Spotlights: Bible Prophecy in World News Today: January 2015

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Israel Fires Back After Syria Rocket Strikes

Sky News 27-Jan-15

The Israeli military has responded with artillery fire after two rockets were apparently launched from Syria into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Some Lebanese and Syrian media have reported casualties as a result of the retaliatory shelling, although this has yet to be confirmed.

The possibility the projectiles were "spill-over" from fighting in the Syria's civil war were dismissed by Israel's military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, who said the fire "appeared to be intentional".

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, which appears to have come from the Syrian Golan - an area where Sunni rebel and Islamist groups are engaged in battles for control of territory with the Syrian army, who are supported by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

No injuries or damage were reported on the Israeli side, but police evacuated the nearby Mount Hermon ski resort, put in place widespread road closures and told residents to remain indoors or in bomb shelters.

The two rockets that landed in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights were amongst four fired in total, which triggered rocket sirens in the predominantly Druze towns and villages throughout the Golan.

The firing comes a week after an airstrike - believed to have been carried out by the Israeli Air Force - which killed a senior Iranian general and six members of Hezbollah in the Syrian province of Quneitra, near the Israeli border.

Warnings from both Iran and Hezbollah that Israel would face a response for the attack have ratcheted up tensions along the border areas, prompting numerous scares in recent days about infiltrations into northern Israel from Lebanon that have turned out to be false alarms.

Some ordnance from the fighting in Syria has spilled over into Israel in the past few years, most of which was treated as errant fire. Israeli troops, however, have on several occasions returned fire.

Israel took control of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau overlooking northern Israel, from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it.

Greece might block fresh EU sanctions against Russia

Neurope 28-Jan-15

There is a high probability that in case of new sanctions Greece would use its veto.

No decision on new sanctions against Russia will be taken at the extraordinary EU Foreign Affairs Council on Thursday.

This was announced by the Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, whose country is chairing the Council during this semester.

"I want to say right away that there will be no conclusive decisions on specific sanctions this Thursday. Most probably, a task will be given to prepare proposals, on which the Foreign Affairs Council might decide on Feb. 9," the Latvian minister said.

Latvia's position is that the sanctions against Russia must be increased if the situation in eastern Ukraine continues to deteriorate.

"If the situation improves the sanctions can be eased. If the situation remains unchanged the sanctions must remain unchanged too. If the situation deteriorates it is necessary to discuss stepping them up," Rinkevics said.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission Vice-President for Social Dialogue and the EU from Latvia, also told journalists in Brussels on Tuesday that the bloc's current sanctions against Russia would be lifted or increased depending on Russia's actions.

"The sanctions can be revised in any direction -- they can be increased, or, in the optimistic scenario, eased," Dombrovskis said.

EU foreign ministers are expected in principle to consider fresh sanctions against Russia at their extraordinary meeting this Thursday amid new escalation in Ukraine.

The Latvian foreign minister did not mention Greece, but there is a high probability that in case of new sanctions Greece might use its veto.

A first clash with Athens happened on Tuesday, when the new Greek government rejected the Council's statement on Ukraine. Athens accused the Council as well as EEAS and Federica Mogherini of proceeding with the document without Greece's consent, just minutes after the new Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras took office in Athens.

“The Statement of Heads of State and Government of the EU published today was circulated without the proper procedures being followed in order to obtain the consent of Member States and specifically Greece's consent”, announced the new Greek Prime Minister's Office, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos.

“Within this context we clarify that it does not have our country's consent. Our displeasure for this was expressed during a telephone conversation of the Prime Minister with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini as well at the proper level, by the Permanet Representation of Greece to the EU”, he added.

“We don't agree with the spirit of sanctions against Russia, which has negative results not only for agriculture, as far as our own country's economy is concerned, but also in general”, said on Wednesday 28 January the new Greek deputy Foreign Minister, Nikos Hountis.

In an interview to the Athens and Macedonian News Agency, he also said that “Our objections on the issue will presented at the Foreign Minister's Council the Greek foreign Minister, Nikos Kotzias”.

“Other countries have similar reactions, because of the consequences of the sanctions” he added.

Referring to yesterday's Statement of Heads of State and Government of the EU that provoked a strong reaction from Athens, he noted that “there is a rush by certain Members States and this was expressed through that statement about which Greece expressed its displeasure.”

