Yahya Sinwar is Dead

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

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

What do Pagers and Walkie-Talkies Have in Common?

What do pagers and walkie-talkies have in common? Not only do both devices permit users to communicate with one another, when modified by Israel, they can also send an explosive message to one’s enemies.

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).

World Israel News reports that “Ronen Bergman, who writes for the New York Times and Yediot Ahronoth, says the number of people killed by the beeper explosions is higher than the reported 12 yesterday and 14 today. ‘The estimation is that there are many dozens of dead, if not more,’ he said.”

“The Lebanese Civil Defense. . . stated it was operating to extinguish the fires that had broken out following the explosions in some 60 shops and homes, 15 vehicles, motorcycles, and two fingerprint devices. It added that ambulances were transferring the wounded to hospitals throughout the country. . . . According to unconfirmed reports, Hezbollah has told its operatives to distance itself from communication devices. Unofficial reports also claimed that Hezbollah told its members to dispose of devices containing a lithium battery or that are connected to the internet. Additional unconfirmed reports claimed that lithium batteries for solar energy storage had detonated and that some houses were on fire.” (The Jerusalem Post).

“According to reports, as little as one to two ounces of the explosive material was implanted adjacent to the battery in each pager, along with a switch that could be used to detonate the explosives” (The Jerusalem Post).

“The Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar exposed the extent of the damage in its editorial, calling it one of the most severe blows dealt to the terror organization since it began launching attacks on Israel last October. ‘In just one minute, the enemy managed to deliver the harshest blow to Islamic resistance since the onset of the conflict,’ the article stated, adding it was ‘an exceptional security operation in terms of the ability to reach targets and means, and in demonstrating elements of Israeli technological and intelligence superiority’” (The Jerusalem Post).

Telegraph reports that “Hezbollah has vowed Israel will be ‘uniquely punished’ after [the] second wave of explosive booby fire traps struck the terror group across Lebanon.” “Revenge is inevitable,” a senior Hezbollah official said. “We will confront the enemy with a new approach so that they know we are a people who will not retreat,” said Seyed Hashem Safiuddin, without providing any details. “The resistance tells Netanyahu that we are present and our capabilities remain unharmed,” he added.

Israel 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.

According to two sources, “Israel’s goal in the second wave of attacks was to increase paranoia and fear in Hezbollah’s ranks, in an attempt to press the militia’s leadership to change its policy regarding the conflict with Israel. . . . to convince Hezbollah that it is in its interest to disconnect itself from Hamas and cut a separate deal for ending the fighting with Israel regardless of a ceasefire in Gaza.” The two sources added “that the decision to conduct the second attack was also driven by the assessment that Hezbollah’s investigation into the pager explosions would likely expose the security breach in the walkie-talkies” (Axios).

The attacks against Hezbollah come on the heels of US special envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Israel on Monday, September 16. When “Hochstein visited Israel on Monday, Netanyahu, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant and other senior officials were engaged in hours of security consultations around the issue of the operation being potentially compromised. When they met with Hochstein, they didn’t even give him a hint about what was going on behind the scenes, a U.S. official said” (Axios).

Axios also reports, “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).

Breitbart reports,

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a mysterious ten-second video on Wednesday, the second day of a series of attacks targeting Hezbollah terrorists throughout Lebanon through their communications devices. Netanyahu [said] in Hebrew: ‘I already said, we will return the residents of the north in safety to their homes. And that is exactly what we will do.’”
  • On Tuesday, Israel’s security cabinet decided to expand the current war goals — destroying Hamas, freeing the hostages, and ensuring Gaza can never threaten Israel again — to include returning northern residents to their homes. . . . Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, and which is occupying southern Lebanon illegally, has launched thousands of rockets, anti-tank missiles, and drones at Israel, unprovoked, since October.
  • Israel has responded in kind, but has been forced to evacuate some 60,500 residents from 74 northern towns — both Jewish and Arab.
  • Diplomatic efforts, led by the U.S., have failed to convince Hezbollah to stop attacking Israel and to withdraw north of Lebanon’s Litani River, in accordance with the agreement that ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
  • Israel has said that it will use military force to push Hezbollah away from the border if necessary. Hezbollah, armed by Iran and its allies, is thought to be a far stronger force than Hamas, but Israelis broadly support a war against it.”

