1. “IRAN QUIETLY ADVANCES…”
Part I. YEMEN
“Then your mighty men will be dismayed, O Teman, so that everyone may be cut off from the mountain of Esau by slaughter” (Obadiah 9).
Yemen is the ‘heel’ of the fat boot which comprises the Arabian Peninsula. Early last year, having, as was thought, successfully transitioned from autocracy to an elected president, this second-largest nation on the Peninsula was being seen by American officials as a model of post-revolutionary Arab states (“At Risk of Fragmenting, Yemen Poses Dangers to U.S.: The New York Times, 21 Jan 2015). Yet, on October 17th, The Times of Israel bore the following ominous headline, “While the world watches IS [“Islamic State”], Iran quietly advances.” The article focused upon the way in which the Houthi, Zaidi Shi’a sect in Yemen was, with the support of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and its al-Quds Brigades, rapidly gaining ground in that country: “While the American (and Israeli) media focuses almost obsessively on the maps of IS’s takeover, ‘moderate’ Iran is succeeding with a little less noise to gain control over even larger chunks of territory: Lebanon, parts of Syria and Iraq, and now Yemen” (“While the world watches IS, Iran quietly advances”: The Times of Israel, 17 Oct 2014; 1:43 pm).
The article in the Times has proven prophetic, and now the ‘model’ has come crashing down. In January, Yemen’s President was forced to step down, and on the 6th of February, the Shi’ite Muslim group announced that it was dissolving parliament and forming a new government. The Houthis now control the north of Yemen, and the Capital Sanaa. Sunni al-Qaida Islamists still control the south and the country is rapidly descending into sectarian civil war. But with Shi’ites now in control of the capital and government, in a proxy sort of way, the chief determining influence on the region is rapidly becoming seen as Iranian. As a Revolutionary Guard official recently boasted, “The Islamic Republic of Iran now controls four Middle Eastern capitals: Sanaa, Beirut, Baghdad and Damascus (“Yemen falls to Iran in regional proxy war”: JPOST.com, 02/08/2015, 19:43IST).
Sunni Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States are gravely concerned at this strengthening foot-hold of arch-enemy Iran to their south. But the Saudis attempted a war with the Houthis in 2009 in which they were soundly beaten, and their new King is reluctant to send his troops into a sectarian conflict which is looking similar to that going on in Syria. One specialist on Gulf affairs put it this way, “The Gulf monarchies were distracted by Iraq and the Islamic State when the Houthis launched their offensive…In the meantime, much of Yemen fell to Iranian-backed radicals who hate the Gulf States, hate America, and explicitly hate not just Israel but specifically Jews as well” (Ibid.). One means through which this hatred for Israel and the Jews might manifest against Israel if Iran gains firm control over Yemen, would be closure of the straits at the bottom of the Red Sea, over which Yemen commands oversight and through which is Israel’s only access to the Indian Ocean.
Among the superpowers, the United States, which has for the past two decades been seen as a staunch ally of the Saudis, is not likely to come to their aid. Some even see them going to the other side, “with the US increasingly favoring the Shi’ite axis led by Iran as it does not want to ruin ongoing nuclear negotiations with the country. It also seeks to use Iran to counter Sunni jihadists such as Islamic State and al-Qaida. Recent reports reveal that the US is cooperating with the Houthis to target AQAP (Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula) (Ibid.).
The Hebrew name for Yemen is Teman. This happens to be the same as the Biblical name used for a region in Edom in ancient times. That Teman was probably located in what is today the Ma’an region of southern Jordan. Ma’an is itself thought to have been founded between the 2nd and 4th centuries BC by Minaeans, a people based in Yemen (“Museum With No Frontiers”, p.203, quoted under “Ma’an”.Wikipedia.)). And so we see a physical historical connection between the two regions as well as their sharing the same name. We believe there is prophetic significance in these connections which is relevant for today.
