Incredible–Turkish Flag on Temple Mount

A-7 (Israel National News) reported on June 14:

“The Turkish flag was raised over the Temple Mount last week, following the flotilla clash while Jerusalem police banned Jews from holding the monthly march around the ancient gates of the holy site because of ‘security concerns.’ Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Israel National News that the unprecedented flag raising was legal. The pictures of the Turkish flag waving over the Temple Mount, where the First and Second Holy Temples were built and where the golden-domed Al-Aqsa mosque now stands, were published on the Turkish web site PLS48.net…

“Although there is no law against raising flags over the site, the practice has been shunned in order to prevent flaring tempers from Muslims and Jews. The Israel flag was raised over the Temple Mount for a few hours on June 6, 1967, after all of Jerusalem was restored to Israel in the Six-Day War. It was taken down under orders of then-IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan…

“Jimmy Carter, who… was President of the United States [from 1978-1982], warned that Sadat would not sign a peace treaty without the raising of the Saudi flag. He suggested that a flag would be flown only over the mosque and nowhere else over the Temple Mount, but Begin retorted, ‘Not on the Temple Mount’…”

The activities surrounding the Temple Mount are bound to “explode.” This will be especially true when the Jews will begin to offer the prophesied sacrifices on the Temple Mount.

Turkey Behind Flotilla

On June 11, The Jerusalem Post wrote:

“The captain of the Mavi Marmara  tried to convince dozens of IHH activists not to engage in violent clashes with the IDF two hours prior to the commando’s boarding of the ship… The Gaza flotilla ship’s captain, Mehmet Tubal, said while being investigated in Israel that he and other members of the Mavi Marmara’s staff did all they could to prevent the activists from confronting soldiers, even throwing some of the IHH member’s metal pipes and chains overboard. Another senior member of the ship’s staff said that 40 IHH activists took control of the Mavi Marmara and dictated the rest of the passengers’ movements.

“The occurrence of violence aboard the Mavi Marmara may have been predetermined by the IHH ‘s purchase of the ship along with possible tacit approval from the Turkish government. ‘[The] IHH acquired the Mavi Marmara ship from the AKP-run municipality of Istanbul. It is not conceivable that the IHH’s Gaza operation could have been carried out absent high-level government sanction,’ wrote Svante Cornell, a Swedish security expert… A journalist on-board the Mavi Marmara, described as having good links with the heads of the Turkish government and Bulent Yildirim, head of the IHH, had stated, ‘The flotilla was organized with the support of the Turkish government and Prime Minister Erdogan gave the instructions for it to set sail. That was despite the fact that everyone knew it would never reach its destination…'”

As can be expected, the Turkish government denied any and all involvement. Turkey, biblical “Edom,” will become very hostile towards Israel in the future. The book of Obadiah speaks of the coming Day of the Lord (verse 15). It says about Edom:

“For your violence against your brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever. In the day that you stood on the other side–In the day that strangers carried captive his forces, When foreigners entered his gates And cast lots for Jerusalem–Even you were as one of them. But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah In the day of their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress… Nor laid hands on their substance In the day of their calamity. You should not have stood at the crossroads To cut off those among them who escaped; Nor should you have delivered up those among them who remained In the day of distress” (verse 10-14).

Is it Really?–Worldwide Condemnation of Israel Reminiscent of Hitler Era?

Is it Really?–Worldwide Condemnation of Israel Reminiscent of Hitler Era?

On June 11, Haaretz published an article by Henry Siegman, former Senior Fellow on the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations and, before that, national director of the American Jewish Congress from 1978 to 1994. What first appears to be a defense of the policies of the state of Israel turns into a blatant condemnation of the Israeli government and the thinking of most Jews in the state of Israel:

“Following Israel’s bloody interdiction of the Gaza Flotilla, I called a life-long friend in Israel to inquire about the mood of the country. My friend, an intellectual and a kind and generous man, has nevertheless long sided with Israeli hardliners. Still, I was entirely unprepared for his response. He told me—in a voice trembling with emotion—that the world’s outpouring of condemnation of Israel is reminiscent of the dark period of the Hitler era. He told me most everyone in Israel felt that way…

“Like me, my friend personally experienced those dark Hitler years, having lived under Nazi occupation, as did so many of Israel’s Jewish citizens. I was therefore stunned by the analogy. He went on to say that the so-called human rights activists on the Turkish ship were in fact terrorists and thugs paid to assault Israeli authorities to provoke an incident that would discredit the Jewish state…

“When I managed to get over the shock of that exchange, it struck me that the invocation of the Hitler era was actually a frighteningly apt and searing analogy, although not the one my friend intended. A million and a half civilians have been forced to live in an open-air prison in inhuman conditions for over three years now, but unlike the Hitler years, they are not Jews but Palestinians. Their jailers, incredibly, are survivors of the Holocaust, or their descendants. Of course, the inmates of Gaza are not destined for gas chambers, as the Jews were, but they have been reduced to a debased and hopeless existence.

“Fully 80% of Gaza’s population lives on the edge of malnutrition, depending on international charities for their daily nourishment. According to the UN and World Health authorities, Gaza’s children suffer from dramatically increased morbidity that will affect and shorten the lives of many of them. This obscenity is a consequence of a deliberate and carefully calculated Israeli policy aimed at de-developing Gaza by destroying not only its economy but its physical and social infrastructure while sealing it hermitically [sic] from the outside world…

“Another feature of that dark era were absurd conspiracies attributed to the Jews by otherwise intelligent and cultured Germans. Sadly, even smart Jews are not immune to that disease…

“Of course, even the most objectionable Israeli policies do not begin to compare with Hitler’s Germany. But the essential moral issues are the same. How would Jews have reacted to their tormentors had they been consigned to the kind of existence Israel has imposed on Gaza’s population?… The German White Rose activists, mostly students from the University of Munich, who dared to condemn the German persecution of the Jews (well before the concentration camp exterminations began) were also considered ‘traitors’ by their fellow Germans, who did not mourn the beheading of these activists by the Gestapo.

“So, yes, there is reason for Israelis, and for Jews generally, to think long and hard about the dark Hitler era at this particular time. For the significance of the Gaza Flotilla incident lies not in the questions raised about violations of international law on the high seas, or even about ‘who assaulted who’ first on the Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, but in the larger questions raised about our common human condition by Israel’s occupation policies and its devastation of Gaza’s civilian population.

“If a people who so recently experienced on its own flesh such unspeakable inhumanities cannot muster the moral imagination to understand the injustice and suffering its territorial ambitions—and even its legitimate security concerns—are inflicting on another people, what hope is there for the rest of us?…”

Zechariah 14:14 says that “Judah will fight against Jerusalem” (Revised Standard Version; New American Bible; New Jerusalem Bible; Luther Bible; Elberfelder Bible; Menge Bible; Zuercher Bible). More and more Jews, living outside the state of Israel, will become frustrated with their government’s policies and will ultimately join other nations in their fight against Jerusalem (compare Zechariah 14:2).

Iran Sends “Aid Ships” to Gaza

Reuters reported on June 14:

“Iran is sending aid ships to blockaded Gaza, state radio said on Monday — a move likely to be considered provocative by Israel which accuses Tehran of arming the Palestinian enclave’s Islamist rulers, Hamas. One ship left port on Sunday and another will depart by Friday, loaded with food, construction material and toys, the report said. The boats would be part of international efforts to break Israel’s isolation of the Gaza Strip…

“Israeli troops two weeks ago boarded a flotilla of Turkish aid ships heading to Gaza on May 31 and killed nine pro-Palestinian activists, most of them Turks. Public opinion in Muslim countries was outraged by the killings. An official of the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s youth organisation said some 100,000 Iranians had volunteered as potential crew for aid ships, Iran daily reported.

“A senior Iranian official said earlier Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards were ready to provide a military escort to aid ships heading to Gaza if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei so commands. But the Guards’ deputy head, Hossein Salami, said there were no plans to do so… Any such military mobilisation would risk a major confrontation with Israel…”

We will have to see how far Iran is willing to go to provoke a fight with Israel.

Saudi Arabia Will Not Allow Israel to Use Their Airspace

Haaretz reported on June 12:

“Saudi Arabia would not allow Israeli bombers to pass through its airspace en route to a possible strike of Iran’s nuclear facilities, a member of the Saudi royal family said Saturday, denying an earlier Times of London report. Earlier Saturday, the Times reported that Saudi Arabia has practiced standing down its anti-aircraft systems to allow Israeli warplanes passage on their way to attack Iran’s nuclear installations, adding that the Saudis have allocated a narrow corridor of airspace in the north of the country.

“Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, the Saudi envoy to the U.K. speaking to the London-based Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, denied that report, saying such a move ‘would be against the policy adopted and followed by the Kingdom.’ According to Asharq al-Awsat report, bin Nawaf reiterated the Saudi Arabia’s rejection of any violation of its territories or airspace, adding that it would be ‘illogical to allow the Israeli occupying force, with whom Saudi Arabia has no relations whatsoever, to use its land and airspace’…

“Despite tensions between them, Israel and Saudi Arabia share a mutual hostility to Iran… Passing over Iraq would require at least tacit consent to the raid from the United States, whose troops are occupying the country. So far, the Obama Administration has refused this.

“On Wednesday the United Nations passed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran in an attempt to force it to stop enriching uranium. But immediately after the UN vote, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed the nuclear program would continue. Israel hailed the vote – but said sanctions were not enough and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to rule out a raid.”

It appears indeed doubtful that Saudi Arabia would lend a hand to Israel, as Arab nations, including Saudi-Arabia (“Ishmael”), as well as Turkey (“Edom”), will form a confederacy against Israel (Psalm 83:5-8).

Euro Here to Stay

Bloomberg reported on June 11:

” European Central Bank council member Mario Draghi said the euro cannot be undone. ‘There is no going back on the euro,’ Draghi said on the sidelines of a conference in Helsinki. ‘People have to understand the euro is to stay.'”

Euro on the Rise?

CNBC wrote on June 15:

“The euro rose against the dollar as strong demand for government debt from several European countries offset worries about the debt crisis…

“’Most of the downtrend in the euro is done,’ said Michael Cohn, chief investment strategist at Global Arena Investment Management. ‘We’ll probably have one more downdraft for the euro by August to around $1.15, but that’s it.’”

Will Europe Return to the 1930’s?

The EUObserver wrote on June 14:

“The chief of Europe’s trade union chiefs, John Monks, has warned that the austerity packages being imposed across the bloc will send the continent ‘back to the 1930s’… ‘This is extremely dangerous. This is 1931, we’re heading back to the 1930s, with the Great Depression and we ended up with militarist dictatorship,’ the general secretary of the European Trades Union Congress (ETUC) said… ‘I’m not saying we’re there yet, but it’s potentially very serious, not just economically, but politically as well.’

“Mr Monks reported that Mr Barroso has similar concerns, but based on diametrically opposed reasoning. He said the commission chief believes the austerity packages will save Europe from returning to the darkest days of the last century rather than precipitating the fall. ‘I had a discussion with Barroso last Friday about what can be done for Greece, Spain, Portugal and the rest and his message was blunt: “Look, if they do not carry out these austerity packages, these countries could virtually disappear in the way that we know them as democracies. They’ve got no choice, this is it.” He’s very, very worried. He shocked us with an apocalyptic vision of democracies in Europe collapsing because of the state of indebtedness'”…”

Germany’s Government About to Crumble?

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 15:

“… many in Germany are befuddled by the apparent inability of Merkel’s coalition… to govern. And the frustration isn’t just limited to the opposition. Conflict after conflict has marked the eight months since the chancellor began her second term in office… And with party and coalition discipline crumbling, an otherwise routine vote on June 30 to replace [German President] Köhler threatens to become Merkel’s Waterloo… And revolt is in the air.

“Of particular concern for the chancellor is her seeming inability to put even a single conflict within her coalition, or even within her own party, to rest… A government minister told SPIEGEL last week that there are a handful of ministers who see little point in continuing. He said that a premature disintegration of Merkel’s coalition is a very real possibility. According to a survey conducted by pollster Infratest, 55 percent of the German public agrees…

“Which means that the approaching presidential election feels increasingly like a vote of confidence on Merkel’s leadership. Potentially even more ominous for Merkel, the opposition has come up with a highly attractive candidate: Joachim Gauck, a former anti-communist human rights activist in East Germany, who was later in charge of the administration of the Stasi secret police files after German reunification.

