Pat & Claudia’s Blog

Here is this incredible story. Be prepared to be touched deeply.

Here is Part 2 of the journal by David Dolan.

IDF IN ACTION

For the first time in nearly one month, Israeli ground forces entered the Gaza Strip within hours of the terror attack. One soldier, Staff sergeant Sayef Bisan, a member of Israel’s small Druze community who served with an elite reconnaissance unit, was killed in exchanges of fire with Palestinian gunmen. Several other temporary ground incursions were launched later in the week in response to stepped up Palestinian Kassam rocket fire upon nearby Israeli communities.

In a major operation carried out on April 16, three more soldiers were killed and several others wounded by Palestinian gunmen. The army spokesman said the incident began when IDF forces entered the Gaza Strip in early morning fog after spotting a squad of Palestinians next to the border fence, apparently planning another infiltration attempt. But it turned out to be a well planned trap as the soldiers were quickly ambushed by other Palestinian gunmen hiding in nearby bushes and fields.

The incident happened near Kibbutz Be’eri, which was the apparent destination of the Palestinian terrorist squad. Around 20 Palestinians were killed as the IDF responded to the attack, some of them young non combatants, along with an Arab journalist working for Reuters. Palestinian leaders claimed illegal munitions were used by the IDF. Earlier the same day, four armed Hamas militiamen were killed when an Israeli helicopter spotted them moving in the direction of the Nahal Oz fuel terminal.

Yet another major Palestinian terror attack was launched on April 19, this time against Israeli soldiers stationed at the Kerem Shalom border crossing into the Gaza Strip. While Palestinian gunmen hid nearby, suicide terrorists rammed several armored vehicles packed with explosives into the border fence, setting off powerful blasts that killed themselves and injured 13 IDF soldiers, one critically. Officials said Hamas had planned to kill most of the soldiers and then take captive any injured survivors. The border crossing, traversed by around 200 humanitarian aid trucks each week, is next to where IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted in 2006.

FULL WAR ON HAMAS

Speaking to Kadima party activists several days after the two Israeli fuel workers were slaughtered, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert revealed that his government is preparing to crush the Hamas movement: “I promise that our response to Hamas attacks will be such that Hamas will no longer be able to continue to take any action against the citizens of Israel.”

The premier—who was the main Sharon government advocate for the controversial Israeli civilian and military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005—said he could not reveal specific details of the apparent major military operation being planned against the burgeoning Palestinian group, which violently seized control over the entire Gaza Strip from Fatah-linked Palestinian Authority security forces last June. However Olmert pledged that “What I am saying will obligate Israel to act, and I promise you that it will be properly implemented.” Political analysts said that remark was an apparent allusion to the poorly planned and executed 2006 assault on Hizbullah militia forces in Lebanon.

Speaking the same day to his Labor party activists, Defense Minister Ehud Barak echoed PM Olmert, saying “We will restore security to Sderot and other communities along the Gaza periphery.”

Many analysts predict that the government is preparing to launch a massive operation that will rival the scope of the 34 day Second Lebanon War. They say that unless circumstances spiral out of control, such a conflict will undoubtedly not be initiated until after May’s countrywide celebration of Israel’s sixtieth birthday, when American President George W. Bush and other world leaders are scheduled to visit Israel. They anticipate that the planned operation to uproot Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip will feature more ground operations than the Lebanon conflict did, despite the likelihood the number of IDF casualties will match if not exceed the 119 soldiers killed by Hizbullah fighters.

ARMED TO THE TEETH

Just how difficult a full-scale IDF operation against Hamas would probably turn out to be was underlined by a report issued on April 10 by an Israeli think tank. Put together by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, and based on data gathered by Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, the report said the militant Muslim movement has managed to assemble a formidable Gaza Strip militia force of at least 20,000 armed men. Another 4,000 trained gunmen in the crowded coastal zone belong to other militant groups that would undoubtedly support Hamas fighters.