The new Greek foreign minister, Nikos Kotzias, might block new sanctions on Russia at the Council in Brussels. Kotzias is a professor of European Studies, a former member of the Greek Communist Party and a well-known friend of Russia. In the past he spoke against what he calls a "German-dominated Europe" and, in the 1980s, he praised the Polish government's crackdown on the Solidarity movement.

As soon as he became foreign minister, on 27 January, he accused the outgoing minister, Evangelos Venizelos, from the Nea Demokratia, of having let Brussels use Greece’s debt in order to force Athens to align itself with the rest of the EU.

Sympathy for Russia runs deep through the Greek psyche, and many politicians, as well as part of the population, hope that Moscow would come to the rescue financially, as it tried to do with Cyprus in 2012.

The present dispute started after the European Council president Donald Tusk said that in the January 29 meeting of foreign ministers "further restrictive measures" against Russia should be considered. Donald Tusk comes from the Polish Solidarity movement, which makes him the ideological opposite of some of the people forming the present Greek government. Also, Tusk has an uncompromising stance against Russia, which was seen as a salutary counterbalance to the softer attitude of Federica Mogherini, the chief of the EU’s diplomacy, but which might foresee further clashes with Athens.

Carl Bildt, the Swedish foreign minister and former EU Commissioner tweeted this about his new Greek colleague:

This does not look entirely good. New Greek FM in distinctly dubious company. We’ll see what it means. https://t.co/wp63f0l7jx

— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) January 27, 2015

The Catholic Church in Crimea must register according to Russian law

AsiaNews 27-Jan-15

The Vatican does not recognize the annexation of the peninsula to Russia, but the priority now is not to abandon the local community. AsiaNews sources: "It 'a difficult process even for the Orthodox." The authorities reassure the renewal of visas for the non-Russian clergy, but problems remain.

By March, all the parishes of the Catholic Church in the Crimea - the Ukrainian peninsula passed to Russia, after a controversial referendum not recognized by the international community - will have to adapt to the Russian legislation on religious organizations. This was reported by the Ukrainian service of Polish radio. The news has been confirmed by AsiaNews sources in the Catholic community in Russia, according to whom "after initial problems" with the new authorities of Crimea, "before the end of 2014, it has come to a solution of transition."

In what has been learned, both Catholics and Orthodox will have to register, according to the Russian Federation "law on religious organizations", which requires the presence of 10 people with Russian passports as representatives of each parish. The Bishop of Odessa and Simferopol, Yatsek Pil, told Polish Radio that on 22 January he had sent, "all necessary documents" to Moscow and is now waiting for a response.

Once Russian authorities give their assent then parishes will begin to register. Only then will they be able to invite foreign citizens to work, writes the Portal-credo. "This ID process is difficult for both Catholics and Orthodox," said the AsiaNews source continues, explaining that "now the priority is to accompany the local community" in this transition phase.

The Vatican does not officially recognize the Crimea as part of Russia, but is concerned for the faithful. In March, the Catholic Church in the peninsula will be 'restored' and should move from diocese to 'pastoral district'. There are about ten parishes involved, including Greek-Catholic parishes.

Previously, following the annexation, the Catholic Churches' first attempt to register failed. At the time, the reason given was the fact that the documents were written in Ukrainian. Even now, despite the assurances of Simferopol, there may be problems related to the non-renewal of visas and residence permits for local clergy, including many citizens are Poles or Ukrainians.

As reported by Forum 18, this has already happened three Franciscan Sisters Missionaries of Mary: in the absence of renewal of their residence permit, the Catholic convent in the capital of Crimea will be forced to close.

Egypt's Sisi vows to secure Gulf states, urges 'reformed discourse'

GeoStrategy direct w/e 28-Jan-15

Egypt has pledged to maintain the security of Gulf Arab states.

President Abdul Fattah Sisi of Egypt at the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. Donald Weber / Crown Prince Court

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Sisi said his country was committed to protecting the Gulf Cooperation Council. Addressing a conference in the United Arab Emirates, Sisi cited close military cooperation with Abu Dhabi and other GCC states.

"We will increase measures to confront all attempts to violate the security of Gulf states," Sisi said.