Al Arabiya reports, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, described the blasts as “shocking,” and said their impact on civilians was “unacceptable.” “There must be an tindependent, thorough and transparent investigation as to the circumstances of these mass explosions,” he said. “Those who ordered and carried out such an attack must be held to account.”

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 18, 2024

Iran has gone Silent about its Nuclear Program

Iran has gone silent about its nuclear program according to Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As of Monday, September 10, 2024, Iran is no longer fulfilling its obligations to assure its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful ends.

In a statement to the IAEA’s board of governors, Grossi said, “The agency lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium or concentrate” (i24 News). Grossi continued, “There has been no progress in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues. Iran says it has declared all nuclear material, activities and locations required under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. However, this statement is inconsistent with the Agency’s findings of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at undeclared locations in Iran. The Agency needs to know the current location(s) of the nuclear material and/or of contaminated equipment involved. Iran has not implemented legal obligations for safeguarding outstanding issues. . . to be able to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful” (i24 News).

On a positive note, Grossi confirmed that he spoke with Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s newly-elected president, and that the two agreed to meet in order to resolve the issues.

Blessors of Israel has been monitoring the status of Iran’s nuclear program. This last May, I wrote an article which asked the question, “Will 2024 be the year Iran reveals it is a nuclear power?” In that article I traced Iran’s management of the narrative since the first of the year.

On January 18, 2024, Breitbart reported that Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director-General of the IAEA, expressed his frustration with Iran because it had “tripled its uranium enrichment rate and increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade material.” Grossi vented, “It is a very frustrating cycle. We don’t understand why they don’t provide the necessary inventory for weapons, the manufacture and storage of so much material is raising concern. . . Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state which is enriching uranium at this very, very high level – very close to weapons grade.”

Sunday, February 11, 2024 was a significant day for Iran. The day marked the 45th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Associated Press reported that thousands of Iranians took to the streets that were decorated with Iranian flags, balloons, and banners.

Iranians also chanted familiar slogans, slogans that have been frequently recited since the Iranian regime took control in 1979. What were those slogans? “Death to America” and Death to Israel.” As those traditional slogans were shouted, United States and Israeli flags were also burned. Then the celebration intensified as the crowd watched a paratrooper jump from a plane while displaying a Palestinian flag.

Later that same day, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, was interviewed by Iranian state television and said, “We have all the (pieces) of nuclear science and technology. Let me give an example. What does a car need? It needs a chassis, it needs an engine, it needs a steering wheel, it needs a gearbox. Have you made a gearbox? I say yes. . .” (Associate Press).

Salehi’s comments prompted a warning from Rafael Mariano Grossi. While speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Grossi sounded the alarm regarding Salehi’s admission and Iran’s lack of transparency. Grossi said that Iran is “presenting a face which is not entirely transparent when it comes to its nuclear activities. Of course this increases dangers. There’s loose talk about nuclear weapons more and more, including in Iran recently. A very high official said, in fact, ‘we have everything, it’s disassembled’” (Associated Press).

Ten days later, Reuters reported “Iran’s nuclear chief. . . dismissed a suggestion that the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi would visit Iran next month [March] but instead invited Grossi to a conference in Tehran in May.” Grossi wanted to visit Tehran in order “to tackle ‘drifting apart’ relations between the IAEA and the Islamic Republic.” But Mohammad Elami said the March visit would not work for the Iranian regime due to a “busy schedule.”

Then on April 11, 2024, The Jerusalem Post reported that “Iranian nuclear scientist Mahmoud Reza Aghamiri revealed during an interview with Iran’s Channel 2, “As I have said before, making an atomic bomb is not complicated. If you can have a nuclear reactor, which is a device where you control the chain reaction. . . When producing a nuclear bomb, you make a device where the chain reaction is not controlled, so it is much easier. The important point is that our nuclear capabilities are high.”

