on Wednesday to discuss Israel’s annexation plans. <>J Post
First there was Plague ... and now Famine Looms
News reports are referring to the string of events as “The Perfect Storm.” Famine has not been a prominent discussion in the western world until lately, but recent events have changed all that calculus. The United Nations Organization is warning that famines of “biblical proportions” may be coming soon as the head of the UN World Food Program is now opining that 300,000 people a day could soon be starving to death!
What could bring about such a terrible outlook? Well, for starters, the worst droughts in decades. Another contributor is African Swine Fever, the Covid-19 pandemic, and skies blackened by enormous armies of locusts the size of Rome or Athens in portions of South and East Africa, the Saudi Peninsula, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and reaching across India to the borders of China.
As a result, global food supply chains have been disrupted severely, and food availability is becoming tighter with each passing month.
Many folk are recognizing these conditions as fulfilling certain clear prophecies in the Bible – forecasts of conditions just prior to Jesus’ first coming (and to His later return) such as Matthew 24: 7, in which Jesus specifically warned of nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom ... and the simultaneous occurrence of “famines, of pestilences, and of earthquakes in diverse places.” Luke recorded additional words of Jesus on that occasion in which he added, and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
At this moment in time, the full effects of the coronavirus pandemic have not been realized in our opinion; there are perhaps much worse sequelae to come. Some observers are predicting economic depression equal to or exceeding the Great Depression of the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties. At the time of this writing the unemployment rate in the US is over twenty percent, and is sure to rise further before it can be lowered because the entire economy has been damaged in ways not even yet foreseen.
Perhaps more fearfully the earth’s people may see serious outbreaks of civil violence and anarchy never before seen. President Trump’s optimistic outlook of the robust return of the economy later in 2020, and even more fitfully in 2021, is probably a pipe dream.
Our considered opinion is that we may now be experiencing the weeks – perhaps even days – preceding the return of Jesus to the earth as long promised, because we are now personally witnessing the drastic conditions which He said would precede His coming. It portends a time of trouble for the world such as never was ... For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Luke 21:35 <>PNW
Global Warming? No ... a “Solar Minimum”
Speaking of “signs in the heavens” (Luke 21: 29), what in the world is a “solar minimum?”
Astrophysicists define it as a period of time in which sun spots recede or disappear, thereby sending much less solar energy to the earth.
In the discourse of Jesus on the Mount of Olives, He uttered these ominous words: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Matthew 24: 29.
An extensive article (“End of the American Dream”) in the New York Post as referenced by Prophecy News Watch reveals that, in the midst of the current pandemic and other major crises, “Our sun is behaving in ways that we have never seen before. For as long as records have been kept, the sun has never been quieter than it has been in 2019 and 2020 and ... we are being warned that we have now entered ‘a very deep solar minimum.’" That is a condition that is to be feared because other very deep solar minimums throughout history have resulted in brutally cold weather and terrible global famines. This one comes at a time when the United Nations is issuing warnings that we are on the brink of “biblical” famines around the world.
This should be big news ... but this is the first notice of it we have received.
Forbes magazine just reported that “While we on Earth suffer from coronavirus, our star – the Sun – is having a lockdown all of its own. Spaceweather.com reports that ... there have been 100 days in 2020 when our Sun has displayed zero sunspots.” The same was true last year – a record low number of sunspots.
The Post article added: “Experts believe we are about to enter the deepest period of sunshine "recession" ever recorded as sunspots have virtually disappeared.” Its article also stated, “Yes, covering Covid-19 is important, but the fact that scientists are warning that we are potentially facing ‘freezing weather, earthquakes and famine’ should be deeply alarming for all of us.” The cold hard facts are that, last year, there were no sunspots 77 percent of the time; so far this year there have been no sunspots 76 percent of the time.
The article also stated that NASA scientists fear that we could possibly be facing “a repeat of the Dalton Minimum.” That event happened “between 1790 and 1830, and featured periods of brutal cold, crop loss, famine, and powerful volcanic eruptions.” Those effects were influenced by a global temperature decrease of up to two degrees Celsius (3.6ºF) over a period of 20 years – a decrease which devastated world food growth.
But an even more serious solar minimum was the “Maunder Minimum” which spanned the seventy years between 1645 and 1715, appearing in the midst of the “Little Ice Age.” In that episode, Europe’s growing season shortened by more than a month. Snowy days increased from “a few” to 20-30, and the ground froze to several feet deep. Alpine glaciers advanced all around the world as Swiss glaciers swallowed farms and buried villages. Even the tree-lines in the Alps dropped. Sea ice surrounded Holland about 20 miles out to sea, halting all shipping. Wine-grape production decreased and cereal grain harvests failed, leading to widespread famine. Early European settlers in North America experienced extremely cold winters.
To have a persistent solar minimum at the present time could present unprecedented hardship on the world when African Swine Fever has already wiped out about a fourth (25%) of all the pigs in the world (did you know that? – I didn’t). And everyone is aware that colossal swarms of locusts the size of major cities are wiping out crops in much of Africa, the Middle East and Asia – all this while the effects of Covid-19 is disrupting global food chains.
Widespread closure of meat processing facilities in the U.S. will force farmers to destroy as many as ten million hogs by September (National Pork Producers Council statistic). The problem is mainly in the coronavirus’ effect on meat plant workers. At least 14,000 cases of the virus are already connected to over 180 meat-packing facilities in 18 states according to official reports. And tons of milk are being discarded.
So even if the sun suddenly started acting perfectly “normal” again, the earth is still facing what the UN is calling "the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two." Australia, normally a huge exporter of wheat, is suffering drought (and recent wildfires) that have drastically cut grain production; it is now being forced to import huge amounts of grain from Canada. <>from PNW article.
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 61
eTPL 30, June 3,2020
Masked Israelis now Pray on Temple Mount Undetected
Last Saturday marked the 70th day since Jews had been allowed to enter the Temple Compound. That restriction began when the Covid-19 shutdown began in Israel. They were allowed to enter immediately following Shavuot (Festival of Weeks, and also King David’s birthday). But there is a new regulation. Anyone entering the compound must wear a protective mask. That makes it impossible to tell if a pilgrim’s lips are moving (and they may be praying unlawfully), so the police have been thrown a curve ball...
A video clip surfaced which was said to depict Jews openly praying shacharit (the morning service) near the Dome of the Rock as the police looked helplessly on! This writer has often offered prayers from Temple Mount even without a mask. He has a secret method of praying without moving his lips. <>Breaking Israel News
Annexation – a Grave Threat to Jerusalem?
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has promised July 1 as the day on which he will annex up to 30% of the areas now claimed by the Pales******* - an event which some suppose will cause great disruption. But the entire nature of the operation is entirely unknown except to certain insiders at this time. No one knows just what “annexation” means in its entirety other than that it will entail applying Israeli law to the areas...
The Jordanians and the Pales******* are greatly antagonized. The IDF is concerned that things may get out of control rapidly. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the PLO, has already said that the Pales******* are “absolved” of all past agreements with Israel as to security arrangements. And the IDF sees less than a month as not enough time to prepare for any eventuality. Increased violence in the “West Bank” is almost certain. Palestinian security personnel may turn their weapons on Israel.
Some leaders expect a breakdown of the peace treaty that Israel has with Jordan ... and open conflict, especially among the majority Pales******* who inhabit Jordan today. That would be in contrast to the quiet that has obtained along the Jordan frontier in which the past 25 years have been tranquil. The current state of cooperation between Israel and Jordan are useful in containing the threats to both from “further east” (meaning Iran). The annexation might even cut off Israel’s tacit use of Jordanian airspace in its “war-between-wars” campaign in Syria.
The Jerusalem Post (May 31) said, “The problem is no one knows what is going to happen, not the Palestinians, not the Jordanians and not the IDF. It’s a confusing situation for all involved, and one month is too short a period of time to prepare ...” And while some wait to see what actually happens on July 1, “all parties know that while one may know how it all begins, one never knows how it might end.” <>JPost
Israel Foils Attempt by Iran to Poison all of Israel’s Drinking Water
Kinneret is brimming with water since the latter rains of the spring, so water is plentiful in the Jewish state; but an enemy is knocking on the doors of water safety in Israel. A cyber attack by Iran targeted six facilities in Israel’s water infrastructure on April 24-25, narrowly being prevented from dumping lethal levels of chemicals into the Israeli water works.
Israel’s level of surprise at this vicious attack was evident in a statement by an Israeli official to Channel 13: “This was an attack that goes against all codes, even in war .... Even from the Iranians. We didn’t expect something like this. This is an attack that cannot be done.” Reviews of the attack after the fact have revealed that the assault upon the water infrastructure was “far deadlier than previously thought”... and was a “historic turning point in cyber warfare, but this was just the beginning.” This one attempted real-world events and was not just a cyber assault for data collection.
Think of the extreme damage that a successful attack on Israel’s water supply should have had during the coronavirus crisis. The effect probably cannot be calculated as all of Israel’s drinking water could have been compromised ... made poison for human consumption.
As readers might imagine, Israel has responded with vigor, targeting Iran’s largest seaport and paralyzing its imports for several days. It disrupted the navigation systems of all the ships in the Iranian shipping domain resulting in all of them coming to a halt to avoid collisions between vessels. An Israeli spokesman said he expects a “cyber winter” of unprecedented gravity. <>Breaking Israel News
Annexation: “A Historic Opportunity,” says Netanyahu
The newly convened Knesset has its work cut out for it: returning the society to work after the coronavirus outbreak; passing a state budget; preparing for a second wave of the virus; dealing with the security threats from Iran; countering the International Criminal Court’s claims of war crimes and of applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria. But it seems the prime order of business is implementing US President Trump’s peace plan “an historic opportunity that we will not let be missed” (Netanyahu).
The precipitous move would prevent any later adversity from an administration other than that of Donald Trump after the election in November. <>JPost
Turkey Chimes in: it will not “Permit the Annexation of Pales****** Land”
The bellicose Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Israel last week that “he will not permit the annexation of ‘Pales****** land’ and it will have consequences” according to DEBKAFile. He declared Al-Quds (Jerusalem) a “red line” for Muslims worldwide. This is a manifestation for the leader’s push for dominance and is seen in a vast display of Turkish flags in eastern Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, as well as a high frequency of Turkish “pilgrims” to Temple Mount in Jerusalem. <>DEBKAFile
New Coronavirus Vaccine Appears to be Safe in Humans
CanSino Biologics, Inc. has introduced a method of producing a rapid immune response in its first human trials, according to Chinese researchers writing in Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal. Only a mild fever was reported as a possible side-effect of the vaccine, but no others were observed.
Professor Wei Chen from the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, coauthor of the article, said, "The ability to trigger these immune responses does not necessarily indicate that the vaccine will protect humans from COVID-19. We are still a long way from this vaccine being available to all." It appears that the vaccine could produce an immune response short of being preventative of the disease. We shall see... <>JPost
“Final Solution” Proposed by Iran’s Supreme Leader
Using the direct language of the Gestapo, Iran’s Khamenei issued a poster illustrating Israel’s demise as push-back against PM Netanyahu’s recent statement that the regime that threatens destruction of Israel faces similar danger.
The texts of the poster boldly proclaim “Palestine Will Be Free; The Final Solution; and Resistance until Referendum,” all these being the mantra of the Iranian dictator.
The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, “The leader of the world’s top sponsor of terrorism and anti-Semitism denies the Holocaust, sends money and weapons to anti-Israel terrorists, and now has invoked the Nazi call for the Final Solution.” He stated with conviction that, “We know Khamenei’s vile rhetoric does not represent the Iranian people’s tradition of tolerance.” <> From press reports
New Breathalyzer Test for Covid-19 is 96% Accurate
World Israel News reports that a professor (Gabby Sarusi) of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has developed a one-minute breathalyzer test which is 96% accurate in diagnosing Covid-19 infections. <>WIN
UN Envoy: Israel must abandon its Annexation Plans
The chief UN envoy to the Middle East told Israel on May 17th that it must abandon its plan to annex Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, calling it “a destructive unilateral action that cements divisions and may put peace beyond our reach in our lifetime, according to World Israel News and the AP.
Nickolay Mladenov said that such a move would violate international law – an argument which has been rejected by the US State Department; it stated that Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are not “illegal,” citing such agreements as San Remo in 1920, the Balfour Declaration of 1917, and the UN Partition of Palestine in 1947. <>WIN and AP.
Ten Thousand Iranian Health Workers are Infected with Coronavirus
Tehran, May 21. ILNA, the semi-official news agency in Iran quoted the deputy health minister as reporting around 10,000 Iranian health workers have become infected with Covid-19. That result has come about in the wake of the Great Leader denying the toxicity of the virus early in its infection cycle. <>Reuters
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 62
(Corrected to account for the omission of #62)
eTPL 31, June 20, 2020
Americans Believe Less in God than Ever
One should think that a major pandemic that is beyond the control of anyone would bring a wave of higher trust in God to any population. But such has not been the case, in general. A Barna poll has shown a sharp decrease in Biblical beliefs among two large groups in America ... the Pentecostals and the Charismatics. The poll showed that a biblical view of God has decreased 73% from thirty years ago! It is the stark reality that, although most US currency trumpets “In God we Trust,” Americans are redefining and rejecting God in their lives. The poll also found that “Americans are more confident about the existence of Satan than they are of God. Overall, 56% contend that Satan is an influential spiritual being; yet almost half (49%) are not fully confident that God truly exists.” <>From Press Reports
ISIS is back in the News
A small concentration of ISIS fighters in Iraq now numbers between two and three thousand – about 500 of these having made their way to Iraq after escaping jails in Syria. The group is taking advantage of the Trump Administration’s diversion of its attention to the coronavirus pandemic and to the upcoming elections. The group is exhibiting fanatical attention to rebuilding its shattered forces – and while it does so, its terroristic assaults continue – such as the group demonstrated recently in Afghanistan where ISIS attacked a maternity ward in Kabul, killing 24 people including a number of mothers, children, and newborns. It seems the group’s leadership just can’t wait to return to its crusade of rampant terror and mayhem. <> Gatestone
Early Evidence of the Binding Ties of the Gogian Coalition is Showing
The Foreign Minister of Iran received good news when he visited his Russian counterpart, FM Sergei Lavrov in Moscow recently. Russia vowed last Tuesday to stand by its ally Iraq and to resist attempts to bring about an anti-Iranian agenda over the Iranian nuclear program’s forward movement.
Russia will insist on the right of Iran to continue forbidding access by nuclear inspectors to sites where past nuclear activity may have occurred in Iran – thus protecting Iran’s secrecy, and presumably its forward movement in its development of nuclear weapons.
