Iran and the Existential Threat to Israel: A Biblical Perspective for 2026 and Beyond

Few issues in our generation demand spiritual discernment as urgently as the mounting threat posed by Iran toward the State of Israel. While geopolitical analysts frame the danger in terms of missiles, proxies, and nuclear ambition, Scripture invites us to see deeper—through the lens of the covenants, prophecies, and the enduring purposes of God.

This is not merely a regional conflict. From a biblical perspective, what confronts Israel today touches the heart of God’s redemptive plan for history.

God’s Covenant with Israel Is Irrevocable

The Bible is unmistakably clear: Israel exists because God willed it so.

“I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

God’s covenant with Abraham—and reaffirmed through Isaac and Jacob—was not conditioned on Israel’s perfection, but on God’s faithfulness. Throughout Scripture, Israel stumbles, repents, is disciplined, and restored. Yet never once does God revoke His covenant.

The modern rebirth of Israel on May 14, 1948 stands as a profound testimony to this truth. After nearly 2,000 years of dispersion, persecution, and attempted annihilation, the Jewish people returned to their ancestral homeland—just as the prophets foretold (Isaiah 66:8; Ezekiel 37).

Any force that seeks Israel’s destruction, therefore, is not merely opposing a nation. It is contending with the declared purposes of God.

Iran’s Stated Aim: The Erasure of Israel

Iran’s leadership has repeatedly and openly called for the elimination of Israel—not a policy dispute, not a border disagreement, but the eradication of the Jewish state itself. This language is chillingly familiar to students of history and Scripture alike.

Psalm 83 describes a coalition of nations conspiring with a singular goal:

“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:4)

The pattern is unmistakable. The desire to erase Israel’s very existence is ancient—and persistent.

Iran’s support of armed proxies surrounding Israel, combined with its pursuit of advanced weapons, elevates this threat from rhetoric to existential reality.

The Spiritual Roots of the Conflict

Scripture teaches that our struggle is not merely against “flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12). Behind the hostility toward Israel lies a deeper spiritual enmity.

Why has Israel, a nation smaller than New Jersey, been the focal point of disproportionate hatred for millennia?

Because Israel is central to God’s redemptive story:

  • Through Israel came the Scriptures (Romans 3:2)
  • Through Israel came the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Romans 9:5)
  • Through Israel God promises future restoration and blessing to the world (Romans 11)

Satan’s opposition has always targeted the line through which God brings salvation. From Pharaoh’s infanticide, to Haman’s plot, to Herod’s massacre, the enemy’s strategy has been consistent: destroy the people, silence the promise.

Iran’s obsession with Israel cannot be fully understood apart from this spiritual backdrop.

The Church’s Responsibility: Clarity, Not Silence

Christians are not called to fear-mongering, nor to blind allegiance to any government. But neither are we permitted the luxury of silence when Scripture speaks plainly.

The Apostle Paul warns Gentile believers:

“Do not be arrogant toward the branches. . . remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:18)

To bless Israel is not to deny compassion for others. It is to align ourselves with God’s revealed purposes, while praying fervently for peace, repentance, and the salvation for all peoples—including Iranians, many of whom live under a regime they did not choose.

Hope Beyond the Threat

The Bible does not minimize the danger Israel faces in the last days—but neither does it end in despair.

Zechariah 12 declares that though nations will come against Jerusalem, God Himself will be her defender. Paul assures us that Israel’s story ends not in destruction, but in redemption:

“And so all Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26)

This gives us confidence—not in military might alone, but in the faithfulness of God.

A Call to Prayer and Faithful Action

At Blessors, we believe that now is a time for:

  • Prayer for Israel’s protection and peace
  • Moral clarity in recognizing existential threats against Israel for what they are
  • Biblical courage in standing with God’s covenant people
  • Gospel compassion for all caught in the turmoil of the Middle East

History has shown that those who curse Israel ultimately bring judgment upon themselves, while those who bless her find blessing. This is not political ideology—it is biblical reality.

May, we, the Church be found faithful, watchful, and aligned with the purposes of God as history moves toward its appointed culmination.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you.’” (Psalm 122:6)

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 7, 2026

What are the Borders that God Determined for Israel?

On August 12, 2025, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared with Sharon Gal, from i24 News, that he is “very” attached to the vision of a “Greater Israel” (The Times of Israel). The term “Greater Israel” was used after the Six Day War of June 1967 to refer to Israel and the areas it had just conquered which included East Jerusalem, the West Bank (i.e., Judea and Samaria), the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.

Gal further asked Netanyahu if he believes he is on a mission on behalf of the Jewish people. Netanyahu declared that he is “on a mission of generations – there are generations of Jews that dreamt of coming here and generations of Jews who will come after us.” Netanyahu continued, “So if you’re asking if I have a sense of mission, historically and spiritually, the answer is yes.”

Netanyahu’s comments touch upon one of the most hotly debated topics concerning Israel, specifically, the question of Israel’s claim to the land it currently occupies. This question has received even greater press after Netanyahu announced on August 10, 2025 his plan to end the war with Hamas along with his plan for the Gaza Strip the day after Hamas is defeated. Netanyahu summarized his five principles for concluding Israel’s war with Hamas as follows:

“One, Hamas [is] Disarmed. Second, all hostages [are] freed. Third, Gaza is Demilitarized. Fourth, Israel has overriding security control. And five, Non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration, by that I mean a civilian administration that doesn’t educate its children for terror, that doesn’t pay terrorists, and doesn’t launch terrorist attacks against Israel, that’s what we want to see in Gaza. So, it’s neither Hamas or the PA” (Prime Minister’s Office).

On the international front, there has been significant opposition and even outrage towards Netanyahu’s plan. Additionally, France, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, nations who have historically claimed to be Israel’s allies, have recently stated they will recognize a Palestinian State at the United Nations General Assembly in September of this year.

But while men fret and nations scheme about this issue, what is needed is the counsel from God’s Word, the Bible. From the Bible it is clear that God has something to say about Israel’s borders.

What are the borders that God determined for Israel?

Recently, I shared on Episode 93 of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, “Does God Approve of a Two-State Solution?”, that in Genesis 15, God established a Grant covenant with Abram which means God bound Himself by an oath to unilaterally and unconditionally give the land to Abram and his descendants forever.

In verse 18, God declared what the borders of the Promised Land would be: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.”

God later confirmed the Promised Land borders to Moses in Deuteronomy 1:6-8 and then to Joshua in Joshua 1:4.

Let’s identify the borders that God promised to Israel through His covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:

The western boundary is the “Great Sea” which is the Mediterranean Sea (Joshua 1:4). The southern border is the Nile River in Egypt. The eastern border is the Euphrates River. And, the northern border is Lebanon.