After Iran attacked Israel on April 14, 2024 with drones and missiles, Iran’s nuclear threats and hints elevated to a new level. Even though Iran has said it would not pursue nuclear weapons because Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has banned production, several high ranking Iranian officials have hinted “that Iran will be changing its declared nuclear doctrine from civilian to military, and will act to develop nuclear weapons” (MEMRI). For instance, Javad Karimi Ghadossi, Majlis National Security Council Member and former Senior IRGC Official said, “If approval is given [by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameni], it will be a week until the first [nuclear] test.” On April 16, 2024, Abdallah Ganji, a member of Iran’s Informational Council, warned, “Any mistake by Israel and its sponsors – France, Britain, and the U.S. – could prompt Iran to rethink its nuclear strategy” (MEMRI).

Meanwhile, on May 7, 2024, the Associated Press reported that the IAEA is still trying to negotiate with Iran “over how to implement a deal struck last year to expand inspections of the Islamic Republic’s rapidly advancing atomic program.” Once again, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General of the IAEA, sounded the alarm stating, “Tehran has enough uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade level to make ‘several’ nuclear bombs if it chose to do so.”

On May 10, 2024, MEMRI translated an interview of Majlis member, Dr. Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, who revealed Iran’s plan to gradually announce it is a nuclear power. Ardestani noted that “recent statements by Kamal Kharrazi, advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, along with statements by other elements, about the possibility of a change in Iran’s nuclear doctrine from civilian to military were ‘a preliminary step before announcing that we have a nuclear bomb.’” Ardestani added, “In effect, we want to gradually make it known that we have achieved [this]. . . We do not want to announce it all at once and frighten the world.” And commenting on Iran’s April 14, 2024 attack on Israel, Ardestani observed, “Iran would not have attacked Israel or the U.S. with missiles unless it had the ‘backup’ of a nuclear bomb.” Finally, Ardestani said that “Iran is apprehensive about frightening its allies Russia and China, and that. . . it expects Russia will use its veto in the UN Security Council to thwart possible sanctions by the Western powers once it becomes known that Iran has a nuclear bomb.”

Question: Why should this matter to citizens of the United States, Israel, and their western allies?

Answer: Because Iran is not only the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, it is committed to the destruction of the United States and Israel.

Question: Why are these developments important when it comes to understanding the events of the latter days?

Answer: The prophetic stage is being set for the return of Jesus Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation.

As I have noted in recent articles and during the Blessors of Israel Podcast, one event that will precede the Great Tribulation is the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39). During the Battle of Gog and Magog, there will be an alliance of nations against Israel. According to the book of Ezekiel, “Persia,” modern-day Iran, will be part of an alliance that 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).

But in response to 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). 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).

So, the stage is being set 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).

Will you please join in praying for Israel and for the leaders of the United States?

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | September 12, 2024

What’s Behind Turkey’s Request to Join BRICS?

Earlier this week it was reported that Turkey has officially applied for membership to the BRICS group nations, becoming the first member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to do so (i24 News). According to Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs aide, Turkey has submitted an application “for full membership” and its application will be considered (Associated Press).

The BRICS alliance was founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, with Communist China and Russia spearheading the effort. BRICS was formed to counter the global economic influence of the United States and its western allies. “Its founding members have called for a fairer world order and the reform of international institutions like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank” (Associated Press).

As of January 1, 2024, BRICS added the following members to its bloc: Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The combined total population of the BRICS countries equals 3.25 billion while its combined GDP is 25.83 trillion USD (Statista). And when it comes to military strength rankings, the BRICS bloc scores high marks: Russia (2), China (3), India (4), Brazil (12), Iran (14), and Egypt (15) (Global Fire Power.com).

So, why would Turkey, a member of NATO since 1952, want to join the BRICS alliance?

In 1999, Turkey became a candidate to join the European Union (EU). In 2005, Turkey began talks to become a member of the EU but the “negotiations have stalled due to concerns over democratic regression under Erdogan’s administration, and ongoing disputes with Cyprus, an EU member” (Associated Press). As a result, Turkey is now looking for an alternative to strengthen its struggling economy, and Erdogan’s administration “sees the economic epicenter of the globe shifting away from the West” (i24 News).