Russia sees US objection to Iran’s program as manipulation of the UN Security Council to bring about added pressure upon Iran. The Russian FM said “Washington has no right to punish Iran” by “leveraging the UN Security Council” and that the US intention to extend an arms embargo on Iran as contravening international law.
Iran has decided to abandon its imposed limits on enriching uranium (a process necessary to its production of a nuclear device) – and may possess a stockpile of enriched uranium about eight times larger than the fixed limits of the accord (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) according to the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA).
The level of enrichment which Iran admits (and who knows how much further they have gone?) is far below the grade of enrichment needed for a nuclear weapon – but that achieved level makes it possible for Iran to leap ahead to higher levels much easier and more rapidly than otherwise.
The Russian FM added that Iran had fully cooperated with the IAEA. <>AFP
Cause of Fatal Blood Clots in Covid-19 Patients Determined
Ein Karem, Israel, June 16. Researchers at Hadassah Hospital Ein Karem have just discovered a key element which explains the blood clots that are prominent in the more serious cases of the coronavirus infections: it is an increased level of a protein called alpha defensin in their blood.
Furthermore, the research team has determined “a way to treat the cause before it’s too late.”
Blood clots have been found in the kidneys, heart, brain, and lungs of seriously ill patients. These cause kidney failure, strokes, cardiac infarctions, and suffocation – the latter due to blockage of the alveoli (the area in which carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is absorbed in the patient’s lungs), causing pneumonia. Nearly all these patients require ventilators and subsequently do not survive.
The lead researcher, Dr. Abd Alrauf Hivavi, directs a laboratory at Hadassah and has studied blood clots for thirty years. He has found that patients who form fatal clots have a high level of alpha defensin protein in their blood, while patients with mild symptoms have a low level of the compound. The people who die have very high levels – a determination made from studies of 80 patients who were admitted early in the outbreak. He has found that 80% of intubated patients have subsequently died due to the effects of pneumonia.
The solution which Dr. Higavi has discovered is to administer the drug colchicine to these patients – an approved drug used to prevent and treat attacks of gout (which results from excess uric acid in the blood).
Having proven the effects of colchicine in mice (a necessary step to human trials) they are now ready to test its effect on humans and will do so as soon as permission is granted. The challenge of the coronavirus is unique in that its normal mechanism of blood-clotting differs from those treatable by this drug. <>J Post
Jews Ready to make Aliyah has Reached 90,000 Expected Soon
In May, applications of Jews worldwide intending to move their families to Israel more than doubled over May of last year. We might ask, “What is causing this sudden upsurge?”
A current news article in Israel National News states that “With the compromise of corona [virus], financial instability, widespread unrest, and anti-Semitism, Jews are shaken to their core for the first time [recently] and are looking for alternative places to live,” according to Josh Wander, founder of Bring Them Home – an organization which strives to educate Jews in the spiritual importance of making Aliyah. “What better place to live than in their ancestral homeland in Israel?”
There some Jews who resignedly say, “This too shall pass.” Well, yes, it’s possible that the riots will die down and the economy of the world will rebound (probably not in the foreseeable future, in our opinion). But even if that does happen, and a return to “normal” is achieved, the divine message for Jews is to return home.
An ominous note was sounded as an echo to that statement by Rabbi Yishai Fleisher (spokesman for the Jewish community in Hebron), who issued an invitation for Jews worldwide to move back to Israel, hinting that the comfort that they enjoyed in America could be coming to an end. <> Breaking Israel News
Boris Johnson’s Government Objects to Israeli Annexations
The colorful (and unkempt!) head of government in Great Britain, PM Boris Johnson, is busying himself objecting to internal Israeli matters – viz., the annexations which PM Netanyahu has elected to begin on July1st. The PM said on Tuesday that such annexations would “amount to a breach of international law.”
Johnson claims to “believe profoundly in a two-state solution and we will continue to make that case,” he said. Well, at least he is consistent with the British position from a time shortly after the issuance of the Balfour Declaration (1917). The scriptural evidence is that Britain and all in agreement with her in this old saw of “a two-state solution” are in serious violation of the Almighty’s Plan for His People. The British newspaper, The Jewish Chronicle, describes Johnson as a “long-term critic of Israel.” <>World Israel News
Why is Israel not shutting Down as Second Wave of Virus Approaches?
As Israel’s economic and social state descends to new depths, violence, sickness and deaths tied to the coronavirus crisis are rising. On Wednesday last, nearly 300 people were newly diagnosed with the virus – the highest number in 24 hours since April ... so the disease is rebounding to an extent. Yet, the government announced that it was reinstituting runs of the intercity train (Jerusalem to Tel Aviv) and that cultural activities would resume on Monday.
Some are questioning that decision. Professor Yoram Lass offered this reason: Because “lockdown is lunacy.” The country has learned from its earlier experience that “There is no room for a general closure” this time around. Finance Minister Israel Katz issued a statement that “By the end of the year, we will reach an even bigger deficit .... We won’t close anything across the board. We can deal with it in a pinpoint manner with enforcement and quarantine. Even if we experience what happened here at the beginning, there is no room for a general closure.”
Minister Katz estimated that the number of people who will perish by suicide, by domestic violence, by alcoholism, by drug use, by crime, and even by starvation will be much higher than the number that has or will ultimately die from coronavirus. The Jewish state is electing the lesser evil of this Catch 22. <> JPost
World Entering ‘New and Dangerous Phase’ of Covid -19
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that Covid-19 is “spreading fast” although many folk are dismissing its effects and breaking all the reasonable defensive protocols. The WHO Director-General says that humanity – whether it recognizes the threat or not – is now facing another critical stage of the pandemic.
As testing goes forward it is now verified that more than 8.6 million people have become infected and over 450,000 have died from it, worldwide. About 4.5 million patients have recovered. This leaves about 3.65 million patients with ongoing infection, worldwide – a significant figure given its infectivity. Yet, later today in Tulsa, the president’s political campaign will convene a rally which will potentially be attended by a half-million participants in close contact with each other, many of them refusing the suggested masks and distancing! This disease is fairly deadly to be considered by some ‘a hoax.’ <>HEL
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 63
eTPL 30, June12, 2020
Underground Bunker Utilized for Israeli Cabinet Meetings
Deep under the Western Jerusalem hills, an underground government complex of facilities was constructed about ten years ago as a precaution against an Iranian nuclear attack or a missile barrage from Hezbollah in Lebanon. PM Netanyahu announced several weeks ago that cabinet meetings would be held in these facilities from now on. Readers will be reminded of the words of Isaiah 2: 19: “And men shall enter caverns in the rock and hollows in the ground — before the terror of Hashem and His dread majesty, when He comes forth to overawe the earth.” (The Israel Bible)
This National Management Center includes living quarters and command facilities. In the Jerusalem hills west of the city, it is directly accessible from the government center in Jerusalem, presumably entirely by underground passageways.
In addition to weekly cabinet meetings, the underground complex is also being utilized as the venue of central operations in the management, control, oversight and tracking of the coronavirus as revealed by an anonymous government official speaking to Reuters, although as one official admitted, “It protects from bombs, but not from microbes.”
The complex was completed in 2010 at a cost of about $240 million and was initiated in 2007. It is designed to withstand a nuclear strike, and can house the prime minister’s office, military command centers, and all the essential civil authorities required to run the country. It is a spacious facility with access via a guarded tunnel wide enough to enable two trucks to travel in it side by side. <>Breaking Israel News
Recent Huge Protests Raise Fear of a new Coronavirus Outbreak in the USA
Protests have erupted all over the nation as a result of the needless (and criminal) death of a Black man in the custody of Minneapolis police officers over two weeks ago. The uncontrolled rioting and pillaging of the last several days has been extremely troubling for two reasons ... a) the damage and distress that has resulted, as well as b) the increased exposure to Covid-19 among the rioters. If the conjectures of the nation’s epidemiologists prove true the US could have a significant resurgence of the Covid-19 infections in only a few days, given the virus’ calculated incubation period of about two weeks.
As of the date of this edition of Splinters, the world death toll from the virus is slightly above 400,000 people out of a known seven million persons infected. As viral testing increases the number of infections will increase due to new cases (and recoveries) being uncovered which will cause the death rate to decrease.
The watchword which relates to the rioting was well-expressed by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms: “If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week.” (AP)
However, of equal concern to the civil unrest is the widespread opening of beaches, mosques, churches, schools and businesses worldwide. And the concern is not limited to the US – the country which has seen more infections and deaths than any other country in the world – the concern is spreading to other parts of the world, such as London and Berlin where massive demonstrations have also erupted. <>World Israel News
“If Israel Annexes, it will Annex all Settlements” – Settlements Minister Tzipi Hotovely
Settlements Minister Tzipi Hotovely yesterday stated that any differentiation between major blocs of settlements “will never pass” a Knesset vote. It will involve all ... or none.
For example, there is no rationale for omitting to annex Elon Moreh, a community close to Nablus, the capital of the Palestinian Authority. Although the intention to annex over 30% of the “West Bank” and the Jordan Valley has been in view for months, the mapping has still not been completed as a designation of the particular areas to be annexed. Minister Hotovely, a member of the mapping committee, has stated that “all the maps published have no connection to reality” and that a differentiation between major settlement blocs and other (minor) settlements “will never pass.” The result will be havoc (our opinion). <>Jerusalem Post
Coronavirus Spreads to Fruit and Vegetable Packers in USA
Covid-19 infections are now spreading into the apple packing houses of Washington state, to farm workers in Florida, and to a California county known as ‘the world’s salad bowl.” This development comes in the wake of the yet rising numbers of sickened meat plant employees who have contracted the virus and has led to critical labor shortages and a potential disruption of the basic food chain in the US.
The creeping spread of the virus came to the notice of the Trump Administration last month; the president made it known that he is considering extending the executive order keeping meat plants operating to the fruit and vegetable produces as well; it is a sign that the president is concerned that fresh produce could be the next sector hit. Social distancing is easy among workers in open fields and orchards, but in the processing plants the workers are packed cheek-to-jowl and elbow-to-elbow ... precisely the conditions that contributed heavily to the spread of the virus at US meat packing plants. <>AOL
Coronavirus Spurs North American Jews to make Aliyah
Adversity often breeds desirable results – a principle that is being observed as huge numbers of American Jews are applying to make Aliyah within the coming months.
Many of the new olim have stated that their decision was prompted by the excellent handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in Israel ... that they will feel safer living in Israel! Even with the largely-curtailed air schedules into Israel, 51 new immigrants arrived on Monday last at Ben Gurion International Airport, ready to begin their new lives in Israel. The flight came on the heels of a record-breaking month of Aliyah – May 2020 – reflecting a 100 percent increase over the same month last year ... an impressive achievement.
Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Integration is Pnina Tamano-Shata, herself an Ethiopian olim. She stated that, “Even now, during the pandemic, Israel’s gates are open to Diaspora Jews, as much as possible, while keeping everyone safe and healthy.” She added, “We anticipate an incredible and welcome increase in olim before the end of this period, and even larger numbers in the next few years. As such, we are preparing a comprehensive national program to encourage Aliyah and effectively integrate olim as best as we can.
“It is important to note our work doesn’t end with our oleh brothers and sisters stepping off the plane,” she added, “but continues throughout their aliyah, every step of the way.”
Our referenced news article noted that “The new immigrants on the group flight earlier this week ranged from the oldest, 87, to a year-old baby.” <>Breaking Israel News
Russia Threatens to “Nuke” Anyone Who Attacks Her
The former KGB thug who heads Russia has now increased his threat level against Russia’s enemies. Vladimir Putin signed into Russian law the country’s new military doctrine on Sunday. It allows him to order a nuclear strike in retaliation to any attack using conventional weapons if such an attack “threatens the very existence of the (Russian) state.” The new law replaces an earlier one that specified a nuclear strike in response to an attack using nuclear weapons, giving the president the ability to order a nuclear strike in retaliation to an attack utilizing conventional weapons that “threaten the very existence of the state.” The new law seems to have been enacted in response to the initiative announced by the West only weeks ago to increase the weapons of defense along the Western Russian frontier. <>Breaking Israel News
Early Fall to see 200,000 Deaths in the US due to Coronavirus
The new trend in more and more states easing restrictions following the Covid-19 lockdown has spiked the number of US cases to surpass two million. Health officials are worried about a second overall spike in the pandemic. Over the past week, Florida has had a 40% increase. In both Utah and Arkansas – neither of which ever instituted a statewide stay-at-home order, cases climbed 60% each. Alarmed officials in Arizona, where cases have increased 93%, have ordered hospitals to place in effect their emergency plans. A Harvard doctor has warned that the US could see its death rate from the pandemic climb above 200,000 by early fall.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, admitted “It’s really complicated. So we’re just at almost the beginning of really understanding.”
Some have claimed the spikes are merely becoming evident because of more widespread testing. In answer to that theory, Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told Today on Thursday that this fact doesn’t explain the clear rise in hospitalizations in at least nine states."That's coming from just more people getting sick and needing hospital care," he said. "As testing's gotten better, we've identified more cases. Testing is a part of the story but certainly doesn't explain the whole thing." <>AOL
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 63
eTPL 30, June12, 2020
Underground Bunker Utilized for Israeli Cabinet Meetings
Deep under the Western Jerusalem hills, an underground government complex of facilities was constructed about ten years ago as a precaution against an Iranian nuclear attack or a missile barrage from Hezbollah in Lebanon. PM Netanyahu announced several weeks ago that cabinet meetings would be held in these facilities from now on. Readers will be reminded of the words of Isaiah 2: 19: “And men shall enter caverns in the rock and hollows in the ground — before the terror of Hashem and His dread majesty, when He comes forth to overawe the earth.” (The Israel Bible)is National Management Center includes living quarters and command facilities. In the Jerusalem hills west of the city, it is directly accessible from the government center in Jerusalem, presumably entirely by underground passageways.
In addition to weekly cabinet meetings, the underground complex is also being utilized as the venue of central operations in the management, control, oversight and tracking of the coronavirus as revealed by an anonymous government official speaking to Reuters, although as one official admitted, “It protects from bombs, but not from microbes.”
The complex was completed in 2010 at a cost of about $240 million and was initiated in 2007. It is designed to withstand a nuclear strike, and can house the prime minister’s office, military command centers, and all the essential civil authorities required to run the country. It is a spacious facility with access via a guarded tunnel wide enough to enable two trucks to travel in it side by side. <>Breaking Israel News
Recent Huge Protests Raise Fear of a new Coronavirus Outbreak in the USA
Protests have erupted all over the nation as a result of the needless (and criminal) death of a Black man in the custody of Minneapolis police officers over two weeks ago. The uncontrolled rioting and pillaging of the last several days has been extremely troubling for two reasons ... a) the damage and distress that has resulted, as well as b) the increased exposure to Covid-19 among the rioters. If the conjectures of the nation’s epidemiologists prove true the US could have a significant resurgence of the Covid-19 infections in only a few days, given the virus’ calculated incubation period of about two weeks.