The ominous report said Hamas militiamen, many commanded by men trained in Iran and Syria, are divided into two main divisions. One of them, the Kassam Brigades, is made up of around 10,000 men. A brigade sub-division operates in the northern Gaza Strip just a few miles south of Ashkelon. Two others are stationed in Gaza City, where much of the fighting would be expected to take place given the Hamas inclination to use its own civilian population as human shields, as Hizbullah did in 2006. Another two sub-divisions are positioned in the south near the Sinai border towns of Rafah and Khan Yunis.

The other main armed division, also numbering some 10,000 men, is comprised of members of the Hamas Executive Force which replaced routed PA security personal on Gaza streets last June. The think tank report revealed that Hamas has even created a small coastal patrol made up of over 200 men equipped with several naval vessels.

The intelligence report said Hamas gets its weapons in three main ways—internal Gaza production, from Iran and Syria, and from international illicit arms dealers. It said the Islamic group has smuggled in from Egypt an unknown quantity of the same type of Iranian-built 122 millimeter Grad rockets fired upon Ashkelon in March, along with hundreds of mortar shells. Gaza factories constantly produce shorter range Kassam rockets, with hundred ready to be fired at any given time.

The report said Hamas also has several anti-aircraft missiles and an estimated 30 or so anti-aircraft machine guns. The radical group has also acquired dozens of deadly anti-tank rockets, including some Sagger missiles, and has produced thousands of rocket propelled grenades. It has also smuggled in advanced listening devices from Egypt, along with night vision equipment.

PEACEMAKERS OR WARMONGERS?

Israeli officials were livid over former American President Jimmy Carter’s meetings with senior Hamas officials in Cairo and Damascus during his April Middle East tour. Several Hamas leaders—members of a violent organization high up on the US government’s terrorist list, which has murdered over 20 Americans in attacks this decade alone, along with hundreds of Israelis—actually publicly confirmed Israeli government contentions that they were simply exploiting the Carter visit to bolster their international standing.

The controversial former president, who callously ignored Bush Administration pleas that he cancel his planned meetings, said he would attempt to help secure freedom for Gilad Shalit. However Hamas officials admitted they had no intention of engaging the former politician, who brokered the despised Camp David peace accords between Egypt and Israel, as any sort of an actual go between.

Just as Carter was arriving in Israel, Hamas parliament member Yunis al-Aster said the Muslim world will “soon conquer the Crusader capitalRome” which he charged had helped “to plant the brothers of apes and pigs in Palestine in order to prevent the reawakening of Islam.”

PM Olmert met in Jerusalem with PA leader Mahmoud Abbas during April for the first time since eight young Jewish seminary students were slaughtered in the city in early March. A London-based Arabic newspaper subsequently claimed the Israeli leader offered to hand over 64% ofJudea and Samaria to full PA control as part of a final peace deal. But this would not include any land located west of Israel’s contested security barrier, meaning three large settlement blocks and eastern Jerusalem would remain in Israeli hands. The unverified report came as the Orthodox Shas party again threatened to leave the ruling coalition, causing its collapse, if Olmert dares to discuss an Israeli withdrawal from any portion of the holy city.

During his early-April remarks before Kadima party leaders, the Israeli Premier said that while he believes he can arrive at a final agreement with Abbas before the end of this year—as requested by George Bush—he does not think it could be actually implemented right away due to continuing Palestinian rocket attacks and terrorism. Israeli media reports said officials from both sides were discussing postponing explosive final status negotiations for five more years, during which time the PA would be granted some municipal responsibilities in Arab Jerusalem neighborhoods to test the feasibility of an Israeli withdrawal from those areas.