According to Erdogan, “Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious and effective country if it improves its relations with the East and the West simultaneously. . . . Any method other than this will not benefit Turkey, but will harm it” (i24 News).

Erdogan has a history of playing both sides of the global fence so that he may lead Turkey towards his ultimate goal, the resurrection of the Ottoman Empire (TIME). For example, after Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Turkey refused to support the sanctions from the U.S. and its allies against Russia and it never closed its airspace to Russian aircraft (Blessors of Israel). The Biden administration attempted to woo Erdogan back into the fold by approving a $23 billion sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets along with upgrades to 79 current jets in Turkey’s fleet but Erdogan remained committed to standing with Russia (BBC). By the way, Turkey has NATO’s second largest army, one that is ranked 8 globally on the military strength index (Global Fire Power.com).

And when it comes to Israel, Erdogan aligns with the BRICS bloc more than the U.S. and NATO. As I have noted during the Blessors of Israel Podcast and in print, Erdogan is a friend of Hamas and no friend of Israel. Let’s look at some of the comments made by Erdogan since Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 for confirmation.

  • “Hamas is not a terrorist organization, it is a liberation group, mujahideen waging a battle to protect its lands and people.” (Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 25, 2023)
  • “Israel, we will proclaim you as a war criminal to the world. . . We are making our preparations, and we will declare Israel to the world as a war criminal.” (Associated Press, October 28, 2023)
  • “Israel is an occupier. . . The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West.” (Al Jazeera, October 28, 2023)
  • “Once all of this that is happening is finished, we want to see Gaza as a peaceful region that is a part of an independent Palestinian state, in line with 1967 borders, with territorial integrity, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.” (Reuters, November 4, 2023)
  • “With the savagery of bombing the civilians it forced out of their homes while they are relocating, it is literally employing state terrorism. I am now saying, with my heart at ease, that Israel is a terror state. We will never shy away from voicing the truth about Hamas members protecting their lands, honor, and lives in the face of occupation policies are resistance fighters, just because some people are uncomfortable with it.” (Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 15, 2023)
  • “Beyond being a war criminal, Netanyahu, who is the butcher of Gaza right now, will be tried as the butcher of Gaza. . .” (Reuters, December 4, 2023)
  • “They used to speak ill of Hitler. What difference do you have from Hitler? They are going to make us miss Hitler. Is what this Netanyahu is doing any less than what Hitler did? It is not. He is richer than Hitler, he gets the support from the West. All sorts of support comes from the United States. And what did they do with all this support? They killed more than 20,000 Gazans.” (Al Jazeera, December 27, 2023)
  • “The world is watching the barbarity of. . . a psychopath, a vampire who feeds on blood called Netanyahu” (JNS, May 29, 2024).

And Erdogan has actively resisted NATO’s attempts to cooperate with Israel. On July 11, 2024, Erdogan said, “Until comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Turkey” (Ynet News).

Then on August 7, 2024, Reuters reported that Turkey “filed its official request to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel over its conduct in the war in Gaza in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.”

A week later, Erdogan told visiting Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman, that Turkey will continue to support the “Palestinian cause” and push the international community to increase pressure on Israel (Israel National News).

When you put the pieces of the puzzle together, the picture is clear, Erdogan is more closely aligned with the BRICS bloc (especially China, Russia, Iran, South Africa, and Brazil) than the U.S. and NATO.

These developments are important for us to keep in mind as we pray for Israel because Turkey will eventually join forces with Russia and Iran to attack Israel in a significant event that will precede the Great Tribulation.

As I have shared before, 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, and “Beth-togarmah,” modern-day Turkey will be part of that alliance (Ezek. 38:5-6). They will attack Israel “in the latter years” (Ezek. 38:8) after they “devise an evil plan” against Israel. The Scripture reveals that Israel will be attacked by an overwhelming force that will “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 the Turkey, 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).

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

Dr. Matthew Dodd, Executive Director

September 6, 2024

“Israel Delivered Crushing Blows to Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis”. . . What’s Next?
“Israel Delivered Crushing Blows to Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis”. . . What’s Next?

