Watchman Newsletter

Islamists Massacre Two Coptic Families in Egypt

Israel National News (Link) - Gil Ronen (February 5, 2011)

News of an Islamist massacre of two Christian Coptic families has emerged from Upper Egypt with the return of Internet connections to the country, after a one-week Internet blackout imposed by the troubled regime. The massacre, not the first in Egypt in recent weeks,  took place on Sunday afternoon (January 30) at the village of Sharona near Maghagha, in Minya province, and is being reported by AINA, the Assyrian International News Agency. 

According to the report, the Islamist murderers, aided by Muslim neighbors of the Copts, stormed the homes of the families, gaining access to the houses’ roofs from the roofs of the families’ Muslim neighbors. They killed eleven, including children, and seriously injured four more people.

Anba Agathon, Bishop of Maghagha, told Coptic activist Dr. Mona Roman in a televised interview on Al-Karma TV that the killers are neighbors of the Copts, who “seized the opportunity of the mayhem prevailing in Egypt and the absence of police protection to slaughter the Copts.”

The bishop said that he had visited the injured Copts at Maghagha General Hospital and that they informed him that they recognized the main attackers, who come from the same village, Sharona.

Egypt holds gas supply to Israel and Jordan after pipeline explosion

Haaretz (Link) - Avi Issacharoff, Barak Ravid and Reuters (January 5, 2011)

Saboteurs blew up a pipeline that runs through Egypt’s Northern Sinai, state television reported on Saturday, disrupting flows to Israel and Jordan after Islamist groups called on militants to exploit the unrest that has rocked the government.

Egyptian state television quoted an official on Saturday as saying that the “situation is very dangerous and explosions were continuing from one spot to another” along the pipeline, adding that “it is a big terrorist operation.”

A security source in North Sinai said “foreign elements” targeted the branch of the pipe that supplies Jordan.

The Egyptian army closed the main source of gas supplying the pipeline and were trying to control the fires. Television footage on Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya showed a tower of flames at the scene of the blast.

Following the explosion, Israel Radio said, quoting sources in the consortium overseeing imports, that the blast did not target supplies to Israel but they had been halted as a precaution.

PA rejects proposed Israeli gestures

YNet News (Link) - Elior Levy (February 5, 2011)

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat rejected on Saturday a series of economic incentives proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Quartet envoy Tony Blair.

During their meeting Friday, Netanyahu and Blair agreed on a new Israeli proposal aimed at easing economic and security restrictions imposed on Palestinians in the West Bank as part of the effort to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and convince the Palestinians to return to the negotiation table.

The proposal was presented as the committee of the Quartet – made up of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia – prepared to meet in Munich, Germany. It reportedly includes expanding Arab construction in east Jerusalem and giving the Palestinian Authority security powers in seven West Bank cities.

Netanyahu also agreed to begin discussions on the development of a Palestinian Authority gas field adjacent to an Israeli gas field off the coast of Gaza. The PM said future revenues from the Palestinian field will go to the PA.

Erekat said the proposal “is just a trick and procrastination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Iran’s Khamenei calls for Islamic regime in Egypt

Yahoo! News (Link) - AFP - Jay Deshmukh (February 4, 2011)

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called for an Islamic regime to be installed in Egypt, saying the wave of Arab revolts is an “earthquake” triggered by the 1979 Iranian revolution.

The all-powerful Khamenei said the Arab uprisings, if successful, would lead to failure of US policies in the region and that the revolts were the most worrying for the Islamic republic’s arch-foe Israel as its alliance with Egypt could be broken.

The White House said Tehran was in no position to make such comments after crushing its own uprising last year.

“Do not back down until the implementation of a popular regime based on religion,” said Khamenei, Iran’s commander-in-chief, who switched from Persian to Arabic during his Friday sermon directed at Egyptians.

The emerging Muslim Union

WorldNet Daily (Link) - Walid Shoebat (February 4, 2011)

PREPARE [Wa-a-iddou] is a single Arabic word that appears on the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood’s logo written under the sign of the two swords, the symbol of Islamic Jihad. “Prepare” actually comes from the Quranic verse:

“Prepare against them as you are able of force and cavalry to terrorize Allah’s enemy and yours...” (Al-Anfal:60)

Warfare and terror is their motto. It started when many Egyptians were angered at Arabia’s collaboration with the West in the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire, especially since the Caliphate fell with it. That dismantling was the primary reason the Muslim Brotherhood was created four years later in 1928; its sole purpose was the resurrection of the Caliphate. They made inroads, especially after the failure of Arab Nationalism; the Brotherhood gave birth to the slogan “Al-Islam-Huwa-Alhal” (Islam is The Solution), which became their main slogan.

