It has been a long time since we have sent out a prayer alert, but tensions between Iran and Israel are escalating and have every chance of breaking out into war.

 

For some time Israel has been expressing alarm at Iran’s growing (and permanent) military presence in Syria.  Iran is busy establishing numerous military bases and also wants to build a naval base in northern Syria.  Its goal is to create a Shi’ite arc that stretches from Tehran to Beirut.   Israel and also Sunni nations (led by Saudi Arabia) are in trepidation of Iran’s expanding influence.  It should be remembered that Israel’s cause for concern is even greater than the Arab states.  Since 1980 one Iranian Shi’ite cleric after another has been threatening to destroy Israel and annihilate its Jewish population.     

 

Over the weekend Israel bombed an Iranian army base south of Damascus, killing 12 soldiers.  Iran has made no comment, but they are expected to respond by launching a terrorist attack against Israel or a Jewish target abroad.  In addition the Iranians are continuing to arm Hezbollah with large numbers of sophisticated rockets able to reach almost every Israeli city.  Should war break out in Syria, it would no doubt spread to Lebanon.  Hezbollah has an arsenal of over 100,000 rockets – more than any other nation except the US and Russia.  Of course, the situation is further complicated by the role of Russia that now has substantial interests in Syria and is allied with Iran.    

 

I am not an alarmist, but the need for prayer is crucial:  

We also ask for your prayers for our upcoming Open House on Christmas Eve.  

 

Thank you for your prayers, and many blessings for a joyous Christmas and Hanukkah.

 

Shalom,

 

David Pileggi

Christ Church Jerusalem