Defense Minister Barak reportedly explained to American officials what is undoubtedly the main reason for putting off an Israeli withdrawal from most of the disputed territories—fears that Hamas would quickly take over such areas and use them to carry on with their jihad war to annihilate the detested “Zionist entity.” He said Israel is already taking enormous risks by transferring more weapons and armored vehicles to PA security forces—as US officials have insisted they do—since these could eventually fall into Hamas hands, as many Israeli-supplied weapons have already done in Gaza.

According to opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, transferring weapons to the PA itself is extremely risky even if Hamas does not take over. Seemingly confirming his contention, the PLO envoy to Beirut, Abbas Zaki, told the Lebanese NBN TV network in mid-April that PA leaders “have not given up even one iota” of the PLO’s 1974 “Phased Plan” to destroy Israel in stages and replace it with a Palestinian state.

“In light of the weakness of the Arab nation and American control over the world, the PLO proceeds through phases, without changing its strategy. Let me tell you, when the ideology of Israel collapses, and we take back Jerusalem, the Israeli ideology will collapse in its entirety, and we will begin to progress with our own ideology, Allah willing, and drive them out of all of Palestine.”

SYRIA AND IRAN

While actual fighting was escalating with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Israeli military alerts were stepped up along the northern borders withLebanon and Syria. This came as Arab media outlets reported that Damascus was calling up reserve soldiers and moving forces into theLebanese Beeka Valley, largely controlled by Hizbullah militiamen. Syrian leaders denied that reserve soldiers were being mobilized, but did admit their military forces were on a heightened state of alert and activity, supposedly in anticipation of a possible Israeli strike.

This came as Israel held its largest ever home front security drill the second week of April, when preparations for a possible Syrian, Hizbullah and/or Iranian chemical or biological missile attack were tested at many hospitals, military bases, schools and government buildings. Air raid sirens were sounded around the country, and adults were ordered to check the readiness status of their home and work bomb shelters and emergency supplies. During the massive four day exercise, several Israeli cabinet ministers said the attack scenarios that were presented to them—unfolding in real time as if an actual war was underway—were both realistic and plausible, even if quite chilling.

Syrian President Bashar Assad later told a Lebanese newspaper that he sees war with Israel as “a real possibility” and was preparing accordingly, charging that this would come during an Israeli or US military strike upon Iran’s nuclear facilities. He claimed that “we know there is someone in the American government who is interested in this war, and we are preparing for it.”

Speaking during the national war drill, Labor party cabinet minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer bluntly declared that “an Iranian attack on Israel will lead to a harsh response by Israel that will cause the destruction of the Iranian nation.” Iran’s UN ambassador called upon the world body to rebuke Israel for its “insulting and scandalous threats,” while failing to mention that his country’s visceral president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been repeatedly vowing to wipe Israel off of the map since October 2005.

Those of us who trust the veracity of the ancient Hebrew scriptures can be confident that modern Israel—about to turn 60—will not be destroyed by Iran, Syria, Hizbullah or any other hostile country or group. Instead, the Lord himself has promised that “I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain” (Zechariah 8:3).

David Dolan is an ex-CBS Middle East correspondent, who is a born-again believer who lives in Jerusalem. His insights are invaluable to what is going on, on the ground in Israel, and the surrounding countries. He writes a monthly journal which is valuable information… information you will NOT find in the major media sources.

April’s journal is excellent. Since it is so long, I will divide it up into several separate blogs, so as not to bog you down with words. I’m sure you will see the relevance of these journals

WAR CLOUDS GATHER ON THE HORIZON

By David Dolan

Clashes between Israeli military forces and Islamic fighters escalated once again during April after Palestinian terrorists carried out another cross border attack from the Gaza Strip, leaving two Israeli civilians dead. Three IDF soldiers were killed and over 15 wounded during heavy fighting later in the month.