“Not only have the Greens and the SPD rallied behind him, but there are many within the FDP who were turned off by the heavy-handed manner in which Merkel selected her party’s presidential candidate. Some have openly thrown their support behind Gauck. Even within Merkel’s CDU, there are some who have wondered aloud whether Gauck might not be the better choice. Were the German public allowed to vote, Gauck would beat Merkel’s candidate Wulff by 40 percent to 31 percent, according to recent surveys.

“… new elections could send both parties into the opposition… Even should her government survive the summer, it appears unlikely that significant improvement will be made… Gero Neugebauer, a political science professor at Berlin’s Free University, told SPIEGEL ONLINE [:] ‘Merkel failed to come up with a unifying aim for her government. Now, her only grip on power is that there is no alternative.'”

But there will soon be an “alternative.” The Bible says that in the end, ten European “core” nations or groups of nations “will give their power and authority” to a dictator (Revelation 17:12-13). By then, democracy in Europe will have ceased. In this light, the next announcement is also quite interesting.

European Cross-Border Economic Government?

Deutsche Welle reported on June 17:

“Leaders of eurozone countries and all other EU member states are meeting in Brussels this Thursday to address the mounting problem of debt in Europe. Statements heading into the summit said efforts would be made to establish a cross-border economic government to prevent the recurrence of financial crises in the bloc.”

Now For Sure–the War in Afghanistan Will Continue

The Washington Post wrote on June 14:

“U.S. geologists have discovered vast mineral wealth in Afghanistan, possibly amounting to $1 trillion, President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman said Monday… The New York Times reported the $1 trillion figure in Monday’s edition and quoted senior American officials as saying untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan are far beyond any previously known reserves and were enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself…”

We can expect the fighting in Afghanistan to intensify as both the Allies and the Taliban want to make sure that they will be in charge of the “rich” Afghan mineral wealth. Ultimately, wars are being fought because of lust and greed, notwithstanding all the nice justifications which politicians are offering to unsuspecting or willfully ignorant or forgetful people (compare James 4:1-3).

President Obama a Muslim?

WorldNet Daily wrote on June 14:

“An Egyptian foreign-service official’s comment about President Obama is turning into a sensation among bloggers for its claim that the American leader claims to be Muslim… Obama… claimed to be a Muslim in a television interview where the interviewer corrected his ‘misstatement’ and he has referenced the Muslim heritage in America’s past several times.

“Now the heat on the issue is being turned up because of a weeks-old report in Israel Today. In the report, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit was quoted as saying during an appearance on Nile TV that ‘the American president told me in confidence that he is a Muslim.’

“The White House remained silent on the comment, declining to respond to a WND request for comment.”

For further information, please view our StandingWatch program, “Why the Fort Hood Massacre?”

China’s US Government Debt Holdings Hit 2010 High

AFP wrote on June 15:

“The cash-rich Chinese government raised its US Treasury bond holdings to 900.2 billion dollars in April, its highest level since November 2009, while posting the second consecutive monthly rise, according to a report on international capital flows. China remained far ahead as the top foreign debt holder, followed by Japan, which held 795.5 billion dollars in April, and third-placed Britain at 239.3 billion dollars, according to the figures… some analysts said Beijing was secretly buying bonds via third countries to mask its importance as a creditor — a role which had attracted considerable scrutiny…

“The data Tuesday indicated that China remains ‘a steadfast buyer’ of Treasuries, averaging 10.3 billion dollars per month in 2009 and 8.2 billion dollars per month for the first four months of 2010, he said. China, the world’s largest holder of foreign-exchange reserves, has been constantly criticizing Washington for its snowballing debt levels, fearing that Beijing’s investment in US government bonds could turn sour if a debt crisis overwhelms America.”

President Obama: “There Will Be Transition Costs”

On June 14, President Obama wrote the following public announcement, which was circulated on the Internet:

“The BP oil spill in the Gulf Coast is the worst environmental disaster of its kind in our nation’s history. I am returning to the region today to review our efforts and meet with families and business owners affected by the catastrophe. We are working to hold BP accountable for the damage to the lands and the livelihoods of the Gulf Coast, and we are taking strong precautions to make certain a spill like this never happens again…

“Today, we consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil, but have less than two percent of the world’s oil reserves. Beyond the risks inherent in drilling four miles beneath the surface of the Earth, our dependence on oil means that we will continue to send billions of dollars of our hard-earned wealth to other countries every month — including many in dangerous and unstable regions.

“In other words, our continued dependence on fossil fuels will jeopardize our national security. It will smother our planet. And it will continue to put our economy and our environment at risk…

“The time has come, once and for all, for this nation to fully embrace a new future. That means continuing our unprecedented effort to make everything — from our homes and businesses to our cars and trucks — more energy-efficient. It means rolling back billions of dollars of tax breaks to oil companies so we can prioritize investments in clean energy research and development… There will be transition costs and a time of adjustment…”

In a time of national economic crisis, “transition costs” may be the last thing this country needs.

“Insults Across the Water”

The New York Times wrote on June 13:

“Well, now: it seems our dear ally across the pond feels that a row has broken out over the intemperance of the American president toward mighty BP. ‘Anglophobic spite,’ was the charge leveled at President Obama by a columnist for The Daily Mail, implausibly attributing the animus to Obama’s Kenyan father. London’s mayor, Boris Johnson, demanded an end to ‘anti-British rhetoric.’ He demanded it! Or else. And a leading Tory by name of Lord Tebbit branded Obama’s conduct ‘despicable.’

“All of this came just before the extraordinary events on Saturday in South Africa, when the American boys — none of whom could make the British squad, it is said — played Her Majesty’s finest to a draw in the World Cup’s opening round. ‘Brit Kneels Before America!’ was the headline on the ever-subtle Drudge Report, with a picture of the poor English goalie on his knees. The oil spill may long be forgotten in Britain before the English get over that single goal scored by the Yanks…

“American anger has little to do with the island nation and everything to do with a multinational corporation that has appeared tone deaf and negligent… The insults across the water can be explained, in part, by that old line about two nations separated by a common language…

“… my colleague Sarah Lyall explained the gap this way:

“‘We look to the future; they look to the past. We run for election; they stand for it. We noisily and proudly proclaim our Americanness; they shuffle their feet and apologize for their Britishness. We trumpet our success; they brag about their failures. When they say they are pleased to meet you, they often mean nothing of the kind'”…

“And who can forget that headline in The Daily Mirror after George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004: ‘How Can 59,054,087 People Be So Dumb?’…

“… the oil spill is death to a way of life for thousands, and a high crime against nature. The anger is real… This week, it’s only going to get worse, when BP directors consider whether to suspend their dividend, and the company’s executives are called to the White House. The president plans to ask them to set up an escrow account for those affected by the spill.

“For diversion, there is a month of glorious soccer, often called a gentleman’s game played by thugs, which is a good way to describe the politics of two democracies from the same family.”

Sadly, animosity and antagonism will increase between the “two democracies from the same family”–the family or house of Israel and of Israel’s son Joseph, with Joseph’s son Ephraim being the ancestor of modern Great Britain, and Joseph’s son Manasseh being the ancestor of modern USA. Isaiah 9:21 says: “Manasseh shall devour Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, And they together shall be against Judah.” Only after Christ’s return, that situation will change, as Isaiah 11:13 says: “Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not harass Ephraim.”

Gulf Oil Spill Disaster and Biblical Prophecy

The Examiner wrote on June 13:

“A number of websites and news organizations have begun to relate the Gulf oil spill with predictions of disaster as told in the book of Revelations in the Christian Bible…

“Revelation 8:8–11 [:] ‘The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed … A third of the waters became wormwood, and many died from the water, because it was made bitter.’
           
“… there are similarities in what we are able to see in the Gulf of Mexico now, and what was written then.

“Approximately one-third of Gulf waters are now off limits to fishing, and many images of the oil spill resemble an ominous river of red. Thousands of uncounted sea creatures have died and the numbers are still rising. Some patches of surface oil have been set on fire and BP plans to burn more.

“The Christian Bible states that the tribulations in Revelation are ‘judgements’ for the evils of humanity: Greed; hatred; bigotry and discrimination against the poor, among other social and ethical ills; all are spoken against in the Bible. Yet all are found in today’s political and social environment…

“Believers in the Christian Bible have a foundation on which to base their apocalyptic theories as it relates to the Gulf oil spill, along with other foretold events taking place in our world today. ‘Earthquakes in various places’, violence, upheaval, starvation and other natural disasters, are all referenced as signs of the apocalypse in the Books of Revelation and Daniel.

“… there are global problems that tie our world together as never before – for better and for worse, and there are few simultaneous threats that compare to the financial, social and environmental issues we are facing today. We are living in a time when history cannot repeat itself, because we have never experienced anything like this before.”

This is quite a statement. Jesus Christ warned that a devastating time would soon come upon mankind, stating in Matthew 24:21: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Daniel 12:1 speaks about that same time, saying: “… And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time.”

Pope Is “Sorry” for Sex Scandal and Strongly Defends Celibacy

On June 11, USA Today wrote:

“Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Pope Benedict XVI has apologized — again — for clergy sexual abuse of minors as the global scandal continues to scorch his papacy. This time, the apology came at a Mass celebrating the conclusion of the Year of the Priest… But will this be enough? No, says BishopAccountability.Org, the first of the victim’s groups to roll out a statement.

“‘The pope’s response has been platitudes, metaphor, and rhetoric. What’s worse, with the appalled Catholic laity waiting for solutions, the Pope prescribed merely an internal, inadequate next step — better seminary screening and formation. But we all have learned in recent years that the most effective solutions lie outside the Church. To solve this massive crisis, the Pope must take specific actions himself and also endorse and facilitate certain external measures that would advance transparency and justice.'”

USA Today added on June 13:

“Pope Benedict XVI strongly defended celibacy for priests as a sign of faith in an increasingly secular world during a rally Thursday that drew some 15,000 priests from around the world to Rome.”

The Hidden Wealth of the Catholic Church

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 14:

“The Catholic Church in Germany, already struggling to cope with the sex abuse scandal, has been hit by revelations of theft, opaque accounting and extravagance… The Catholic Church is currently being shaken by a number of financial scandals…

“More than €40 million have gone missing in the Diocese of Magdeburg in eastern Germany, €5 million have disappeared in Limburg near Frankfurt, and it was recently discovered that a senior priest in the Diocese of Münster had 30 secret bank accounts…

“The unemployed, recipients of housing assistance, families, communities, businesses, the military — in the coming years, the federal government plans to deprive them all of billions of euros. But the church, of all things, is being spared, and hardly anyone questions the generous support it receives from the government.

“Financially speaking, Germany’s dioceses are in excellent shape. ‘The Catholic Church claims that it’s poor, but the truth is that it hides its wealth,’ says Carsten Frerk, a Berlin political scientist who, after years of research, is publishing ‘Violettbuch Kirchenfinanzen’ (The Violet Book of Church Finances) this fall. Frerk estimates the cash assets of the church’s legal entities at about €50 billion…

“The assets, accumulated over the centuries, are invested in many areas, including real estate, church-owned banks, academies, breweries, vineyards, media companies and hospitals. The church also derives income from stock holdings, foundations and bequests…

“Year after year, both the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church in Germany receive generous payments from the federal, state and local governments. Not as well known as the church tax (about €10 billion a year) are the annual subsidies to the church, both direct and indirect, which in 2000 amounted to an estimated €17 billion.

“The government pays substantial sums of money for the maintenance and constant renovation of cathedrals and other church buildings. It pays the salaries of religion teachers and foots the bill for the altar wine used in church services for the military. Some benefits, such as the annual firewood deliveries a few southern German towns make to their bishop, are based on 200-year-old entitlements that politicians have never reviewed.

“Despite the constitutional separation of church and state in Germany, substantial subsidies are paid for church conferences, church libraries, pastors who minister to police officers, inmates of prisons and psychiatric institutions, and the military. The government even helps to pay for the employment of conscientious objectors, and for the maintenance of offering boxes and wayside crosses.

