By Dr. Gary Collett
December 6, 2001Greetings from Jerusalem!
The reply to the three Terrorist attacks, two in Jerusalem and one in Haifa at the beginning of this week (Dec. 2-3), was first a declaration made by Israel that Yasser Arafat is a “terror supporting entity”. (In the street Bin Ladin and Arafat are being depicted as twins.) Secondly, Prime Minister Sharon addressed the Israeli public Monday evening stating, "War has been forced upon us". The government also declared the Tanzim, Arafat's personal Force 17, and Fatah as terrorist entities. It was stated that action would be taken against them and their leaders accordingly. It was also decided to prevent Arafat from leaving the “Palestinian” autonomous areas. Israel began retaliation against the Palestinian Authority by using nine rockets, hitting Arafat's headquarters in Gaza, destroying two of his personal helicopters and several buildings. It was claimed that Arafat used the helicopters to smuggle weapons into Gaza. (We watched on the news the burning of those buildings and helicopters. It was of interest to see/hear hundreds and hundreds of rounds of ammunition firing from INSIDE the buildings as they burned and see the “little holes” in the walls, through which the fires were seeable.) Arafat was in Ramallah at the time. Early Tuesday morning Israeli bulldozers destroyed the Gaza Airport runways, Yasser Arafat's remaining Gaza air-link with the outside world near his base. Next was an attack against the “Palestinian” headquarters in Ramallah, north of Jerusalem. For the first time in six years the Israeli Defense Force is physically in Ramallah, Shechem and other PA-controlled cities! It was reported that Arafat was close-by when the buildings were targeted in Ramallah. Arafat then complained that he could not fight terror because his forces are being attacked. Arafat then made a “numbers” arrest and Israel states the “arrests” are not those people on the list supplied by Israel of known terrorists. Israel gives a twelve-hour “grace period” to see if Arafat will make the “proper” arrests before continuing military responses. Last night we again hear shooting AT Gilo from Beit Jala and also shooting in the Bethlehem, Beit Sahour areas.
After the military responses against Arafat’s Gaza and Ramallah Headquarters it began to rain causing flooding in many areas of Israel. Rain is considered as the “Blessing of God”, especially as the drought of the past years has made water supplies critical. The Sea of Galilee, the Kinneret, rose two inches in 24 hours, bringing it back to the level of four weeks ago (214.80 meters below sea level, or six feet below the original government mandated "red line). The Mekorot Water Company is reported to have collected one million cubic meters of water, for reservoirs, in the 24 hours, at a record high of 50,000 cubic meters an hour. The rains are expected to stop tomorrow, Friday. (On one street here in Jerusalem I had to drive through water that was about 20 inches deep. If the doors had been opened it would have flooded us inside!)
It has been observed that while Saudi Arabia offered millions and millions of dollars to rebuild New York City they have no money or space to absorb and resettle their Palestinian “brothers”, who it is said are the core of the problem in the Middle East. One more evidence that the “Palestinian issue” has been a created conflict?
Food for thought!
Blessings, --Gary and Debra
HELP! As this is a Faith Ministry reaching out to local and national communities we depend on your faith gifts and especially as we prepare for a teaching tour in the States starting in January! Please pray about inviting us for a time of sharing and financial support for the times of traveling.
(Dr. GR Collett)
gcollett@netvision.net.il
*Hebraic Roots Learning Center
PO Box 11388, Jerusalem 91113, Israel
*Jerusalem Ministries International
USA: 235 Quincy, Wa, 98848
*USA and Israeli non-profit organizations
Any contributions sent in the USA, to the JMI address, are tax deductible, in the USA.
Any contributions specifically to help needy families should be noted as such.JMI Website:
http://jerusalemministriesint.com/main/jerusalemministriesint/For Tour information contact Mel at: <melhinz7777@msn.com>
If you buy on these Websites, you help support JMI ministry:
http://primebuytown.com/JMIworldwideshop
http://primebuynetwork.com/JMIworldwideshop
http://www.888webtoday.com