In today’s context, what countries would be included in the borders that God determined for Israel in Genesis 15?

  • First, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
  • Second, a portion of Egypt to the south.
  • Third, some of Saudi Arabia to the southeast.
  • Fourth, all of Jordan to the east.
  • Fifth, a portion of Iraq to the east.
  • Sixth, some of Syria to the north.
  • Lebanon to the north.
  • And possibly the southeastern portion of Turkey as you follow the Euphrates River north by northwest.

When you put it all together, this means that God’s plan for Israel’s borders is far greater than Netanyahu’s vision of a “Greater Israel.”

Question: Has Israel ever fully occupied the boundaries determined by God in Genesis 15?

Answer: No. Some of the regions were controlled by King David and King Solomon but they were never fully possessed or occupied by Israel.

Question: Why didn’t Israel fully occupy the Promised Land according to the borders of Genesis 15?

Answer:  Because Israel failed to obey God’s command and allowed her enemies to remain in the Promised Land which ultimately tempted them to sin against God by worshiping idols.

Question: Will Israel’s borders ever extend to what God promised Abram in Genesis 15?

Answer: Yes. Please remember that since God bound Himself by an oath, His promise to Abram must be fulfilled and it will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom. During Jesus Christ’s 1,000-year reign, the Promised Land will experience peace, tranquility, and blessings as Jesus reigns on the throne of David in keeping with God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7.

So one day, in the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ, God’s plan for a “Greater Israel” will be fully realized because God is faithful to keep all of His promises. God said it, so He will do it.

Please join me in praying for the salvation of Israel and her people.

Dr. Matthew Dodd | August 13, 2025

Does God Approve of a Two-State Solution?

One of the most hotly debated questions concerning Israel involves a Two-State Solution, where Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state with Israel as its neighbor. Today it was reported that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state in September. French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X/Twitter, “True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine” (The Jerusalem Post).

Macron’s statement drew strong criticism from Israel and the United States. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel – not to live in peace besides it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel” (The Times of Israel).

Israel’s Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer called for French Jews to move to Israel, stating, “The State of Israel welcomes the many immigrants from France who have chosen to return to their true home in Israel since October 7, despite the war. . . French Jews, this is your home – the State of Israel” (The Times of Israel).

United States President Donald Trump downplayed Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, saying, “What he says doesn’t matter. He’s a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight” (The Jerusalem Post).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Macron’s statement a “reckless decision (that) only serves Hamas propaganda.” Rubio rightly observed on X/Twitter, “It is a slap in the face of the victims of October 7th” (The Times of Israel).

In order for there to be a Two-State Solution, it has been proposed repeatedly since the Six-Day War in 1967, that Israel must withdraw from Judea and Samaria, what some incorrectly call the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and hand over control of these regions to the Palestinians.

In previous articles and podcasts, Blessors of Israel has made it clear by citing the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, that Israel’s enemies do not want a Two-State Solution. Netanyahu’s assessment is correct, Iran, her proxies, and the Palestinians are violently opposed to a Two-State Solution because they only want a One-State Solution, which means Israel would cease to exist and the Jews would be annihilated.

And since October 7, 2023 when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel murdering approximately 1,200 people, raping women and young girls, beheading babies, and kidnapping over 250 people, the number of Israelis who are in favor of a Two-State Solution has decreased significantly because they recognize the existential threat a Two-State Solution would pose to Israel and her people.

But there is a question that some, like Macron, ignore, “What does God think about a Two-State Solution?” Or to ask the question more pointedly, “Does God approve of a Two-State Solution?” To answer this question, we will turn to the most authoritative source for the answer, the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the Bible.

We are told in Genesis 12:1-3, that God promised three things to Abram, the father of our faith: a son, land, and a blessing. But when we come to Genesis 15, the promise was still unfulfilled, Abram had no son and was troubled by the prospect of having someone other than his own flesh and blood be his heir. God’s response to Abram’s concern is nothing short of amazing. To reassure Abram that God would give him a son and the land upon which his foot had trodden, the Lord enacted a covenant with Abram.

Here is the account of the establishment of God’s covenant with Abram:

“He said to him, ‘I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.’ He said, ‘O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?’ So He said to him, ‘Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.’ Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. . .

Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. God said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.’

It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,

‘To your descendants I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. . .’” (Genesis 15:7-10, 12-18)

Let’s breakdown the elements of this covenant to help us answer the question regarding God’s view on a Two-State Solution.

In that day there were three types of Covenants:

  • Suzerain-vassal covenants
  • Grant covenants
  • Parity covenants

For our purposes, only the first two types of covenants are relevant, the Suzerain-vassal and Grant covenants. Below is a summary of each covenant:

Suzerain-vassal Covenant

  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant was imposed by a king on his subjects, the vassal(s), usually those who were defeated in war.
  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant oath was taken by the inferior party, the vassal.
  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant was a unilateral covenant which means the inferior party was bound to keep the terms of the covenant.
  • The Suzerain-vassal Covenant was also a conditional covenant which means if the vassal obeyed the Suzerain-vassal Covenant, he or she would be blessed according to the terms of the covenant. But if the vassal disobeyed the Suzerain-vassal Covenant, he or she would be cursed according to the terms of the covenant.

Grant Covenant

  • According to the Grant Covenant, the king promised to give land and/or privileges to his subject, the vassal.
  • Under the Grant Covenant the king took the oath, not the vassal.
  • The Grant Covenant was unilateral, meaning the superior party, the king, bound himself to the terms of the Grant Covenant.
  • And the Grant Covenant was unconditional which means the fulfillment of the terms by the king were not dependent upon the vassal’s obedience.

Question: Was the covenant that the Lord made with Abram in Genesis 15 a Suzerain-vassal Covenant or a Grant Covenant?

Answer: The covenant that God enacted with Abram in Genesis 15 was a Grant Covenant because it was God who determined and declared the covenant’s terms and then bound Himself by an oath to keep the terms of the covenant.

Please observe what is written in verse 18: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. . .’”

Also note that Abram did not recite the terms of the covenant nor did God decree that Abram was obligated to keep any term of the covenant in order to receive the land. In fact, according to verse 12, Abram had fallen into a deep sleep which means he was the passive recipient of the blessings enacted by God through this covenant.

This means the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 15 is unilateral because God bound Himself to the terms of the Grant Covenant, not Abram. And since the Abrahamic Covenant is a Grant Covenant, it is unconditional which means the terms of the covenant remain intact even though Israel might fail to keep the terms of future covenants made between God and Israel, like the Mosaic Covenant.

Back to our main question, “Does God approve of a Two-State Solution?” Clearly the answer is “No” because God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants, Israel, and bound Himself by an unconditional, unilateral oath.

