Watchman Newsletter

Archaeological discovery backs up epic battle from 2,700 years ago documented in the Bible

Blaze Media (Link) - Paul Sacca (June 23, 2024)

An archaeological discovery has seemingly corroborated an epic battle that took place some 2,700 years ago and is documented in the Bible.

King Sennacherib's Assyrian troops attempted a siege of Jerusalem approximately 2,700 years ago. King Hezekiah of Judah allegedly prayed for a miracle to save the city from being captured.

As per the Bible, an "angel of the Lord" descended on the invading Assyrian troops attempting to besiege Jerusalem. The "angel of the Lord" allegedly "struck down" 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night. Sennacherib – the king of Assyria – realized the devastation and was forced into a military retreat. The "angel of the Lord" allegedly prevented an Assyrian conquest of Jerusalem, according to accounts detailed in 2 Kings 19:35 and Isaiah 37:36.

2 Kings 19:35:
"And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."

Evidence found in Israeli street of the last Jewish revolt against Rome

Israel Today (Link) - Israel Today Staff (June 17, 2024)

In a historic first, evidence of the last Jewish revolt against Roman rule in Israel 1,650 years ago has been uncovered in the central Israeli city of Lod, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Sunday.

The discovery of a large public Jewish building from the Late Roman-Early Byzantine period that had been violently destroyed over a millennium and a half ago unveiled a hoard of 94 coins hidden underneath the flooring dating back to the time of the final revolt, the state-run archaeological body said.

The surprising history of the secret Saudi-Israeli relationship

Israel Hayom (Link) - unpacked and ILH Staff (June 5, 2024)

Israel and Saudi Arabia have been secretly collaborating for years, driven by a shared pragmatism and the need to counter common threats.

On the surface, Israel and Saudi Arabia appear to be sworn enemies. They don't share borders, values, or culture, and for decades, Saudi officials have even made inflammatory claims about Jews. However, behind closed doors, the two countries have been secretly collaborating for years, driven by a shared pragmatism and the need to counter common threats.

New study in the City of David sheds light on events mentioned in the Bible

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Link) - IAA Spokesperson (May 2, 2024)

A new scientific study of unprecedented scope has managed to accurately date findings from the First Temple period that were discovered in the city of David, shedding light on events mentioned in the Bible.

Among the conclusions of the research conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science is that already in the 10th century BCE – the days of King David – extensive activity was carried out in Jerusalem; by the 9th century BCE – the days of King Jehoash ad possibly even earlier, the city expanded to the west towards Mount Zion; the city wall unearthed in the City of David was not built during the days of Hezekiah as part of the preparations for the Assyrian siege, but rather earlier, during the days of King Uzziah, subsequent to the earthquake that occurred in Jerusalem

The new and comprehensive scientific research conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University, and the Weizmann Institute of Science has, for the first time, succeeded in using exact science to link events mentioned in the Bible to archaeological findings unearthed in the city of David. The research, published this week in the prestigious journal PNAS, challenges some of the perceptions that have been accepted until now regarding the construction activities of Jerusalem during the reigns of the kings of Judah.

As part of the new and comprehensive research, the researchers managed to accurately date the structures and walls built in Jerusalem during the First Temple period and to identify areas where there was extensive activity during the reigns of the kings of Judah. In doing so, it became possible to correlate between the biblical description of the royal construction activities in Jerusalem and the actual building activities uncovered in excavations over the past few decades in the City of David.

The research, which lasted almost a decade in the excavations of the City of David National Park, funded by the City of David Foundation (Elad), was spearheaded by researchers from Tel Aviv University, the Israel Antiquities Authority, and the Weizmann Institute of Science, and was funded by the Israel Science Foundation.

Unique First Temple “Governor” Seal Unearthed in Jerusalem

Patterns of Evidence (Link) - Lora Gilb (May 2, 2024)

1 Kings 4:19 (ESV)
Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land.

Seal Presented to the Mayor

A unique discovery was made during archaeological excavations carried out in the Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem, a few years ago, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and in conjunction with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The important find was a First Temple period clay seal, stamped with the phrase “[belonging] to the governor of the city.” This adds to the growing number of recent finds supporting the Bible’s account of Jerusalem being the center of a robust kingdom in the First Temple period from the days of kings David and Solomon down to the Babylonian captivity. 