As of the date of this edition of Splinters, the world death toll from the virus is slightly above 400,000 people out of a known seven million persons infected. As viral testing increases the number of infections will increase due to new cases (and recoveries) being uncovered which will cause the death rate to decrease.
The watchword which relates to the rioting was well-expressed by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms: “If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week.” (AP)
However, of equal concern to the civil unrest is the widespread opening of beaches, mosques, churches, schools and businesses worldwide. And the concern is not limited to the US – the country which has seen more infections and deaths than any other country in the world – the concern is spreading to other parts of the world, such as London and Berlin where massive demonstrations have also erupted. <>World Israel News
“If Israel Annexes, it will Annex all Settlements” – Settlements Minister Tzipi Hotovely
Settlements Minister Tzipi Hotovely yesterday stated that any differentiation between major blocs of settlements “will never pass” a Knesset vote. It will involve all ... or none.
For example, there is no rationale for omitting to annex Elon Moreh, a community close to Nablus, the capital of the Palestinian Authority. Although the intention to annex over 30% of the “West Bank” and the Jordan Valley has been in view for months, the mapping has still not been completed as a designation of the particular areas to be annexed. Minister Hotovely, a member of the mapping committee, has stated that “all the maps published have no connection to reality” and that a differentiation between major settlement blocs and other (minor) settlements “will never pass.” The result will be havoc (our opinion). <>Jerusalem Post
Coronavirus Spreads to Fruit and Vegetable Packers in USA
Covid-19 infections are now spreading into the apple packing houses of Washington state, to farm workers in Florida, and to a California county known as ‘the world’s salad bowl.” This development comes in the wake of the yet rising numbers of sickened meat plant employees who have contracted the virus and has led to critical labor shortages and a potential disruption of the basic food chain in the US.
The creeping spread of the virus came to the notice of the Trump Administration last month; the president made it known that he is considering extending the executive order keeping meat plants operating to the fruit and vegetable produces as well; it is a sign that the president is concerned that fresh produce could be the next sector hit. Social distancing is easy among workers in open fields and orchards, but in the processing plants the workers are packed cheek-to-jowl and elbow-to-elbow ... precisely the conditions that contributed heavily to the spread of the virus at US meat packing plants. <>AOL
Coronavirus Spurs North American Jews to make Aliyah
Adversity often breeds desirable results – a principle that is being observed as huge numbers of American Jews are applying to make Aliyah within the coming months.any of the new olim have stated that their decision was prompted by the excellent handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in Israel ... that they will feel safer living in Israel! Even with the largely-curtailed air schedules into Israel, 51 new immigrants arrived on Monday last at Ben Gurion International Airport, ready to begin their new lives in Israel. The flight came on the heels of a record-breaking month of Aliyah – May 2020 – reflecting a 100 percent increase over the same month last year ... an impressive achievement.
Israel’s Minister of Aliyah and Integration is Pnina Tamano-Shata, herself an Ethiopian olim. She stated that, “Even now, during the pandemic, Israel’s gates are open to Diaspora Jews, as much as possible, while keeping everyone safe and healthy.” She added, “We anticipate an incredible and welcome increase in olim before the end of this period, and even larger numbers in the next few years. As such, we are preparing a comprehensive national program to encourage Aliyah and effectively integrate olim as best as we can.
“It is important to note our work doesn’t end with our oleh brothers and sisters stepping off the plane,” she added, “but continues throughout their aliyah, every step of the way.”
Our referenced news article noted that “The new immigrants on the group flight earlier this week ranged from the oldest, 87, to a year-old baby.” <>Breaking Israel News
Russia Threatens to “Nuke” Anyone Who Attacks Her
The former KGB thug who heads Russia has now increased his threat level against Russia’s enemies. Vladimir Putin signed into Russian law the country’s new military doctrine on Sunday. It allows him to order a nuclear strike in retaliation to any attack using conventional weapons if such an attack “threatens the very existence of the (Russian) state.” The new law replaces an earlier one that specified a nuclear strike in response to an attack using nuclear weapons, giving the president the ability to order a nuclear strike in retaliation to an attack utilizing conventional weapons that “threaten the very existence of the state.” The new law seems to have been enacted in response to the initiative announced by the West only weeks ago to increase the weapons of defense along the Western Russian frontier. <>Breaking Israel News
Early Fall to see 200,000 Deaths in the US due to Coronavirus
The new trend in more and more states easing restrictions following the Covid-19 lockdown has spiked the number of US cases to surpass two million. Health officials are worried about a second overall spike in the pandemic. Over the past week, Florida has had a 40% increase. In both Utah and Arkansas – neither of which ever instituted a statewide stay-at-home order, cases climbed 60% each. Alarmed officials in Arizona, where cases have increased 93%, have ordered hospitals to place in effect their emergency plans. A Harvard doctor has warned that the US could see its death rate from the pandemic climb above 200,000 by early fall.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, admitted “It’s really complicated. So we’re just at almost the beginning of really understanding.”
Some have claimed the spikes are merely becoming evident because of more widespread testing. In answer to that theory, Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, told Today on Thursday that this fact doesn’t explain the clear rise in hospitalizations in at least nine states."That's coming from just more people getting sick and needing hospital care," he said. "As testing's gotten better, we've identified more cases. Testing is a part of the story but certainly doesn't explain the whole thing." <>AOL
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL30 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 64
eTPL31, July 14, 2020
Draw your Shades … if You Wish to keep it Secret from Israel!
Keep your shades drawn if you wish to hold a secret conversation anywhere in the world. This would be necessary to limit line-of-sight connection with any light bulb within range of the speaking voices.
Two Israeli universities have developed a technique called ‘lamphone’ (lamp plus phone) that enables them to focus a telescope equipped with an electro-optical sensor (cost: $400) on a light bulb in any subject room and, by means of a laptop computer and a cell phone, record accurately any conversation being held in that room – even music!
Research teams from Ben Gurion University of the Negev and The Weismann Institute of Science in Rehovot report that the tiny vibrations created by sound waves on the surface of a light bulb can thus be monitored and the vibrations analyzed to reproduce the sounds that created them.
But even if you do have your shades drawn so that no line-of-sight contact can be made with a light bulb in the room, the scientists also can simply monitor the tiny vibrations of window glass via a laser beam and detect the sounds also! These techniques greatly broaden the effectiveness of other information-gathering techniques such as using directional microphones, wiretaps, or putting your ear to a drinking glass you’re holding on to the wall of an adjoining room to pick up the vibrations. <>World Israel News
This is no time to Drop your Guard Against Covid-19
The World Health Organization warns that the present pandemic is “worsening” according to Arutz Sheva. Although some European countries are seeing some improvement in infection rate, the same is not true in many other parts of the world … including Israel and the USA. The trend was recognized at least a month ago.
Since that time significant increases of the infection have been seen. Some see this as an extension of the ‘first wave’ and not as a second wave at all. The uptick is seen as a result of the relaxation of rules against gatherings of large numbers of people and mostly ignoring of Covid-19 self-distancing protocols. The problem is most people are tired of the restrictions recommended by health authorities for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic – but one must realize that such an ubiquitous, lethal, highly-communicable disease cannot be ignored … or is ignored at one’s peril.
Such a lethal pathogen respects no person or class of society. These notable increases in infectivity have been noted because of the world-wide protests mounted over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (There is much more to be said on that front also, but those considerations are beyond the scale of this notice.) The relaxation of some travel restrictions, the opening of many businesses and other venues such as beaches, is seen by some as an unwise reaction to the public demand for fewer restrictions. The bottom line is that the ‘public’ does not know what is best for them in this highly complex medical emergency and should be more conducive to hearing the expertise of specialists who know a great deal more about it than they do. Well … when has THAT alternative been adhered to?? <>Arutz Sheva
The Pales******* Slit their own Throats … Again
Last month the Palestinian Authority (PA) refused an entire plane-load of medical supplies donated by the United Arab Republic (UAR). A clearly-identified aircraft of Etihad, a UAR air carrier, landed at Ben Gurion International Airport in early July, but the PA would not even discuss coming to haul away and utilize the valuable cargo – much to its own hurt! Late last week the same refusal was exercised by the PA when another aircraft arrived at Tel Aviv from the UAE. The PA’s concern is that “We were not involved” in the transaction … as if that would have made it more valid or useful to the two million destitute Arabs under their control. <>Arutz Sheva
Iran is Exploding
Iran is experiencing ‘mysterious’ interruptions at or near its nuclear facilities over the last several weeks. There have been at least seven reported by Iran. The consensus is that Israel is responsible for the incidents – the explosions, fires and malfunctions of equipment Iran has experienced – but Israel has remarked that “not everything that happens in Iran is connected to us.” It is an enigmatic response that has been typical of other such (presumably Israeli) interruptions of Iranian arms facilities and institutions.
Some of the attacks have been attributed to actual explosive charges placed physically in Iranian installations while others have been attributed to cyber-attacks of various kinds. The activity has renewed with a vengeance since April’s attack by Iran on Israel’s public water facilities in which an attempt was made by Iran to add poisonous amounts of chemicals remotely to Israel’s water systems at six different locations. The result could have been catastrophic for Israeli civilians and military alike…
Fortunately, Israeli detection of the assault prevented it from being executed. But that brought an immediate response by Israeli cyber operators in which the Mossad (presumably) scrambled the global positioning systems at Iranian seaports, a move that halted the movement of all the ships using the system, affecting all inbound and outbound shipping; the attack halted Iranian shipments for about a week. Each of the disruptive events has admittedly set back the Iranian nuclear ambitions by weeks … or months. Whoever is behind the attacks is effectively serving the Israeli interest of retarding or hopefully preventing Iran from its attempt to develop nuclear weapons – an intent denied by Iran. <>Algemeiner
Pales******* Threaten to Declare a State if…
The Palestinian Authority has declared that in light of Israel’s intended ‘annexation’ of Judea and Samaria it will declare itself a state in Judea and Samaria recognizing the 1967 armistice lines as their border – and to launch an international recognition campaign for that state. It would include eastern Jerusalem as its capital city. The announcement was evaluated by law professor Eugene Kontorovich of George Mason University’s school of law; he called the announcement ‘comical.’
And it is. The PA has no concept of how to form a national government; it has no currency; it has no valid court system or body of laws or constitution. Its police force is nowhere near an army. So the threat has no ‘teeth.’ But it makes for good press among the Arab inhabitants of the present areas controlled by the PA. <>Prophecy News Watch.
Covid-19 Symptoms Persist for months after Recovery from the Disease
Coronavirus symptoms have been found to persist for months after so-called recovery from the disease, according to the Pulmonary Institute at Sha’are Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Mysteriously persistent effects seem to linger in at least half of the recovered patients according to the Institute. These include weakness and breathing difficulties for weeks or months duration, and most do not return to the same condition they were in before they became ill. Researchers found that even some patients who suffered light effects from the virus have suffered long-term lung damage while other patients who were in serious condition suffered no long-term damage. The whole scenario is an enigma, bearing out the fact that there is still much to learn about this new, lethal virus by medical professionals.
The plan, therefore, is to study hundreds of ‘recovered’ patients in the coming weeks, and again within six months, to observe other long-term effects which may be present. These residual effects include persistent shortness of breath, urgency to cough, appearance of pulmonary fibrosis on X-rays, obstructive pulmonary disease, spotty organ failure, and pulmonary hypertension. The staff intends to use this data to formulate an efficient program of response to ease patients’ concerns and discomfort. <> Arutz Sheva
Annular Eclipse of the Sun over Jerusalem: Warning to the Nations?
The first solar eclipse of 2020 – a rare ‘annular’ one – just appeared over Israel on the anniversary of the day when Moses sent the twelve spies to search out the Land…
The pathway of the eclipse was extremely narrow – 60-km wide - and lasted about an hour from beginning to end. The sun was 99% eclipsed by some estimates and traversed a vast distance from the Central African Republic moving all the way to China. When the eclipse had been perfectly formed, it made the corona of the sun appear as a bright ring of fire around the darkened circle of the moon. It was a repeat of a similar brief eclipse observed on Hanukkah of last year. The appearance of both these on specific Jewish observances has raised a good deal of interest. In Jewish philosophy, a solar eclipse is a bad omen for the nations (according to the Talmud) which base their calendars on the solar cycle … especially those threatening Israel. The consensus is that Israel, doing the will of God by returning to their homeland, will have nothing to fear from all this, citing YHVH’s oversight of all things: Jeremiah 10:12. <>Breaking Israel News
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 66
eTPL31, August 6, 2020
Israeli Firm Produces new Face Mask 99% Effective against Coronavirus
A relatively new Israeli start-up company, Sonovia, has successfully engineered an improved anti-microbial fabric claimed to be capable of neutralizing 99 percent of the viruses to which it is exposed.
Previously tested at the Microspectrum Lab in Shanghai, an earlier version of the fabric was found to neutralize more than ninety percent of the corona viruses exposed to it. Since that time Sonovia has introduced a proprietary zinc-coated formulation which has been proven even more effective. Although it is still officially to be tested and rated (a procedure set to be conducted in the EU), the new fabric is already being incorporated into the company’s SonoMask, which it is selling on a company website.
Reusable, the mask has been proven to be effective even after being washed ninety times. The new double-layered mask also is a barrier to 90 percent of pathogens of as small as five microns – smaller than a red blood cell (RBC). Although the corona virus is many times smaller than an RBC the zinc component apparently acts as a killer-on-contact – an active antiviral agent.
The specific technology is based upon a physical phenomenon called cavitation, according to Dr. Jason Migdal, a research scientist with the company. He explained that sound waves are utilized to infuse desired chemicals onto the structure of the mask’s fabrics, enhancing them with clinically proven antiviral and antibacterial properties (from a Jerusalem Post report).
Developed at Bar-Ilan University in Israel it utilizes a lab-scale sono-chemical process to kill the viruses. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (USA) for non-medical use but is now actively being tested in a new category of protective equipment for healthcare workers. <> Abstracted from World Israel News.
Ammonia Nitrate Stockpile Explodes in Beirut
Killing more than a Hundred Thirty
A “warehouse” containing over 2700 tons of ammonium nitrate blew up in Beirut on August 3, killing over a hundred people (hundreds more are missing at this writing), and injuring at least 4,000 others. The third of three blasts created a mushroom cloud reminiscent of an atomic bomb and was heard as far away as the island of Cyprus.
The wharf section of Beirut was utterly devastated by the blast. Late reports claim about 300,000 people are now homeless as a result of the damage to the area.