So Macron can plot, others can scheme, and nations can propose all sorts of solutions to the problems between Israel and her enemies, but if God is opposed to a Two-State Solution, then so should we.

Please join me in praying for the salvation of Israel and her people.

Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 25, 2025

Has October 7, 2023 Set The Stage for the Fulfillment of Ezekiel 38:8, 11-12?

Approximately 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel was inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen the following words regarding the conditions that will precede an attack against Israel by a coalition of nations:

After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. . . . and you will say, “I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture the spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.” (Ezekiel 38:8, 11-12)

These prophetic verses have troubled scholars and students of the Bible for years. At issue is the question, “When has Israel experienced the peace noted in Ezekiel 38 after it declared its reestablishment as a nation on May 14, 1948?” The answer to this question is essential for determining the prophetic and chronological placement of this battle recorded in Ezekiel 38-39, what has been called “The Battle of Gog and Magog.”

Some have suggested that Israel has never experienced the level of peace mentioned in verses 8 and 11. Therefore, this passage must refer to a future prophetic event, the first half of the Great Tribulation, when the antichrist will sign a seven-year covenant with Israel. During the first three and a half years of the Great Tribulation Israel will enjoy peace with her enemies, a peace brokered by the antichrist. But that peace will only last for short time because Gog, the prince of Rosh (Russia) will lead a coalition of nations from the north, east, and south to attack Israel, the “apple” of Lord’s eye (Ezekiel 38:2-6; Zechariah 2:8).

One weakness of this view involves the length of time that it will take Israel to dispose of the weapons used by her enemies to attack her. According to Ezekiel 39:9-10, Israel will need seven years to destroy all of her enemies’ weapons:

“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God.

Since it will take seven years for Israel to burn the weapons, this means the Battle of Gog and Magog must occur at least three and a half years before the beginning of the Great Tribulation so that Israel has plenty of time to burn the weapons. After three and a half years, the antichrist will break his covenant with Israel and seek to annihilate the Jews (Matthew 24:15-21). If the Battle of Gog and Magog occurs later in the prophetic timeline, then Israel will be inclined to use her enemies’ weapons in self-defense against the antichrist, not burn them.

Others have suggested that Israel is currently living in a relative state of peace and security, “a security due to confidence in their own strength” (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah (San Antonio: Ariel Ministries, 2020), Kindle, loc. 2422). According to this view, Israel’s peace will not require a covenant with the antichrist. Rather, Israel will experience a period of peace that precedes the Battle of Gog and Magog and the Great Tribulation.

Proponents of this view also believe the catalyst for the Battle of Gog and Magog will be the rapture of the Church. Ron Rhodes states,

The world will likely be in a state of chaos following the rapture. The rapture will have a devastating effect on the United States, which has a heavy population of Christians. Russia and her Muslim allies may well seize the moment, considering this the ideal time to launch a massive attack against Israel, which had been protected by the United States (Ron Rhodes, The End Times in Chronological Order: A Complete Overview to Understanding Bible Prophecy (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2012), Kindle, p. 75).

The second view is to be preferred because it does not conflict with Ezekiel 39:9-10 and the seven years it will take Israel to burn her enemies’ weapons.

But after the horrific events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and murdered 1,200 people, raped women and young girls, burned and beheaded babies in front of their parents, and took over 250 people hostage, can it be said that Israel is still living in a relative state of peace and security? I submit that October 7, 2023 had an unintended consequence for Israel’s enemies, namely, Iran and her proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. What was the unintended consequence? In their demonically-inspired arrogance and hatred for Israel, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah never thought Israel would have been able to level devastating blows against all three of them in less than two years.

As I recently mentioned during the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the rest of the world could never have imagined that Israel would have used the events of October 7, 2023 as a catalyst to declaw and de-fang Hamas, Hezbollah, and now Iran. And now, with the support of President Donald Trump, doors appear to be opening for peace in the Middle East between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Since October 7, 2023, there have been pivots with Lebanon after Hezbollah was decapitated by Israel in November of 2024. Syria is open to dialogue with Israel after the Assad regime fell on December 8, 2024 as well. And if Saudi Arabia opens the door to normalize relations with Israel, other Arab nations will likely follow.

What will this mean for Israel? Peace, but only for a season because the words of Ezekiel 38:8, 11 still need to be fulfilled and will be fulfilled, God’s Word never fails (Isaiah 55:11).

Please join me in praying for the salvation of Israel and her people along with her enemies (John 3:16).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 11, 2025

What’s Missing from Egypt’s Postwar Plan for Gaza?

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Arab leaders met in Cairo, Egypt to show a united front as they endorsed Egypt’s postwar plan for the Gaza Strip. The catalyst for the Egyptian proposal was the announcement of President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 4, 2025. Trump’s plan sent shockwaves through the Middle East and the world when he announced that, under his plan, approximately 2 million Arab Muslims living in Gaza would be removed from the Gaza Strip, relocated to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, so that the war-torn strip could be cleared of unexploded ordnance and the rubble from Israel’s war against Hamas and turned into the “Riviera” of the Middle East (The Jerusalem Post).

Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared to warmly welcome Trump’s plan, calling it “visionary and innovative” (JNS). The same cannot be said for the rest of the world, especially the nations of the Middle East. Jordan’s King Abdullah rejected Trump’s suggestion for resettling the Palestinians in Jordan during his meeting with President Trump at the White House (Reuters). Egyptian President Adbel Fattah el-Sissi was scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House shortly thereafter, but, according to reports, he canceled his meeting after Trump’s announcement and called an emergency meeting of the Arab nations instead. A month later, the Arab nations have put forth a $53 billion postwar counterproposal to Trump’s plan for Gaza.

According to the Associated Press, “Egypt’s plan foresees rebuilding Gaza by 2030 without removing it population.” During phase one, unexploded ordnance and more than 50 million tons of debris will be removed from Gaza while an international peacekeeping force keeps a watchful eye on Gaza and Judea and Samaria (“West Bank”). Here are some of the key details from the 112-page draft of the plan:

  • Hundreds of thousands of temporary housing units would be set up for Gaza’s population while reconstruction takes place. This phase will take six-month and cost approximately $3 billion (JNS).
  • In the following years, the strip will be reshaped and expanded to include housing, urban areas, agricultural lands, industrial zones, large park areas, an airport, a fishing port, and a commercial port.
  • By 2030, the plan envisions the construction of hundreds of thousands of new homes to accommodate up to 3 million people.
  • Hamas would cede power to an interim administration of political independents until a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume control (Associated Press).