The Brotherhood even adapted and learned from the al-Qaida experience as well as the revolution in Iran, which contributed to a bad image of Islam in the West. Despite this, many Arabs envy Iran’s success, especially since it grew in influence, becoming a formidable power in the region after the fall of Iraq, influencing Syria, Lebanon and the Arab Gulf states, creating a Shiite horn that extended from Iran west through Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, with its tip pointing at Israel’s head. Iran wants to dominate the Middle East and emerge as a mini-super power in the region. What we now see forming as a result of the latest unrest in Tunisia and Egypt is the beginning pieces of another puzzle, another horn – the Sunni alliance.

But this one is different. Using new Western-style slogans of democracy, freedom and social justice, it comes across as a lamb while its inner soul speaks like a dragon. Soon, it will emerge with the two horns of a Shia base in Iran and a Sunni one based temporarily in Egypt; it will find its resting place somewhere else the West never expected. This Sunni horn sparked by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is currently seeking a non-Arab axis to represent it. To the West, this red dragon will come as a shocking surprise.

Muslim Brotherhood: ‘We are against Zionism’

The Jerusalem Post (Link) (February 4, 2011)

A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt on Thursday evening repeatedly refused to commit to maintaining the peace treaty with Israel, or even recognizing Israel, if the Brotherhood becomes a player in the future governance of Egypt.

Asked on CNN if his organization would support the maintenance of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, Mohamed Morsy, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, dodged a direct answer but said Israel had failed to honor the treaty. He said it would be up to the Egyptian parliament to decide on the fate of the treaty, and that the parliament would reflect the will of the people.

Asked next if an Egypt with a Muslim Brotherhood component in government would even recognize the state of Israel, Morsy again evaded a direct answer despite being pressed several times. “It’s ridiculous to ask about the future,” he said at one point, and then responded with the question: “Does Israel recognize a Palestinian state?”

He also accused Israel of “shedding the blood of the Palestinians for more than 60 years.”

Cold snap chills northern Mexico

BBC News (Link) (February 4, 2011)

Freezing weather and snow have paralysed much of northern Mexico, which is experiencing its lowest temperatures in more than 50 years.

Thousands of homes have been left without electricity and water, and schools and factories have been closed.

At least six people are reported to have died from the cold.

Among the worst-hit cities has been Ciudad Juarez, which is already suffering the worst violence in Mexico’s drugs war.

Temperatures in the border city have dropped as low as -18C (0F).

Israel Police brace for possible Temple Mount unrest amid Egypt turmoil

Haaretz (Link) - Nir Hasson (February 4, 2011)

Jerusalem police said on Friday that they were increasing the state of preparedness surrounding the Temple Mount in the Old City due to a fear of riots that they suspect may occur as a result of the uprising in Egypt.

Police said that entrance to the Temple Mount will be open on Friday only to men 50 years of age and older who have a blue identity card, signifying that they are Israeli citizens, and to women of all ages.

In Egypt on Friday, riots and protests calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to resign are expected to continue unabated into their 10th day. Although Egyptian protesters are demanding that Mubarak leave the government immediately, he has continued to insist that he will stay until elections are held in September. Protesters apparently plan to march to Mubarak’s presidential palace on Friday.

Egyptian Army Begins Rounding up Foreign Journalists; Fox News Crew Beaten

The Blaze (Link) - Jonathon M. Seidl (February 3, 2011)

Protesters and regime supporters fought in a second day of rock-throwing battles at a central Cairo square while new lawlessness spread around the city. New looting and arson erupted, and gangs of thugs supporting President Hosni Mubarak attacked reporters, foreigners and rights workers while the army rounded up foreign journalists.

Some of the journalists targeted included a Fox News crew, which was beaten and sent to a hospital last night.

“This crowd has been very angry toward journalists,” Fox Business reporter Ashley Webster told Fox News. Security officials burst into his hotel room, he said, forcing his cameraman off the balcony and shouting that they would kill them.

Fox News reporter Greg Palkot, who was one of those attacked and sent to the hospital, said he was confronted by about 30 angry rioters.

An Overview of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Stance on U.S. and Jihad; Translation of Its Draft Political Platform

MEMRI (Link) (February 3, 2011)

This report presents an overview of the positions of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, as expressed by its general guide, Muhammad Badi’, since his nomination in January 2010, and as set out in its proposed political platform, which was drafted in the era of Badi’s predecessor, Muhammad Mahdi ‘Akef, and was leaked to the media in August 2007. The translations are taken from reports published by MEMRI over recent years.[1]

Badi’: The U.S. Is on the Verge of Collapse

In a Friday sermon in September 2010, Badi’ said that the U.S. was already on the threshold of collapse and would soon fall, like other immoral societies before it: “The Soviet Union fell dramatically, but the factors that will lead to the collapse of the U.S. are much more powerful than those that led to the collapse of the Soviet empire – for a nation that does not champion moral and human values cannot lead humanity, and its wealth will not avail it once Allah has had His say, as happened with [powerful] nations in the past. The U.S. is now experiencing the beginning of its end, and is heading towards its demise...”