President Donald Trump said that some of his military people had told him the explosion must have been due to a bomb of some sort although Lebanese authorities are denying that it was. The chemical – the chief ingredient of agricultural fertilizer (remember the Oklahoma City attack of several years ago) – is highly explosive. In addition, it had been stored for ‘a long period’ of time which may have made the chemical more unstable – more likely to explode.
What is described as ‘a large segment of the capital’ was leveled by the third blast, creating total destruction of several large buildings, some of which probably were apartment buildings. No organization or military force has claimed to have caused the blast; Israelis seem mystified by it and deny any complicity in the event. Beirut International Airport is located some ten km distant and was significantly damaged by the third explosion of three – the first two being minor compared to the third...
The U. S. Geologic Survey recorded the blast on earthquake sensors and reported its strength as 3.3 on the Richter scale! <>Abstracted from Yahoo News; reported by The Independent. August 4, 2020
Missile was Photographed Hitting Beirut Port
It certainly appears that President Trump was probably correct in his statement that the Beirut attack was indeed just that ... an attack. CNN and other outlets had repudiated his statement immediately, saying that there was no proof of an attack. Well, now there appears to be photographic proof. A newly-surfaced video clearly shows in slow motion an event just preceding the explosion. An object that appears to be incoming from a distance detonated the third blast at the Port of Beirut. The footage has ‘gone viral’ on FaceBook sites since yesterday. <>Breaking Israel News
Well, Isn’t this Ironic!
The enormous explosion at the Port of Beirut may have been a direct comeback to earlier threats made toward Israel by Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon. As early as 2016 he directly threatened Israel with just such an attack on its ammonium nitrate stockpile which is housed in Haifa, Israel.ed to kill 800,000 people in Haifa, he had said at the time, “It’s simple mathematics.... A few missiles on a few ammonium plants equal the same amount of death as an atomic bomb. You (Israel) can destroy Lebanon.... You (Israel) have the strongest air force; you have missiles; and you have other means by which to do it. But we can do the same thing to you (Israel) with only a few missiles aimed at a few ammonium plants.”
One is reminded of the account of Haman, the Persian (now Iran) izier who met a similar fate: “So they impaled Haman on the stake which he had put up for Mordechai, and the king’s fury abated.” (cf., Esther 7:10) <>Breaking Israel News
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 67
eTPL31 August 10, 2020
Is this Number Eleven in a Series of Mysterious Explosions and Fires in Iran?
August 5, 2020. We’ve lost count, but this seems to be the eleventh mysterious disruption seen at important Iranian installations in the past few weeks. A raging fire erupted in the industrial area of Jajrud in Pardis County early today. At this time no blame has been placed for the fire. No details available...
The incident follows a mysterious blast in July at a medical clinic in northern Tehran that killed 19 people. At around the same time the Parchin military and weapons development base blew up on June 26. Two weeks ago, at least seven Iranian ships caught fire simultaneously (!) in the port city of Bushehr. These were merely the latest in a long list of violent disruptions of unknown and suspicious origin. Speculation has been that Israel is clandestinely involved in all these in its ongoing determined effort to slow and to stop Iran’s progress toward a nuclear bomb. <>Breaking Israel News
A New Deadly Tick-borne Virus Emerges from ... China!
August 8, 2020. Seven Chinese citizens have died as a result of a newly-emerged tick-borne virus that has surfaced in that country. Not only is the disease contractible by tick-bite – it also appears to pass from person to person directly, capable of being transferred via means of blood or mucus.
So far, the virus has infected only about 60 people ... most of them in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui. Symptoms of the disease include fever, cough, fatigue, nausea, a reduction in white blood cells, and vomiting. The virus, named SFTS was not defined further by the report, but it dates back to 2009; its pathogenic agent was identified by scientists in 2011. Its case-fatality rate is alarming: between 16 and 30 percent according to officials! And, of course, the elderly and the immune-compromised population is most at risk.
The disease has been prioritized as to research along with SARS, Ebola and the Zika virus. All lack efficacious drugs for treatment. Also, there is no vaccine available for any of these diseases. <>Abstracted from press reports.
A Dire Prognosis for the Coronavirus Infection
Dr. Peter Hotez, the director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development told MSNBC reporters that the Covid-19 pandemic in the US is “still spiraling out of control,” estimating that 300,000 people could be dead from it by the end of December in the USA. Compare that figure to the current death toll of 190,000 people in the US. The doctor is said to have paraphrased his warning with a familiar simile. He said, “Put your tray-table up in the upright and locked position. It’s going to be a very tough fall.”
The doctor is known for his long-term resistance to the anti-vaccine movement in the US – the patently ignorant conclusion by some that vaccines are generally harmful to humans and do not prevent the diseases they are designed to prevent. Other anti-science foes have actually caused further deaths by refusing the rule of social-distancing and the use of face masks to mitigate its spread, he said.
Dr. Hotez criticized the White House’s handling of the crisis in passing the responsibility for handling it back to the individual governors of each state. He firmly believes that federal leadership is not only called for but necessary for the best results. Containment of the disease can still be achieved, he says, “but will require leadership at the federal level.” He said, “Sometimes we talk about it as though it’s the past and the worst is over. The worst is yet to come.”
He pointed to the relatively new discovery that it’s not just the fatalities that we need to be concerned about; it’s also “the long-term injury to the lungs, to the vascular system, to the heart, neurologic deficits, and cognitive defects. This will plague the country for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.” <>Huffpost
To Iran: Israel Knows what you are Doing
Jerusalem. August 7, 2020. Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen told reporters recently that “We know what is happening everywhere” in Iran. These words came in the wake of a series of critical and mysterious explosions at sensitive locations in the Islamic Republic within the past several weeks. The Jerusalem Post reported his words: “Whoever wants to threaten Israel’s existence, will have no immunity anywhere…. I say to Iran, ‘Don’t put Israel’s determination to the test.’”
Minister Cohen also brought up Israel’s unique (in the Middle East) ability to loft advanced satellites for close surveillance of its enemies. He added that Israel would ensure that Tehran and its allies will never achieve a nuclear weapon, because “We will stop it.”
Addressing the Iranian proxies of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, he added, “We have many tools to stop them… including a diverse range of missile defense… I suggest no one should test Israel’s abilities. We haven’t used all of our abilities to date – only a small amount.” <>JPost
Worst Economy in US History is Here
President Trump as well as the mainstream media has been saying that the US economy would come roaring back toward normal during the third quarter of the year (we are nearly half-way through that quarter at this time), but signs persist that show the economy is beginning to slow down again...
Just four days ago a report showed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the US was down 32.9 percent annualized – which makes it the worst quarter in all of US history. And some knowledgeable economists are opining that this new economic depression is still at its beginning!
When employment peaked last February, 152 million Americans were working. In the past 19 weeks 54 million of those have filed for unemployment benefits!
But the statistics get worse: Bloomberg Financial News just reported on a recent Census Bureau survey that found that 30 million Americans claim that they did not have enough food to eat during the week that ended on July 21st. And the National Restaurant Association reports that at least 15% of all restaurants in the US will close by year’s end. Social media is filled with attempts of small businesses such as these trying to get out of business as quickly as possible.
Walmart, Inc. is joining the likes of Macy’s and others in eliminating hundreds of corporate jobs in order to cut overhead costs. Any organization expecting the economy to return to normal would not make such moves but would ‘ride them out’ in the interest of continuity of operations.
The United States – and by extension, the world – is in huge trouble. It should be fairly clear to everyone that there is not going to be a quick return to “normal.” <>Prophecy News Watch
The Times Wax Worse ... and Worse in these Last Days
Every reader must know that violence has spread to many of the major cities in America – and is seen as trending sharply upward in many other nations. It is a condition which was foretold many years ago by men of God who were speaking by means of the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1: 21).
One of the major factors causing this spike in crime is the widespread demand to remove funding for municipal police forces. A billion dollars was subtracted from New York City’s police budget (nearly 20% of the entire budget. As a result, scores of officers have elected to take early retirement or have just quit. For many years, diligent policing in NY resulted in one of the safest of US cities; all that is changing at a breathtaking speed. One British newspaper has referred to the city as “lawless New York.”
It is a moniker well-deserved. In June there were 250 people shot in various circumstances; this figure was in comparison to 97 persons shot in the same month last year ... an increase over 200% year to year.
But New York has a long way to go to equal the horrendous conditions in Chicago. Authorities there say that over 100,000 gang members live in Chicago at this time; violence is continuous there. Many of the victims are minors ... children – even an infant of less than one year gunned down in her stroller.
This led the Chicago Sun-Times to posit that “...cutting funding for police could lead to a better and safer Chicago!” Incredible!
The same trends are showing up in other major cities such as Philadelphia where police funding was reduced by 19%. Portland, Oregon, has witnessed over two straight months of nightly rioting and looting – and shooting at police with commercial fireworks, throwing frozen bottles of water, and even bottles of urine. No wonder police personnel are quitting in droves.
No matter who wins the presidential election in November, it is clear that the US has now entered a new, permissive era of violence and rioting. Some cities look like war zones. And this is probably just the beginning of such sorrows.<>Prophecy News Watch
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 68
eTPL31 August 20, 2020
Annexation “off the Table” for now - Netanyahu
As a feature of the agreement for formal ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Israel is delaying its planned annexations of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley. Prime Minister Netanyahu said that, for now, Israel will delay its plans to annex the land. But it will be done “in full cooperation with the U.S. I’m committed to it; this hasn’t changed. I was the one who put sovereignty in Judea and Samaria on the table. This issue remains on the table,” he said in an announcement after the mutual recognition with the UAE – The Abraham Accord – was announced. That delay was said to be one of the features of that agreement. That accord lays the framework for assumption of diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE, and is the third such agreement signed by Israel and an Arab country after Jordan and Egypt. <>Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Three Coronavirus Patients Recover and are Released from Hospital
The first three Israeli “test case” coronavirus patients treated with plasma-based antibody vaccines have recovered and have been discharged from Hadassah Hospital as of August 13th.
Instead of being a preventive “vaccine,” however, the patients were given the antibodies after they became ill – so it was a ‘treatment’ rather than a “vaccine” in the classical sense. It was reported that the patients were verified victims of Covid-19 and had developed specific breathing problems, but when given the antibodies they recovered. They were determined to have also developed a high level of antibodies against the virus. All this is new investigative groundwork that has been done by Hadassah Hospital and the Israeli firm Kamada, the prime developer of the process.
All three had developed breathing problems associated with the infection, often the final stages of the disease before death, giving the technique the character of a treatment rather than a preventive vaccine. Kamada is now planning in separate clinical trials to test the antibody product as a preventative measure for coronary heart disease.
The antibodies were collected from plasma donated by recovered Covid-19 patients who first had to test negative for the active infection (they had fully recovered) and have a blood test that showed a high number of antibodies in their blood. The treatment is raising the hopes of many victims in Israel and around the world ... that a ‘cure’ will soon be available on a limited basis. <>United With Israel
U. S. Police Officers Quitting “in Droves”
It’s no surprise that police officers in the US are quitting in droves. No matter who wins the political election in November, the US has clearly entered a new, permissive level of violence, rioting and looting. Some beautiful American cities – areas such as Chicago’s Miracle Mile, an upscale shopping district in the Loop – look like a war zone. Businesses are shuttered and boarded up ... and covered by obscenities written in spray paint. It is probably just the beginning of such anarchy. <>Prophecy News Watch
Worldwide Chaos Continues: America Seizes Iranian Tankers
Worldwide lawlessness continues unabated. On August 14th, US naval forces were reported to have seized four Iranian tankers transporting gasoline to Venezuela. It was a bizarre incident in a way: why should anyone be transporting petroleum to Venezuela – a country which sits atop one of the world’s largest petroleum reserves?
Well, that’s because Venezuela cannot produce its own fuels due to refinery shutdowns throughout the country. Refineries wear out and break down just as every other machine, but Venezuela cannot afford the spare parts to repair them and place them back in service. It is part and parcel of the chaos that has hit the world during the last three decades.
The tankers were engaged in sanctioned (embargoed) trade by Iran. They are said to be being escorted to Houston TX where the fuel will be confiscated by US authorities. The tankers had turned off their GPS tracking devices and were attempting to make the voyage to Venezuela undetected. They were not escorted by Iranian protective (escort) vessels of any kind. <>Bloomberg Financial News
Is Sudan ‘Next in Line’ to make Peace with Israel?
August 19, 2020. As unlikely as it may sound, Israel and Sudan appear close to a peace agreement, following on the heels of last week’s normalization deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Sky News Arabia reported that a Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Haidar Badawi Sadiq says that Sudan looks forward to such an agreement with the Jewish state based on the “highest interests of national security and of Sudan” and that “there is no reason to continue hostility between Sudan and Israel.”
Sadiq noted that last week’s normalization of relations between the two powers was “in exchange for a freeze on the application of sovereignty in the ‘West Bank.’” Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly said, “We will do all that’s needed to turn this vision into a reality.” <>Breaking Israel News
... But some Israeli Citizens aren’t so Happy
Community leaders in Judea and Samaria were split in their reaction to the pending peace deal between the UAE and Israel; one representative called the decision to suspend sovereignty over settlements “a knife in the back” of those living in Judea and Samaria who thought they would soon be absorbed into the state – probably by July 1st. He scathingly termed the disappointment “the scam of the century,” and said Mr. Netanyahu had taken one step too many. But other leaders acceded to the decision, with Oded Revivi, mayor of Efrat (just south of Bethlehem in the Gush Etzion Bloc) stated to the Zenger Wire Service (Texas) that “postponing the sovereignty decision was a faiar price to pay in exchange for peace with another Arab country.” Such is the deep desire of some Israelis to achieve peace with their neighbors. They seem to have no concept of the scriptural answer to that challenge – that their proximate neighbors are destined to be entirely routed from the region and that the Jews are destined to inherit all of it ... forever. <>World Israel News
Over 700 Descendants of Manasseh to Return from India
It is estimated that there are yet about 6,500 Bnei Menashe now expecting to make aliyah, returning to their Hebrew homeland from India after over 2700 years in exile! The Minister of Aliyah and Absorption, MK Pnina Tamanu-Shata has just announced her intention to move ahead with plans to bring 722 of those folk to Israel just after the fall High Holidays are completed on September 24th.
The Ministry’s budget would cover the costs of airfare and other transportation from India to Israel.
At a meeting held earlier this week the minister agreed to begin serious planning to bring the other 6,500 members from northeast India to Israel over the next five years. During the last twenty years, over 4,000 Bnei Menashe have made aliyah. These have been successfully absorbed into Israeli society.