The tiny but extraordinary find measures just a little over half an inch in diameter and .12 inches in thickness. The upper portion of the seal depicts two figures facing each other and below that is the ancient Hebrew inscription.

It is a mystery as to what exactly the seal was used for, but most likely, it was attached to an important letter or document. The position of governor was the most prominent municipal position in Jerusalem, 2,700 years ago. 

The Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat was presented the “governor” seal during his visit to the Davidson’s Center, near the Western Wall, in February. “It is very overwhelming to receive greetings from First Temple period Jerusalem. This shows that already 2,700 years ago, Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was a strong and central city,” said Barkat at the presentation.

Report: Saudi Arabia has decided to normalize relations with Israel

Cleveland Jewish News (Link) - Joshua Marks (April 30, 2024)

Saudi Arabia has decided to normalize relations with Israel and is debating the timing of the announcement, a foreign diplomat familiar with the details told Haaretz on Monday.

According to the source cited in the article by the daily’s diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Lis, Riyadh is discussing whether to make the move in the coming weeks or after the U.S. presidential election this November, in which either Democrat Joe Biden will continue to lead the country or his challenger Republican Donald Trump will return to the White House.

“The question is when, and the decision on the timing should be made within days,” the diplomat said.

While the Biden administration has been pushing to connect a pathway to Palestinian statehood as part of the Saudis joining the Abraham Accords, the source said that the kingdom would only demand guarantees on progress towards achieving that goal in return for establishing diplomatic ties with Jerusalem.

How Israel May Respond to the Iran Attack

Time (Link) - Anna Gordon (April 15, 2024)

Israel’s leaders met today during a war cabinet meeting to discuss the country’s response after Iran launched a combination of 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles towards Israeli soil in the early hours of Sunday morning. It was the first time the Islamic Republic, long hostile to the Israeli state, directly attacked Israel after decades of proxy conflict.

Iran says that its attack was launched in response to an Israeli strike Apr. 1 on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, which killed a senior individual in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards along with eight other officers. So far, Iran’s attack seems to have caused minimal damage. No deaths have been reported, though one 7-year-old appears to be in life threatening condition after shrapnel from an intercepted Iranian missile fell directly on her home.

Israel had support from American, British, and French partners who helped it thwart “99% of Iranian aerial threats,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. Jordan also intercepted some of the Iranian projectiles that flew over its territory, despite fiercely criticizing Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed at least 33,00 people including 13,000 children.

Iran says it gave warning before attacking Israel. US says that's not true

The Jerusalem Post (Link) - Reuters (April 15, 2024)

Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials said on Sunday that Iran gave wide notice days before its drone and missile attack on Israel, but US officials said Tehran did not warn Washington and that it was aiming to cause significant damage.

Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles on Saturday in a retaliatory strike after a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria.

Most of the drones and missiles were downed before reaching Israeli territory, though a young girl was critically injured and there were widespread concerns of further escalation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Sunday that Iran gave neighboring countries and Israel's ally the United States 72 hours' notice it would launch the strikes.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said it had spoken to both Washington and Tehran before the attack, adding it had conveyed messages as an intermediary to be sure reactions were proportionate.

Gantz: Israel will respond when time is right, must continue to strengthen regional alliances after successful defense against Iran

The Times of Israel (Link) - Sam Sokol (April 14, 2024)

Israel must strengthen the “strategic alliance and the regional cooperation” that allowed it to weather yesterday’s Iranian attack, war cabinet Minister Benny Gantz declares in a statement.

“Iran is a global problem, it is a regional challenge and it is also a danger to Israel, and yesterday, the world clearly stood together with Israel in the face of the danger. Israel against Iran, the world against Iran – this is the result. This is a strategic achievement, which we must leverage for Israel’s security,” he says.

“This event is not over – the strategic alliance and the regional cooperation system that we built and stood its significant test need to be strengthened precisely now. Israel proved yesterday that it is an anchor of military and technological power, and an anchor of security in the Middle East,” he continues. 