“In return, the church is not even required to pay taxes: no property tax, no corporate tax and no capital gains tax. Everything it does as a public corporation in Germany is considered charitable, benevolent and tax-exempt. Unlike other public corporations like universities, the church is not subject to any state supervision.”

The unspeakable wealth of the Roman Catholic Church is vividly described in chapters 17 and 18 of the book of Revelation.

The Witchdoctors of African Football

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 11:

“Aliyu Mbenkem and Julienn Aboude are absolutely convinced of their magical powers. The two faith healers live in a village called Akolinga in the West African nation of Cameroon… Can they influence the outcome of a football game? ‘That’s nothing. All I have to do is cast a few shells and contact the spirit of the playing field, then our own goal will be nailed up and the opposition’s goal will be wide open,’ the magician Mbenkem says…

“The Confederation of African Football likewise doesn’t want to hear about magic anymore and have banned witchcraft. No substances may be sprinkled over the playing fields and there can be no witch doctors on the bench with the teams…

“And then there is also the legendary story that is told about the Ivory Coast team, which won the Africa Cup of Nations final in 1992 after a penalty shoot-out 11:10. The fans credited the victory to the witch doctors who had been employed by the Ministry of Sport. The witch doctors themselves said that their services had been commissioned by the Ministry but that they had never been compensated for their services. As a result, they cursed the national team. And indeed, the Elephants, as the team is known, won nothing for years. Finally, a decade later, the country’s defense minister apologized to the aggrieved witch doctors on behalf of the nation for ‘the 1992 promise that was not fulfilled after the Africa Cup.’ The minister also offered the witchdoctors $2,000 (around €1,670) and asked them to start working for ‘the republic and the sports minister’ again.

“‘They bend the lines, bewitch the ball, befuddle the referees (and) paralyze goal keepers,’ Bartholomäus Grill, the Africa correspondent for weekly newspaper Die Zeit, wrote about the witch doctors… ‘Just as every German team has a masseur, every African team has a witchdoctor,’ says Anthony Baffoe, a Ghanaian footballer who played for years in Germany’s top league as well as for Ghana’s national team and who now works for the Ghana Football Association. German filmmaker Oliver Becker tells of watching a Tanzanian player anoint the grave of a deceased teammate with chicken blood so that he might acquire the dribbling skills of the dead man, for himself. And the Botswana Sports Magazine has even felt it necessary to inform citizens that: ‘There is no evidence that football games can be won through witchcraft alone.'”

These terrible superstitions and demonic influences will only cease after Christ has returned. He will not allow Satan and his evil angels to deceive mankind and to possess mediums, witches, sorcerers and witch doctors to carry out their abominable deeds. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World.”

Too Much Medical Radiation

The Associated Press wrote on June 14:

“Americans get the most medical radiation in the world, even more than folks in other rich countries. The U.S. accounts for half of the most advanced procedures that use radiation, and the average American’s dose has grown sixfold over the last couple of decades.

“Too much radiation raises the risk of cancer. That risk is growing because people in everyday situations are getting imaging tests far too often. Like the New Hampshire teen who was about to get a CT scan to check for kidney stones until a radiologist, Dr. Steven Birnbaum, discovered he’d already had 14 of these powerful X-rays for previous episodes…

“Radiation is a hidden danger — you don’t feel it when you get it, and any damage usually doesn’t show up for years. Taken individually, tests that use radiation pose little risk. Over time, though, the dose accumulates. Doctors don’t keep track of radiation given their patients — they order a test, not a dose. Except for mammograms, there are no federal rules on radiation dose…

“How much radiation is risky?

“It’s hard to say. The best guess is based on the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and studies of Japanese atomic bomb survivors who had excess cancer risk after exposures of 50 to 150 millisieverts (a measure of dose) of radiation… Since previous studies suggest that a third of all tests are unnecessary, 20 million adults and more than 1 million children are needlessly being put at risk… Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed the medical records of 251 people given heart scans in 2007 and found that only a quarter of them were clearly appropriate.”

Doctors and medicines have their place, but we must use extreme caution and balance. For more information, please read our free booklet, “Sickness and Healing–What the Bible Tells Us.”

Space Storm Coming?

The Daily Telegraph wrote on June 14:

“Britain could face widespread power blackouts and be left without critical communication signals for long periods of time, after the earth is hit by a once-in-a-generation ‘space storm’, Nasa has warned. National power grids could overheat and air travel severely disrupted while electronic items, navigation devices and major satellites could stop working after the Sun reaches its maximum power in a few years.

“Senior space agency scientists believe the Earth will be hit with unprecedented levels of magnetic energy from solar flares after the Sun wakes ‘from a deep slumber’ sometime around 2013, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. In a new warning, Nasa said the super storm would hit like ‘a bolt of lightning’ and could cause catastrophic consequences for the world’s health, emergency services and national security unless precautions are taken.

“Scientists believe it could damage everything from emergency services’ systems, hospital equipment, banking systems and air traffic control devices, through to ‘everyday’ items such as home computers, iPods and Sat Navs. Due to humans’ heavy reliance on electronic devices, which are sensitive to magnetic energy, the storm could leave a multi-billion pound damage bill and ‘potentially devastating’ problems for governments.

“’We know it is coming but we don’t know how bad it is going to be,’ Dr Richard Fisher, the director of Nasa’s Heliophysics division, said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.”

Asteroids and the End of the World

The Independent wrote on June 14:

“What kind of catastrophe would it take to end the world? Astronomical intruders provide a potentially serious threat. Impacts can be caused by stray rubble from the Asteroid Belt and the rocky snowballs that travel in highly elliptical orbits in the comet cloud… Every century or so, a 10-meter meteor slams into the Earth with the force of a small nuclear device. Tunguska was the site of the last, in 1908, and it was pure luck that that meteor landed in the uninhabited wilderness of Siberia.

“Every few thousand years, Earth can pass through unusually thick parts of the debris trail of comets, turning the familiar light show of a meteor shower into a deadly firestorm. Roughly every 100,000 years, a projectile hundreds of meters across unleashes power equal to the world’s nuclear arsenals. The result is devastation over an area the size of England, global tidal waves (if the impact is in the ocean), and enough dust flung into the atmosphere to dim the Sun and kill off vegetation…

“Then there’s the ‘Big One’. About every 100 million years, a rock the size of a small asteroid slams into the Earth, causing global earthquakes, kilometre-high tidal waves, and immediately killing all large land animals. Creatures in the sea soon follow, as trillions of tons of vaporised rock cause drastic cooling and the destruction of the food chain based on photosynthesis. There’s good evidence that this happened 65 million years ago [when] the giant lizards were extinguished.

“A hundred million years sounds like a safe buffer, but the next one could happen at any time…”

The Bible prophesies that this earth will be hit very soon by asteroids, comets or meteorites, as happened in the past. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Theory of Evolution–a Fairy Tale for Adults.”

“Israel’s Voyage Into Isolation”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 7:

After last Monday’s raid on a flotilla of peace activists heading toward the Gaza Strip, Israel finds itself on the defensive. Not only has Turkey turned its back on the country, but the US too is angered by the unilateralism of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu…

“In fact, the incident couldn’t have been more advantageous for the rulers of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip… Hamas says more ships are on their way, from Turkey, Ireland, Bahrain, Kuwait and Algeria — altogether two or even three times as many ships as participated in last Monday’s effort…

“Rarely has there been so much international outrage toward Israel. Tehran and Damascus, as expected, voiced their typical fury, but this time Israel’s allies in the Middle East also took their distance. Turkey, which lost the largest number of citizens on the Mavi Marmara, accused Israel of ‘piracy’ and ‘banditry.’ Egypt opened its border to the Gaza Strip, thereby abandoning the blockade policy it had pursued together with Israel.

“At the summit between Russia and the European Union, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton called for an immediate end to the Gaza blockade, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Israel’s policy ‘unjust,’ and even the Chinese leadership, which normally keeps itself out of the Middle East conflict, said it was ‘shocked by Israel’s attack.’

“The strike, in short, was a disaster, irrespective of exactly how it played out. While some critics remained relatively diplomatic, merely ruffling the Israelis for their ‘immoderate’ approach, others were more direct. The influential German weekly Die Zeit described Israel as a ‘country that is increasingly acting as if it were in a separate moral world, pressured by the feeling of being alone and, as a result, believing itself to be empowered to commit arbitrary attacks.’

“Last Monday’s tragedy demonstrated two things: that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated politically; and that sealing off the Gaza Strip is as inefficient as it is pointless…

“Even those who have long exercised patience in the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unilateralism are beginning to show signs of exasperation. US President Barack Obama has called for a thorough investigation, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in an unusually harsh tone, demanded international participation in the investigations…”

The USA–Israel’s Only Friend…

Nevertheless, on June 3, the Los Angeles Times reported about a slightly different policy by President Obama, which contradicts somewhat the impression given by the afore-mentioned article by Der Spiegel. The LA Times wrote:

“As most of the world has rushed to condemn Israel for its bungled seizure of a Turkish ferry that was attempting to break the Gaza blockade, President Obama has taken a different approach. Not only has he refused to condemn Israel’s hard-nosed prime minister, Benyamin Netanyahu; he has cast the United States as Israel’s only friend.

“It’s a strategic gamble, and let’s hope it works… The Americans hope that the prime minister and at least some of the parties in his coalition will conclude that the status quo can’t be maintained — in Gaza or the West Bank. It’s not a foolproof strategy; there’s no such thing in the Middle East. It’s an attempt to wring some good out of a terrible crisis and, officials believe, the least bad alternative under the circumstances.”

Ultimately, as the Bible prophesies, Israel will find itself in isolation and total abandonment even by its closest allies. It is not our responsibility or purpose to assess blame or to take sides; rather, we are reporting the facts in the light of biblical prophecy. It is our commission to stand watch and, as a watchman who sees the disaster coming, warn those who are willing to listen and to heed. Everybody seems to have an opinion as to whether Israel acted correctly or illegally or excessively–but our point is that the developments in the Middle East, including the most recent events, set in motion biblically prophesied events, which will shortly come to pass.

Mankell: Here Is What Happened…

On June 7, Der Spiegel Online published an interview with best-selling Swedish author Henning Mankell, who is partially Jewish and who was on the convoy that was raided last week by Israeli commandos as it headed for the Gaza Strip. We are bringing you the following excerpts from Mankell’s statements which, if true, would be very damaging to Israel’s conduct:

“I was never on the main ship, the Mavi Marmara. We set sail from Cyprus. We were far out in international waters when the Israelis attacked… someone came in and said that the main ship had been attacked. From a distance, we saw the helicopters and the soldiers rappelling onto the deck, and we heard shots. We had no connection to the Mavi Marmara. It was only on the way to the Lufthansa flight that took me back to Stockholm (Editor’s note: Mankell was deported by Israeli authorities) that I learned of the dead… They came in speedboats [to board Mankell’s ship, the Sofia]. We went onto the bridge and waited for them there, and we offered no resistance…

“The Israeli soldiers were wearing masks, and they told us to go below deck. Some of us were somewhat older, and we weren’t moving fast enough for the Israelis, so the soldiers used electroshock weapons to speed us up. It was horrible. People were falling down. They shot rubber bullets at a man who was standing next to me. The soldiers were prepared to use violence on us from the beginning. And all of this in international waters. They had no legal basis for coming on board… They took control of the ship and set course for Israel. First it was piracy, and then it was kidnapping… they took away everything we had: phones, money, clothing, credit cards. That’s how each of [us] was treated. They are thieves…

“The commandos arrived in helicopters. It wasn’t the people on the ship who were boarding the helicopters. Besides, there is a right of self-defense in international waters… I spoke with a Swede who was on board the Mavi Marmara. He said that they shot a Palestinian in the middle of his head. That requires targeting, and it’s something that has to be intended… When we gathered below deck, the soldiers searched our ship, and when they returned they said they had found weapons. What were they? Razor blades and utility knives… I am extremely critical of Hamas… I don’t trust this president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) and the mullahs. They want to have any weapon that can be used to destroy Israel. Naturally we cannot accept that… I had an invitation to a literature festival in Tehran, which I turned down… Iran puts writers and intellectuals in prison and makes some of them disappear. I can’t go to a country like that… By the way, I have many Jewish friends, my books are published in Hebrew and are bestsellers, and a branch of my family is Jewish… I’m an eyewitness, because I was there. So much false information has already been disseminated…”

Eye Witness Accounts

On June 7, Der Spiegel Online published the following eye witness accounts of three people who were on board the Mavi Marmara. If true, these accounts would be damaging to Israel’s conduct, but they would also show that at least some of the activists were fully prepared for an Israeli attack, and that their whole purpose was to provoke such an attack for the glory of Mohammed and in anticipation of an “intifada” “holy war”:

“When the Hamburg resident Nader El Sakka, 58, tried to board the Challenger I in the port of Agios Nikolaos on Crete, he was told he had to sign a four-page document pledging that he would not engage in violence and that he possessed no weapons. He also had to provide the name and telephone number of a family member in case of an emergency. If he didn’t sign, he was told, he wouldn’t be allowed on board the Gaza-bound convoy. El Sakka… went on board the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish passenger ship. The flagship of the small fleet, it had Gaza activists on board from a dozen countries, the majority of whom — around 400 people — hailed from Turkey… The ship was linked via satellite with the Internet and a number of TV stations and continuously sent out images and interviews to the world. A reporter from the Arab news channel Al-Jazeera filed a report on Sunday afternoon that made headlines a number of days later. A group of Arab activists could be seen chanting: ‘Remember Khaibar, Khaibar, oh Jews! Muhammad’s army is returning!’