The meeting was attended by one of the earlier immigrants from India as an example of the success that may be expected; First Private Ayala Tova Hangshing, 23, is a Border Police Guard who came from India three years ago. More of her relatives will arrive among the 722 persons who will arrive this year. A courageous young woman, Ms. Hangshing insisted on being recruited in an IDF combat role; she now serves among the IDF forces which guard the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron – the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives.
More information about these folk was covered in this paragraph from the news article: “The Bnei Menashe, sons of Manasseh, claim descent from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, who were sent into exile by the Assyrian Empire more than 27 centuries ago. Their ancestors wandered through Central Asia and the Far East for centuries, before settling in what is now northeastern India, along the border with Burma and Bangladesh. Throughout their sojourn in exile, the Bnei Menashe continued to practice Judaism just as their ancestors did, including observing the Sabbath, keeping kosher, celebrating the festivals and following the laws of family purity. They continued to nourish the dream of one day returning to the land of their ancestors, the Land of Israel.” <>World Israel News
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 69
eTPL31 August 30, 2020
The Mullahs and Hezbollah, Lords of Drug Smuggling
Hezbollah in Lebanon is being morally recognized in its role as one of the foremost drug-traffickers in the modern world. Hezbollah’s ‘spiritual’ leader has stated that “narcotics’ trafficking is ‘morally acceptable’ if the drugs are sold to Western infidels as part of the war against the enemies of Islam." A recent fatwa (edict) has been issued by Iranian religious leaders: “We are making drugs for Satan – America and the Jews. If we cannot kill them with guns, we will kill them with drugs.” (from a report, “Hezbollah; the Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of God,” by Matthew Levitt, (Hurst; 2013).
The comments were apparently brought forth by information that Italian authorities seized on July 1, 15.4 tons of Captagon pills produce in Syria – a region reported as the largest supplier of Captagon (or fenethylline). The well-concealed shipment could have been sold for about $1.3 billion. The substance is banned almost everywhere because of its highly addictive and otherwise lethal nature.
Syria is the main producer of Captagon because Hezbollah and its sponsor, Iran, are highly influential in Syria where there is almost no official monitoring of such activities there. The shipment was invisible to airport scanners and was detected only through police monitoring of the cell phone conversations of local criminals. <>Gatestone Institute
False Myths about Peace with ‘Palestinians’
The Israeli-UAE peace accord of recent days puts to rest the myth that Israel cannot be fully accepted in the region unless it makes peace with the Pales*******, and that all the civil commotion – the wars and hot conflicts of the Middle East – are associated with the Israel-Pales****** conflict.
That ‘linkage’ was voiced by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former National Security Adviser, who said, “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the single most combustible and galvanizing issue in the Arab world.”
The fact is, that issue is probably just the one with the highest ‘profile’ in the media, as less than 100,000 Arabs have died in the Israel-Pales****** conflict, the majority of whom died in Israel’s defensive wars initiated by its neighbors.
Yet a review of the Muslim deaths just since the founding of the State of Israel (1948), proves that there have been in excess of twelve million Muslim deaths in the broader internecine conflicts such as the Syrian and Lebanese civil wars – and the Iran-Iraq conflict.
This statistic proves that less than one percent of all deaths from warfare in the region were due to the Israel-Arab disputes – data which well-illustrates that Israel is one of the most insignificantly bloody in the whole region. <>from FLAME, August 25, 2020
Lebanon – Open to Peace with Israel?
Just after the Israel-UAE Abraham Accord was revealed, a statement of just such a similar possibility of a peace agreement was issued by Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun. The president said that would depend on another factor which involves “problems with Israel ... we have to resolve them first.”
The answer was far more reasonable than might have been expected earlier, showing that the UAE agreement that Israel has made with UAE has had an impact on Islamic thinking in some quarters. Aoun has undertaken a significant change in his position on Israel, it seems. As far back as 2006, as head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hezbollah which concluded a military strategy which was aimed at Israel. Hezbollah is now more powerful than then by a long way, controlling over 25% of the Lebanese parliamentary seats.
Aoun’s new attitude does, however, bring him more into line with an ancient predecessor – King Hiram of Lebanon – who willingly furnished cedar wood and other materials including skilled laborers to King Solomon for the construction of the house of God on Mount Moriah.
Some in Israel see this as militating for the nearness of their actual construction of the ‘Third Temple’ in that holy location. And some even see it as harbinger of the removal of Hezbollah from Lebanese affairs – a conclusion with which we do not concur (see Obadiah 1: 18, 19).
Although the recent destruction of the Port of Beirut by an explosion of ammonium nitrate owned by Hezbollah has soured many on the organization, the terrorist group would be more than difficult of removal from its well-positioned base throughout Lebanon. Its sponsor, Iran, looks with great pride upon the 150,000 missiles emplaced in Lebanon and now primed for loosing upon Israel in its attempt to overthrow the Jewish state and people.
We suspect that it would be more likely to look to other Arab states in the region to make a peace accord with Israel rather than Lebanon at this point in time. <>Breaking Israel News
New Virus Strain found in Pigs in China may have ‘Pandemic Potential’
The Jerusalem Post reported about two months ago that a new influenza virus infecting pigs has been found to be more infectious to humans. It therefore needs to be closely monitored to determine whether it may become a potential source of a new pandemic, although the threat does not seem imminent.
For whatever one may think of the Chinese, they have done extensive research on viral threats to humanity. In the period 2011-2018, researchers discovered a “G4” strain of H1N1 that, they claim, has
“... all the essential hallmarks of a candidate pandemic virus," according to their paper published by the US journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Pork producers in heavily populated regions of China (and there are many!) demonstrated elevated levels of the virus in their blood ... a fact which dictates that close monitoring of such workers should be undertaken immediately. The fear of the research team is that the virus may begin to cross the species barrier into humans, inducing a pandemic of another sort! <>JPost
Acute Shortage of Coins in the USA
Readers have doubtless noticed the new restrictions to paying bills with cash ... and many stores issuing requests for such to be made with ‘plastic’ or exact change.
A partial reason for this requirement is a real shortage of metal coinage from the national mints resulting in limiting the distribution of all species of currency.
But another is a decisive push toward digital payments as long backed by the retail banking establishment; it sees the current pandemic as a great premise to push that agenda.
Yet another factor is the aversion of some to widespread use of physical money due to its potential source of viral infections and transmission during the present pandemic. Coins and bills are, after all, some of the most ubiquitous ‘fomites’ (potential carriers of disease) in existence. <>Prophecy News Watch
Border Duel Continues on Gaza Frontier
Israel continues under a limited siege on its frontier with Gaza as Hamas rocketeers continue to launch their weapons into southern Israel. The Israel Air Force answers each with devastating counter-attacks on the terrorists. In addition, Hamas operative have resumed balloon and kite attacks on their neighbors to the east and north. When a rocket launch is detected, alarms sound for miles around Gaza; Israelis have about 15 seconds to reach protective cover before the missiles strike.
Earlier in the week six rockets were launched at Israel at around 5 a.m., striking only open areas. But just prior to this attack, hundreds of fire balloons were launched by the terrorists.
The fire balloons are a different story altogether ... cheap and effective. They carry homemade firebombs or explosives (such as grenades) that target Israeli civilians. Photos are readily available showing the improvisers filling giant balloons or plastic bags with propane, and then attaching a lit cigarette attached to a fuse connected to the balloon cluster.
Within two to four minutes the cluster has floated eastward on the prevailing winds of the region and is now over Israeli farms, orchards ... and communities. The smoldering cigarette slowly burns to its surrounding fuse, and ignites the fuse, which rapidly leads its lively spark upward to the explosive cooking gas. The result is a flash fire of some magnitude in an orchard, a forest, a vegetable patch, or over a residence. Due to its flammability these blazes spread quickly and it becomes imperative that they be extinguished rapidly, taxing Israeli volunteers who must remain vigilant throughout each night. Hundreds of acres of productive farmland and forest have been torched by this method lately. <>United With Israel
Abbas now Appears ‘Ready’ for Israeli Peace Talks
Abu Mazen (a.k.a. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, (the PA)) has announced that he is now ‘ready’ for Israel peace talks with U.S., U.N., Europe, and Russia.
Well, isn’t that a fine how do you do??
The feckless head of the PA has now been effectively passed over by the so-called “peace process” (it never was such, mind you!) and has become irrelevant in the shadow of the latest move by another Islamic power, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its agreement to the Abraham Accords with Israel – effectively establishing peace between the former enemies, and cementing trade and diplomatic relations.
For literally years Abbas has refused even to reply to Israeli overtures to sit down and discuss peace. In so doing, the PA president has shown himself a completely incompetent ninny who in no way understands just what is really going on. His rebuttal of the Trump “Deal of the Century,” which he refused even to read, offered fifty billion dollars in aid to the Pales******* and an opportunity to become another success story not unlike Hong Kong in the Middle East ... and he would not even consider one word of the proposal. <> HEL from press notes.
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 70
eTPL31, September 19, 2020
Israel Signs Abraham Accord with UAE and Bahrain
September 15, 2020. Today at noon in Washington, the signing ceremony of the UAE-Israel Abraham Accord was completed, but with one addition: the Foreign Minister of Bahrain also attended and signed the Accord. The ceremony was held on the South Lawn of the White House and lasted about 90 minutes.
Short speeches were given by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, the UAE Foreign Minister, the Bahraini Foreign Minister, and US President Donald Trump. Copies of the Accord were signed in English, Hebrew and Arabic by all four men.
The treaty was the first made by Israel since October 26, 1994, when King Hussein of Jordan and Yitzhak Rabin of Israel signed their treaty in a ceremony held in the Arava Valley of Israel, north of Eilat near the Jordanian border. It had been preceded by a ceremony between Rabin, Hussein and President Clinton at the White House on July 25, 1994, who had signed the Washington Declaration – a statement of their intent to draw up a peace treaty.
All four speakers today voiced the opinion that other Arabic nations would sign a similar agreement in the near term, thus bringing peace to the Middle East in a great show of magnanimity toward Israel from the whole world! We shall see what we shall see. <>Fox News, CNN.
Beirut Port Is Burning Again
Only a few weeks after the Port of Beirut exploded, destroying the docks and storage warehouses as well as a huge grain storage unit, the port is burning again. A report in Arutz Sheva did not specify just what is feeding the flames this time, but it is evidently not more ammonium nitrate – the fuel for the massive explosion in August. It would seem that the ultimate destruction of Lebanon is now underway! <> from news reports and J. Post
‘Five or Six more Countries’ to make Peace with Israel?
President Trump stressed to PM Benyamin Netanyahu of Israel during the Abraham Accord signing ceremony, that "We are in talks with 5-6 countries about signing peace accords with Israel, you will see more announcement soon." He indicated that several other Arab and Muslim nations are seriously interested in signing a similar peace deal with Israel.
Mr. Trump added that “I think Israel is not isolated [in the region] anymore...."Now you have a situation where many of the countries ... want to sign this deal." “You’re going to see a lot of great activity. There’s going to be peace in the Middle East,” he added. <>Arutz Sheva, Sept 17, 2020
Netanyahu: Annexation is in the Trump Peace Plan
As early as August 31, PM Netanyahu stated for the record that “the application of sovereignty is in the Trump peace plan,” and that rumors of his having abandoned this intention are false. On Monday as he left for Washington he restated that annexation of portions of the “West Bank” is still on the table.
That statement seemed to be in contradiction to an announcement made a week earlier by Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Berlin. Even as a high level Israeli delegation was in the United Arab Emirates to cement their earlier vocal agreement, the PM stated, “Trump’s peace plan ‘says that settlements won’t be uprooted, and there won’t be an uprooting of citizens.’ There is no such thing. Israelis will stay where they are. In this plan, there are wide swaths of territory with Israelis and also for security that will be under Israeli sovereignty.”
This subject has not gone away, Netanyahu said.
He seemed to be wishing to clarify for all ears his intentions: the Jerusalem Post reported that he also said, “It is not as if you are going to create a Palestinian state based on past understandings where the settlements are dismantled and there is a return to the ’67 lines ... and where Jerusalem is divided.”
Voicing a tougher line on the subject than ever, he also said that he will apply sovereignty even if the Pales******* still do not come to the table: “I have not taken this off of the agenda. I suggest that you wait patiently. I think that everyone understands that historic things are happening here.” <>JPost
Israel Continues to Pound Syria with Impunity
As September lapses into history, Israeli warplanes continue to attack Iranian proxies in Syria seemingly without risk of retaliation or exercise of defense measures by Syria or Russia. Each strike seems to result in several casualties as, in the past two years, Israel has destroyed a third of Syrian air defenses as nearly 1,000 missiles have been launched against Israeli aircraft (no hits!) in it “war-between-wars” action in Syria and Lebanon. <>JPost and Reuters
A new Swine Flu Emerges ... in China!
September 15, 2020. A new, virulent strain of swine flu is infecting pig farmers in China with about 15% testing positive for antibodies to the new disease. Dr. Leonard Mermel, a professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University warned that, "Unfortunately, this influenza strain has all the attributes to cause a pandemic," he said. "It's easily taken up by human cells. It can be spread in an animal model — ferret to ferret through respiratory secretions. The ferrets that get infected have worse outcomes than (with) seasonal influenza."
He said that the immediate goal should be to “get a universal flu vaccine before the virus, which is locked andloaded and ready to go, spreads from the Chinese pig farmers to other parts of Eurasia and other parts of the world.” He is worried that a worst-case scenario would be if this virus started spreading in the fall at the time when we’re most concerned about Covid-19. The challenge could be overwhelming. He warned that “This unique strain ... is more virulent and more infectious and has worse outcomes than human influenza A."
And there is yet another challenge beyond Covid-19, he said. There is an influenza virus called H7N9 which has also spread in some parts of CHINA ... and it has “a very high associated morbidity and mortality.” This is another reason for everyone to get flu shots: "You need every protection you can get against Covid-19. You also don't want to be exposed to Covid-19 when you're sick from another virus. That causes immunosuppression, and will make it harder to fight Covid." <> Medscape Medical News
Other Muslim States join in Talks with Israel
Israel’s Kann News, a state-run agency, normalization talks are underway with Oman, Sudan, Comoro Islands, Djibouti and Mauritania. All these are Muslim states, and except Oman, are in Africa. <>Israel 365
Ominous News for the World: Famine is Imminent
A stark warning was issued (Sept. 17th) by Executive Director David Beasley of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), who stressed in a virtual meeting with the UN Security Council, that, “without (additional) resources, a wave of FAMINE could sweep the globe, overwhelming nations already weakened by years of instability.... This fight is far, far, far from over."
This global crisis (famine) is being caused by wars and uprisings, and is now compounded by Covid-19 having moved into a dangerous phase. Countries most affected will be those overwhelmed by years of instability. Resulting from his earlier warnings in April, he said that donors and countries have taken extraordinary measures to save lives, already spending $17 trillion in fiscal stimulus packages.