President el-Sissi was pleased by the “consensus among the Arab countries to support the reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, which allows the Palestinian People to stay on their land without displacement.” He added in a social media post after the summit that he welcomed the opportunity to work with President Trump, other Arab nations and the international community “to adopt a plan that aims for a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian Issue; ends the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, guarantees the security and stability of the peoples of the region and establishes a Palestinian State” (Associated Press).

Palestinian Authority (P.A.) President Mahmoud Abbas attended the summit and welcomed the notion that the Palestinian Authority will once again impose its will over Gaza. In similar fashion, Hamas expressed its support for the Egyptian plan, stating, “We welcome the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted in the summit’s final statement and call for ensuring all necessary resources for its success.” The Iranian-backed terrorist group also voiced support for the creation of a “Community Support Committee” to oversee “relief efforts, reconstruction and governance in Gaza, as outlined in the temporary administrative body proposed by the Arab League summit in Cairo” (JNS).

The United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed Egypt’s plan, stating, “I strongly endorse this plan. The U.N. stands ready to fully cooperate in this endeavor” (JNS).

Antonio Costa, European Union Council President, also supports the plan and posted on X, “I welcome the plan on Gaza presented by Egypt and other Arab partners at the League of Arab States’ Summit in Cairo. It is important that it covers all strands— reconstruction, governance and security. The European Union is fully committed to contributing to peace in the Middle East and is ready to provide concrete support for the plan. The whole international community should work on its implementation” (X).

Question: If so many are in favor of Egypt’s plan, then what’s wrong with it? What’s missing?

First, as Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, rightly observes, Egypt’s plan “fails to address the realities of the situation” (Associated Press). To begin with, Marmorstein notes that the plan fails to mention or condemn Hamas’ attack Israel on October 7, 2023. This was not an oversight, it was intentional.

President el-Sisi and the Arab nations do not want to stir up a terrorist hornet’s nest by publicly blaming Hamas. Rather, Egypt and the other Arab states habitually redirect blame towards Israel by design because they believe Israel’s existence is the “root cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” President el-Sisi’s social media post confirms it is so. To end the “root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” means the state of Israel must be removed from the face of the earth. For the Palestinians (and the rest of the Muslim world), there would not be a Palestinian conflict if Israel ceased to exist. They do not want a two-state solution. They want a one-state solution, a world without Israel and her people.

Second, Egypt’s plan does not remove Hamas from Gaza. It is important to observe that while the Egyptian plan states that Hamas will cede its power from Gaza, it does not declare that Hamas must surrender its weapons and leave Gaza. Why? Simply put, because Hamas will not leave or put down their weapons peacefully. Hamas wants to remain in Gaza so that it will have time to rebuild and eventually assume control over Gaza once again. So, while the Arab nations pour billions of dollars into Gaza, Hamas will be recruiting members to fill its ranks. It will also use the new airport and the new fishing and commercial ports to obtain more weapons. Then when everyone is saying “Peace, Peace!” Hamas will attack Israel in a manner that is far worse than October 7, 2023.

Israel understands this is so and that is why the defeat of Hamas is one of its three primary objectives for its war against Hamas. The two other objectives include the rescue of all hostages, living and dead, and the removal of all existential threats from Israel’s borders.

Third, the Palestinian Authority cannot be “reformed” and trusted to govern Gaza. Again, it is important to understand “the realities of the situation” when it comes to Mahmoud Abbas and his band of Palestinian Authority terrorists. JNS recently quoted Abbas, reporting. . .

The Palestinian Authority will not deduct a single penny from its “pay-for-slay” fund that rewards terrorists and their families for their attacks, P.A. chief Mahmoud Abbas told members of his ruling Fatah faction last week, according to translated remarks Palestinian Media Watch published on Thursday.

“We again emphasize that we are proud of the sacrifices made by the martyrs, prisoners and wounded [terrorists],” the P.A. leader said at the Feb. 21 gathering of the Revolutionary Council—Fatah’s second-highest body, which is chaired by Abbas—in Ramallah, Samaria.

“I told you once and I stand by my word: Even if we have [only] one penny left, it is for the prisoners and the martyrs,” he continued, echoing previous remarks made during a July 23, 2018, address in the Palestinian city.

The P.A. “will not agree to reduce any obligation, any interest, or any penny given to them,” Abbas said. He concluded, “They must receive everything, as in the past, and they are more precious than all of us.”

“Even if we have one penny left, it is for the prisoners… They must receive everything, as it was in the past, and they are more precious than all of us!”
~Abbas, Feb. 21, 2025 pic.twitter.com/A2VJ1n7qnI

— Pal Media Watch (@palwatch) February 23, 2025

Again, Israel understands “the realities of the situation” and that is why Israel has repeatedly said it will not permit the Palestinian Authority to regain control over Gaza.

Now, some might say, “But there will be international peacekeepers in Gaza, so Hamas and the Palestinian Authority will not be able to rebuild and attack Israel ever again.”

Question: Why will peacekeepers work this time when U.N. workers did not prevent the October 7th attack? In fact, workers from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (U.N.R.W.A.) were complicit in Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel (Fox News). Therefore, Israel must exercise great care and wisdom and never entrust its security to an international peacekeeping force.

Question: So what is missing from Egypt’s postwar plan for Gaza?

Answer: An honest acknowledgment about “the realities of the situation” in Gaza.

Please join me in praying for Israel and her people during these critical times.

By Dr. Matthew Dodd | March 7, 2025

What is the History of the Palestinian Refugees?

Recently, President Donald Trump has insisted that Egypt and Jordan should permit the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to settle in their respective countries while Gaza is cleared and rebuilt after Israel decimated the region in response to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 (Breitbart). It is important to keep in mind that the conflict and tension in the Middle East has been one of the most difficult issues confronting world leaders since Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. One of the greatest obstacles to Arab – Israeli peace is the issue of Palestinian refugees who trace their origins to the events before and after that date.

Tensions between the Arabs and the Jews in the area of Palestine increased when Jews began emigrating to the area in the early 1900s, fleeing anti-Semitism in Eastern and Western Europe.

Israel had been a people without a homeland since the Roman Empire defeated and destroyed Israel in the first century. Dispersed among the nations, the Jewish people longed to return to the land given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The question, “What do we do with these Jews?” was answered by anti-Semitism and persecution throughout Europe, East and West. Jews came in waves of tens of thousands to Palestine, seeking a homeland. When Adolf Hitler proclaimed the “Final Solution” to the question “what do we do with these Jews?”, immigration to Palestine became a matter of life and death.

Tensions flared in Palestine as Arabs grew increasingly concerned with the sheer number of Jews making Aliyah; emigrating to Palestine. Riots and armed skirmishes increased. Efforts to find peaceful coexistence came to naught.