In Genesis 36:15, a chieftain named Teman is listed among the sons of Eliphaz, the first-born of Esau (Edom). Also listed among the brothers of Teman is another chieftan named Amalek. As we have seen in the Torah studies, the spirit behind Edom is historically manifest in the covenant-hating spirit of Amalek—which is most-often expressed in anti-Semitism against the covenant people Israel. YHVH (the LORD) Himself has declared war against this spirit forever, and it is His banner over believers who war against anti-Semitism which is their victory today (Exodus 17:8-16). A number of places in the Hebrew Bible suggest that Teman and his descendants obviously came under the same spirit as Amalek—and the northern land given his name therefore came under the same judgment from God (Jeremiah 49:7, 20; Ezekiel 20:46, 25:13; Amos1:12, and Obadiah 1:9).
We see this same spirit rising up in the modern domain of Teman (Yeman). As quoted above, “much of Yemen fell to Iranian-backed radicals who hate the Gulf States, hate America, and explicitly hate not just Israel but specifically Jews as well” (Emphases ours). The trademark slogan of the Iranian-backed Houthis is, “God [Allah] is great; death to America; death to Israel.” To return to the article from last October with which we began, “What is clear…is that in the shadow of attacks and massacres from the Islamic State, the Shi’ite axis headed by Iran is not resting for a moment. During the Houthi demonstrations, passwords appeared that sounded like they were taken directly from the Iranian Islamic Revolution’s phrasebook: “Death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews” (“While the world watches…”; Emphases ours).
PLEASE PRAY:
*God’s mercies on Yemen (Teman)…that the powers focused upon that land with evil intent against God and His covenant nation and people would not be allowed to go beyond the boundaries God has presently ordained for them. That YHVH Nissi (the LORD MY BANNER) will arise and conquer the Amalekite spirit currently gaining dominance there.
* Ezekiel 20:46-48 (Hebrew) and Amos 1:12 speak of God “kindling a fire” in Teman (in Edom). It was a fire of judgment, but which would result in the inhabitants becoming aware that YHVH (the LORD) had kindled it. Pray that the fire of God would be ignited in Yemen—devouring that which is set against His ways—and freeing the inhabitants to know that the LORD, Elohei-Israel, is the Most High God of all the earth…and loves them.
*Jeremiah 49:7 implies that ancient Teman once had a reputation as a place of wisdom, “Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman? Has good counsel been lost to the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?” (The chief ‘comforter’ in the “wisdom book” of Job—Eliphaz, was a Temanite). Pray that wisdom would return to Teman (Yemen). Pray God’s Kingdom COME! there—that His redemptive purposes for that corner of the Arabian Peninsula would awaken and come forth.
*God’s protection over the several hundred Jews still living in Yemen (some 50,000 emigrated to Israel from that country during the mid-20th century). That they will find opportunity to return to the Land of their Fathers.
2. “IRAN QUIETLY ADVANCES”
Part II. DÉTENTE and THE PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH
For me He was chastised, for me He was hated
For me He was rejected by a world that He created
Nations are angry, cursed are some
People are expecting a false peace to come
Well, I’m hangin’ on to a solid rock
Made before the foundation of the world…”
–From “Solid Rock” by Bob Dylan, © 1980 Special Rider Music
On Wednesday October 29th the Wall Street Journal quoted senior US and Arab officials as saying that the Obama administration and Iran have “moved into an effective state of détente over the past year, as they hold direct nuclear talks and face a common threat from the Islamic State” (“Report: US, Iran entered state of ‘détente’, facing common Islamic State enemy”: ynetnews.com; 10.29.14 08:04). A subtitle to the article cited quoted the Journal as saying that “Washington has reassured Tehran that strikes on IS fighters in Syria will not be used to oust Assad” (Ibid.).
The Oxford Dictionary of English defines “détente” as “the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries.” This “easing of hostilities” from the point of view of the White House has continued, in fact, accelerated. At a security conference in Munich last week Sec. of State John Kerry met for over two hours with Tehran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif. This time it was the Iranian who was warning the Secretary regarding “consequences” should a multilateral agreement over Iran’s nuclear program fail to be reached soon. There is presently a March 24 deadline for reaching an agreement, with a final deal by June 30th.