“Faced with the threat of Iran – we will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran, in the way and at the time that suits us. And most importantly – in the face of the desire of our enemies to harm us, we will unite and become stronger,” Gantz adds, seemingly indicating that he does not support immediate retaliation against Iran itself.

“Even today, we must remember that we have not yet completed our tasks – primarily the return of the hostages and the removal of the threat against the residents of the north and south. We will continue the campaign, with determination and responsibility. And together – we will win.” †

A New Era of Saudi Diplomacy Has Arrived

The National Interest (Link) - John Calabrese (April 6, 2024)

Over the past three years, Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy has evolved from a confrontational and interventionist posture to one that emphasizes constructive engagement and bridge-building with other regional powers. Riyadh has embarked on an intensive diplomatic change of tack, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and fueled by abundant petrodollars, robust economic growth, and growing self-assurance. Engagement allows Saudi Arabia to devote its energies to the economic transformation agenda of Vision 2030 while also enhancing its global influence. However, the renewal of conflicts, both within and outside the Middle East, has revealed Saudi diplomacy’s limitations and highlighted the kingdom’s persistently high level of geopolitical risk.

What these red cows from Texas have to do with war and peace in the Middle East

CBS News (Link) - Chris Livesay (March 5, 2024)

Jerusalem — When Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida began a speech marking the 100th day of the war in Gaza, one confounding yet eye-opening proclamation escaped the headlines. Listing the motives for the Palestinian militant group’s Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, he accused Jews of “bringing red cows” to the Holy Land.

The cows he was talking about are red heifers, which now graze at a secure, undisclosed location in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Some Jews and Christians believe they’re key to rebuilding the Jewish temple that once stood in Jerusalem, and to beckoning the Messiah.

To understand, you have to look back almost 2,000 years in the tumultuous history of the Middle East, when the ancient Romans destroyed the last temple in Jerusalem.

To rebuild it, fervent believers point to the Bible’s Book of Numbers, which commands the Israelites to offer “a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.”

Only with that offering, they insist, can the temple rise again.

'We are at war,' Israeli PM Netanyahu says after Gaza militants infiltrate

NPR (Link) - Daniel Estrin (October 7, 2023)

TEL AVIV, Israel — In a deadly surprise attack unprecedented in its scale, Gaza militants infiltrated several Israeli towns and military camps early Saturday and fired more than 2,000 rockets from Gaza toward central and southern Israel, leading to multiple Israeli casualties, the Israeli military said.

Israel’s national rescue service said about 40 Israelis were killed.

The Gaza Health Ministry said 198 Palestinians were killed. Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra told NPR the majority of those killed were militants. The Health Ministry also said at least 1,610 Palestinians were wounded.

The Israeli military declared a "state of war alert," is calling up reservist soldiers and has announced strikes on neighboring Gaza.

"We are at war," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video statement in front of Israel’s military headquarters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 2023 United Nations General Assembly

Watch Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the UN General Assembly.

'GOOD NEGOTIATIONS': Saudi crown prince says 'every day' is a day closer to peace with Israel

Fox News Bret Baier Podcast (Link) - Bret Baier (September 22, 2023)

This is very interesting information in light of my recent study I began again from scratch on understanding Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, Revelation 12, 13, 17, and 18 in relation to each other and how that shows the history of kingdoms in relation to Israel as well as paints a picture of the political climate before and into the kingdom of the antichrist.

• 3:46 - On Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel, when asked to characterize it if they were close, he said “every day we get closer. It seems for the first time it’s a real one, serious, we’re going to see how it goes.”
• 9:32 - On Saudi Arabia’s relationship to Iran
• 12:17 - On Saudi Arabia’s relationship to China and BRICS
• 14:52 - Russia and Ukraine
• 17:11 - On hit on journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey and crackdown on dissent
• 20:34 - on 9/11
• 22:11 - on Saudi US relations
• 26:22 - On Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the World Cup and sports changing tourism dynamic
• 29:28 - Changes Prince Mohammed bin Salaman and others are bringing, succession, and “custodian of the two holy mosques”

Researchers baffled by unique, mysterious Jerusalem structure from First Temple era

The Times of Israel (Link) - Michael Horovitz (August 30, 2023)

Archaeologists recently unearthed two unique structures used for an unclear purpose during the First Temple period 2,800 years ago in Jerusalem’s Old City, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Wednesday.