His comments indicated the extreme urgency of the challenge: "We're doing just about all we can do to stop the dam from bursting. But, without the resources we need, a wave of hunger and famine still threatens to sweep across the globe," said the WFP Executive Director. "I'm here to sound that alarm ... the threat of famine is looming yet again."
He admitted that government reserves are being severely reduced, and that 2021 will be a ‘make or break year.’ Only 85 million of the critical 138 million people have yet been assisted, he said.
As usual, the poorest folk will be the hardest hit. He cited the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in saying that for every Covid-19 death prevented, eighty children may die from a lack of routine vaccination (unusually inexpensive treatment). Costs are that fragile in their balance, and demand a Solomonic approach to their allocation. Some countries he cited are...
Democratic Republic of Congo: its 15.5 million people already facing famine jump to 22 million.
Nigeria: 4.3 million people are increasing by six hundred thousand.
Burkina Faso: conflict is deepening; people facing starvation tripled to 3.3 million as Covid-19 increased.
Yemen: 20 million are in crisis, with another three million facing starvation due to Covid-19. Only 8.5 million of these are being actively assisted. <>IsraelNews.net
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 71
eTPL31 October 1, 2020
Covid-19 Infections in Israel Highest in the World
September 27, 2020 - Jerusalem. After exhibiting a stellar record in holding down Covid-19 infections earlier in the year, Israel is now seeing the highest infection rate of all the nations of the world.
Weighted to its population as being the world’s highest infection rate, the Sunday report of the Ministry of Health in Israel stated its 749 serious cases of Covid-19 as being just short of the “red line” where it says patient hospital care will decline. A report by Israeli Channel 12 asserted that the number of cases has increased more than tenfold in the last three months showing a clear increase in morbidity. Of this total number, nearly 200 are on ventilators – the sickest of all patients in Israel.
That statistic affects the potential ability of Israel’s hospitals to handle unexpected new cases of any illness or injury – such as war wounded in case active conflict breaks out unexpectedly (always a concern in Israel). The margin of safety is a significant worry to hospital officials throughout the country
Another companion factor indicating a serious uptick in the disease is the positive test rate – the percentage of individuals found to be infected – which now stands at 13.6%, a significant increase over 11.2 % about a week ago. Israel’s goal is 7% or below...
Adding to the level of concern is the fact that the numbers of medical staff now quarantined or ill with other diseases amounts to nearly 4,600 individuals. Nearly 1,900 of these are infected with coronavirus.
The immediate result has been a two-seek mandated lock-down by Israel over the Jewish holidays.
The director general of the Health Ministry Hezi Levi expressed pessimism that the reduced activity levels will end in two weeks. “I am assuming we will not leave the quarantine immediately after Simchat Torah,” at the end of the Sukkot holiday on October 10, Levi said, adding that schools will “will not be fully resumed” either. <Astracted from WIN
Is Syria Seeking Peace with Israel?
Rumors have been flying for several days that Syrian President Bashar Assad is putting out feelers in pursuit of a peace accord with Israel. He evidently does not wish to be left behind in the drive for peace by some other Islamic powers such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. And other Arab governments are rumored to be going in the same positive direction – Sudan, for one, and possibly Lebanon may be on the cusp.
Without controversy, such a move would be difficult for Assad to accomplish. It would surely rile the Iranians who have invested so much political and monetary capital in Syria; Russia would also have to be appeased and their holdings possibly reversed. The Golan Heights would be a key part of the agreement – which may be the main reason why Assad is thinking of making this approach to Israel – as a pathway to the influences to be found only in Washington DC.
Assad, frequently called a shrewd sovereign, would be faced with many difficult choices, but the benefits could be life-saving for the time being (long-term prospects are set in stone and are not favorable!). The Syrian economy is “drowning fast” (Jerusalem Post) and trouble is crowding in on his regime from every direction. His generals and the country’s business leaders are at odds with one another. The various internal conflicts are at a standoff. The Syrian Golan region is in turmoil. The Turkish army has taken some of Syria’s northern territory; and the Kurds of the northeast are coming together to accomplish self rule over the northeast under US military protection.
Observers say Assad would seek joint Russian-American involvement in a new track for negotiations with Israel; how Iran – a heavy investor in Syria, too – would react is largely unpredictable. The US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over a large portion of the Golan would be a barrier of sorts. It is conjectured that Assad would call on Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, to formulate a plan for moving forward somewhere between tight control and full sovereignty (over the Golan) to pull the plan through.
Israeli official hold high hopes that some sort of peace deal with Syria would break up Assad’s partnership with Iran – a country which recently signed a formal defense cooperation accord with Syria. It would seem necessary for Syria to rid itself of the Iranian “advisers” present there and to expel the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps militias now so well established within the country.
DEBKAFile dispatches have said that “the omens for the coming Jewish year (5781) are therefore positive (and that) in 2020, Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of prayer and fasting on the Jewish calendar, is the harbinger of an unparalleled era of Middle East peace for the Jewish state – in stark contrast to the perils and deaths of Israel’s most perilous and deadly conflict with the Arab world that marked Yom Kippur 1973. <>DEBKAFile
Jared Kushner a Factor in Saudi Arabian Affairs?
September 27, 2020. Late Manchester Guardian reports strongly suggest that Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House advisor to the Middle East, acted behind the scenes to persuade Saudi Arabia to push the agreement of the UAE and Bahrain toward its conclusion with Israel (in the Abraham Accord).
This would be because Saudi Arabia recognizes the tangible threat of Iran to the Gulf States, which effectively shifts the lagging Israeli-Pales****** peace process further down on its priority list.
Kushner is known to have met with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as early as 2017, as the Trump Administration quietly sought out future participants in Trump’s peace plan for the Middle East. Kushner is said to have been "just as transactional as his father-in-law,” one source told the Guardian. “He was all about user pays; if you back a cause, or a person, they need to have your back. It was a language the Saudi crown prince MBS understood and he wasted little time applying it to new Saudi positions on Palestine and Lebanon, both of which had become a never-ending burden.”
Although the Saudis have relaxed their restrictions on Israeli overflights of its territory, the kingdom is not seen as being likely to agree to a peace deal with Israel in the near future. Such a move to them would be too great a change in too little time. But observers say they expect the Saudis now to push other regional powers such as Oman and Sudan to agree to peace with Israel...
Thus the intrigue builds as to the potential for Israeli-Pales****** reconciliation. If the Saudis should make a formal peace agreement with Israel, it would be a “seismic shift in the region’s geopolitics” according to the report, and the PLO would more and more be left without any major Arab support for its attempt to resist compromises to reach peace with Israel. Oh! The Intrigue!! <>WIN abstract.
Doctors in Florida say Corona Cure is near 100% with Combo Drug Therapy
Ocala, Florida, September 27, 2020. AdventHealth Ocala has found that its experience with ICAM – a combination of existing pharmaceuticals – has a nearly perfect success rate in Covid-19 patients – and has the potential to “open the country” according to a local TV channel, Fox 35. The hospital says it has experienced a 96.4% success rate since last April – a short term result which, if it is supportable and sustainable, could be game-changing...
Just what is ICAM? The hospital defines it as an acronym that stands for the various medications used in the treatment of the disease: 1) Immunosupport (Vitamin C and Zinc); 2) Corticosteroids to control inflammation; 3) Anticoagulants to prevent blood clotting; and 4) Macrolides to combat infection. The report was voiced by Dr. Carlette Norwood-Williams, Director of Pharmacy at AdventHealth Ocala. She stressed that ICAM both strengthens the immune system and fights infection.
In an unexpected odd way, she said it is the response of the immune system (the appearance of inflammation), which determines just how sick the individual will become. Specifically, the serious lung damage often seen in coronavirus patients is caused directly by an immune system gone out of control as it reacts to the virus – an effect not caused directly by the virus itself but as a side-effect.
She elaborated: the treatment doesn’t kill the virus – it doesn’t need to do so – but that “ICAM works as a strategy for super defense for the body.... Viruses are self-limiting.... They have a very short half life cycle.... What kills people is the consequence of coronavirus in multiple ways.” She added that the hospital noted no need for mechanical ventilation, and that the patients all survived their hospital discharge regardless of age or past medical history ... a seemingly enormous breakthrough.
We are unsure as to the reason why this remarkable set of results has not been made know prior to this time. It seems to have the potential to change the course of coronavirus infections well before the emergence of an effective vaccine – the near-term goal of almost all the research of which we are aware.
We will continue to watch for developments from AdventHealth Ocala as to this seeming breakthrough. <>WINews
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 72
eTPL31 October 2020
Warning from Dr. Gottlieb: the U.S. is about “... a Week Away from a Rapid Acceleration”
October 20, 2020. Former FDA chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb is warning that the United States is on the verge of another spike in the pandemic, Covid-19. The prospect is dire because, as he told Shepard Smith (CNBC’s “The News with Shepard Smith”) on Monday, “the country no longer has any pandemic backstops.” The summer, he said, was a backstop of sorts; but summer has passed.
He pointed out that the holiday season and attendant family gatherings are “especially precarious” for the spread of the pandemic because that’s when people let their guard down.
Although he is optimistic about vaccine development, he opined that recipients of the vaccines will not have immunity “until early 2021.” That leaves a large period of time during which he expects the infection to spread widely...
His remarks came as the worldwide number of confirmed cases exceeded forty million, as confirmed by Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Gottlieb is supported by good credentials. He is a member of the board of Pfizer Corporation, of Tempus (a genetic testing start-up), and Illumina (a biotech company). He also serves as co-chair of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean’s “Healthy Sail Panel.” <>CNBC
Donald Trump: a Friend to Israel
Feelings about President Donald Trump have great polarity: one either despises him or respects him...
Some may ask why President Donald Trump has been so successful politically. They may well consider his status as a friend of Israel and the benefits that accrue to him as a result of the ‘foreign policy’ announced long ago by YHVH, “I will bless him who blesses you, and curse him who curses you (Israel).” Begun well before his presidency began, that support and affection continued after Donald Trump became president.
Some of his acts in support of Israel and the Jewish community include:
Withdrew from the disastrous Nuclear Iran Deal.
Imposed, and continues imposing, sanctions on Iran.
Officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Signed Taylor Force Act so U.S. funds would not be used to pay terrorists to maim and murder Americans and Israelis (Pay for Slay).
Recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the strategic Golan Heights.
Stopped funding the terror-enabler UNWRA and closed the PLO office in D.C.
Appointed the most pro-Israel U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in decades who, as the Trump administration’s voice, forcefully opposed the U.N’s anti-Israel actions.
Called out and refused to kowtow to members of Congress who support BDS.
Signed an Executive Order that extended Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect our kids on college campuses from anti-Semitic attacks.
Declared Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria are legal under international law.
First POTUS to Visit the Kotel while in office.
Defends Israel’s absolute right of self-defense.
Mediated with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and Israel to create deals for those Arab nations to recognize, trade ambassadors, and begin commerce with Israel.
The article cited concluded with: “There is only one good choice for Jews in the 2020 election, re-elect Donald J. Trump. And at the same time, put more Republicans in the House and Senate to control the anti-Semites in the Democratic Party.”<>Arutz Sheva, Oct. 20, 2020
Iran Claims Top Position in Military Radar Development
The rogue nation of Iran claims to have able capability in military weapons development, and supported that claim on October 7th, by reporting that Iran is one of the world leaders in radar technology as proven by a new installation in Yazd province...
Another invention is the domestically produced Saegheh fighter jet.
It claimed that its new radar technology is aimed directly at the US, Israel, and other nations who may be using drones to spy on Iran. It boasted that the new radar can detect objects as far away as 1,100 km even if they have a low radar cross-section. It has now installed eight such systems. In 1019 Iran shot down a $200 million Global Hawk drone and used it to reverse engineer improvements of its own drones. <>JPost
PLO’s Saeb Erekat being Treated at one of Israel’s Premier Hospitals
Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), if anything, is a hater of Israel. Yet, when he was infected with the coronavirus, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved a request from the Palestinian Authority for the terrorist-advocate to be transferred to Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital Ein Karem facility.
A statement by Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations summed up the move as “Palestinian hypocrisy at its finest versus Israeli devotion to life.”
It is indeed ironic that a top PLO official has asked for and willingly accepted Israeli hospitalization even after endorsing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) – and among other acts, spreading libels that Israelis intentionally infect Pales******* with Covid-19 by spitting on their cars and property in order to spread the coronavirus...
Why not seek help from PLO hospitals in the “West Bank” or in Jordan? Because they do not approach the high capability of Israeli hospitals to care for coronavirus patients. Ariel Kallner, a member of Knesset for the Likud party tweeted the reason: “instead of developing their health care system, the PA has been busy developing a terrorist system.”
So how is Erekat doing under Israeli care? His doctors at Hadassah Medical Center just downgraded his condition to “critical” last Monday. They said that due to respiratory distress, he was intubated and sedated. Erekat is 65 years of age and has preexisting conditions that place him at high risk for the virus. He suffers pulmonary fibrosis, survived a heart attack in 2012, and received a lung transplant in 2017. <>World Israel News
US Gun Sales Soar amid Social Unrest and Election Fears
October 15, 2020. Reuters reports that record numbers of citizens who have never owned a firearm are purchasing a pistol or a shotgun for personal protection in a climate that is seen as increasingly hazardous to private families, including single mothers and elderly persons.
The Reuters article pointed to Andreyah Garland of Fishkill, NY, a 44-year old single mother of three, who recently bought a shotgun and joined a rapidly-growing local gun club for shooter training. Since May when she purchased the shotgun, she has also applied for a pistol permit and constantly prowls for ammunition at least three times a week going to her local Wal-Mart: “They’re always out (of stock).”
Her motivation is that she is fearful that the current unrest will break into violence in the streets – fear of the coronavirus, shootings of Black people leading to social unrest, and the potentially contested presidential election in two weeks time.
Doubtless, part of her motivation is also that local governments seem often to be unable (or unwilling?) to provide the needed protection for its citizens in these troublesome times. The overall result is that gun sales are moving far beyond their normal base of white, male, politically-conservative customers who already own one or more guns.