In the same sermon, Badi’ said that the Muslims would soon emerge victorious over their enemies, as promised by Allah in the Koran: “Allah said: ‘The hosts will all be routed and will turn and flee [Koran 54:45].’ This verse is a promise to the believers that they shall defeat their enemies, and [that the enemies] shall withdraw. The Companions of the Prophet received this Koranic promise in Mecca, when they were weak... and a little more than nine years after the Hijra, Allah fulfilled his promise in the Battle of Badr... Can we compare that to what happened in Gaza?”

Interest rate rise could trigger house price collapse, report says

Canadian Business (Link) - The Canadian Press - Julian Beltrame (February 3, 2011)

A new report predicts that Canada’s housing market is poised for a collapse and is only waiting for the trigger of rising interest rates expected for later this year — a view that flies in the face of many other forecasts.

Capital Economics calculates Canadian home prices could fall by about 25 per cent — and even as much as 35 per cent — over the next three years once the Bank of Canada begins tightening monetary policy.

Most economists expect the central bank will begin doing just that in late spring or early summer, with the trendsetting rate rising from the current one per cent to over two per cent by the end of the year.

And the Bank of Canada is expected to keep hiking the policy rate next year until it returns to normal levels — about 3.5 per cent — by the end of 2012.

That would have profound implications both for home values and the economy, says David Madani, Canadian chief economist of Capital Economics.

‘UFO’ Hovers Over Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock Shrine

Fox News (Link) - The Sun (February 3, 2011)

A glowing orb filmed hovering over the skyline of Jerusalem has left UFO experts dumbfounded.

The circular object was seen descending slowly over the holy city’s iconic Dome of the Rock before flickering and shooting skyward like a rocket. Similar clips have been seen before and debunked as hoaxes. But this latest sighting has proved more difficult to dismiss -- as it was recorded from four different perspectives.

Some UFO enthusiasts believe the videos -- which have taken the Internet by storm -- are final proof that aliens exist, while others say the unidentified object was the Hebrew god Elohim.

Adding to the mystery is the fact that flying over the Dome of the Rock landmark -- an ancient Islamic shrine -- is forbidden.

Two witnesses at the Armon Hanatziv panoramic lookout near Mount Zion filmed the object at 1am on Saturday. A little after one minute into the clip, the object descends slowly, almost to ground level.

The craft hovers there for a short while and then flickers before shooting upwards at an incredible speed.

Man’s Quest to Become God: The Newest Plan

Olive Tree Ministries (Link) - Heidi Swander (February 2, 2011)

Warning:  What you are about to read sounds like a new spin-off episode of Star Trek, but it is not.  It is really happening in real time with real people, and it will very likely have a tremendous impact on the future of our world and on the seven-year Tribulation period that is fast approaching.

Our subject is Transhumanism:  The development of the post-human or neo-human.  In an article in his quarterly publication, “Forcing Change,” Carl Teichrib, long-time researcher and writer on globalization, explains, “Based on the premise that evolution is true, Transhumanism looks to shape the human species through the direct application of science . . . By employing technology we can take hold of the evolutionary process and change it as we desire, thus becoming masters of our future.”

Non-essential US gov’t staff begin to leave Egypt

My Way News (Link) - AP - Tarek El-Tablawy (February 2, 2011)

The evacuation of nonessential U.S. government personnel and their families began Wednesday while crowds kept piling up at Cairo’s airport as thousands of other foreigners played the odds in hopes of securing a seat aboard a commercial airline that would lift them far above the chaos in Egypt.

More than 8,000 passengers were at the airport early Wednesday, with more expected to arrive in the early afternoon before the start of a curfew that Egyptian state television said had been pushed back to 5 p.m.

Airport officials said more than 18,000 passengers had been massed in about three departure terminals on Tuesday, over half of them boarding special flights sent in by their governments.

The U.S. Embassy said it expected to evacuate over 1,000 Americans from Egypt over the next two days, including the government personnel and other citizens in the country. The State Department had issued a mandatory evacuation order a day earlier for non-emergency government staff. Other Americans wishing to leave Egypt amid the unrest that has engulfed the country would also be accommodated.

Obamacare struck down as unconstitutional, stage is set for showdown

The Examiner (Link) - D. Christian Moore (February 1, 2011)

A federal judge on Monday struck down the entire Obamacare legislation as unconstitutional. While the individual mandate portion of the law was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge in December, this is the first time the entire law was struck down. Further, this ruling will significantly delay implantation of the law in 26 states and could set the stage for a Supreme Court case testing the validity of the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson handed down the ruling in a suit brought by 26 states. As part of his ruling the judge declared that the individual mandate, the requirement that all citizens purchase health insurance or be penalized and fined, cannot be separated from the rest of the law. Therefore, as the individual mandate is unconstitutional, the entire law must be struck down. Though Judge Vinson stopped short of issuing the injunction preventing implementation of the law the plaintiffs were seeking; the 26 states which brought the suit now have clear legal guidance to resist Obamacare.