The installations, dating to around the 9th century BCE and found at the City of David archaeological site, were likely an important part of the economy, due to their proximity to the royal palace and temple, the IAA stated.

Researchers have struggled to pinpoint their precise use since no site of its kind has ever been found in Israel.

“The excavators found the first installation at the northeastern end of the Givati Parking Lot excavation, which includes a series of at least nine channels that were smoothed. On top of the rock cliff that encloses the installation to the south can be found seven drain pipes, which carried liquid from the top of the cliff, which served as an activity area, to the channel installation,” the IAA said in its description of the site.

The second site includes five channels that could carry liquids, according to the statement.

Dr. Yiftah Shalev, a senior researcher at the IAA, said efforts to identify the exact purpose of the site have been fruitless.

Israelis Come to See Red Heifer and Discuss the Temple

Israel Today (Link) - Ryan Jones (July 16, 2023)

Again the biblical red heifer is in the news, sparking renewed discussion about a future Third Temple in Jerusalem.

Hundreds of Israelis reportedly visited the Jewish settlement of Shiloh in central Samaria last week to welcome the first of three pure red heifers to arrive from the United States. Shiloh was the first biblical capital of Israel and the place where the Tabernacle stood for hundreds of years before King David moved it to Jerusalem.

The three red heifers will be housed at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site and a center will open there dedicated to researching the phenomenon. The heifers will be kept in a fenced-off area, and visitors will not be able to touch the animals.

The mysterious red heifer, or Parah Adumah, is first mentioned in the Book of Numbers, when God instructs Moses and Aaron to take “a perfectly red unblemished cow, upon which no yoke was laid.” The ashes of a red heifer are necessary for purification prior to conducting biblical sacrificial ceremonies. 

Likud MK Amit Halevi Proposes Plan to Divide Jerusalem’s Temple Mount

Jewish Press (Link) - Hana Levi Julian (June 7, 2023)

Likud Knesset member Amit Halevi is promoting a plan to divide the Temple Mount between Jews and Muslims.

Under the plan, Muslims will receive the southern Al Aqsa Mosque and its annexes and the Jews will receive the central and northern area, including the Dome of the Rock, the place on which it is believed that the Holy of Holies stood in the Temple.

In addition, Halevi suggests removing the Kingdom of Jordan’s authority over the Temple Mount by launching a process to remove its decades-long political status achieved through agreements with Israel.

The Temple Mount is not considered to be under Israeli sovereignty due to Jordan’s political status there, Halevi noted, saying it is a “sin to history” to give status to a foreign nation on the sacred site.

“Why not give them status in the Dizengoff Center as well? This is a terrible mistake. This status should be abolished. I know it’s an agreement between countries, but we have to deal with it. It requires change even if the process that will take time.”

Prophetic Anticipation Builds: Unblemished Red Heifers for Temple Ceremony Soon Come of Age

CBN (Link) - Chris Mitchell (March 17, 2023)

MOUNT OF OLIVES, JERUSALEM, Israel – Last September, five red heifers arrived in Israel amid great fanfare, because some Jews and Gentiles believe red heifers are a key element leading to the building of the Third Jewish Temple.

The heifers are now in a secure, undisclosed location in Israel. Plans include moving them, sometime soon, to a visitor’s center in Shiloh, where the tabernacle of the Lord once stood for nearly 400 years.

The book of Numbers explains that ashes of the red heifer are used to purify priests for their service in the Temple:

“Now, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him … its offal shall be burned … for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin.’” (Numbers 19:1-5)

These red heifers are now between 1½ and 2 years old. To replicate the ceremony mentioned in the Bible, they need to be at least 3 years old. And within that time span, they cannot have a blemish or anything that would disqualify them for the ceremony, even one white or black hair.

Is it time to ‘normalize’ the Temple Mount?