The report ended on this troublesome note: “People who don’t normally think about firearms are being forced to contemplate something outside their universe,” said Dan Eldridge, owner of Maxon Shooter’s Supplies and Indoor Range in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Illinois. <>Yahoo News
Sudan Agrees to Normalize Relations with Israel: Israel Hayyom
Jerusalem: October 22. Following closely upon the normalization of relations of Israel with the UAE and Bahrain, Sudan is now expected to normalize its relationship with Israel within the next few days. The statement followed a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
On Wednesday (yesterday) Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis told Israel’s Army Radio that he believed Israel was close to normalizing ties with Sudan. In our opinion, this would be highly unusual because Sudan is prophesied later to be an arch-enemy of Israel as part of the Gogian host, being, as we understand it, part of Kush – the Hebrew word translated “Ethiopia” in Ezekiel 38: 5, although from modern maps it is difficult to verify the fact. If Sudan is identifiable with Kush, then we must assume that like Jordan, it will later violate its own agreement with Israel as it comes against the Jewish state in hot conflict. <>JPost
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 73
eTPL31 October 31, 2020
Curious Facts Relating to Current Events
Balm of Gilead. Genesis 37:25 records that Joseph’s brethren sat down to eat bread and saw Gileadites approaching their encampment with camels bearing “spicery and balm and myrrh, carrying it down into Egypt.” A widely used curative ointment, the balm of Gilead was apparently renowned for its healing qualities from ancient time. See also Jeremiah 8:22 and 46:11.
Remdesivir is the first medicinal agent approved for use against the coronavirus. Its maker is Gilead
Science Labs. It seems to be the modern equivalent of “the balm of Gilead....” <HEL>
US Passports to Include “Israel” as Place of Birth
Until just yesterday (Oct. 29) persons born in Jerusalem were not identified as such on their U. S. passports. Their place of birth was allowed to be specified only as “Jerusalem.”
That stipulation was officially altered by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he announced that “Israel” will be listed on the passports of citizens born in Jerusalem; the decree reversed decades of US policy. That alteration seems to obliterate the former US stance that the status of Jerusalem was to be determined in negotiations with “the Pales****** Authority” which has demonstrated its reluctance to come to a meeting of the minds on that matter.
The needed change brings it into agreement with President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017 and his relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2018.
The change in passport policy came indirectly through a back door in this way: on Wednesday the US officially dropped its opposition to funding joint research projects in Israel which are connected with Judea, Samaria, or the Golan Heights. US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman met with PM Binyamin Netanyahu on that day to sign an agreement on scientific cooperation which allowed US funding of Israeli projects regardless of their location within Israel ... a logical leap forward from its previous position. <>Arutz Sheva
Nest of Asian Murder Hornets found in US
October 23, 2020. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has followed a “tracker” hornet (equipped with a radio tracker beacon) to its nest near Blaine, Washington, next to the Canadian border. The diligent search (since December of last year) finally paid off when trappers captured two live Asian giant hornets on October 21, in an innovative kind of trap that had placed in the area earlier. They said they intended to destroy the nest and all its inhabitants the next morning...
The threat to the American honey bee population is extreme as it is reported that a swarm of Asian Murder Hornets can eradicate an entire bee hive in just a few hours. The monster insects usually measure nearly five cm in length (nearly two inches!) and their method of killing honey bees is literally by biting their heads off. The WSDA initiative is aimed at preventing the establishment of the foreign invaders as permanent residents. How they arrived in the United States is unknown at the present time.
Although they are not known for attacking humans, at least fifty people die in Japan each year from their stings. <>Yahoo, The Daily Telegraph
An Israeli Peace and Trade Deal Imminent with Sudan
October 22, 2020. President Donald Trump’s intervention in the Middle East peace initiative is now evident in yet another victory: Sudan (of all people!) has agreed to normalization with Israel after Mr. Trump’s agreement to remove the African nation from the list of state sponsors of terrorism...
He also secured an agreement for Sudan to pay its earlier pledge to compensate American victims $336 million as retribution for past terror attacks, specifically the 1998 bombings of the American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania by the al-Qaida network while headed by Osama bin Laden, who was then living in and being sheltered by Sudan.
A delegation flew in a private jet from Tel Aviv to Khartoum on this date as confirmed by official data that was posted on the website FlightAware, which said a private plane flew Wednesday from Tel Aviv to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, where it stayed for roughly seven hours before returning to Tel Aviv. <>World Israel News
US Seizes and Sells Iran’s Petroleum and War Consignments to Hostile Powers
Bloomberg Financial News on October 29th reports that the Trump administration has announced sanctions on eight more companies involved in transferring Iranian petroleum products to Venezuela, and that the sale of one of the resultant seizures has netted $40 million that will be awarded to American victims of Iranian terrorism. The president vowed to institute sanctions on Iran after opting out of the Obama-era agreement with Iran in 2016.
Although petroleum sales have been most heavily targeted, arms shipments to Yemen have also been interdicted and their contents neutralized. Both groups of products bring much-needed revenue to Iran which is suffering a marked decline in its economy and deflation of its currency as a result of the sanctions. Iran’s deprivation of this source of revenues also retards its ability to destabilize the Middle East and to prop up the dictatorship in Venezuela.
Another recent success of the restrictions has been the seizure of two shipments of antitank weapons and other arms from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps that the US said were intended for Yemen’s Houti rebels ... another extremist group harming Middle Eastern stability of law and due process.
So far at least 41 sets of sanctions have been imposed on Iranian firms in petrochemicals and oil alone. Elliott Abrams, the State Department’s special representative on Iran and Venezuela, said there is no political motivation for the sanctions but that they are purely economic. <>Bloomberg
Physical Attacks are Common among Leftist Supporters of Biden
A family of seven – including four children – said they were pepper-sprayed by counter-protesters on Sunday while participating in a pro-Trump vehicle caravan in New York City, according to Fox News. It is a repeat of similar actions taken during the 2016 campaign ... attacks which were frequently mounted after Trump supporters left pro-Trump rallies. But the media in general is looking the other way...
The leftists are heavily populated with sympathizers for the #Black Lives Matter movement as well as #Antifa – both deeply influenced and motivated by the LBGTQ movement as well as modern-day Leninists and Stalinists. We are personally researching a large volume of information on these disturbing movements in the US as well as in international circles, and intend later to publish our findings for the benefit of sincere seekers of Bible Truth in matters of how it should affect our conduct.
The incidents have been reported in a wide range of venues – from New York City to San Francisco. For instance, at a free speech rally in San Francisco national attention was drawn to the event when one of the organizers, Philip Anderson, a Trump supporter, said a counter-protester knocked out his front teeth and subsequently emblazoned the social networks with a bloody photograph of the victim. The SF police department claimed that it had arrested Adora Anderson, a 35-year-old man, for the alleged assault and have charged him with “mayhem and hate crime enhancement.”. <>Legal Insurrection
Russian Navy gets into the Act – Escorting Iranian Oil Tanker to Syria
October 23, 2020. The Econo-Times perhaps overstated the case when it suggested that this Russian action could be a pre-component of future war (WW III?), but its reportage did overshadow the Covid-19 pandemic for once, as it stressed this new factor in maritime activities by Russia. It was an overt action that seemed to say, “Hands off; we’re taking care of our business.” But the move invites intervention by countries having an opposite viewpoint...
The US Naval Institute reported that it detected two Russian naval vessels sailing alongside an Iranian oil tanker (the Samah) across the Mediterranean Sea toward Syria. One of the two Russian ships was a destroyer. After the Iranian tanker entered the Mediterranean (from the Suez Canal?) it “went dark” – a phrase which means it turned off its automatic radio-locator so its presence could not be tracked by outside forces. Shortly afterward, it was joined by the Russian destroyer the Akademik Pashin which had departed from Syria earlier. But ships that size are required to broadcast their location. So something shady is going on! <>EconoTimes
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 74
eTPL31 November 12, 2020
Vaccine is 90% Effective – Pfizer
Pfizer and BioNTech have been developing a vaccine for Covid-19 for several months. The vaccine is now in Third Stage Clinical Trials and consists of two injections given three weeks apart. Patients treated in this way showed a resistance of over 90% to the virus as the clinical trial nears its end.
It is a highly unusual result in the experience of vaccine researchers. The expected result from previous vaccines has been 60% to 70% effective.
The study is quite large, including 43,538 patients who were given the genuine vaccine or a placebo.
Results were observed when patients were given one or the other injections and observed seven days after the second dose was administered and 28 days after the first dose. Those receiving the genuine vaccination had 90% fewer symptomatic cases of the coronavirus that the control group (those who received the placebo) success that is deemed extraordinary by every standard. <>Arutz Sheva
Coronavirus Cases Exceed Fifty Million Worldwide
November 8, 2020. The Jerusalem Post reported today that global coronavirus infections have exceeded fifty million as tallied by Reuters. Disturbingly, a second wave of the virus in the past thirty days boosted the total by 25% - a huge and worrying leap forward.
In the global mix, the US recorded more than 100,000 daily cases for the first time. Europe also experienced a large surge in cases.
The most current seven-day average count showed global infections are rising by more than 540,000 per day. At this date more than 1.25 million victims have expired from the respiratory infection, which is now still less than a year old. <>JPost
Twenty Million Cases of Covid-19 seen by Christmas for USA
Tuesday, November 10. The pandemic is about to get very close to everyone as the days shorten and become cooler. This view was expressed by Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
The rational reason for this expected spike was given as “pandemic fatigue and rising anger over having to wear masks and practice social distancing, coupled with colder weather driving people indoors where the virus is more easily spread, have created a ‘perfect storm’ for new infections.”
What?? “Pandemic fatigue ... rising anger??” Those reactions are illogical and even irrational in our view. The coronavirus is, in the absence of an effective vaccine, an invisible, silent, virulent, aggressive, ‘slippery,’ and sometimes fatal illness; as such it is not to be taken lightly. The general populous has no ‘right’ to become fatigued or angry about its threats! But isn’t that response always a general failing of the human race to every such threat?
The forecasted increase resulted from a record number of persons being hospitalized with the disease. Projections indicate that the US alone could see twenty million cases of Covid-19 by Christmas if infections continue at the current rate.
What is that rate? The day before yesterday the admissions of coronavirus cases to hospitals reached an all-time high of 61,964 persons (Covid Tracking Project). This number feeds the statistic that new cases for the three-week period ending on Monday almost doubled from 1.07 million cases to 1.90 million cases in that later time frame. It is projected that by November 30th, the US could have 13.6 million cases. By December 21 – three weeks later – the number would probably reach 19.9 million cases, or ~ twenty million cases...
Although the fact is that the cure rate is being steadily increased by improved techniques of treatment, another worry is that hospitals will be overwhelmed.
The availability of intensive care unit beds for coronavirus patients is already becoming critically stressed.
In addition, hospital staff members are being infected in increasing numbers leaving the number of expert caregivers at a worrying deficit.
A key factor that would give needed relief is the availability of an effective vaccine. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals has developed one and it is being tested in Stage Three clinical trials.
But, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, it will not be available until the end of December ... and then only in limited quantities even though it is currently being manufactured on the propitious evidence that it will pass its clinical trials with flying colors and become the earliest vaccine for treatment of the disease.
The manufacturing process is precisely controlled in addition to being complex; it cannot easily be carried forward on the mass scale that is needed.
Dr. Osterholm, therefore, warned that “the U.S. should brace itself for the ‘darkest weeks of this pandemic for us.’"
At the same time, in its most urgent message on coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that “face masks protect both the wearer and ... others” from the spread of the disease – a seemingly self-evident fact which we have promoted as ‘best practice’ of infection control from the first days of the pandemic, but which seems to have been un-admitted by authorities until lately.
Other Effects of the Pandemic
Last week we reported that Saeb Erekat, an high-level Pales****** peace negotiator from Jericho and frequent critic of Israel had been graciously admitted by the Israeli government to Hadassah Ein Karem hospital in Israel for treatment of the viral infection. When he was admitted he was apparently in the advanced stages of the disease. He has now succumbed to the disease at the age of 65. We cannot say what the repercussions will be among the rank and file members of the PLO who will doubtless accuse Israel of some sort of conspiracy in his death while under treatment in Israel (?).
One of our favorite sports stars, Ben Roethlisberger, star quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and three other squad members are in isolation for five days due to their contact with a fellow teammate who tested positive two days ago. All these players will be serially tested throughout the week to determine whether they can still play in their scheduled game on Sunday. (If there are other Steelers fans in our audience they will be gleefully aware that the Steelers are now 8 wins to no losses on the season – an unprecedented record, which, we hope, indicates an excellent year for the team.)
Finally, Covid-19 isn’t just an human threat: it is killing minks in Denmark as well as on fur farms in Wisconsin and Utah. (The cost of mink coats will definitely increase!)
Along with the accelerated advance of the Pfizer vaccine project, the hopeful outlook on the pandemic has come rather suddenly – both as to the volume of cases and the possibility of the new, successful preventative measures (the vaccine as well as autoimmune antibodies)...
Dr. Osterholm voiced high enthusiasm for the forthcoming vaccine, saying “I'm obviously very pleased to see that we have, now, evidence that this vaccine approach can work.” At the same time he voiced caution, saying that there are still a number of questions, such as just “how long this vaccine will work.” <>MSNBC
Yemen is Facing Famine in Huge Numbers
November 11, 2020. Famine is a prominent feature of the last days – Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew: "... and there shall be famines, and pestilence, and earthquakes, in diverse places." Matthew 24:7.
Reuters reports that millions of the citizens of Yemen are facing famine yet again. United Nations officials warned about the probability as they appealed for more money to prevent the challenge ... again.
The U.N. official David Beasley reported to the U.N. Security Council that Yemen is the largest humanitarian crisis at the present time, with about 80% of its people in dire need of assistance.
The Houtis, backed by Iran, have been the greatest threat to the delicate balance of food provision in Yemen. Saudi Arabia intervened there in 2015, supporting the Yemini government forces against the Houti rebels; peace talks between the two have not yet borne fruit. Yemen’s currency has collapsed along with its entire economy ... and the Covid-19 pandemic is adding to the hurt...
U.N. aid chief Mark Lowcock, in 2017, warned the world body that “Yemen was then facing ‘the largest famine the world has seen for many decades, with millions of victims.’” He appealed for added monetary aid right away to ward off another wave of deprivation for a population that has no possible way to provide for itself.
He gratefully stated that the world body had prevented famine two years ago, but to prevent this threatened famine more money is needed for aid immediately. So far, about half of the $3 billion needed has been raised.
Mr. Lowcock expressed dismay that more was not being done ... urgently. He said, "When I think about what famine would mean, I am really at a loss to understand why more is not being done to prevent it. It is a terrible, agonizing and humiliating death ... Yemenis are not 'going hungry. They are being starved." <>JPost
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 75
eTPL31 November 4, 2020
Sudan to be Site of new Russian Naval Base
November 13, 2020. Defense News issued a report this morning that confirms the slowly-building coalition of the Gogian Force of the future. A key Russian naval facility has just been agreed upon to be located in Sudan.