Earlier today, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the nation after Israel took decisive action against its enemies. Netanyahu opened his remarks, stating, “In recent days, we delivered crushing blows to all of our enemies, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. In the strike yesterday, we eliminated Nasrallah’s deputy, he was responsible for the murderous attack on Majdal Shams and one of the most wanted terrorists in the world. We settled the score and we will settle the score with all those who massacre our citizens” (i24 News).

Netanyahu was referencing the targeted elimination of Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr who was the right-hand man of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah. “Israeli officials said the militant commander was behind the deaths of 12 children and teens in a weekend rocket attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights as well as the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians in previous rocket strikes on northern Israel” (CBS News).

In 2017, the U.S. State Department placed a $5 million reward for information leading to the location, arrest, or conviction of Shukr in any country, stating, “He’s also a member of the Jihad Council, Hizballah’s highest military body. Shukr plays a key role in Hizballah’s military operations in Syria, and he helped plan and launch the 1983 attack on U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut that killed 241 of our Marines” (State.gov).

Shukr was killed by Israel in the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon, “making him the most senior figure from the group to be killed in nearly 10 months of conflict with Israel” (The Times of Israel). Hours ago, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported Milad Bidi, “an Iranian military advisor stationed in Lebanon was killed in the Israeli assassination” of Shukr (Al Arabiya News).

Less than 24 hours after Israel’s strike against Shukr, the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated around 2am in Tehran, Iran. Haniyeh was visiting Iran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. It is being reported that Haniyeh was not planning to stay overnight in Tehran but changed plans after Shukr was assassinated in order to meet with Iranian officials to discuss next steps against Israel. That same day, Haniyeh had also met with Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran.

Iranian media reported on Wednesday “that a bodyguard of Ismail Haniyeh. . . leaked critical information leading to his assassination. . . According to the report, an Israeli-made Spike short-range missile targeted Haniyeh’s bedroom. The missile was launched from a building close to where the Hamas leader was staying, with some reports suggesting it was fired from within Iranian territory” (i24 News).

The Biden administrations claims that they were not notified in advance of the assassination (Breitbart). That said, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said “We certainly will help defend Israel. You saw us do that April [when the US led coalition of forces that, together with Israel, almost completely thwarted an Iranian attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles]. You can expect to see us do that again” (The Times of Israel).

The assassination of Haniyeh is a “huge embarrassment” to Iran, dealing a “critical blow to Iran’s security apparatus, exposing severe vulnerabilities and indicating deep foreign intelligence penetration within the Islamic Republic,” according to analysts (Al Arabiya News). Similar to Israel’s response to Iran’s attack in April, when Israel struck a major air base near a nuclear site in Isfahan (NBC News), “Analysts said that the assassination sent a clear message to Iran and its allies; they are not beyond Israel’s reach, even in Tehran. It also highlighted the extent of Israel’s covert capabilities within Iran” (Al Arabiya News).

During his speech, Netanyahu did not mention the assassination of Haniyeh and Israel has not officially taken responsibility for Haniyeh’s death. This has not kept Iran and Hamas from accusing Israel of being behind Haniyeh’s assassination. After convening an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the Ayatollah “ordered a direct strike on Israel” (i24 News).

Analysts submit that Iran may mirror their attack of Israel this last April, target Israeli nationals globally, escalate their nuclear activities, disrupt shipping lanes, or attack Israeli diplomatic sites. Analysts also “suggest that given the timing of the assassination – occurring just hours after the targeting of a top Hezbollah commander – it is likely to prompt a coordinated response from Iran and its allied militias” (Al Arabiya News).

According to Hamas sources, Khaled Mashaal “is expected to be chosen as the paramount leader of the group to replace Ismail Haniyeh” (The Jerusalem Post).

Blessors of Israel is closely monitoring this story and will provide the latest news with biblical commentary. Please continue to pray for Israel and her people.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 31, 2024

Title: The Never-Changing God Reigns Over an Ever-Changing World Author: Dr. Matthew Dodd

It’s been said, “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” If this is true of the times in which we now live, then I submit we have experienced three or four decades worth of change in the last few weeks.