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews fell to the British Empire, who were given authority to govern Palestine by the League of Nations in 1917 when the British defeated the Turks of the Ottoman Empire in WWI.

Under the British Mandate, the conflict between the Arabs and Jews became untenable. Jews fled Nazi Germany only to encounter a British naval blockade. Ships filled with Jewish refugees were turned back or held in camps on Cyprus. The British were trying to appease the Arabs who objected to the sheer number of choose escaping Germany.

The British gave notice to the United Nations that they would terminate their mandate of authority over Palestine, giving a deadline of May 15, 1948. The United Nations responded with a plan of partition, giving Jews and Arabs distinct boundaries and borders for two new states, one Jewish, one Arab.

The Jews accepted the partition plan and declared themselves to be the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. The Arabs rejected the partition plan and immediately declared war on the newly formed State of Israel. The Arabs would not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and declared the intent of the war to be total annihilation of Jews in Palestine.

War between five Arab nations, the Palestinian militias and Israel resulted in victory for Israel, expansion of its boundaries, and Palestinian refugees. Arabs to this day refer to it as Al Nakba, or, “the disaster.”

How these Palestinians became refugees has been debated by historians since the end of the war. There are in fact several factors that caused those Palestinians to become refugees.

Those Arab nations, who in 1948 were determined to destroy Israel, warned in advance those Arabs living in the war zone to remove themselves so as not to be collateral damage in the war. Arab leaders promised these Palestinian Arabs that they would be removed from their homes only temporarily. After the complete annihilation and defeat of Israel, they could return to their homes. To this day, the “right of return” of these Palestinian Arabs is a point of contention.

Other Palestinian Arabs who had the means, removed themselves voluntarily. They also wanted not to be collateral damage in a war. They also have made claims of the right to return.

As the fighting commenced, Israeli soldiers advanced swiftly. When they came to an Arab village, they would send delegates to the village leaders, asking, “Will you take up arms against us?” If they said they would not take up arms, they would be welcomed into the new state of Israel. If the Arab village leaders were determined to fight, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would expel them to join the other Palestinian refugees. They could not have enemies within their borders.

Other Arab villages and cities would simply flee when defeat became certain. They were convinced that since the Arabs had determined to annihilate the Jews, they themselves would be annihilated if their city was taken by Israel. Reassurances by the IDF were rebuffed. Many Palestinian Arabs fled in the face of certain defeat and joined other Palestinian refugees.

The Arab/Israeli war of 1948 resulted in approximately 750,000 Palestinian refugees. The Six-Day War of 1967 brought further Palestinian Refugees. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the near East, there are today approximately 5 million Palestinian refugees.

By Pastor Rich Jones and Dr. Matthew Dodd | January 30, 2025

Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, chairing a meeting with leaders of Palestinian factions at his office in Gaza City in 2022 Credit: Adel Hana/AP
Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, chairing a meeting with leaders of Palestinian factions at his office in Gaza City in 2022 Credit: Adel Hana/AP

Yahya Sinwar, 62, the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel is dead. Earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet confirmed that Sinwar was killed on Wednesday “in a clash with Israeli forces in southern Gaza where operations intensified based on intelligence pinpointing the whereabouts of senior Hamas leaders” (Ynet News).

The Times of Israel reports that “the 162nd Division and Gaza Division have been operation in Gaza in areas where intelligence indicates senior Hamas officials have been hiding. A force from the 828th Bislamach Brigade killed three terrorists, and one of them was identified today as Sinwar.”

“According to initial reports, the Hamas leader was killed by tank fire called in by IDF soldiers who had identified armed terrorists in a building. When the soldiers subsequently searched the premises, they discovered that one of the bodies bore a striking resemblance to Sinwar” (JNS).

Telegraph reports, “Photographs from the scene showed the corpse of Sinwar, Israel’s most wanted man, with a bloody hole in his skull. The assassination marks the most significant killing of the year-long war and a significant victory for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, who had long described him as a ‘dead man walking.’”

Ynet News notes,

IDF forces discovered large amounts of Israeli cash and identifying documents on the terrorists’ bodies. Due to the presence of explosives and grenades, drones were initially used to examine the bodies.

One of the terrorists bore a strong resemblance to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, leading troops to believe they may have killed him unintentionally, without prior intelligence. The exact location of the raid remains undisclosed for security reasons.

To confirm Sinwar’s identity, soldiers photographed the body and sent the images to the Israeli police’s forensic unit. Assistant Commissioner Aliza Raziel, head of the unit, confirmed that the teeth in the photos matched Sinwar’s dental records from his time in Israeli custody.

‘We had Sinwar’s dental data on file, and the match was clear,’ Raziel said. ‘This was one of the most significant moments this year, allowing us to quickly provide critical information to the field.’

Further evidence suggesting Sinwar’s death included the presence of a senior Hamas commander known to frequently accompany him. Reports from Gaza indicated the other two terrorists killed were Sinwar’s bodyguards, one of whom worked as a teacher for UNRWA and the other a high-ranking official in Hamas’ National Security Office.

Reuters reports,

Sinwar, who was named as Hamas’ overall leader following the assassination of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, was believed to have been hiding in the warren of tunnels Hamas has built under Gaza over the past two decades.

His death could dial up hostilities in the Middle East where the prospect of an even wider conflict has grown. Israel has launched a ground campaign in Lebanon over the past month and is now planning a response to an Oct. 1 missile attack carried out by Iran, ally of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

But the demise of the man who planned the attack last year in which fighters killed 1,200 people in Israel and captured more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies, could also help push forward stalled efforts to end the war in which Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz celebrated Sinwar’s death on Thursday, stating, “This is a great military and moral victory for Israel and the entire free world against the radical Islamist axis of evil led by Iran. The elimination of Sinwar creates possibilities to immediately free the hostages and bring a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza without Hamas and without Iranian control” (The Times of Israel).

Regarding the status of the hostages, The Jerusalem Post reports,

Sinwar was widely believed to be hiding in Hamas tunnels throughout the Gaza Strip, never staying in one location for too long and avoiding communications technologies, relying on messengers.

The Hamas terror chief was believed to be surrounded by the remaining hostages as a human shield, which had reportedly prevented the IDF from striking and killing him. Again, the IDF reiterated in their statement that no signs of hostages were present at the site of the strike.

Conflicting reports emerged of whether Sinwar had left the tunnels over the course of the Israel-Hamas War, and the IDF obtained footage of the Hamas chief walking through the tunnels in February of this year.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to notify the families of the hostages about Sinwar’s death and that there was no indication that any of the hostages were hurt in the deadly battle with Sinwar.

On Thursday evening, Netanyahu addressed the nation of Israel, stating,

We have a great opportunity to halt the [Iranian-led] axis of evil and to create a different future. A future of peace, a future of prosperity for the entire region.