“This is an intifada battle cry, a fighting slogan that recalls a victorious battle fought by the Prophet Muhammad’s army against the Jews. El Sakka… disapproves… ‘I didn’t personally see this group on the ship. But I recognize the reporter. He was definitely there.’ The other footage in the report also stems from the Mavi Marmara, he says — including a woman standing on deck and saying in Arabic: ‘Right now we face one of two happy endings: either martyrdom or reaching Gaza’…

“Captain Mahmut Tural spotted Israeli ships on his radar. In response to their demand that he change course, he responded: ‘Negative. Our destination is Gaza.’ Then he ordered an exercise to prepare the passengers for an emergency… The activists suspected that an attack was imminent. They began to assign watches on deck…

“Israeli navy speedboats pulled up alongside the ship. The soldiers threw stun grenades and teargas grenades on deck… The only video footage initially released of the military’s Operation Sky Winds all came from the Israeli army. They showed soldiers rappelling from helicopters and being beaten down on deck by men armed with pipes and clubs. Towards the end of the week, details emerged from the films confiscated from the activists, including some that even surprised the Israelis. According to the newspaper Yediot Ahronot, one of the tapes shows an ‘Arab-looking woman’ using a stick to keep men from beating up an Israeli soldier. Furthermore ‘a number of leftist European activists are trying to protect the soldiers’…

“El Sakka fled to the lower deck when he noticed that live ammunition was being fired… He observed that an increasing number of dead and wounded were being brought down, including three injured soldiers… The shooting stopped after an hour, and a message came through the intercom that the ship was now under Israeli command. All passengers, including Sakka and Paech, were tied up and forced to kneel on the bloodstained upper deck. The ordeal lasted for four hours. Paech [Norman Paech, a former member of the German parliament, the Bundestag, for the far-left Left Party] and two current Left Party members of the Bundestag, Inge Höger and Annette Groth, who were also on board, later filed complaints against persons unknown for unlawful detention and war crimes.”

Report Claims that Turkey Knew…

Haaretz reported on June 10:

“Turkish Prime Minister… Erdogan knew in advance that activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla planned to attack Israeli troops, Israeli intelligence officials have said. In a report published this week, a group of independent investigators from Israel’s intelligence community found that activists aboard the ‘Mavi Marmara’ were part of an organized group that was prepared for a violent conflict… The report, published by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Malam), said activists who attacked commandos with clubs and knives were supported by the Turkish government.

“Malam is a privately run but is widely seen as an unofficial branch of Israel’s intelligence community and has in the past been a medium for passing Israel’s intelligence findings to the public. The report said while most of the Mavi Marmara’s 500 passengers were humanitarian volunteers who underwent security checks before boarding the ship at Antalya in Turkey, a group of 40 IHH activists had boarded the ship in an Istanbul port beforehand, keeping apart from the rest of the passengers throughout the journey.

“This hard core of activists boarded the ship without checks and was equipped with communications equipment, flack jackets embroidered with Turkish flags, and gas masks, Malam said… Their main objective was to hold back soldiers by any means, and to push them back into the sea… IHH members improvised weapons including metal rods and knives cut from the ship’s metal rails, which they used to attack the soldiers… IHH activists also gathered all the knives from six cafeterias on the ship, as well as axes from fire extinguishers on the deck, all of which served as weapons against Israeli commandos…

“The testimonies are also similar to the version given by the Navy commandos who said that they fought with a group of approximately 50 people who used every weapon available to attack them. Eight of the nine dead were identified as IHH members.

“Files found on laptops owned by the IHH members pointed at strong ties between the movement and Turkey’s prime minister. Some of the activists even said that Erdogan was personally involved in the flotilla’s preparations. They also said that they knew in advance that their chances of making it into Gaza were slim, but their initial goal was to ‘to expose Israel’s true face to the world.’ An IHH journalist said during his investigation with Israeli security forces that ‘the Turks set a trap for you and you fell straight into it.’ He also said that the recent flotilla was the first in many.”

Turkey’s Future

The Washington Post wrote on June 7:

“… public anger has flared over Israel’s bloody seizure of a Turkish-flagged aid ship headed to the Gaza Strip, which is under an Israeli blockade. The incident occurred as Turkey has been strengthening ties with Muslim governments in the region — becoming more vocally pro-Palestinian and trying to head off new U.N. sanctions on Iran…

“Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become an increasingly outspoken critic of Israel. He lambasted Israeli President Shimon Peres during a conference in Switzerland on Jan. 29, 2009, winning applause at home and in the Middle East. Erdogan’s picture was hoisted in the streets of Gaza after he accused Israel of carrying out a ‘bloody massacre’ in seizing the Turkish ship…

“Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party has religious roots, but it also draws conservative entrepreneurs and liberals with its free-market policies and drive to pass democratic reforms in order to win entry into the European Union. Turkey’s relations with Israel have deteriorated dramatically, with Turkish leaders threatening to cut ties to a minimum…

“Historically, Israel and Turkey were close, sharing military aid and a suspicion of Arab countries. But with Turkey improving ties with its neighbors, it no longer needs Israel’s support…

“Turkey is still strongly tied to the West. The European Union is still its biggest market. And Turkish troops have played an important role in NATO operations in Afghanistan. ‘We are a country that wants to maintain its ties both with the West and East,’ Erdogan said in October. ‘There is no such thing as breaking from one side and shifting to another one.'”

Haaretz reported on June 7:

“Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is weighing the possibility of traveling to the Gaza Strip in order to ‘break the Israeli blockade’… Erdogan reportedly raised the idea in conversations with close associates and even informed the United States of his intention to ask the Turkish Navy to accompany another aid flotilla to Gaza. The Americans asked Erdogan to delay his plans, in light of tensions on the region, the Lebanese report said.

“According to the report, Erdogan is under intense political pressure to cancel security agreements with Israel. The Turkish military establishment, however, strongly opposes the idea of cutting security ties with Israel.”

The Herald Sun added on June 6:

“The Lebanese newspaper al Mustaqbal said that ‘as part of the open conflict between Turkey and Israel following the massacre against the ‘freedom sail’ to Gaza and the protest sparked in the world, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is considering going to Gaza himself in order to break the blockade imposed on the Strip.'”

Turkey is “Edom” in biblical prophecy. The Bible shows that in the latter days, Edom will turn against Judah and assist Europe and other Arab nations in their actions against the state of Israel.

Coming–More Tension in the Middle East

BBC News reported on June 6:

“Israel will reject a proposed international commission to investigate its deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla, its ambassador to the US has said… He said Israel would not apologise for the incident. Eight of those killed were Turkish, and the ninth had joint US-Turkish nationality… The UK and France have urged Israel to accept an inquiry involving international oversight. Speaking at a news conference with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said any investigation must be ‘credible and transparent’… The BBC’s Jonathan Head, in Istanbul, says some of the details seem to contradict Israel’s assertion that their commandos used minimum lethal force.

“In another development on Sunday, a senior Iranian military figure said the country’s elite Revolutionary Guards were ready to escort aid flotillas to Gaza if ordered to by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. ‘The Revolutionary Guards’ naval forces are fully prepared to escort freedom and peace flotillas carrying humanitarian aid from all over the world to the oppressed people of Gaza,’ Ali Shirazi, Ayatollah Khamenei’s naval representative, told Mehr news agency.”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 9:

“A group of German Jews has stepped up efforts to send a humanitarian mission to the Gaza Strip in defiance of the Israeli sea blockade. Increasingly, it looks as though the group will have plenty of competition. The waters off Gaza promise to be busy this summer… ‘We want to break the Gaza occupation and end the occupation of the West Bank as well,’ Kate Katzenstein-Leiterer, a member of the executive committee of the European Jews for a Just Peace, which is organizing the mission, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. ‘We as Jews want to bring the Palestinians something other than bombs’…

“She says that between eight and 16 people will be on board the boat, which plans to sail in mid-July. The ship, whose current location in the Mediterranean is being kept secret, will be carrying school supplies, musical instruments, children’s clothing and ‘stuff for children that Israel has forbidden, such as sweets and chocolates’…

“Israel has vowed to continue its blockade of the Gaza Strip, reiterating its concern that Iran, in particular, seeks to smuggle weapons and munitions to the Islamist militants of Hamas. Still, Israeli officials said on Wednesday that the country was expanding the list of food items being allowed into the territory, the first small sign that Israel wishes to calm global nerves frayed by the raid.

“Additionally the National Union of Israeli Students is hoping to be able to send 300 yachts and two ships toward Turkey with the aim of intercepting any additional aid ships and engaging them in dialogue. ‘We will tell them that if they want to help Gaza’s residents, we will be happy to deliver their aid,’ reads the group’s press release. ‘We would also like to (discuss) the Armenian issue and the problem of the Kurdish minority in Turkey.’

“European Jews for a Just Peace, for their part, are also interested in dialogue and have twice tried contacting the Israeli Embassy in Berlin to discuss their impending aid shipment. So far, says Katzenstein-Leiterer, they haven’t received a response.”

New “Sanctions” Against Iran

BBC News reported on June 9:

“The UN Security Council has voted in favour of fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. The council voted 12 to two, with one abstention, in favour of a fourth round of sanctions, including tighter finance curbs and an expanded arms embargo… The Security Council resolution was opposed by Turkey and Brazil. They had earlier brokered a deal with Iran on uranium enrichment. Lebanon abstained.

“The new sanctions were passed after being watered down during negotiations with Russia and China on Tuesday. There are no crippling economic sanctions and there is no oil embargo. Those passed include prohibiting Iran from buying heavy weapons such as attack helicopters and missiles.

“They also toughen rules on financial transactions with Iranian banks and increase the number of Iranian individuals and companies that are targeted with asset freezes and travel bans. There is also a new framework of cargo inspections to detect and stop Iran’s acquisition of illicit materials.”

Reuters wrote on June 10:

“Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that new U.N. sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme do not oblige Moscow to scrap a controversial deal to deliver surface-to-air missiles to Iran.”

AFP wrote on June 10:

“Turkish Prime Minister… Erdogan offered reassurance on Thursday that his country is not turning away from the West in the wake of its vote against UN sanctions on Iran, calling such charges ‘dirty propaganda’… US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday the European Union’s refusal to offer Turkey a swift accession process has partly caused Ankara’s foreign policy shift and the deterioration in its relations with Israel…

“Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said he agreed with Gates, urging the EU to speed up Turkey’s EU accession talks… ‘I believe we Europeans have made a mistake in pushing Turkey to the east, instead of pulling it towards us,’ he said. Negotiations over the accession of Turkey have stalled, with France and Germany blocking its path. This has provoked regular anger from Ankara, which accuses the Europeans of going back on their word following the start of entry negotiations in 2005.”