In Ezekiel 38: 5 three of the confederates of Gog are listed: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya. The Hebrew word from which “Ethiopia” comes is kush. In our understanding, Kush in the preponderance of scripture was the area in East Africa south of Egypt, including both modern Sudan and Ethiopia of today.
The little-noticed news snippet becomes newsworthy because it indicates the extremely close and friendly relationship that Russia is now forming with its future confederate as shall be adopted in future days, when the Russian battle group is fully formed and purposes to descend upon the mountains of Israel to destroy the nation and people of Israel, and to take its extreme wealth of that day for its own purposes.
Small steps such as this are exciting to our sensibilities as they give us consistent evidence that we are indeed in the time of the end – and that Israel’s relief from all their enemies is on the cusp of fulfillment.
Under the agreement, Sudan will furnish “the necessary port infrastructure” and free land upon which to construct the base, which will accommodate about 300 Russian personnel (both military and civilian), and be able to accommodate four naval vessels, including nuclear-powered ones.
The Russian news agency Taas reported that the Sudanese center illustrates that “Russia is returning to the World Ocean.” It noted that Russia’s nuclear-powered cruisers (will) use the center as a resting-place for its crew members, preventing them from having to make “exhausting transitions” (presumably back to Russia) in order to spend several months in the Indian Ocean. <>Yahoo News
Israeli Minister of Aliyah to Bring Jews Home from Ethiopia
Israel’s Aliyah Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata herself made aliyah from Ethiopia in 1984 as part of Operation Moses, in which thousands of Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel. Born in 1981 in Wuzaba, Ethiopia, she was brought to Israel as an infant. She later obtained a law degree, registered in the Yesh Atid party in 2012, and was elected to Knesset. Her first official duties were as Minister of Absorption as she moved to the Blue and White party last year.
Her journey to Israel is not atypical for her countrymen. Her return, at age three, was begun by walking from their home in Ethiopia to Sudan with her father and five brothers. There they boarded an El Al charter aircraft and were flown to Israel. They were forced to leave her mother behind; her mother came to Israel some years later.
Ms. Tamano-Shata will meet with 500 applicants for immigration in Addis Ababa and Gondor, and intends to accompany them to Israel on two Israeli aircraft. These are the first of about 2,000 Ethiopian citizens - applicants who are making aliyah. The newest initiative is code-named Operation Rock of Israel and will complete its work in early 2021 if all goes according to plan when a majority of its work will be accomplished. Ethiopian Jews shall almost totally have then been successfully recovered according to the plan... <>WIN
Saudi Arabia Places a Hold on Israeli Recognition
Saudi Arabia’s plan for recognizing Israel has now been put on hold by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) according to the Wall Street Journal. He will delay his recognition as a means of building confidence with the incoming Biden administration in the USA – scheduled for January 20th.
The delay came after a clandestine meeting of both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a Saudi resort city on the Red Sea.
MBS’ father, King Salman, age 84, has clearly dismissed establishing relations with Israel until the Israeli-Palestinian “peace process” is resolved. We believe MBS has less enthusiasm for that route than his father has and may not normalize relations with Israel until after he accedes to the throne upon his father’s death. Israeli observers described the meeting between the leaders as being “very warm.” <>WIN
November Election was held under a “National Emergency” Rule
According to Republican spokespersons, the Trump administration was not only well aware of coming widespread attempts to cheat in the election of 2020, but may have been well ahead of any voter fraud by preparing an extensive firewall in advance – in the form of an Executive Order (EO).
It appears that the American public is about to be apprised of the widespread legal trap that was laid several months ago by the Trump administration. It remains to be seen just how effective the preemptory measures may prove to be as the future unfolds in this high drama of 2020...
Trump Team seems to have been Ahead of all the Fraudsters
On September 12, 2018 (over two years ago) President Trump issued an executive order which is headed “Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election.” Its comprehensive title reveals the entire story, but we intend to elaborate for our readers’ understanding. It is on display at Whitehouse.gov. This report is largely an abstract of it.
Since it was signed, almost no news entity has written about it. Its significance is notably that it declares a national emergency beginning at that date – a condition which is still in effect – meaning that the 2020 presidential election was conducted under the terms of this EO. That is a critical fact that readers should understand in order to foresee what is coming next.
“Unauthorized accessing of election ... infrastructure”
In the document, the president specified that people and organizations located in part outside the US are “known to be able to ‘interfere with or undermine public confidence in United States elections, including through the unauthorized accessing of election and campaign infrastructure or the covert distribution of propaganda and disinformation.’”
This stipulation directly impacts CNN, the New York Times (NYT), the Washington Post (WAPO) and MSNBC, ALL of whom have been snared under the canopy of this emergency declaration of “foreign interference” in US elections even abetted by cooperating entities on U.S. soil.
Other implications
The EO places this fact on record as well: it states that “this foreign interference in U.S. elections “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
How does this fact come into play at the present time? The Republican officials are claiming colossal election fraud as carried out by the Democrats and the deep state. Many of the vote-counting machines are supplied by Dominion Voting Systems (DVS) – a Canadian company. That Canadian (foreign) ownership makes Dominion-based election tampering out to be a “foreign interference issue.”
But there is another voting machine company that is widely used in US elections – those of a company called Scytl, which is now said to be operating while in bankruptcy. It is intimately connected to George Soros and the Democratic Party. Bill Gates (Microsoft) is said also to own stock in Scytl, which is based in Spain, according to GreatGameIndia. So it, too, represents “foreign influence” in US elections. Its data is handled by servers in Germany ... truly international in scope!
The allegation is that only days after it was determined that the 2020 US election was rigged by Dominion Voting Systems through a reputed “glitch” in its software, now GreatGameIndia has found that an huge number of the votes cast were counted by Scytl ... in Spain. Just like DVS, Scytl has a long history of election fraud in various countries by installing “backdoors” in its election software, especially in Venezuela.
Due to such widespread fraud, the Chairman of the US Federal Election Commission Trey Trainor believes that the 2020 US Presidential Elections is illegitimate.
Now the sublime underlying intrigue: The 2018 EO gives the Department of Justice (DOJ) the power to “seize all the assets of individuals and companies that were complicit in aiding or covering up this foreign interference in U.S. elections.” The DOJ’s authority is practically unlimited to seize such assets.
And that involves people as well as hardware and software. In effect, every CNN news anchor, every Big Tech CEO, every NBC news analyst and those of the WAPO and NYT are complicit in covering up the massive election fraud that is claimed because the EO specifies that asset seizures shall target people and entities (e.g., companies) which have:
“… materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any activity described in subsection (a)(i) of this section
... Or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;
... Or to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.”
That’s about as comprehensive as one can express liability! The EO makes liable any and every person who has found to have been corrupted or compromised by Communist China, for example – or presumably Russia, North Korea and others. It directly affects an estimated 80% of Democrat lawmakers such as Senators Dianne Feinstein, Adam Schiff, and Chuck Schumer and many others. This affair promises to become far deeper and wider than one might imagine! <>Trump Report.com and Natural News
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>
Splinters 76
TPL31 December 11, 2020
Millions in the U.S. turn to Food Banks for Sustenance
Let’s face it: hunger is now a prominently harsh feature of the most prosperous country in the world. Even before the pandemic struck, every day millions of free hot meals were being passed out to school children. And many elderly Americans had to choose between spending money on food or medications. More than perhaps ever before, these are times that try men’s souls...
Because conditions have suddenly deteriorated for multitudes of folk who have lost jobs, have had their businesses closed, or have become ill in the pandemic of 2020. Food banks are operating at levels perhaps never seen in the US (AP) – and are doling out food at record levels in this current year.
Some folk have found that they must skip eating in order to feed their children. Others are depending on cheap foods that contain little nutrition.
But so far, food assistance has been available for many of those in need. For example, families in Minnesota receive benefits from 360 Communities – a nonprofit organization located near their home. They operate the Family Resource Centers and Food Shelf. The families receive monthly boxes of food equivalent to two grocery carts, consisting of fresh produce, dairy products, meats, and other basics. If they need more food an emergency package is usually available to them.
On the other hand, others in widespread locations from Portland, Oregon to Orlando, Florida have to wait for hours for perhaps lesser benefits. Many periodicals display photos taken by drones in which long lines of vehicles for hours are inching slowly along with their hungry passengers to collect a box or bag of food – often inadequate for more than a few days.
These images bring to mind photographs taken during the Great Depression when millions fought hunger in similar ways, often long lines of men standing in breadlines, their tired visages displaying fear and uncertainty. Nearby signs read: “Free Soup. Coffee and a Doughnut for the Unemployed.”
A major concern is that the food crisis may become much worse. Food supply chains are being disrupted on a larger scale due to the pandemic. Soon the vacant shelving in grocery stores may increase sharply as the distribution of food becomes more stressed. But more worrying is the possibility that much less food will be produced at the farm and dairy levels as the financial stresses become greater, and as more workers become disabled and cannot work. <>AOL
Iran Stressed by Assassinations of Leaders
The killing of the top nuclear scientist in Iran has infuriated the regime in that country, and they are demanding revenge on Israeli and Jewish facilities and people around the world. In many European countries, Jews are warned about wearing kippot and the prayer shawl, and displaying the Star of David in public for fear of being attacked, as anti-Semitic assaults are increasing worldwide...
It goes without saying that Israel and the US have partly incurred this wrath by their systematic assassination of many key figures in the Iranian military establishment ... most lately General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq (killed by a drone) and the head of Iran’s nuclear program (and a ranking general in the IRGC), Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (gunned down in public and in daylight in a town near Tehran).
These accomplishments illustrate a fact that must really worry the fundamentalists of Iran: the fact that their most important activists can be sought out and killed in their own spheres of influence with impunity.
And so the result: sworn revenge by Iran upon Israelis (and Americans?) at any and all locations of opportunity. But Iran has to be careful of its reaction, because it could incur vigorous action by the Trump administration during the final days of his tenure on the presidency. Such a result would compromise the Iranian Republic’s ability to reach a satisfactory nuclear accord with the incoming president after January 20th.
Anti-Semitism is alive and well in the world these days – Jews hunted and killed for being Jews.
The Prophet Jeremiah reveals such a time as this in his end-time prophecies: Jeremiah 16:16: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.”
Those “fishers” and “hunters” are continuously at work, coercing and driving Jews homeward, although the intent is often ineffective. But it is clearly evident that the time has come for every Jew to make Aliyah – to “go up” to Zion – where they can dwell relatively safely and without fear.
Another expressed concern of Israel is that it may be attacked by missiles or drones from Iran or its proxies. The result is that Israel has activated its Iron Dome missile defense system and other means to protect it from shellfire and rockets from Gaza and Lebanon. The army, air force and navy have been placed on high alert against such attacks. <>Business Insider and Yahoo News
Nasrallah (Hezbollah) Flees Lebanon for Iran
Yet, in the shadow of the precautions expressed in the previous snippet, Israel’s ominous ability to find and assassinate enemy leaders is high up on the priority list of their enemies.
David Sidman, writing in Terror Watch, reported on Sunday that Hassan Nasrallah, head of Hezbollah in Lebanon, has taken measures to preserve his life by traveling to Tehran, where he is said to be taking shelter for an indefinite period of time. Israel has detected this sudden move from monitoring encrypted communications between Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
But we wonder ... has he not learned of the ingenious assassination of Iran’s chief nuclear scientist ... near Tehran – and in broad daylight? Where is the ultimate safety? <>Israel 365
Trump Brings another Arab Nation to the Peace Table
He did it again! President Trump has arranged a friendly accord of another Islamic nation with Israel. Yesterday, he announced that Morocco will finalize a peace and trade agreement with Israel, becoming the fourth Arab nation to do so after the UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan.
I believe some folk will view this as a positive move toward peace that is prophesied to precede the Gogian invasion of Israel, which, if so, would be a positive development. But it is not to be in our opinion.
We view the agreements in an entirely different light: they are far more likely to fulfill Paul’s ominous forecast that “... when they shall say peace and safety ... sudden destruction cometh upon them.” (I Thessalonians 5: 3)
These agreements will not bring true and lasting peace between Israel and Islam.
All the prophetic indications that relate to this conflict of Islam vs. Judaism prove the opposite outcome ... complete destruction of all Israel’s tenacious enemies in the entire realm of conflict.
This announcement appears to be the final act which Donald Trump (and Jared Kushner) shall be able to perform on Israel’s behalf while president. The agreement was accompanied by President Trump’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara – a disputed area which has sought autonomy.
If President-elect Biden’s approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict resembles in any way the policies of his Obama years, Israel should not expect to receive such deferential consideration from the incoming Biden administration.
If we were questioned as to the overall result of the incoming executive’s treatment of Israel, we would be compelled to say it most likely will result in Israel soon facing its mortal enemies entirely alone, as Isaiah 63: 1-6 indicates that they shall. On the other hand, with an ally such as the returned LORD Jesus Christ appearing on one’s behalf, who needs mortal allies?
It has been said that “promises are made to be broken” in a rather cynical view of uprightness and honesty. But in the case of Arab nations that make peace now with Israel, their promise of peaceful cooperation shall be broken according to all the predictions of scripture.
Most of them will be entirely obliterated; the remainder will be converted to God’s way as taught by Christ and the Saints who have come in the nick of time to save God’s people (Luke 1: 71, 74; Isaiah 59: 19-21) and to establish His Kingdom of the Millennium at Jerusalem... Micah 4:8. <>J Post
Will Lebanon also make Peace with Israel? Sounds Unlikely...
Some months ago, Lebanon’s president suggested that he might be interested in an accord with Israel similar to that of the UAE and Bahrain. The initiative has not seemed to move since August, 2020, when he made that startling announcement.
One reason probably is that it would mean the complete expulsion of Hezbollah from Lebanon. That would be a best-case outcome for most Lebanese – a country which has been co-opted by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization tied closely to and financed by Iran.
Some have opined that another implication is that the agreement could relate to the construction of the Third Temple as in the days of Solomon and Ezra...
Lebanon’s flag pictures one of its most treasured national assets – the Cedar of Lebanon – a stately conifer, towering over lesser trees, but now almost in extinction except for special nature preserves which the tattered government of Lebanon has established for its preservation. The tree was highly esteemed by the psalmist who wrote: “The righteous bloom like a date-palm; they thrive like a cedar in Lebanon; planted in the house of Hashem, they flourish in the courts of our God.” Psalm 92:13:14
Given the prophetic destiny of Lebanon (to be obliterated) one must not presume the destruction of its magnificent, aromatic cedars. The poetic language of Isaiah indicates abundance of gifts from the Gentile nations in the perfect age to come: “For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.” Isaiah 66:12 <>From press reports
Note: Splinters is released and emailed to you sporadically by eTPL31 as a brief compendium of information relating to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy of every kind. <HEL>