Jordanian King Replaces Prime Minister amid Protests

Bridges For Peace (Link) - BFP Israel Mosaic Radio - Joshua Spurlock (February 1, 2011)

With massive protests demanding governmental change in Egypt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II heeded protests in his own nation on Tuesday [February 1] by replacing his prime minister. The New York Times said King Abdullah named Marouf al-Bakhit—who previously served as prime minister from 2005–07 and is a former general and Jordanian ambassador to Israel—as the new prime minister. Jordan and Egypt are the only two nations in the Arab world that have full diplomatic ties with Israel. The protests in Jordan have generally not demanded King Abdullah’s resignation, unlike in Egypt, where dismissing President Hosni Mubarak has been the protestors’ primary goal.

The New York Times noted that directly criticizing the king in Jordan is banned. Jordan’s four weeks of protests have focused on the economy and political reforms. The royal palace targeted those points in the official announcement regarding the prime minister change.

According to The New York Times, the statement said Bakhit is to take “practical, swift and tangible steps to launch a real political reform process in line with the king’s version of comprehensive reform, modernization and development.”

Europe is Dying

Israel National News (Link) - Giulio Meotti (February 1, 2011)

Go to any children’s store in Amsterdam or Milan or Marseilles or Stockholm. Look at the Muslim women in headscarves.

Welcome to the future of Europe.

The global number of Muslims is expected to jump 35 percent in the next 20 years, growing twice as fast as the non-Muslim population, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which published projections for growth in the Muslim population between 2010 and 2030.

According to the Pew report, the total number of people who identify themselves as Muslims is currently about 1.6 billion. That figure is expected to rise to 2.2 billion by the year 2030. It’s one of the fastest demographic evolutions in history. Muslims will make up 26.4 percent of the world’s population in 2030, compared with 23.4 percent now.

But the most frightening figure is about Europe. Some of the biggest increases in Europe’s Muslim population in absolute numbers over the next 20 years are expected to occur in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany. The Muslim populations in Italy and Sweden are projected to “more than double in size.”

Netanyahu must prepare for a new regional order

Haaretz (Link) (February 1, 2011)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the ongoing events in Egypt by urging that “regional stability and security” be preserved. Israel even asked Western governments to work to save the regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

Netanyahu’s concern for his Egyptian friend and ally is touching. It also reflects his fear of what will happen if regime change occurs in Egypt and Mubarak is replaced by opponents of the peace with Israel.

But above all, Netanyahu’s stance reflects his clinging to the status quo and his instinctive aversion to any change in the Middle East. Israeli foreign policy views the reigning regional order, one of tyrants who remain in power for years, as the lesser evil. Israeli leaders have always preferred to do business with Mubarak and his ilk, on the assumption that they would “preserve stability” and forcibly repress the radical forces seeking change in the region.

‘Tunisia Revolution not far from Arabs’

Press TV (Link) (January 31, 2011)

The Arab League’s (AL) secretary general has warned that Arab states are on the brink of revolution, calling for an Arab “renaissance.”

“The Tunisian revolution is not far from us,” Amr Moussa told 20 Arab leaders and other representatives gathered in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday, adding that the Arabs have entered an “unprecedented state of anger and frustration.”

Moussa noted that he wanted to see a multi-party democracy emerge in Egypt, but could not say how soon that might happen.

Earlier this month, Moussa had warned that the “Arab soul is broken by poverty, unemployment and general recession.”

WikiLeaks: US Secretly Backed Plans for Rebellion in Egypt

Israel National News (Link) - Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (January 30, 2011)

The United States in the past last three years supported “democracy activists” who planned to overthrow the Mubarak regime, according to leaked cables quoted by the London Telegraph.

“[Unidentified activist] expressed satisfaction with the December 3-5 ‘Alliance of Youth Movements Summit’ in New York, noting that he was able to meet activists from other countries and outline his movement's goals for democratic change in Egypt,” stated one cable by U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Margaret Scobey. “He told us that the other activists at the summit were very supportive, and that some even offered to hold public demonstrations in support of Egyptian democracy in their countries.”

The embassy helped keep the identity of the dissident secret from Egyptian police, the Telegraph said, but he has been arrested in the recent demonstrations.

The leaked documents reveal that Scobey sent a cable to the Secretary of State two years ago, in which she wrote, “April 6 activist on his US visit and regime change in Egypt.” She added that embassy sources said the plan for “a transition to a parliamentary democracy [was] “so sensitive it cannot be written down.”