The Pope in Cyprus

Deutsche Welle reported on June 6:

“Speaking to a crowd of some 10,000 Cypriots and pilgrims from Syria, Jordan and Lebanon in a stadium outside the capital Nicosia, Pope Benedict XVI urged the world community to resolve the ongoing tensions in the Middle East before they lead to greater bloodshed. The pontiff prayed for the success of a synod of Middle Eastern bishops in Rome in October, which is set to grapple with the problems of the region.

“Calling the latest tensions between Israel and Palestinians ‘a grave matter,’ Benedict said he hoped the meeting would ‘help focus the attention of the international community’ on the conflict in the region and the ‘plight of Christians in the Middle East who suffer for their beliefs’…

“Following the outdoor service, the Pope unveiled a working paper for the synod… it expresses concern about radical Islam. ‘These extremist currents, clearly a threat to everyone – Christians, Jews and Muslims – require joint action,’ the document states… The 40-page paper also says that the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributed to the political, economic and religious tensions in the region. The Vatican backs a Palestinian homeland alongside Israel’s right to exist within internationally recognized borders.”

The Bible shows that in the end time, the Catholic Church will play a dominant role in European efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

The New German President–Another Debacle for Merkel?

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 7:

“Chancellor Angela Merkel, a master tactician when it comes to the politics of power, has been outmaneuvered for once, and could get into serious trouble as a result. The sudden resignation of the country’s largely ceremonial president and head of state, Horst Köhler, last Monday was the latest in a series of blows that have dented her reputation with voters and her authority in government this year. To avoid further damage and to demonstrate that she still has a firm grip on the reins in Berlin, Merkel needs to find a suitable replacement for Köhler and to ensure that he gets the necessary backing from her center-right majority in the Federal Assembly… on June 30 to elect the president…

“Her chosen candidate for president, Christian Wulff, the governor of the northern state of Lower Saxony, initially seemed like a safe and easy choice. Wulff, a deputy leader of Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), is a bland, inoffensive career politician… Wulff would have been a shoo-in for the job if the Social Democrats and Greens hadn’t landed a coup by nominating a rival who most observers and even many of Merkel’s followers believe would make a far better president — Joachim Gauck, 70, a Protestant pastor from eastern Germany who opposed the communist regime, someone whom Merkel herself has showered with praise in the past. After unification, Gauck spent 10 years heading the authority that manages the archives of East Germany’s secret police, the Stasi, thereby making a major contribution to shedding light on the crimes of East Germany.

“Unfortunately for Merkel, large parts of the German media, including SPIEGEL magazine and mass-circulation Bild am Sonntag, have come out strongly in favor of Gauck, and some eastern German members of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), the junior partner in Merkel’s center-right coalition, have raised the prospect that they might vote for Gauck rather than Wulff on June 30.

“Newspapers have been comparing the biographies of the two contenders and many have concluded that Gauck has much more to offer the nation. SPIEGEL writes that Wulff hasn’t come up with a memorable initiative or piece of legislation in over 30 years in politics, while Gauck struck a blow for freedom and democracy by helping to bring down the East German regime… Were Gauck to ultimately win, it could spell the end of Merkel’s government, German media commentators write on Monday…

“Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: ‘The reaction in parts of the media as well as among the conservatives and the FDP to the nomination of Lower Saxony Governor Wulff make clear: on June 30, Merkel’s chancellorship will be in real danger for the first time…’

“Conservative Die Welt writes: ‘… Wulff looks bad compared with Gauck. That’s not his fault, it’s to Gauck’s credit. The ruling parties seem to be reacting by digging in their heels. The ranks are being closed, dissent is being portrayed as betrayal of the government. But what, apart from vain pride, should prevent a rethink given the new circumstances?’

“Left-wing Die Tageszeitung devotes its entire front page to reprinting verbatim a speech Merkel gave on Jan. 22 in Berlin on the occasion of Gauck’s 70th birthday in which she showers him with praise, calling him an ‘outstanding speaker,’ an ‘exciting personality,’ a ‘true teacher of democracy,’ a tireless advocate of ‘freedom, democracy and justice.’ The newspaper’s headline is ‘Merkel’s Ideal President.’

“Business daily Financial Times Deutschland writes: ‘Gauck could turn into a disaster for Merkel. Her style of politics is backfiring now — taking decisions on her own, alienating allies and weakening strong political figures…’ The paper quotes an unnamed Merkel ally as saying that a defeat of Wulff would be a ‘disastrous scenario’ for Merkel and would herald the end of her center-right coalition.

“Mass circulation Bild writes: ‘If Gauck wins, it will be the knock-out blow for the center-right coalition. It will be the end of the government, then the dream duo Merkel-Westerwelle would have no option but to bid their sad farewells. One might find it regrettable that the presidential election is once again getting sucked into the maelstrom of party politics. But it’s a simple fact: this isn’t just about Gauck or Wulff — this is also about Gauck or Merkel.'”

These are startling developments. This article and the next ones show how fragile the current German government is. We can expect that in the not-too-distant future, a charismatic powerful leader will arise in Germany who will be able to bring back prosperity and stability to the German people. It is clear that Angela Merkel is not this leader.

The Economy–More Bad News for Merkel…

Deutsche Welle reported in June 7:

“The German government on Monday unveiled the largest package of austerity measures in the country’s history, with deep cuts in social welfare programs and the public sector… The package announced is much larger than expected… Merkel said there was no other alternative to the savings plan…

“Criticism of the austerity measures circulated among trade unions and opposition parties even before the concrete details of the government’s plan had emerged. Andrea Nahles, general secretary of the main opposition Social Democrats, told public broadcaster NDR the cuts created a ‘social imbalance,’ and that the main problem was that they disproportionately affected society’s most vulnerable segments. The powerful union Verdi also criticized the proposals, with union chief Frank Bsirske saying the government was ‘placing unilateral pressure on the poor.'”

World Markets–No Major Good News…

The Associated Press reported in June 7:

“World stock markets tumbled Monday and the euro hit a new four-year low in the wake of poor U.S. jobs figures and amid fresh fears that the debt crisis that began in Greece is spreading to Hungary… Hungary is part of the European Union, but keeps its national currency, the forint, which dropped around 5 percent last week.

“‘The problem seems like a cancerous thing – it’s spreading from smaller country to smaller country, and many people are afraid that it will spread to a big country like France or Germany, although that’s unlikely,’ said Jackson Wong, vice president at Tanrich Securities, in Hong Kong. ‘We don’t have major good news on the horizon. We still have crises down the road’…

“On Friday, stocks were hit by disappointing U.S. jobs data. A government report showed the U.S. economy created 432,000 jobs in May, far fewer than the expected 513,000. Most of the jobs were temporary hiring by the government for the U.S. census. Castor Pang, director of research at Cinta International in Hong Kong, said the jobs figures were ‘much poorer than expected’ and a key factor in driving down stocks… ‘Volatility is very great due to lack of confidence,’ Pang said, calling some investors ‘very fearful.’

“The result underlined that the U.S. economic recovery is not yet picking up the momentum that investors have been looking for. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged Friday 3.2 percent to 9,931.97. Major indexes all lost more than 3 percent.”

New Tensions Between Europe and USA

The EUObserver wrote on June 7:

“The weekend’s meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers saw heated exchanges between US and European representatives, with division centering on the speed at which government budget deficits should be reduced. US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner argued the case for fiscal consolidation over the ‘medium term,’ while Europeans, rattled by the region’s ongoing debt crisis, called for faster cutbacks…

“European representatives said greater emphasis should be placed on restoring healthy public finances. ‘For the vast majority, addressing finances, budget consolidation, is priority No. 1,’ said French finance minister Christine Lagarde. Translating words into action, German cabinet ministers [agreed Sunday] on changes to welfare provision…”

We can expect ongoing tensions between the USA and Europe in many important areas–the economy being a major one. Europe will continue in its efforts to unite as a powerful entity–as most Europeans, as former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt once said, “want the current situation to end where the USA is calling all the shots.”

Election Results in The Netherlands

The Telegraph wrote on June 10:

“With 88 per cent of the votes counted, published partial results showed the Liberals with 31 and Labour on 30. But the real victory went to Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom (PVV), which demands an end to immigration from Muslim countries and a ban on new mosques. The PVV took its number of seats from nine in the last parliament to 24, and could hope to enter a coalition government.

“The far-right leader with his distinctive shock of fair hair called the result ‘magnificent’. ‘The impossible has happened,’ he told a televised party gathering. ‘We are the biggest winner today. The Netherlands chose more security, less crime, less immigration and less Islam.’

“The election ousted Christian Democrat Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende from eight years in office. The Liberals’ narrow lead gives leader Mark Rutte a mandate to form a coalition and become prime minister, but sticking to his austerity policies could prove tough because he needs at least three other parties to secure a parliamentary majority.”

Prince Charles: “Follow the Islamic Way to Save the World”

The Daily Mail wrote on June 10:

“Prince Charles yesterday urged the world to follow Islamic ‘spiritual principles’ in order to protect the environment. In an hour-long speech, the heir to the throne argued that man’s destruction of the world was contrary to the scriptures of all religions – but particularly those of Islam…

“Charles, who is a practising Christian and will become the head of the Church of England when he succeeds to the throne, spoke in depth about his own study of the Koran…

“He added: ‘The inconvenient truth is that we share this planet with the rest of creation for a very good reason – and that is, we cannot exist on our own without the intricately balanced web of life around us. Islam has always taught this and to ignore that lesson is to default on our contract with creation.'”

Water Turns to Blood

The Associated Press reported on or about June 6:

“Waves of gooey tar balls crashed into the white sands of the Florida Panhandle on Friday as BP engineers adjusted a sophisticated cap over the Gulf oil gusher, trying to collect the crude now fouling four states. Even though the inverted funnel-like device was set over the leak late Thursday, crude continued to spew into the sea in the nation’s worst oil spill. Engineers hoped to close several open vents on the cap throughout the day in the latest attempt to contain the oil.

“As they worked on the system underwater, the effect of the BP spill was widely seen. Swimmers at Pensacola Beach rushed out [of] the water after wading into the mess while children played with it on the shore and others inspected the clumps with fascination, some taking pictures. Brown pelicans coated in chocolate syrup-like oil flailed and struggled in the surf on a Louisiana island, where the [beach] was stained in hues of rust and crimson, much like the color of drying blood.

“‘In Revelations, it says the water will turn to blood. That’s what it looks like out here — like the Gulf is bleeding,’ said P.J. Hahn, director of coastal zone management for Plaquemines Parish as he kneeled down to take a picture of an oil-coated feather. ‘This is going to choke the life out of everything.'”

“Manmade Catastrophe”

On June 5, 2010, President Obama wrote the following public announcement, which was circulated over the Internet:

“… because of a manmade catastrophe — one that is not their fault and beyond their control — their lives [in Grand Isle, Louisiana] have been thrown into turmoil… Today, there are more than 20,000 people working around the clock to contain and clean up this spill. I have authorized 17,500 National Guard troops to participate in the response. More than 1,900 vessels are aiding in the containment and cleanup effort. We have convened hundreds of top scientists and engineers from around the world. This is the largest response to an environmental disaster of this kind in the history of our country.

“We have also ordered BP to pay economic injury claims, and this week, the federal government sent BP a preliminary bill for $69 million to pay back American taxpayers for some of the costs of the response so far. In addition, after an emergency safety review, we are putting in place aggressive new operating standards for offshore drilling. And I have appointed a bipartisan commission to look into the causes of this spill. If laws are inadequate, they will be changed. If oversight was lacking, it will be strengthened. And if laws were broken, those responsible will be brought to justice.

“These are hard times in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast, an area that has already seen more than its fair share of troubles. The people of this region have met this terrible catastrophe with seemingly boundless strength and character in defense of their way of life. What we owe them is a commitment by our nation to match the resilience they have shown. That is our mission. And it is one we will fulfill.”

American-British Rift Over Oil Spill

Reuters wrote on June 9:

“Oil major BP… believes it may be heading for a showdown with the White House over ever- increasing demands that it cover costs related to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a BP source said on Wednesday. ‘At some point a line has to be drawn,’ the source said.”