Now it is clear to everyone, in Israel and in the world why we insisted on not ending the war, why we insisted in the face of all the pressures to enter Rafah, the fortified stronghold of Hamas where Sinwar and many of the murderers hid. (The Jerusalem Post)

To the families of the hostages who have been held for over one year, Netanyahu promised, “This is an important moment in the war. We will continue to work with all our powers to bring home all your loved ones, who are our loved ones. This is our highest commitment. This is my highest commitment” (The Jerusalem Post).

To the Hamas terrorists, Netanyahu added, “Your leaders are fleeing and they are being killed… whoever lays down arms, we will allow him to leave and to live. Whoever attacks our forces, his blood is on his own head” (Breitbart).

Netanyahu also directed his comments to the Palestinians in Gaza, “telling them that Sinwar had ‘destroyed’ their lives. While pretending to be brave, he was killed trying to flee.’”  He added, “Hamas will no longer govern in Gaza.” (Breitbart)

Netanyahu added: “To the nations of the region I say: the darkness is in retreat and the light is rising. We can find a different future, a future of peace” (Breitbart).

He closed with a verse from Psalms (18:38): “I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them, never turning back until they were consumed” (Breitbart).

Blessors of Israel is closing monitoring all developments related to Israel’s seven-front war. Please join me in praying for the safe return of the hostages and for the peace of Israel and her people.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | October 17, 2024

Russia and Iran are Working Towards a “New World Order”

Russia and Iran are working together to achieve a “new world order.” That is what Russian President, Vladimir Putin said on Friday, October 11, 2024, as he met with his newly elected Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian. The two leaders were attending a forum in Turkmenistan’s capital of Ashgabat and met on the sidelines to discuss their strategic partnership.

Putin wants to create a “new world order” so that Russia’s allies may counter the United States and the West (Al Jazeera). And Putin wants Iran to play a key role in the establishment of this “new world order.” Putin said, “Relations with Iran are a priority for us. They are developing very successfully.”

Putin added, “Moscow and Tehran actively cooperate with each other in the international arena and often agree on their assessments of world events. This year, we year are witnessing an increase in the volume of trade between the two countries and its good trend” (Breitbart).

Pezeshkian agreed, stating, “From the economic and cultural point of view, our relations are getting stronger day by day. The growing process of cooperation between Iran and Russia should be accelerated according to the will of the supreme leaders of the two countries and the need to strengthen these relations” (Breitbart). (Please note that Russia does not have a “supreme leader”).

Pezeshkian also told Putin that he is hopeful that they will be able to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement during their next meeting at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia on October 22-24. BRICS is an alliance of countries co-founded by Communist China and Russia in 2009. Iran joined the alliance in January of 2024.

Since the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine, Russia has relied on Iran for drones and ballistic missiles. The Associated Press reported, “Moscow and Tehran signed a $1.7 billion deal for Iran to export drones to Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the U.S. also believes it has transferred short-range ballistic missiles.”

The Jerusalem Post reported that, earlier in the day, Pezeshkian also took aim at Israel because it has exacted a devastating blow on two of it proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Pezeshkian said Israel should “stop killing innocent people” and that the United States and the European Union are supporting Israel as it seeks to destabilize the Middle East.

It is important to note that since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorist stormed into Israel and murdered 1,200 people, raped women and young girls, beheaded and burned babies, and took 250 people hostage, Putin and his minions have repeatedly sided with Israel’s enemies and attacked Israel’s efforts to rid its people of an existential threat from its neighbors (The Jerusalem Post).

Why are these developments important when it comes to understanding the events of the latter days? Because Russia and Iran will play significant roles in the events leading up to the Great Tribulation. As I have shared repeatedly, both in print and during the Blessors of Israel podcasts, the Battle of Gog and Magog will precede the Great Tribulation according to Ezekiel 38-39. During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel which will be led by the leader of Russia, “Gog, prince of Rosh” (Ezek. 38:4). “Persia,” modern-day Iran, will be part of that alliance which will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:5, 8). These nations will “devise an evil plan” against Israel and with overwhelming force “come like a storm. . . like a cloud covering the land” (Ezek. 38:9-10).

In the midst of this great opposition, God will come to Israel’s rescue and pour out His “blazing wrath” upon her foes in order to deliver Israel from certain destruction through a series of cataclysmic judgments (Ezek. 38:18-23). First, God will send a “great earthquake in the land of Israel. . . and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My [God’s] presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground.” Second, the invading armies will turn on each other because God will “call for a sword against him on all My [God’s] mountains. . . Every man’s sword will be against his brother.” Third, God will send a deadly “pestilence” upon Israel’s enemies and “with blood I [God] will enter into judgment with him.” Finally, God will rain down upon the invading armies “a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone.”

God’s judgment against Israel’s enemies will be so severe that it will take Israel seven months to bury their enemies and seven years to gather and destroy their weapons (Ezek. 39:9-16). This divine deliverance will be in keeping with God’s promise to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse” (Gen. 12:3).

These developments between Russia and Iran are setting the stage for the events prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel 2,600 years ago. And through it all, God will reveal Himself to Israel and the many nations so that they will know that He is the Lord (Ezek. 38:23).

Watch and pray. Stay alert and intercede for Israel.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | October 11, 2024

The Threat of Peace in the Middle East Led to Nasrallah’s Death

As Israel and Jews around the world celebrate the Jewish New Year of 5785, Rosh Hashanah, it is important to remember what happened one year ago. Why? Because what happened one year ago ultimately led to the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah.

It was a little over a year ago, September 22, 2023 to be exact, that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (U.N.G.A.). During his speech, Netanyahu addressed the obstacles to achieving peace in the Middle East. At that time Netanyahu said, “Many decades of efforts to make peace with Arab Nations have failed because they were based on one false assumption – that the Palestinians must be appeased as a precondition to peace. The Palestinians have much to gain from new peace agreements. They should be part of these agreements, but they should not have a veto on peace” (Israel National News).

But there was a ray of hope, for Netanyahu shared a promising update regarding the normalization efforts between Israel and Saudi Arabia, stating, “I believe that we are at the cusp of a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Such a peace will go a long way to ending the Arab Israeli conflict.”

Part of Netanyahu’s optimism was based on what a peace agreement could mean for Israel and the entire region because it would include “a planned corridor connecting the Arabian peninsula, Israel, and Europe, to allow for travel, shipping, and energy pipelines between all of the countries involved” (Israel National News).