The Iranian minister stressed to Kerry that failure to reach an agreement [i.e. suitable to his ] might well undermine the leadership of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whom Washington presently depends upon as a strongly pragmatic element in its relations with the Islamic republic. The President’s weakening, the minister implied, could serve the empowerment of the country’s conservative hardliners. (“In Munich, talks with Iran broaden beyond the nuclear file”: JPOST.com; 7 Feb 2015 22:06 IST). This might be seen as a somewhat dubious assertion, given that everything the President does is already done under the auspices of those same religious hardliners. In the end, the Secretary and Foreign Minister announced that they intend to complete a framework agreement by the end of March.
The meeting in Munich came a week after reports began surfacing “that the Obama administration is offering Iran technical concessions on its nuclear infrastructure in exchange for Iran’s use of its leverage to temper regional turmoil” (Ibid.). Then this past Saturday a report was released (again by The Wall Street Journal) to the effect that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has responded to a letter sent to him by the American president last October by sending Mr. Obama himself one. Mr. Obama’s letter is said to have “stressed the two countries’ shared interest in fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, and said cooperation between the US and Iran on combating the militant group was tied to a deal being reached between Iran and other nations on its nuclear program” (“Report: Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei sent Obama secret letter”: JPOST.com, 14 Feb 2015 9:26 IST).
It has become evident for some time that the President is convinced that integrating Iran into the international diplomatic and economic system is a much more effective method of moderating its aggressive behavior than applying more pressure (such as re-imposition of the sanctions, as the nation continues working towards its nuclear arming– “Obama’s Secret Iran Strategy: mosaicmagazine.com, 02/2015). The contents of the “secret letter” sent by the Ayatollah Khamenei to President Obama this week have not been disclosed, except to say that it is “respectful.”
Not so respectful was a “tweet” released by this same Khamenei on Twitter regarding Israel last summer, which read, “This barbaric, wolflike & infanticidal regime of #Israel which spares no crime has no cure but to be annihilated” (”Khamenei on Twitter: No cure for barbaric Israeli regime but to be annihilated”: jpost.com; 9 Nov 2014, 4:11 IST). Israel certainly has no reason to believe that the Supreme Leader has altered these sentiments—nor his designs towards bringing them to fulfillment.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to hold doggedly to his decision to speak at the joint session of Congress on March 3rd , to which he was invited by House Speaker John Boehner. Neither the U.S. President nor his Secretary of State will meet with the Israeli head of state when he arrives in Washington, claiming that it violates a long-standing protocol of not meeting candidates before an election (the protocol cannot have been too long-standing; as has been pointed out, in 1996 Democrat Bill Clinton hosted Shimon Peres at the White House right before Israeli elections). Vice President Joe Biden, President of the Senate, be out of town during the speech. Some Democrat congressmen and senators are threatening to boycott it, most behind the claim that it is politically motivated.
The real issue is related to expectation that the speech will be diametrically opposed to the direction presently being pursued by the White House. As the world, in the face of what is perceives as being a more immediate threat, becomes pacified to the powers ruling Iran, Israel sees the domain of the Prince of Persia spreading. With the fall of Yemen, that domain will virtually encircle ¾ of the Arabian Peninsula—Yemen at the south, Iran to the east and Iranian controlled southern Iraq and much of Syria and Lebanon to the north. In Syria, Assad and his government (with support from Iran and Russia) are suddenly being seen as almost allies of the West because of the threat of ISIS. Iran is capitalizing upon that “détente,” thrusting into the breach to draw nearer to the nation her leaders have continually vowed to annihilate.
In mid-January, Israeli intelligence discovered and its military destroyed, a convoy bearing an Iranian brigadier general traveling with seven Hezbollah operatives on a secret mission just outside Israel’s border on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Another top Iranian general met shortly thereafter with Hezbollah chief Nasrallah in Lebanon (“No one immune from Israeli preemptive strikes, says Netanyahu”: The Times of Israel, 1 Feb 2015 1:19 p.m.). This past Thursday Israeli P.M. Netanyahu spoke of six fronts which Iran has opened up against Israel—Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Sinai, efforts to carry out terrorist attacks abroad, and its march toward nuclear weapons (“PM says Iran is facing off against Israel on 6 fronts”: jpost.com, 02/13/2015 17:31 IST).