The London Evening Standard wrote on June 10:

“Senior Tories today warned Barack Obama to back off as billions of pounds were wiped off BP shares in the row over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Mayor Boris Johnson demanded an end to ‘anti-British rhetoric, buck-passing and name-calling’ after days of scathing criticism directed at BP by the President and other US politicians. Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit branded Mr Obama’s conduct ‘despicable’. And with the dispute threatening to escalate into a diplomatic row, Mr Johnson also appeared to suggest that David Cameron should step in to defend BP.

“He spoke as the US onslaught against the firm became a ‘matter of national concern’ — especially given its importance to British pensions, which lost much of their value today as BP shares plunged to a 13-year low. Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today whether he thought the Prime Minister should intervene, Mr Johnson said: ‘Well I do think there is something slightly worrying about the anti-British rhetoric that seems to be permeating from America. Yes I suppose that’s right…’

“British business chiefs are alarmed that tough talking by Mr Obama and other US politicians is undermining the battered oil giant.”

As the Sun Awakens…

Nasa Science reported on June 4:

“Earth and space are about to come into contact in a way that’s new to human history… Richard Fisher, head of NASA’s Heliophysics Division, explains what it’s all about: ‘The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity.’

“… people of the 21st-century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity. A century-class solar storm, the Academy warned, could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina…

“2010 marks the 4th year in a row that policymakers, researchers, legislators and reporters have gathered in Washington DC to share ideas about space weather. This year, forum organizers plan to sharpen the focus on critical infrastructure protection. The ultimate goal is to improve the nation’s ability to prepare, mitigate, and respond to potentially devastating space weather events.

“‘I believe we’re on the threshold of a new era in which space weather can be as influential in our daily lives as ordinary terrestrial weather.’ Fisher concludes. ‘We take this very seriously indeed.'”

Regarding end-time events, Christ warned: “And there will be signs in the sun… and on earth distress of nations, with perplexity… for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26).

Israel Provokes International Outrage

Reuters reported on May 31:

“Israel’s storming of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla set off a diplomatic furore, drawing criticism from friends and foes alike and straining ties with regional ally Turkey, which called off planned joint military exercises… Washington said it deeply regretted the loss of life and was examining the circumstances that led to the bloodshed while Turkey, Israel’s strongest Muslim friend in the region, summoned the Jewish state’s ambassador and said it would recall its own.

“‘This attack is another sign of the reckless levels that the Israeli government’s violent policies have reached,’ Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said in a televised speech. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled plans to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday… in the wake of the raid…

“Israeli commandos intercepted the flotilla carrying 700 people and 10,000 tonnes of supplies for Gaza before dawn on Monday. Officials said they were met with knives when they boarded the ships, including a ferry flying the Turkish flag. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the killings as a massacre, and the United Nations and European Union both demanded an inquiry. Rights group Amnesty International said Israeli forces appeared to have used excessive force… ‘Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour,’ Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement…

“France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the violence could not be justified… In the Arab world, the incident was viewed as an overreaction to an attempt to challenge Israel’s Gaza blockade that could put the brakes on any further efforts at normalisation and may derail the peace process… Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador… Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said Israel’s move was a ‘crazy step’ that risked inflaming conflict in the region.”

The Associated Press added on May 31:

“The showdown came at a sensitive time for Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking… The activists were headed to Gaza to draw attention to the blockade, which Israel and Egypt imposed… There were conflicting accounts of what happened early Monday, with activists claiming the Israelis fired first and Israel insisting its forces fired in self defense…

“Robin Churchill, a professor of international law at the University of Dundee in Scotland, said the Israeli commandos boarded the ship outside of Israel’s territorial waters. ‘As far as I can see, there is no legal basis for boarding these ships,’ Churchill said.

“Many of the activists were from Europe… The European Union deplored what it called excessive use of force and demanded an investigation by Israel. It called the Gaza blockade ‘politically unacceptable,’ and called for it to be lifted immediately… Thousands marched in protest in Istanbul, some setting Israeli flags on fire after unsuccessfully trying to storm the Israeli consulate. Israel quickly advised… its citizens to avoid travel to Turkey…”

Egypt in Tight Position

USA Today wrote on May 31:

“The Cairo-based Arab League called an emergency session for Tuesday to address the attack, as the [only two] Arab states with peace deals with Israel — Jordan and Egypt — sharply condemned the violence. Jordan’s information minister, Nabil al-Sharif, called it a ‘heinous crime’ and called for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

“The incident also put Egypt in a tight position. The only Arab country bordering the Gaza Strip, it has helped enforce the blockade by cracking down on smuggling tunnels that are a key source of goods to Gaza’s 1.5 million people and by rejecting pressure that it open its border crossing. The Egyptian government has said it cannot open the border since there is no agreement on restoring European monitors who left during the Hamas takeover.

“Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the violence underlines how Gaza ‘remains under total Israeli occupation,’ and it called ‘for the immediate lifting of the Israeli siege on Gaza.'”

EU Condemns Israel

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 31:

“The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has called on Israeli authorities to launch a ‘full inquiry’ into… the night raid on a convoy of aid ships destined for the Gaza Strip. Ashton… reiterate[d] the European Union’s position regarding Gaza – [that] the continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counterproductive. The incident has been met with widespread condemnation from across Europe.

“In an unusually strongly worded statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office said Israel’s response to the ships was disproportionate. ‘Every German government has always recognized and supported the right of Israel to defend itself, but this right must of course be within the boundaries of proportionality,’ Merkel’s spokesman said. ‘At first glance it does not look like this basic rule was adhered to.’…

“Greek government officials announced that they would withdraw from planned joint military exercises with Israel in protest…

“Turkey’s foreign ministry warned of ‘irreparable consequences’ after the incident and announced at midday that they would be recalling their ambassador to Israel. Some of the ships were sailing under Turkish flags and media reports indicate that Turkish nationals are among the dead.

“‘By targeting civilians, Israel has once again shown its disregard for human life and peaceful initiatives. We strongly condemn these inhumane practices of Israel,’ the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. ‘This deplorable incident, which took place in open [seas] and constitutes a flagrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations.’ Turkey has long been an important ally of Israel, one of only a few in the Muslim world. But relations have declined since Israel’s attack on Gaza a year and a half ago, in which some 1,400 Palestinians died and of which Turkey was very critical.”

Der Spiegel Online added on May 31:

“French President Nicolas Sarkozy… condemned the ‘disproportionate use of force’… British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he deplored the loss of life and called for the blockade on Gaza to be lifted…

“Dozens of European politicians were reported to be on board the flotilla, including two members of the German parliament… both of whom belong to the far-left Left Party… Other prominent members of the convoy are the Swedish crime novelist Henning Mankell, Nobel peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire from Northern Ireland and the 85-year-old Holocaust survivor and activist Hedy Epstein.”

Israel Turns the World Against It…

Der Spiegel Online published the following commentary on May 31:

“Israel has sparked global outrage. At least 15 people were killed when the Israeli military stormed a flotilla carrying pro-Palestinian activists on Monday. In addition to being a human tragedy, it is also a political catastrophe for Israel. It has provided its critics around the world with fresh ammunition.

“The pro-Palestinian organizers had described the fleet with which they had hoped to break through the Israeli sea blockade of the Gaza Strip on Monday morning as a ‘humanitarian aid convoy.’ But as the Israeli army stormed the largest ship, the Mavi Marmara, the activists they encountered were in no way exclusively docile peaceniks. Some of the ‘peace activists’ received the Israelis with crow bars and sling shots. Some of the self-professed ‘human rights activists’ reportedly even tore the weapons from soldiers and began to shoot…

“But the reaction from Israel, a state which proclaims to adhere to the rule of law, was far from appropriate. Regardless how prepared to engage in violence the organizers of the ship convoy might have been: With at least 15 dead, all on the side of the activists, and more than 30 injured, some seriously, one thing is certain: Israel carelessly threw one of the most important principles of the application of military violence overboard: the proportionality of military force…

“And a number of questions remain to be answered: Why did Israeli soldiers shoot at the passengers from helicopters flying overhead? [Why] did the Israeli navy board the ship when they could have simply blocked the ships’ paths? And why did Israel strike in international waters, long before the fleet had arrived in Israeli waters?…

“In Jerusalem, officials are claiming Israel only exercized self defense. They say the activists used ‘extreme violence,’ and that they alone are responsible for the high number of victims. But it is Israel which carries the primary responsibility. The military behaved impulsively. It overreacted and showed no compassion for the victims…

“Former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban once quipped that the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity (for reaching peace). With Israel, precisely the opposite is true: In times of crisis, Israel seems to search for opportunities to turn the world against it.”

The Bible prophesies that the state of Israel will be hated by all nations. It will experience total animosity and isolation.

German Press Reacts to Israel’s “State Terrorism”

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 1:

“Some of the Germans on board the aid ships attacked by Israel on Monday morning have now returned, but many others have yet to be released. One of those released, a Left Party parliamentarian, has called Israel ‘barbaric.’ The German press is none-too-complimentary either… 11 Germans were on board the several ships involved in the incident, but it is uncertain of the fate of six German citizens… Officials in other European countries said that nationals involved in the flotilla had also returned home. However, many still remain detained in Israel, including author Mankell. According to news reports, hundreds of activists are still being detained by Israeli authorities in the city of Ashdod in southern Israel. Forty-five activists injured on Monday are being treated in Israeli hospitals — mostly Turkish nationals…

“On German editorial pages on Tuesday, criticism of the deadly action by the Israeli armed forces is universal. Even the country’s most pro-Israeli daily, Die Welt, argues that the government should have known that the outcome of the attack would be deeply damaging to its international image.

“The conservative Die Welt writes: ‘… the expected international storm of anger against Israel has already begun. … The Israeli government and army will have to answer uncomfortable questions — from their own citizens, too. Everyone knew that Israel could only look bad if it followed a course of confrontation with these haters of Israel disguised as peace activists. That’s why it is even less understandable that no effective precautions were made to prevent such a catastrophe.’

“The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes: ‘The current Israeli government appears to have lost any sense of proportion in the implementation of its Gaza blockade. And it has already shown that it doesn’t care one iota about public opinion. Nevertheless, the boarding and seizure of the ships in an international flotilla — in which many people died — represents a new level of escalation. Israel’s international standing will be further diminished…’

“The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: ‘Israel views itself as a nation at war. Even in absence of current fighting, the threat is omnipresent…. In the 62 years of its existence, Israel has never been at peace and continues to be surrounded by enemies even today… But Israeli politicians have failed entirely in this regard… Israel believes it cannot afford to suffer any defeats in this regard — no matter what the expense. But with this tunnel vision, Israeli forces have now caused the worst possible damage to its standing in the world.’

“Business daily Handelsblatt writes: ‘The fact that this was the seizure of a humanitarian deployment will be devastating for Israel… It has also isolated Israel in the world…’

“The Financial Times Deutschland writes: ‘… Among those on board were leading radical Muslims with ties to Hamas … which makes it even less understandable that German parliamentarians from the Left Party were on board. None of that changes the fact that Israel’s actions were disproportionate …. But it definitely shows how hard it is, in this conflict, to differentiate between good and evil.’

“The left-leaning Die Tageszeitung writes: ‘… What happened at dawn on Monday in the Mediterranean Sea was a targeted attack on a civilian ship in international waters. The term for that is state terrorism.'”

Britain Condemns Israel

BBC News reported on June 2:

“Israel has released and is in the process of deporting the remaining British activists arrested in its raid on a Gaza-bound aid convoy. Foreign Secretary William Hague has said 37 British nationals, including 11 with dual nationality, were involved. Five have already been deported. He said he was concerned at the raid taking place in international waters.

“Prime Minister David Cameron condemned it as ‘completely unacceptable’, saying he deplored the loss of life. In his first Commons question time, he said everything should be done to prevent it happening again. Israel is in the process of deporting nearly all of the 682 detainees… None of the Britons was currently believed to have been involved in any violence against Israeli servicemen who boarded the ships, Mr Hague told MPs.”