We are living in a tumultuous, ever-changing world. We are constantly bombarded by one unprecedented headline after another. News cycles shift gears so quickly it’s difficult to keep pace and not lose heart.

Just to put things in perspective, let’s start with May of this year and work our way towards this week’s headlines.

  • May 19, 2024 – Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi and Iran’s Foreign Minister were killed in a helicopter crash due to mountain fog (Reuters). Iran held a special presidential election to replace Raisi and on July 6, 2024, “Reformist” Masoud Pezeshkian was elected Iran’s President (Blessors of Israel).
  • May 24, 2024 – CNN reported that UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced “the United Kingdom would hold a general election on July 4,” even though he would likely lose; and lose he did. On July 4, the leftist Labour Party won a landslide victory and installed Keir Starmer as the new Prime Minister (CNN).
  • June 9, 2024 – The Associated Press reported “Far-right parties rattled the traditional powers in the European Union (EU) with major gains in parliamentary seats, dealing an especially humiliating defeat to French President Emmanuel Macron.”
  • June 27, 2024 – President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump squared off in a presidential debate even though neither candidate had been officially nominated by their respective party (New York Times). Biden’s lackluster debate performance led to calls from his fellow Democrats to step down and let someone else run for president. Biden tried to reassure his party that he was fit for office and able to lead the nation for another four years.
  • July 7, 2024 – In response to his defeat at the EU, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an election and struck a last-minute deal with the left-wing New Popular Front alliance in order to maintain his presidential control over France (Politico).
  • July 13, 2024 – While campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump was nearly assassinated by Thomas Matthew Crooks. The Gateway Pundit reported, “President Trump was saved when he tilted his head at the last minute and was hit by a bullet in the ear and did not take a bullet to the skull. Many believe God protected our president that day.”
  • July 21, 2024 – After weeks of mounting pressure from top Democrats, President Biden announced via X that he would not seek another term in office. Later that same day, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee. Within hours of Biden’s announcement, Harris secured the number of delegates necessary to win the nomination (CNN) and also hauled in $81 million in the first 24 hours (MSN).

These staggering headlines are a reminder of the important principles found within God’s Word, the Holy Bible. In Daniel 2:20-21, the prophet Daniel glorified the God of Israel for revealing to him the meaning of the dreams that left King Nebuchadnezzar’s spirit troubled, saying, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.”

While our world is ever-changing, our God never changes (Psalm 102:27; Hebrews 13:8). Yet He is the One who raises leaders to positions of authority to accomplish His will and He removes leaders from position of influence to also achieve His will. He changes the times and the epochs yet He is not changed nor will He ever be deterred from fulfilling His promises (Numbers 23:19).

More change is on the horizon. What we are witnessing now are the birth pangs that Jesus warned His disciples about (Matthew 24:6-8). As we witness the times changing before our eyes, I believe God wants us to be like the men of Issachar. We are told in 1 Chronicles 12:32, that the sons of Issachar were “men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.” Like never before the body of Christ must discern the times in which we live and understand what we must do. We are promised in James 1:5, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

This is not the time to shrink back in fear because we do not know what the next day may bring. We must press into the Lord by faith because He already knows what our tomorrows will bring. In fact, our eternal God is already in our tomorrows; yesterday, today, and tomorrow are an ever-present now for our God. And God has commissioned us to be His ambassadors, His witnesses to our family and friends who need Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20). It’s time for us, the Church, to go out into the harvest fields and proclaim that Jesus is the Savior of the world and He is coming back (John 3:16; Revelation 19:11-16). May we be faithful until that day, and until that day say with the Apostle John, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 26, 2024

Why Jews are Fleeing Europe and the U.S. for Israel

Since October 7, 2023, antisemitism has risen to alarming levels in Europe and the United States (U.S.). CBS News reports that “Nearly 40% of antisemitic incidents in the world last year took place in Europe, and there was a spike after that Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. In Germany, they nearly doubled. In the U.K., they more than doubled. And in France, they nearly quadrupled” (Yahoo News).