The potential for peace between Israel and the Arab nations was not warmly received by all in the Middle East. Ten days later, on October 2, Hassan Nasrallah addressed the possibility of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia during a speech that marked the birthday of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed, and issued the following condemnation and threat, that all Muslims “must bear responsibility for what is happening to the Palestinian people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Instead of heeding this call, we see moves toward normalization. Any country that might sign a normalization agreement should be condemned and held accountable for its actions” (Israel National News).

Five days later, on October 7, normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia came to a screeching halt after Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists barbarically attacked Israel, murdering 1,200 people, raping women and girls, beheading and burning alive babies, and taking approximately 250 people hostage. That day, Nasrallah’s threat became a reality.

On October 8, in a show of support for Hamas as it faced retaliation from Israel, Nasrallah ordered his Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters to fire rockets into northern Israel. At that time, Hezbollah declared that they would not stop attacking Israel until there was a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas (Independent).

Nasrallah kept his word. Hezbollah attacked Israel for the next 11 months. On September 22, 2024, Danny Dannon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.), said “Since Oct. 8, over 8,000 rockets have been fired at our people, over 70,000 have been forced to flee their homes, becoming refugees in their own land” during a meeting at the U.N. (The Hill).

Initially, Israel’s response to Hezbollah’s attacks were more defensive in nature since the IDF needed to neutralize the threat from Hamas in Gaza. But on Thursday, September 12, the IDF shifted its focus to the north after it declared victory in the battle of Rafah having defeated Hamas’s four battalions within four months (Breitbart). Israel entered into a new phase of its war against terrorism and began to systematically attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon while eliminating members of Hezbollah’s leadership.

On Tuesday, September 17, pagers used by Hezbollah terrorists exploded throughout Lebanon and Syria, leaving 12 dead and approximately 4,000 wounded, including Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, who “lost one eye and suffered serious injury to the other when a pager he was carrying exploded” (JNS).

Then on Wednesday, September 18, “Lebanon’s health ministry said 14 people were killed and 450 wounded” when Hezbollah’s walkie-talkies exploded (Axios).

Israel still has not taken credit for either attack against Hezbollah, but The Jerusalem Post independently confirmed significant details related to the operation and has concluded that the Mossad and IDF intelligence were involved.

Axios reported, “After the explosions on Wednesday, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said in a visit to an Israeli Air Force base that ‘the center of gravity is moving from Gaza to the north through the diversion of resources and forces. We are opening a new phase in the war.’”

“Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Herzi Halevi held meetings at the northern command’s headquarters and approved the updated operational plans for Lebanon, the IDF said. ‘We are determined to create the security conditions that allow the return of our citizens to their homes with a high level of security, and we are ready to do whatever it takes to bring these things about. We have many capabilities that we have not yet activated,’ Halevi said in a statement” (Axios).

Then last Friday, September 27, at the United Nations (U.N.), Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a blistering speech, calling Hezbollah, the “quintessential terror organization in the world. . . with tentacles that span all continents” (Times of Israel). Netanyahu then declared,

In the last year, completely unprovoked, a day after the Hamas massacre on October 7th, Hezbollah began attacks against Israel, which forced more than 60,000 Israelis on our northern border to leave their homes, becoming refugees in their own land. Hezbollah turned vibrant towns in the north of Israel into ghost towns. So I want you to think about this in equivalent American terms. Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns.

Then ask yourself: How long would the American government tolerate that? A day, a week, a month? I doubt they would tolerate it even for a single day. Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say enough is enough.

We won’t rest until our citizens can return safely to their homes. We will not accept a terror army perched on our northern border, able to perpetuate another October 7th-style massacre. . . . As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has not choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Just this week, the IDF destroyed large percentages of Hezbollah’s rockets, which were built with Iran’s funding for three decades. We took out senior military commanders who not only shed Israeli blood but American and French blood as well. And then we took out their replacements. And then the replacements of the replacements. And we’ll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met (Times of Israel).

Netanyahu clearly meant what he said, for prior to his U.N. speech, Breitbart reports that Netanyahu approved the largest airstrike against Hezbollah since October 8, 2023, one that targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The attack was codenamed, “New Order” (JNS).

Telegraph reported that Netanyahu left Israel for New York to “trick” Hezbollah’s leader into thinking he was safe, a senior Israeli official told The Telegraph. “Mr. Netanyahu’s address to the UN was part of a ‘diversionary plan’ intended to make Hassan Nasrallah believe Israel would not take drastic action with the prime minister out of the country. . . Nasrallah was believed to be watching Mr Netanyahu’s speech ‘and was then attacked by Israeli Air Force planes’, the official said.” “Netanyahu approved the strike before delivering his speech at the UN,” the official added. He went on to say that the Israeli assessment was that Nasrallah was in the building at the time of the strike.

On September 28, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) confirmed Nasrallah’s death (JNS). A short time later, Hezbollah confirmed that Nasrallah was killed by the Israeli strike. Reuters reported, “The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel ‘in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people.”

The JNS reported “The deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in the Israel Defense Forces strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, according to Iranian media. Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan commanded Tehran’s Quds Force in Lebanon and oversaw the IRGC’s Operations Command.”

Last week’s strike sent a clear message to Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the rest of the world. In fact, it appears that Iran is paying close attention to what Netanyahu said at the U.N. because he had a specific message for that “evil regime” as well.

For too long, the world has appeased Iran. It turned a blind eye to its internal repression. It turned a blind eye to its external aggression. Well, that appeasement must end. And that appeasement must end now.

Nations of the world should support the brave people of Iran who want to rid themselves of this evil regime. Responsible governments should not only support Israel in rolling back Iran’s aggression, but they should join Israel. They should join Israel in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

In this body and the Security Council, we’re going to have a deliberation in a few months. And I call on the Security Council to snap back UN Security Council sanctions against Iran because we must all do everything in our power to ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons. For decades, I’ve been warning the world against Iran’s nuclear program. Our actions delayed this program by perhaps a decade, but we haven’t stopped it. We’ve delayed it, but we haven’t stopped it. Iran now seeks to weaponize its nuclear program. For the sake of the peace and security of all your countries.

For the sake of the peace and security of the entire world, we must not let that happen. And I assure you, Israel will do everything in its power to make sure it doesn’t happen (Times of Israel).

After convening a security council meeting, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel for Nasrallah’s assassination while hiding in a secured location. Khamenei declared, “(Nasrallah) was not an individual. He was a path and a school of thought and the path will be continued. . . The blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged” (Reuters).

Khamenei has been in hiding ever since, paranoid because he “no longer trusts anyone” after Nasrallah was assassinated (MSN).

On October 1, Iran fired almost 200 ballistic missiles at Israel to avenge the deaths of Nasrallah, Nilforoushan, and former Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh. Israel and the United States intercepted “a large number” of them (The Times of Israel).

Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) “acknowledged that some of its airbases were hit in Iran’s massive ballistic missile attack on the country a night earlier, but stressed that no harm was caused to the functioning of the Israeli Air Force” (The Times of Israel).

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah and prior to Iran’s attack, Netanyahu told the Cabinet that Israel was witnessing “days of historic achievements. . . we are in decisive days. While we celebrate the new year, may it be a good one. . . We are in a war for our very existence. We will unite, go hand-in-hand and defeat our enemies. The people will arise like a lioness, and the Eternal One of Israel will not lie. So ends a year and its curses, and with God’s help so begins a year and its blessings” (JNS).

May it be so. And may all heed God’s promise to Abraham, allies and enemies alike,

And I will bless those who bless you,

And the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

(Genesis 12:3)

God meant what He said and what God said will be done.

Please join me in praying for the peace of Jerusalem, for Israel and her people.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | October 3, 2024

Netanyahu Meant What He Said, “Enough is Enough.”

Updated 10:20 AM (PST) September 28, 2024

In a blistering speech on Friday, September 27, at the United Nations (U.N.), Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hezbollah, the “quintessential terror organization in the world. . . with tentacles that span all continents” (Times of Israel). Then Netanyahu declared,

In the last year, completely unprovoked, a day after the Hamas massacre on October 7th, Hezbollah began attacks against Israel, which forced more than 60,000 Israelis on our northern border to leave their homes, becoming refugees in their own land. Hezbollah turned vibrant towns in the north of Israel into ghost towns. So I want you to think about this in equivalent American terms. Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns.

Then ask yourself: How long would the American government tolerate that? A day, a week, a month? I doubt they would tolerate it even for a single day. Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say enough is enough.

We won’t rest until our citizens can return safely to their homes. We will not accept a terror army perched on our northern border, able to perpetuate another October 7th-style massacre. . . . As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has not choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Just this week, the IDF destroyed large percentages of Hezbollah’s rockets, which were built with Iran’s funding for three decades. We took out senior military commanders who not only shed Israeli blood but American and French blood as well.And then we took out their replacements. And then the replacements of the replacements. And we’ll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met (Times of Israel).

Netanyahu meant what he said.

Prior to his U.N. speech, Breitbart reports that Netanyahu approved the largest airstrike against Hezbollah since October 8, 2023, one that targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The attack was codenamed, “New Order” (JNS).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the approval of the attack in Beirut. September 27, 2024. PMO media dept.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the approval of the attack in Beirut. September 27, 2024. PMO media dept.

Telegraph reports that Netanyahu left Israel for New York to “trick” Hezbollah’s leader into thinking he was safe, a senior Israeli official told The Telegraph. “Mr. Netanyahu’s address to the UN was part of a ‘diversionary plan’ intended to make Hassan Nasrallah believe Israel would not take drastic action with the prime minister out of the country. . . Nasrallah was believed to be watching Mr Netanyahu’s speech ‘and was then attacked by Israeli Air Force planes’, the official said.” “Netanyahu approved the strike before delivering his speech at the UN,” the official added. He went on to say that the Israeli assessment was that Nasrallah was in the building at the time of the strike.

Earlier today, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) confirmed Nasrallah’s death (JNS). A short time later, Hezbollah confirmed that Nasrallah was killed by the Israeli strike. Reuters reports, “The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel ‘in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people.”

The JNS reports “The deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in the Israel Defense Forces strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut on Friday, according to Iranian media. Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan commanded Tehran’s Quds Force in Lebanon and oversaw the IRGC’s Operations Command.”

The Jerusalem Post reports that Nasrallah’s daughter, Zainab Nasrallah, may have been killed in the Beirut strike.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari delivered the following message in English after the strike:

Moments ago, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah terror organization – that served as the epicenter of Hezbollah’s terror.

Hezbollah’s central headquarters was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh, in Beirut, as part of Hezbollah’s strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields.

On October 8th, Hezbollah started attacking Israel.

After almost a year of Hezbollah firing rockets, missiles, and suicide drones at Israeli civilians, after almost a year of Israel warning the world and telling them that Hezbollah must be stopped, Israel is doing what every sovereign state in the world would do if they had a terror organization that seeks their destruction on their border, taking the necessary action to protect our people so that Israeli families can live in their homes, safely and securely (X.com).

The Associated Press reports “News of the blasts. . . came as Netanyahu was briefing reporters traveling with him. A military aide whispered into his ear, and Netanyahu quickly ended the briefing.”

It is also reported that Netanyahu returned to Israel and did not wait until the end of the Sabbath on Saturday evening. Typically, Israeli politicians do not travel on the Sabbath unless there is a matter of grave importance.

There are conflicting reports regarding Israel’s notification of the United States about the strike. Axios reports, “An Israeli official said Israel notified the U.S. minutes before the strike in Beirut, but two senior U.S. officials denied that, telling Axios they had no prior warning.” President Biden told reporters the U.S. had “no knowledge of or participation in” the IDF attack.

Earlier this week, the U.S. and France had been pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Netanyahu was criticized for sending mixed messages about Israel’s willingness to discuss a ceasefire.

But yesterday’s strike sent a clear message to Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and the rest of the world. In fact, Iran should pay close attention to what Netanyahu said at the U.N. because he had a specific message for that “evil regime” as well.

For too long, the world has appeased Iran. It turned a blind eye to its internal repression. It turned a blind eye to its external aggression. Well, that appeasement must end. And that appeasement must end now.

Nations of the world should support the brave people of Iran who want to rid themselves of this evil regime. Responsible governments should not only support Israel in rolling back Iran’s aggression, but they should join Israel. They should join Israel in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

In this body and the Security Council, we’re going to have a deliberation in a few months. And I call on the Security Council to snap back UN Security Council sanctions against Iran because we must all do everything in our power to ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons. For decades, I’ve been warning the world against Iran’s nuclear program. Our actions delayed this program by perhaps a decade, but we haven’t stopped it. We’ve delayed it, but we haven’t stopped it. Iran now seeks to weaponize its nuclear program. For the sake of the peace and security of all your countries.

For the sake of the peace and security of the entire world, we must not let that happen. And I assure you, Israel will do everything in its power to make sure it doesn’t happen (Times of Israel).

After convening a security council meeting, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel for Nasrallah’s assassination while hiding in a secured location. Khamenei declared, “(Nasrallah) was not an individual. He was a path and a school of thought and the path will be continued. . . The blood of the martyr shall not go unavenged” (Reuters).

Israel wants peace. But, as Netanyahu promised, Israel is “committed to removing the curse of terrorism that threatens all civilized societies” (Times of Israel).

Blessors of Israel is closely monitoring this developing story. Please pray for Israel and her people at this critical time.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | September 28, 2024