In a speech to the World Future Energy Summit on Jan. 19, Sisi said Egypt was prepared to help the militaries and security forces of the six GCC states. He also called for increased cooperation in counter-insurgency, including efforts to prevent Islamic extremism.

"The fight must not only be restricted to security and military aspects, but should include a reformed religious discourse from which false ideologies that could lure some into adopting violence to impose their ideas have been removed," Sisi said.

Officials said Egypt has offered to significantly expand military cooperation with the UAE and most members of the GCC. They cited Egyptian plans for bilateral and multilateral exercises, training and joint defense projects.

How the European dream is dying, state by state Daily Telegraph 25-Jan-15

How the European dream is dying, state by state

Daily Telegraph 25-Jan-15

As the victory of the anti-austerity Syriza party in Greece shakes financial markets across Europe, find out how the EU

project is slowly falling apart in the ten major member states and two cities which form its heart

Europe is being swept by a wave of popular disenchantment and revolt against mainstream political parties and the European Union.

In 2007, a majority of Europeans - 52 per cent - trusted the EU.

That level of trust has now fallen to a third.

Once, Britain's Euroscepticism was the exception, and was seen as the biggest threat to the future of the EU.

Now, other countries pose a far bigger danger thanks to the political discontents unleashed by the euro,
In Greece, a far-Left Socialist party, Syriza, has swept to p ower with a political programme that would overturn eurozone policies.

Many believe the Greek revolt against the loss of their economic sovereignty by eurozone diktat from Brussels or Frankfurt is only the beginning.

In France, Italy and Spain, voters are kicking against mainstream parties that they see as upholding EU institutions such as the euro while failing to represent their own people, the voters.

In Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark it is immigration that has become the touchstone for a popular sense that institutions do not represent the people.

Even in Germany the cracks in the European political order are beginning to show.

There are plenty of opportunities for revolt: parliamentary elections take place in Greece, Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Early elections are also expected in Italy.

The victory of Syriza in Greece 'bad news for Israel'

The victory of Syriza in Greece 'bad news for Israel'

European Jewish Press 25-Jan-15

The radical leftwing Syriza party which appears to be the winner of Sunday’s general elections in Greece and has has promised to stop with austerity and defy the European institutions, is also widely viewed as having a clear anti-Israel stance.

which has promised to “cancel” austerity and defy the European institutions.The party’s 40-year-old leader, Alexis Tsipras, said the vote would mark “the return of dignity” to Greece. His party was

expected to get between 36% and 39% of the popular vote compared to between 23% and 27% for the conservative New Democracy party of outgoing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Syriza’s ranks include an array of leftists ranging from Marxists to Greens.

The party has constantly identified itself with the Palestinian cause and its programme include a demand for abolition of Greece’s military cooperation with Israel and the support for the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Israel and Greece have enjoyed a strong relationship and cooperation since 2008 in several aspects of military,intelligence, economy and culture.

Alexis Tsipras’ party colleagues and his own inner circle have repeatedly attacked Israel and the "Zionists", claiming that they are not anti-Semitic, just ''anti-Zionist.'' Syriza's former head, Nikos Konstandopoulos, has consistently offered his services as a defense lawyer for convicted and alleged Arab terrorists who have been arrested in Greece.

Last year, Tsipras stated that ‘’the world should make every possible effort so that Israel ends its criminal attack and brutality against Palestinians.’’ “Seeing Israel killing children in Palestine is unacceptable. We should unite our voices and forces so as to live in peace, expressing our solidarity to the Palestinian people,” he said during a march in Athens against Israel's Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in Gaza last summer.

“When civilians and children are killed at beaches facing the same sea that borders on the European continent, we cannot remain passive, because if this happens on the other side of the Mediterranean today, it can happen on our own side tomorrow,'' he said.

In another development, first elections results also showed that the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party would be winning between 6 and 8 % of the votes.

The party’s leader Nikolaos Mihaloliakos and five other outgoing lawmakers are behind bars, accused of being part of a criminal group that attacks immigrants and leftists, after a party supporter stabbed a prominent left-wing rapper in 2013.

In its manifesto, Golden Dawn, among the furthest parties to the right on Europe’s political spectrum, argues all illegal immigrants should be rounded up, detained and sent home. The party members have been seen doing Nazi-style salutes.