The violence came amid growing signs that the extremist Hamas group is preparing to blow up portions of the border fence with Egypt, as it did in January. Israeli officials urged tourists to stay away from popular Sinai coastal resorts due to fears of terrorist attacks there. Security sources said Hamas is also stepping up efforts to seize control over Palestinian Authority territory in the West Bank. But Israeli government leaders vowed to prevent this, while indicating in the strongest words yet that a massive military operation to crush the radical group is pending in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli military forces were placed on heightened alert along both the Lebanese and Syrian borders in early April as Arab leaders charged that the Jewish state was preparing to launch a surprise attack against both countries. The allegation was strongly denied by officials in Jerusalem, who kept a wary eye on unusual Hizbullah and Syrian military activities. Syria’s dictator later admitted that he is preparing his country for war, but added he does not expect imminent conflict.

Security measures were tightened during the month at international airports where Israeli commercial jets fly in and out of amid intelligence reports that Hizbullah may be preparing to launch shoulder-fired missiles at such aircraft. Meanwhile an Israeli cabinet minister said Iran would be left in total ruins if it dared to launch ballistic missiles at Israel. This came as Iranian Shiite leaders announced that their uranium enrichment program was being speeded up—a central component in the production of nuclear weapons.

TERROR NEAR GAZA

Palestinian snipers fired at a visiting Canadian interfaith delegation on April 4, wounding an Israeli security guard protecting delegation host Avi Dicter, who serves as Israel’s Internal Security Minister. The group was touring the Gaza Strip border area when the attack took place. Officials said snipers came within inches of hitting the Kadima Party cabinet minister. Analysts said had he been killed, a major military operation in the Gaza Strip would probably have been launched by the government.

Two Israeli civilian workers were murdered on April 8 when at least four Palestinian terrorists managed to breach the Gaza border fence. Israeli officials said the squad was planning to kidnap IDF soldiers and take them back into the turbulent Palestinian coastal zone. But they apparently altered their plan when they spotted a large IDF presence in the area.

Instead, the heavily armed terrorists headed toward the nearby Nahal Oz petroleum terminal that supplies fuel for Palestinian vehicles, and also for the Gaza Strip’s internal electricity plant. Workers were preparing to head home after pumping European Union-funded fuel into tanker trucks which left the premises for the Gaza Strip just minutes before the deadly assault was launched.

After infiltrating the unguarded terminal, the terrorists opened fire on two civilian workers, both Russian immigrants who lived with their families in Beersheva. The two men, Oleg Lipson, 37, and his longtime friend, 53 year old Lev Cherniak, were riddled with bullets. Eyewitnesses reported their heads and other body parts were literally ripped apart by the torrent of close range bullets.

As shocked employees took cover, nearby Israeli soldiers rushed to the scene and quickly engaged the Palestinian terrorists, killing two of the assailants. But two or three others managed to escape and headed back into the Gaza Strip. At least one was killed minutes later when their vehicle was struck by a missile fired by an Israeli helicopter.

No less than three Palestinian groups claimed “credit” for the bloody assault, which was hailed as a valiant operation by local Arab media outlets. Israeli government officials said the small Islamic Jihad terror group was the most likely culprit. Still, they put the overall blame for the cynical attack—upon an Israeli-run facility that directly aids the Palestinian people every day—squarely on Hamas, saying such a well planned operation could not have taken place without the ruling group’s complicity, if not blessing. Fuel supplies were halted for one week after the assault.

One of our listeners, Pat Hill, has a daughter that was in a terrible car accident when she was 17. She escaped with her life, but there was a lot of damage to her brain and body. Pat has been a ROCK for Dawni, as she has helped her through all the surgeries and therapies. There were good times, and there were not so good times. Imagine a mother watching her daughter try to walk and talk, again.

Pat sent me the following, and I thought it might mean as much to you, as it did to me. It is a source of inspiration. While I struggle with my petty problems day after day, THESE people deal with Real Life Issues.

Kinda Humbling.

In Memoriam

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This is a memorial, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iran, among others, claiming the Holocaust to be ‘a myth,’ it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

Here is an EXCELLENT article from Honest Reporting. If you haven’t subscribed to their e-mail, you must do so now: honestreporting.com.