American Killed by Israelis

ABC News reported on June 3:

“A U.S. citizen who lived in Turkey is among the nine people killed when Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish aid ship heading for the Gaza Strip, officials said today. The victim was identified as Furkan Dogan, 19, a Turkish-American. A forensic report said he was shot at close range, with four bullets in his head and one in his chest, according to the Anatolian news agency. Dogan was a high school student studying social sciences in the town of Kayseri in central Turkey. He was born in the United States and moved to Turkey at the age of 2…

“The ship was sponsored by a Turkish charity, the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) and was carrying aid to Gaza in defiance of the Israeli blockade. The charity released the names of all nine dead. All are male and the ages range from 32 to 61…

“Meanwhile, Israel is preparing for a new ship to run the blockade, the Irish ship MV Rachel Corrie, due to arrive in the area Friday… Former U.N. assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, who is on board the Rachel Corrie, told ABC News that they do not intend to stop their mission or head to the Israeli port of Ashdod instead. ‘It’s a totally unacceptable embargo. There’s no justification for it, there’s no legality for it, it’s not endorsed by the U.N., it’s not endorsed by anybody else. It’s an Israeli military zone which is without legal status,’ he said in a phone interview from the ship today. The Rachel Corrie expects to be boarded by the Israelis Friday when they are approximately 80 miles off coast.”

“Israel Has Played Into Hamas’ Hands”

The Israeli paper, Haaretz, published the following commentary and analysis on May 31:

“Despite having its eyes wide open, Israel fell into a trap. Israel knew that the organizers of the flotilla wanted to present the Israel Defense Forces to the world as an army that does not hesitate to use force. The flotilla organizers wanted deaths, casualties, blood and billows of smoke. And this is exactly what Israel gave them.

“Every child knows that the conflict here is one of consciousness, images, emotion and gut-feelings; not one of justice or logic. Therefore, Israel should have acted differently… Without getting into the question of the justification or logic of the blockade imposed by Gaza and its residents, it was indeed clear that it was only natural that Hamas would try to break the blockade by force. They have been doing this by means of the smuggling tunnels and via the sea…

“Apparently Israel, which prides itself as having the best intelligence in the world, should have known better that there were violent elements aboard one of the boats, equipped iron bars, knifes and slingshots. Had Israel known this, it would have probably used more appropriate ways to storm [the] boat, to avoid death and injuries…

“Israel has played into Hamas’ hands. It’s not the fault of the young soldiers who obeyed the orders of their commanders. The responsibility lies with the cabinet and the military planners.

“No matter how one looks at the conduct of the Israeli government and the IDF, it is hard to understand how stupid and tragic it was. Time and again, Israel tries to prove that what can’t be solved by force can be solved by more force. Over and over, the policies of force fail. The problem is that with each failure, the part of the world in which we would like to belong is losing patience with us.”

Israeli Senior Ministers Sharply Critical of Israel’s “Illegal” Raid

Haaretz reported on June 1:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his political-security cabinet on Tuesday that international condemnation would not stop Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip… Netanyahu added that Israel regretted that nine lives were lost in the operation on Monday, but defended the Israel Defense Forces soldiers as having been justified in the actions of their mission…

“Senior ministers have been sharply critical of the fact that the decision to seize control of the flotilla to Gaza was made after two meetings of the forum of seven senior ministers but without official deliberation by the inner cabinet, the body that has the authority to approve military actions of this scale… Senior ministers have noted that, in contrast to the handling of similar incidents in the past, the inner cabinet did not discuss issues related to the flotilla, receive operational briefings or approve the operation. The forum of seven, which did consider and approve the plan, is a consultative body only and does not have the legal authority to pass resolutions.

“The forum – Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Intelligence and Atomic Affairs Minister Dan Meridor, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Minster without Portfolio Benny Begin – held just two meetings on the flotilla, the latest on Wednesday. They approved the operation and the continuation of the Israeli policy of barring ships from docking in Gaza.

“Much of the session was devoted not to the military operation but rather to media and public relations issues surrounding the issue. ‘The ministers who attended the meeting didn’t get the impression from the defense establishment that a violent confrontation of this scope was likely,’ one senior Jerusalem official said. ‘The sense during the discussion was that the navy would come and the organizers would take fright, do an about-face and flee,’ he said.

“According to senior officials who attended the session, a few ministers expressed differing views but in the end a consensus was reached and there was not even a vote…”

Another Point of View

Israel’s “A7-News” reported the following on June 1:

“One of the Naval Special Forces commandos who sustained a broken arm while under attack by the S.S. Mavi Marmaris’ passengers, reports, ‘Each soldier who descended was grabbed by three or four men and they simply exploded, beating him up. They lynched us. They had metal clubs, knives, slingshots, glass bottles…At one point there was also live fire. I was among the last to descend, and I saw that the group was dispersed, everyone in his own corner surrounded by three or four men. I saw a soldier on the floor with two men beating him. I peeled them off of him and they came at me and began beating me with the clubs. That’s how I broke my arm. At that moment I had no weapon in my hands, like everyone else who descended on the cables empty-handed…’

“IDF photos of two dozen knives, including a machete, plus clubs, chains and metal rods used against Israeli Navy commandoes in the flotilla clash Monday contradict Turkish claims that the passengers did not carry weapons on board… The IDF confiscated and photographed the weapons, which were used to brutally attack Navy commandoes as they descended to one of the ships via ropes from hovering helicopters, intending to take over the ships peacefully. Greta Berlin, spokeswoman for the Free Gaza movement, claimed to Israel National News that the IDF edited the video showing the commandoes landing on board and added the violence…

“IDF video documentation and United States diplomats have stemmed the anti-Israel tide in the United Nations – for the time being – a day after the flotilla clash on the high seas. The U.N. Security Council met in closed session until late Monday night after U.S. diplomats watered down a Turkish attempt to censure Israel. Most of the 15 countries sitting on the Council expressed harsh criticism of Israel, but no joint statement was issued. Turkey is trying to use the universal anti-Israel mood to force an end to Israel’s partial blockade on Gaza, imposed since Hamas gained control of the area [in] a military coup three years ago…

“Foreign media and diplomats have begun to note the IDF videos of a brutal attack on Israeli Navy commandos as they descended on one of the ships after the crew and passengers refused requests to change course and sail to Ashdod instead of Hamas…

“Lebanon, currently the rotating president of the U.N. Security Council, and Turkey both led the condemnation of Israel at the Council session with such terms as ‘piracy,’ ‘crime’ and ‘a black day in the history of humanity.'”

Nuclear Submarines for Israel

Times On Line wrote on May 30:

“Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline. The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah… could hit sites in Israel… The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels…

“The vessels can remain at sea for about 50 days and stay submerged up to 1,150ft below the surface for at least a week. Some of the cruise missiles are equipped with the most advanced nuclear warheads in the Israeli arsenal… The submarines could be used if Iran continues its programme to produce a nuclear bomb. ‘The 1,500km range of the submarines’ cruise missiles can reach any target in Iran,’ said a navy officer.”

In light of the most recent events pertaining to Israel’s actions and European condemnation, one wonders how long Germany will continue to (be able to) provide Israel with such dangerous weapons. At the same time, once Israel possesses these additional nuclear weapons, they WILL use them, when they feel threatened and compelled to do so.

German President Koehler Resigns

Deutsche Welle reported on May 31:

“In a move that took just about everybody by surprise, German President Horst Koehler stepped down on Monday, citing comments he made about Afghanistan, which he said had been misconstrued…

“German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he ‘deeply regretted’ Mr. Koehler’s decision and had tried to change his mind… Bavarias’s State Premier, Horst Seehofer, said Mr. Koehler ‘had won the sympathies of the German people and was widely respected abroad.’

“The president’s resignation caught Germany’s political parties completely off guard. Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly only informed of the decision shortly before the public announcement… the chancellor said [she] was stunned and surprised by Mr. Koehler’s decision and had ‘unsuccessfully tried to get him to change his mind’…

“In the past few days, Koehler had been under fire for saying that a country like Germany, which was heavily reliant on foreign trade must know that military interventions could be necessary to uphold German interests. Koehler said his comments were ‘misunderstood’ and that his remarks were not meant to refer to the mission in Afghanistan… Polls show that a majority of Germans are opposed to the mission in Afghanistan…

“A former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Koehler was elected to the post of president in 2004 and re-elected in 2009…”

Another Blow to Merkel…

Der Spiegel Online wrote on May 31:

“German President Horst Köhler, under fire for controversial comments he made about Germany’s mission in Afghanistan, resigned with immediate effect on Monday in a shock announcement that comes as the latest in a series of blows to Chancellor Angela Merkel…

“The mayor of the northern city state of Bremen, Jens Böhrnsen, will take over from Köhler as interim head of state until a new president is elected. Under the constitution, Böhrnsen assumes the position in his capacity as president of the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament…

“Finding a successor to Köhler will pose a headache for Merkel, whose popularity has slumped in recent months. She has been hit by criticism of her handling of the euro crisis and by the loss of a center-right majority in the upper house following sharp declines for her CDU in a state election in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, on May 9.

“A further blow came last week with the resignation of CDU heavyweight Roland Koch, the governor of Hesse, a conservative hardliner whose departure has left a big gap in the right wing of her party.”

German Press Condemns Koehler’s Resignation

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 1:

“Germany’s president Horst Köhler threw in the towel to escape criticism. It hasn’t worked. Commentators on Tuesday slammed the departing head of state for damaging his country’s highest office…

“The Financial Times Deutschland… writes: ‘If Horst Köhler hoped that his resignation would protect the office of president from further damage, he failed miserably… by leaving office without facing any notable pressure to do so, he has acted with extreme negligence’…

“The conservative daily Die Welt writes: ‘The resignation of (Horst Köhler) was imprudent… He should have known that he was doing no favors to a government that has not exactly comported itself with brilliance.’

“The center-left paper Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: ‘Never has anyone done such great damage to the office of German president as Horst Köhler did… he threw in the towel because he feels offended…’

“The center-right daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes: ‘Never before has a German president stepped down due to criticism…’

“The mass-circulation tabloid Bild writes: ‘That wasn’t a resignation. That was someone leaving in a huff. Just as the European Union is wobbling, the euro threatens to collapse and Germany is in a deep crisis, the German president flees his office. An employee would be considered highly irresponsible for displaying such behavior. Now, Horst Köhler is gone and the shards, once again, lie at the feet of the chancellor. Angela Merkel will now need great strength to prevent Köhler’s resignation from turning into a state crisis.'”

The Role of the German President

Deutsche Welle reported on May 31:

“The president represents Germany in matters of international law, and represents the country at official gatherings. The president signs laws because without that signature they cannot take effect… German President Horst Koehler [refused] to sign a law on flight security that foresaw a privatization of flight-security agencies. He also refused to sign a consumer information law.

“Part of the president’s job is to propose a chancellor to the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. He appoints and fires the chancellor based on suggestions made by the Bundestag. Likewise, he can appoint and fire cabinet ministers based on the chancellor’s recommendation. The president can also pardon criminals…

“Unlike in the US, France or Austria, the German president is not elected directly by the people. He is elected by a committee consisting of members of the Bundestag and the same number of delegates sent from the state parliaments. The president has a term of five years, and can only be re-elected once. Any German who is older than 40 can become president.

“Why does the German president play a mainly ceremonial role? The reason is that in the Weimar Republic, the president at the time had wide-reaching powers. He could annul basic laws and rule with emergency law. These factors played a large role in the Nazis’ rise to power and post-war Germany wanted to avoid potential for abusing power.”

German Press on Merkel’s Struggles

Der Spiegel Online wrote on June 3:

“Ursula von der Leyen, for less than a day, looked set to become Germany’s new president. Now another candidate [Lower Saxony Governor Christian Wulff] has nosed his way forward and Chancellor Merkel appears increasingly isolated. The internal struggle speaks volumes about the German presidency, and about Merkel herself…”

Guttenberg vs. Merkel

Deutsche Welle reported on June 3:

“German Defense Minister Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg has reopened a long-simmering debate about the draft in Germany, saying he wouldn’t shy away from ‘radical and controversial measures’ in his efforts to cut back on military expenditure… Guttenberg was planning to ‘suspend the draft for an unspecified period of time’, a Defense Ministry official said on Wednesday, adding ‘its complete abolition could save up to 400 million euros per year’…

“However, there has been strong resistance to the proposal from the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU. ‘The end of military conscription cannot be explained with the need for savings, let alone be pushed through in just three days’, Chancellor Angela Merkel is quoted as saying by the ‘Financial Times Germany’ newspaper in its Thursday edition.