The Anti-Defamation League reports there has been “8,873 antisemitic incidents in the United States in 2023 – the highest number of incidents reported since the organization began tracking in 1979. . . Last year, the number of antisemitic incidents outpaced the all-time high set in 2022 by 140%” (CNN). Hillel International reported there has been 1,826 “reported antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7 – a 700% increase compared to last year.”

This wave of antisemitism has become the catalyst for Jews in Europe and the U.S. to make Aliyah, to immigrate to the Promised Land of Israel. Jews in Europe and the U.S. believe they will be safer in Israel, even though it is continually threatened by the likes of Iran and under attack by Iranian-backed terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. “Requests from French Jews to relocate to Israel have soared by 430% since October” (MSN). Israel National News also reported that “Last year, 1,100 French Jews left for Israel. This year there will be 4,500. Since 1972, over 100,000 French Jews moved to Israel (out of half a million). Before 2012, 500 Jews left France every year. Number multiplied tenfold.”

Sirpa Rautio, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights noted “Europe is witnessing a wave of antisemitism, partly driven by the conflict in the Middle East. . . This severely limits Jewish people’s ability to live in safety and with dignity” (The Guardian).

The rise of antisemitism in France prompted the chief rabbi of the Great Synagogue of Paris, Moshe Sebbag, to observe, “There is no future for the in France. I tell all young people to go to Israel or a safer country” (Israel National News).

Germany’s antisemitism commissioner, Felix Klein, has condemned the increase in “anti-Jewish violence, warning, “People are shocked to hear news of houses where Jews live being marked with a Star of David. . . Because that, of course, rings a bell and brings us back to the most horrific times we had in this country” (The Guardian).

Well-known Dutch author, Leon de Winter, whose parents survived the Holocaust, predicts, “I think Jewish life in Europe will be a thing of the past by 2050. There is no future for them here and their desperate love for the old and beloved continent will die” (Israel National News).

Recently, I wrote in an article for Blessors of Israel that “All forms of antisemitism have Satan as their source” (What’s at the Heart of the Hatred for the Jews?). Yet it is important to remember that God is not done with Israel (Romans 11:1-2). In fact, God will use for good what Satan has meant for evil (Genesis 50:20). And God has promised to gather the Jews from the nations and bring them into the Promised Land in order to bless them through their Messiah (Ezekiel 37:21-27).

Now, like never before, Christians must pray for Israel and also her enemies, that the Holy Spirit will convict the lost of their need for the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ is coming back and when He does, “Every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and. . . every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 19, 2024

Will Iran’s New President Reform Iran’s Policy Towards Israel?

Iran elected its new president last Friday, July 5, 2024. The former heart surgeon turned politician, Masoud Pezeshkian, received 53.7 percent of the vote in a run-off election to defeat hard-liner, Saeed Jalili. He is Iran’s ninth president since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Pezeshkian is considered a moderate and a reformer when compared to the other candidates he faced in an unexpected presidential election to replace Iran’s former president, Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024.

As president, Pezeshkian promised Iranians that he would “open Iran to the world and deliver freedoms its people have yearned for” (The Jerusalem Post). After the election results confirmed Pezeshkian had won, videos were posted on social media platforms which showed Pezeshkian’s supporters dancing in the streets, honking their car horns, and handing out candy to celebrate his victory. The next day, Pezeshkian acknowledged “the difficult path ahead” but offered an olive branch to his fellow Iranians, stating, “I extend my hand towards you and swear on my honour that I will not leave you alone on this path. Don’t’ lead me alone” (Al Jazeera).

World leaders with strategic and/or potential partnerships with Iran were quick to congratulate Pezeshkian on his surprise rise to Iran’s presidency. Russian President Vladimir Putin said, “I hope that your tenure as president will contribute to a reinforcement of constructive bilateral cooperation between our friendly peoples” (Al Jazeera). Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, “I affirm my keenness on developing and deepening the relations between our countries and people and serve our mutual interests” (Al Jazeera). Communist China’s President Xi Jinping said, “I attach great importance to the development of China-Iran relations and am willing to work with the President to lead the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership towards deeper advancement. . . . Faced with complex regional and international situations, China and Iran have always supported each other, worked together and continued to consolidate strategic mutual trust” (Al Jazeera). And India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to working with Pezeshkian in order “to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and the region” (Al Jazeera).