I keep hearing how Mahmoud Abbas is such a Statesman and Moderate, as if he is almost tolerant of Israel, and a champion of the peace process with Israel. This article just may open your eyes.

On the eve of the anniversary of the horrific 2002 Passover massacre in Netanya’s Park Hotel, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a stinging reminder that “moderacy” on the Palestinian side is a relative term.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Al Quds Mark of Honor, the PLO’s highest medal, will be given to two female terrorists who helped kill Israelis.

Ahlam Tamimi, a Hamas-linked terrorist in prison for assisting the suicide bomber who killed at least six people in the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem, and Amra Muna, who seduced Ophir Rahum over the Internet and then lured him to Ramallah to be murdered, will be awarded the medal.

Conferring the Al Quds Mark of Honor is decided at the discretion of the Palestinian Authority’s president, and he alone has the final say when choosing the Palestinians to be honored with the medal.

It is highly unlikely that this appalling story will be covered by the mainstream media, which regularly describes Abbas as a “moderate”. While this may be true in comparison with the absolute fanaticism of Hamas, this incident is yet another demonstration of how the media is too quick to cast Palestinian leaders in these terms.

Abbas, as recently as February, did not rule out returning to the path of armed “resistance” against Israel and took pride in the fact that he had been the first to fire on Israel and that his organization had trained Hezbollah. This, in addition to his history of Holocaust denial.

So why does the mainstream media continue to refer to various Israeli politicians or civilians who live over the Green Line as “hard-line”, “uncompromising”, “intransigent”, “implacable” and other similar terms while Abbas and other Palestinians are presented as “moderate”?

In a similar vein, former US President Jimmy Carter laid a wreath Tuesday on the grave of Yasser Arafat, whom he claimed, fought for the advancement of the Palestinians and other just causes in the world. Is this the same godfather of terror responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocents in a bloodstained career? Or was he a “moderate” Palestinian leader?

Demand more from your media — ask why some unpleasant truths are systematically under-reported while Palestinian leaders are inaccurately described in gracious political terms.

Conservative estimates say that only 15% of Muslims are of the “Radical” persuasion. That sounds small, until you realize that there are about 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world. That comes out to 225 MILLION of them as Radical. You have seen what Radical Muslims are capable of.

In case you have forgotten, this video is a grim reminder of why we should be cautious and vigilant. We may not think so now, but we WILL miss President Bush when he leaves office.

View this, and share it with others who need to “Remember”.

The following thought-provoking article was sent to me by John Roberts. Such an article should not produce fear or anger. It should produce caution. The world seems to forget!!!

What Moslem Population Increase Brings

The following is a little story sent to me by Lindy Ann. She sends some really inspirational little stories and comments. If you want a sweet e-mail in your inbox four or five times a week, contact her at Lindyann@aol.com.

I include this little story, for it addresses what we talk about daily on Praise Until Dawn. I hope you are as blessed as I was when I read it.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger! He cried out, “God how could you do this to me? “Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

The Moral of This Story: It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives…even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

RED MARBLES 

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. 

I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprizing a basket of freshly picked green peas. 

I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. 

I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.  Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me. 

‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’ 

‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.  They sure look good.’ 

‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?’ 

‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’ 

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’ 

‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’ 

‘Would you like take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller. 

‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.’ 

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’ 

‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’ 

‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller. 

‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.’ 

‘I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked. 

‘Not zackley but almost.’ 

‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’, Mr. Miller told the boy. 

‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’ 

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. 

With a smile said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances.  Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. 

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’ 

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. 

A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. 

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. 

Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. 

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. 

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. 

Ahead of us in line were three young men. 

One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking. 

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. 

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. 

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. 

Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes. 

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.  I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. 

With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 

‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.  They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. 

Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size….they came to pay their debt.’ 

‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ‘. 

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.