“The newspaper cited a source who had taken part in a meeting of CDU/CSU leaders on Wednesday. ‘Nobody knew about Guttenberg’s plans, and every participant in the meeting was up in arms,’ the source was quoted as saying.”

EU-Russian Summit

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 31:

“European Union and Russian leaders began a two-day summit Monday in southern Russia… The EU… is Russia’s biggest trade partner… This year expectations are high for productive talks at the summit, following Medvedev’s statement in April that Russia must show a ‘smiling’ face to the world.

“The twenty-fifth EU-Russia summit is the first to be held between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and EU President Herman Van Rompuy whose position came into force last year under the Lisbon Treaty. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, [who] currently holds EU’s rotating presidency, will be joined in Russia by European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso.”

Historically, European nations and Russia have had a strange hate-love relationship. In many cases, it ended in war, and the Bible predicts that after some economic and political cooperation, another war will break out between these power blocs.

Record Unemployment Rate in Europe–Germany the Exception…

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on June 1:

“Debt-laden Europe posted a record unemployment rate on Tuesday and its core currency and shares plummeted amid a worrying industrial slowdown. The unemployment rate hit 10.1 per cent in April, its highest since the euro came into being in 1999 and just one of a series of blows on Tuesday to the eurozone economy after a brief lull last week in market pressure. Almost 16 million people were out of work across the 16 countries that share the euro… The numbers reached more than 23 million in the 27-nation EU as a whole, including non-euro giants Britain and Poland, 2.4 million more than one year earlier. The euro sank to a new four-year low of 1.2115 dollars on concerns about the European financial sector’s ability to weather the region’s debt and deficit crisis. European stock markets also fell sharply…

“Leading economy Germany recorded a ‘significant slowdown’ in its growth rate… German unemployment fell sharply in May… while retail sales picked up as Europe’s biggest economy pushed on despite the eurozone financial crisis. The unemployment rate fell to 7.7 per cent of the workforce, the lowest rate since December 2008, from 8.1 per cent in April…

“The latest figures show US unemployment running at 9.9 per cent, and Japan’s just 5.0 per cent. Throughout the EU, only Germany recorded a fall in unemployment over the full year, from 7.6 per cent to 7.1 per cent. Deficit-plagued Spain, with a 19.7 per cent rate beaten only by Latvia, saw unemployment among under-25s reach a dizzying 40.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2010.”

Europe Continues to Enlarge

Reuters reported on June 2:

“European Union ministers said on Wednesday they remained committed to the integration of the Western Balkans into the bloc, dismissing fears of ‘enlargement fatigue’ in the wake of the Greek financial crisis…

“Of the nations that emerged from the violent collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Slovenia has already joined the EU, Croatia is close to membership and Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia have applied. To the south, Albania has also applied. Bosnia… and Kosovo… are lagging behind.

“‘Today in Sarajevo the European Union and the Western Balkans decided to have a new deal on the future, a future of hope, a future of peace, a future of full integration into the European Union,’ said Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country initiated the meeting.”

Der Spiegel Online reported on June 3:

“No European country has been more adept than the former Soviet republic of Estonia in dealing with the global economic crisis. Tallinn implemented some of the toughest austerity measures seen in Europe and, in one year’s time, has qualified to become the next country to introduce the euro… The European Commission in Brussels, the EU executive, has already spoken out in favor of accepting the Estonians, and now the decision is up to the euro-zone countries. Bizarrely enough, three highly indebted countries, Italy, Spain and Portugal, will be among those deciding whether model pupil Estonia should be permitted to introduce the euro by as early as next year.”

Europe in the Lead

The Hindu wrote on June 1:

“The European Union on Tuesday sent 3 million euros ($3.7 million) in aid to the victims of tropical storm Agatha, which has killed at least 135 people in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The storm, the first of the Pacific hurricane season, has caused widespread flooding and devastation, forcing at least 150,000 people to flee their homes.”

Africa — France’s Future?

AFP wrote on June 1:

“France on Tuesday moved to shore up its businesses in Africa that have fallen far behind China’s massive investment drive on the continent, at a summit hosted by President Nicolas Sarkozy. The two-day gathering in the Riviera city of Nice saw France shift its focus away from its traditional west African allies and engage with the continent as a whole, reaching out to economic powerhouses South Africa and Nigeria… The push on the economic front comes as France has taken a back seat to China, Africa’s biggest trade partner, which has injected billions over the past decade to tap into raw materials needed to fuel its hungry economy. No figures were released on new French investments but Sarkozy made clear that France was back in force on the trade and business front…

“Declaring that ‘Africa is our future,’ Sarkozy has backed a permanent seat for Africa at the United Nations Security Council among other changes needed to give the continent a greater say in global affairs… While business ties topped the agenda at the Nice summit, Sarkozy made clear France would support Africa in its struggle against piracy, terrorism and drug trafficking. ‘There are crises on the continent,’ Sarkozy said, and Africa ‘cannot cope on its own.'”

Ten European Nations vs. European Court of Human Rights

Catholic Culture wrote on June 2:

“Ten of Europe’s 47 states have joined Italy in petitioning the European Court of Human Rights to overturn its decision in the Lautsi case, in which the court ruled that the display of a crucifix in a classroom is ‘contrary to parents’ right to educate their children in line with their convictions and to children’s right to freedom of religion.’ No European state intends to file an amicus curiae brief in support of the decision.

“In addition to Italy, the ten nations that oppose the court’s decision are Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Romania, the Russian Federation, and San Marino.”

Zenit added on June 1:

“The third party status allows the States to submit to the court their written and oral observations as official parties to the case. The court’s Grand Chamber will hold a public hearing on June 30, and the final judgment on the case is expected by the end of the year. The director of the European Centre for Law and Justice, Gregor Puppinck, stated in a communiqué today that this is ‘an important precedent in the practice of the court, because usually member States abstain from intervening, or intervene only when the case affects a national of their State’…

“The communiqué also noted the ‘tremendous importance’ of the fact that this is ‘an unprecedented alliance between Catholics and Orthodox countries in the face of the liberal and secularist ideology. Those countries are uniting their forces to protect their religious heritage and freedom to reaffirm that the Christian symbols have a natural right to be displayed in public within Christian countries,’ it added. The center pointed out that the court’s role is to apply the European Convention on Human Rights, which says nothing about ‘duties to secularize education in Europe’ nor about ‘the nature of the relationship between the State and the church.'”

Defective Software Dangerous for U.S. Military

The Associated Press reported on June 1:

“A problem that rendered as many as 10,000 U.S. military GPS [Global Positioning System] receivers useless for days is a warning to safeguard a system that enemies would love to disrupt, a defense expert says. The Air Force has not said how many weapons, planes or other systems were affected or whether any were in use in Iraq or Afghanistan. But the problem, blamed on incompatible software, highlights the military’s reliance on the Global Positioning System and the need to protect technology that has become essential for protecting troops, tracking vehicles and targeting weapons…

“The problem occurred when new software was installed in ground control systems for GPS satellites on Jan. 11, the Air Force said. Officials said between 8,000 at 10,000 receivers could have been affected, out of more than 800,000 in use across the military. In a series of e-mails to The Associated Press, the Air Force initially blamed a contractor for defective software in the affected receivers but later said it was a compatibility issue rather than a defect…

“At least 100 U.S. defense systems rely on GPS, including aircraft, ships, armored vehicles, bombs and artillery shells… But a leaner, GPS-dependent military becomes dangerously vulnerable if the technology is knocked out…”

Global Military Expenditure Keeps Going Up

Deutsche Welle reported on June 3:

“Every year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) issues a report surveying international military expenditure… A SIPRI report released on Wednesday estimates expenditure in 2009 amounted globally to 1.5 trillion dollars, 5.9 percent more than in the previous year…

“Once more, it’s the United States which is at the top of the list, with 53 percent of the world’s expenditure – an increase of 47 billion dollars… But the US was not alone: Almost every region of the world, apart from some small countries in Eastern Europe, has increased military expenditure. Countries with significant natural resources have been particularly energetic. Algeria and Nigeria have doubled their expenditure, Kazakhstan has increased spending by 360 percent, Azerbaijan by nearly 500 percent, the Democratic Republic of Congo by as much 663 percent…

“SIPRI does see some progress towards a serious reduction in the 8,000 nuclear warheads in the world, thanks to Obama’s efforts to reach a wide-ranging disarmament and non-proliferation treaty. But even there, the increasing isolation of North Korea and Iran’s questionable nuclear program give grounds for pessimism.

“Germany has the world’s seventh largest expenditure on arms, at $46 billion (which is less than the US increase). Even within Europe, it’s not as big a spender as France or Britain. But what Germany and most western European countries have in common is an overall drop in military spending…”

Catholic Crisis Continues…

Deutsche Welle reported on June 2:

“German prosecutors said Wednesday they are investigating claims that the head of the German Catholic Church, Robert Zollitsch, aided and abetted a known sex offender in the church. It is claimed that while Zollitsch was in charge of a diocese in southern Germany in 1987, he appointed a priest who was known to have abused children. The archdiocese of Freiburg has released a statement denying that Zollitsch was responsible for the appointment, saying the decision was taken independently…

“Sexual abuse scandals have rocked the church in Germany since January, when dozens of cases emerged involving sexual molestation of minors by priests and other clergy over a period of 50 years at church-run schools. As Germany’s highest ranking bishop, Zollitsch has been at the frontline responding to the ongoing reports of abuse within the Catholic Church. He has often stated that the church needs to reform and ‘heal the wounds of victims.’ And in his Easter messages to his Freiburg parishoners, he said the Catholic Church must examine its ‘dark aspects as well as our own shadowy sides.'”

More Religious Ignorance and Confusion

On May 30, WorldNetDaily reported about short-sighted and biblically unsupportable claims by best-selling author Joel Richardson, arguing that the “Antichrist” will be Islamic, not European. Assuming Richardson means “the beast,” mentioned in the book of Revelation (even though he incorrectly refers to the beast as the “Antichrist”), his predictions are blatantly false. But to show our readers the confusion and false teachings propagated by so-called “experts” in the field of religion, we are bringing you excerpts from the WND article. But let it be known that Richardson is wrong, and that the beast will arise in Europe. Those who preach something different are ignorant of biblical prophecy.

WND wrote:

“With Europe on the verge of economic collapse, what about all those popular predictions that the European Union would become the world’s political powerhouse, giving rise to the endtimes prophecies of a world dictator known to Bible students as the Antichrist? Joel Richardson, author of a best-selling book on Bible prophecy, says atheists will have a field day mocking Christians for the incorrect interpretations about the last days.

“‘Nearly twenty years ago, I intently watched as a very popular Christian television prophecy teacher declared, ‘the present formation of the European Union is literally the fulfillment of Bible prophecy right before our eyes!'” he writes in a commentary today in WND. ‘According to this teacher, the creation of the European Union represented a biblically prophesied revived Roman Empire…’

“Richardson said the formation of the EU in 1993 spurred even more prophecy teachers to set their sights on Europe. ‘But the present harsh realities in Europe may soon cause all of this Euro-centric, restored Roman Empire prognosticating to come crashing down,’ writes Richardson. He also expects many Christians to become disillusioned as the EU fights for its very survival, rather than for the global dominance that was predicted…

“His book [“The Islamic Antichrist”] makes the case that the biblical Antichrist is one and the same as the Quran’s Muslim Mahdi. ‘The Bible abounds with proofs that the Antichrist’s empire will consist only of nations that are, today, Islamic,’ says Richardson. ‘Despite the numerous prevailing arguments for the emergence of a revived European Roman empire as the Antichrist’s power base, the specific nations the Bible identifies as comprising his empire are today all Muslim.'”

This is utter nonsense. In fact, we read the absolute opposite; namely that the “beast” or the “king of the North” will fight AGAINST and even occupy Islamic and Muslim nations. And that the beast will be working hand-in-hand with the biblical “false prophet”–a religious “Christian” personality.

If you want to know what the BIBLE prophesies–rather than what ignorant and misinformed biblical “scholars” may predict–please read our free booklets, “Europe in Prophecy,” “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord,” “Is That in the Bible–The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation,” and “The book of Zechariah–Prophecies for Today!”