Pezeshkian also received a congratulatory message from Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Jerusalem Post reported that “The Hamas chief noted that the Palestinian people ‘are confident in your capabilities to serve Iran, overcome all challenges and difficulties, and take steps towards the unity of the Islamic ummah [nation] against its enemy, as well as to assist the Palestinian cause as the main issue of the Islamic world.’”

Prior to the election many wondered if this moderate reformer will attempt to change Iran’s hostile policies towards the United States and Israel. Will Pezeshkian be willing and able to convince the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to extend an olive branch to Israel and halt all forms of terrorism against Israel and her allies through its proxies (i.e., Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis)? Or will Pezeshkian attempt to convince the Ayatollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to stop enriching uranium at its nuclear facilities and fully comply with the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)? And will Pezeshkian be able to convince the Iranian powers-that-be regarding the wisdom of redirecting funds towards rebuilding Iran’s feeble economy and liberating its people from the heavy-handed, authoritarian rule that has led to the ruthless slaughter of many of its citizens since the Islamic Revolution in 1979?

The world did not have to hold its collective breath for very long to discover the answers to these questions. Pezeshkian swiftly took to the phone and connected with Iran’s allies in order to reassure them that it will be business as usual for Iran. During his phone call with Putin, Pezeshkian said, “We attach great importance to relations with our friendly and neighboring country Russia, and we will undoubtedly strengthen these relations” (The Jerusalem Post). To the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Pezeshkian commended the Iraqi government for its “wise and dignified” opposition to Israel, which he accused of “crimes against the people of Gaza” (Breitbart). And to Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, Pezeshkian offered praise for the terrorist regime’s missile attacks against Israel, saying, “The Islamic Republic has always supported the resistance of the people of the region against the illegitimate Zionist regime. . . . I am certain that the resistance movements in the region will not allow this regime to continue its warmongering and criminal policies against the oppressed people of Palestine and other nations in the region” (The Jerusalem Post).

Just in case his comments to Nasrallah about Israel were not clear enough for those in the West to understand, Pezeshkian declared that he seeks “friendly relations with all countries except for Israel” (The Algemeiner). And before U.S. officials become too optimistic about the prospects of fostering a better relationship with Iran because of its new “moderate,” “reformer” president, it is also important to note that Pezeshkian has been an outspoken critic of the U.S. For example, after Iran shot down a U.S. drone, Pezeshkian triumphantly declared it “a strong punch to the mouths of the leaders of criminal America” (The Algemeiner).

All that said, the truth is the 69 years old retired heart surgeon turned politician will be limited in what he can do for Iran because the Iranian President is not the true power in Iran. He might be able to affect some change domestically but ultimately he will have to answer to the true power in Iran, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. In practice this means that whenever the Ayatollah tells President Pezeshkian to “Jump,” he will ask the Supreme Leader, “How high?”

In addition to the Ayatollah, Pezeshkian will also have to answer to the IRGC. In his analysis of the IRGC and its influence over Iran’s newly elected President, Seth J. Frantzman observed, “There is a proverb here that is worth recalling when hearing stories about another Iranian ‘reformer’. The motto is ‘trust, but verify’. In fact, in this case it’s not even worth trusting. The Iranian regime is more than just the president and he will not have much power to recast Iran’s role in the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is like an albatross around the Iranian state, smothering it and using it for its own needs.” Frantzman adds, “What this means is that the Iranian nuclear program will likely continue to advance into a weaponization phase; Iran’s proxies will continue to attack Israel; and Iran will continue to form ties with Russia, China and other countries that oppose the West. . . . The new Iranian president will therefore likely only bring bad things to the region, rather than any kind of reform” (The Jerusalem Post).

Please join me in praying for Israel and her people.

by Dr. Matthew Dodd | July 11, 2024