As this power continues to extend its array on the ground, the nuclear threat continues to grow. Israel believes that the “deal” currently being planned by the P5+1 would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium in over 7,000 centrifuges—mere months from producing enough material for a bomb—and that in securing this deal, the US will have agreed to 80% of Iran’s demands (“ ‘Israel: US deal will leave Iran with 6,500 centrifuges spinning, months from a bomb’”: The Times of Israel, 31 Jan 2015 3:15 am).
It is to speak a warning to the West regarding this scenario that PM Netanyahu is determined to accept the invitation offered him by the Speaker of the House, and to address in English on March those who have an ear to hear. We have not seen such fierce opposition—both from the White House in the US, and from the opposition on the left here in Israel. Last week the Prime Minister acknowledged the presence of serious disagreements:
We do have today a profound disagreement with the United States administration and the rest of the P5+1 over the offer that has been made to Iran…This is not a personal disagreement between President Obama and me. I deeply appreciate all that he has done for Israel in many fields. Equally, I know that the president appreciates my responsibility, my foremost responsibility, to protect and defend the security of Israel. I am going to the United States not because I seek a confrontation with the president, but because I must fulfil my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country. I intend to speak about this issue before the March 24th deadline and I intend to speak in the US Congress because Congress might have an important role on a nuclear deal with Iran. (“Netanyahu admiots ‘profound disagreement’ with Obama’: news.yahoo.com, 10 Feb 2015 3:38 pm).
Yesterday evening Israeli news media reported that the Obama administration is responding to Netanyahu’s plans by stating that the United States will no longer provide the Israeli government with regular updates on the status of the P5+1 nuclear talks with Iran (“Report: US to halt updates to Israel on Iran nuclear talks in response to Netanyahgu speech plans”: jpost.com; 02/15/2015 20:34 IST).
Yet we are encouraged by those within the American Congress who are rallying to the Prime Minister’s cause. And support is arising in other arenas. This week it was announced that Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel will be lending his support to the speech. A New Jersey rabbi is placing full-page advertisements in both The New York Times and The Washington Post, in which Wiesel says he plans to attend the Prime Minister’s address “on the catastrophic danger of a nuclear Iran…I plead with you to put aside the politics that have obscured the critical decisions to be made. Surely it is within your power to find a solution that will permit Israel’s prime minister to deliver his urgent message. Will you join me in hearing the case for keeping weapons from those who preach death to Israel and America?” (“Nobel winner Elie Wiesel lends support to Netanyahu’s US speech”: jpost.com, 13 Feb 2015 7:49 IST & Eli Wiesel pleads: Let prime Minister speak” : The Jerusalem Post; 15 Feb 2015).
In the ad, Wiesel likens the modern Iranian leaders to the biblical Haman (a descendant of Amalek), pointing out that the speech takes place the week of Purim, “As Queen Esther said when addressing her king: ‘How can I behold the destruction of my people?” (Ibid.)
PLEASE PRAY:
*For God’s mercies to be released over the Middle East. For angels to be released on behalf of those who will inherit salvation. For the lights of the remnant to shine brightly, to intensify (Daniel 12:3). For courage to come through a deep revelation of the love of Jesus/Yehsua/Yasua which will enable them to stand (even in death) in the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb. Only today has the world become aware of the massive execution of Christians by ISIS forces in Libya; for months similar reports have been coming out of Iraq and parts of Syria.
*For Iran. We do not consider it a “Great Satan”—but the power which has it in its grasp is satanic—and expanding quickly. Pray for the Body of Messiah among the Iranian people and wherever the power is expanding its influence. Pray that they see a great light.
*That Mr Netanyahu will be allowed to make his speech; that the Lord will grant him words of truth and wisdom beyond his own natural capacities or motivations.
*For the American government—that God will grant mercy and courage to the congressmen He has allowed into power during this season—that they will experience the Fear of the Lord and seek His help in knowing what direction their nation should go during this critical time.
*For protection for Israel—for God to be a wall of fire around her. For righteousness to rise up within her and for her to seek the God of her Fathers. For God to raise up the Prime Minister and government of His choice in the elections on March 17th.
–Norma and Martin Sarvis
Jerusalem, Israel