The Jerusalem Post (Link) - Nave Dromi (September 13, 2020)

It is no coincidence that the deal to normalize relations between the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates is called the “Abraham Accords.” The patriarch, common to both Judaism and Islam, is revered by both as the progenitor of both religions and peoples.

Both Jews and Muslims believe that Abraham was told to sacrifice his son, while commentators differ on the identity of the son. Jews of course believe that the binding of Isaac was a scene set on the Temple Mount that earlier was the point of creation and later became the location for the two greatest houses of worship for the Jewish nation.

Isaiah prophesied the Temple Mount in the future “will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Perhaps it would be prudent to finally realize this prophecy by allowing Jews and Muslims to pray on the Temple Mount in harmony and accord, without one trampling on the rights and liberties of the other.

Three Babylonian Inscriptions About the Exile

Bible Archaeology Report (Link) - Bryan Windle (March 22, 2019)

 

When two people synchronize their watches, they set them so that they match each other, telling the same time. In archaeology, a synchronism is a connection between the literary (biblical) description of a person, place or event in history, with remains from the material culture (inscriptions, etc.). Many archaeological discoveries have established synchronisms between Israel and the surrounding nations which confirm historical details in the Bible. I have highlighted synchronisms with Egypt through three Egyptian inscriptions that refer to Israel, as well as synchronisms with Assyria through three Assyrian inscriptions that refer to Hebrew kings. In this article, we’ll look at three Babylonian inscriptions and how they synchronize with the Israelite nation around the time of the exile.

Iranian Commander: ‘Erasing Israel Off the Map’ Is ‘Non-Negotiable’

Mohammad Reza Naqdi, head of the Basij militia unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has surfaced to reassure the world that death for Israel is still very much on the table on the eve of the P+5 nuclear talks, and will never be negotiated away as part of any nuclear deal with President Obama.

Israel National News reports Naqdi saying that “erasing Israel off the map” is “non-negotiable” on Tuesday.

This is the same officer who previously boasted that Iran would keep arming Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank until Israel was annihilated. “The Zionists should know that the next war won’t be confined to the present borders and the Mujahedeen will push them back,” he said in 2014.

Islamist Super-Bloc Begins Forming in the Middle East

The Clarion Project (Link) - Ryan Mauro  (November 6, 2013)

A monumental strategic shift is taking place in the Middle East as an Islamist super-bloc is forming. Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood are making up with Iran and Hezbollah. Egypt and the Gulf states are forming their own alliance. The U.S. outreach to Iran and the Brotherhood has left it missing from the equation.

The Syrian civil war has pitted the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey against Iran, Hezbollah, Iraq and the Syrian regime since 2011. Now, with a bloody stalemate resulting in consequences each side fears, the two sides are looking for ways to make amends.

Turkey has been trying to move its relationship with Iran past the ancient Ottoman-Persian rivalry for years. The Erdogan government gave secret U.S. intelligence to Iran and in early 2012, informed Iran about ten of its nationals meeting with Israeli intelligence inside Turkey.

One of the architects of the Turkish-Iranian relationship is Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, who the Israeli Defense Minister described as a “friend of Iran.” Some Israeli officials privately refer to him as the “station chief in Ankara” for Iranian intelligence.

These statements about Fidan’s role is not hype. The recent U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Iraq, James Jeffrey, put it this way: “Hakan Fidan is the face of the new Middle East.”

Obama Plans To Force Israel To Accept A Palestinian State With Jerusalem As The Capital

The Truth Wins (Link) - Michael Snyder  (November 5, 2013)

If Israel and the Palestinians do not agree on a “two state solution” by the end of this year, the Obama administration plans to propose its own solution and force it on the two sides in early 2014.  For Obama, the goal is to have this agreement in place in time to influence the November 2014 mid-term elections.  Unfortunately for Israel, the Palestinians have absolutely no incentive to move off of their current demands because Obama has been promising them a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital since very early in his presidency.  So the Palestinians have no motivation to negotiate in good faith since they already know that they are going to get what they want in the end anyway.  Ultimately, Obama plans to force Israel to give up the West Bank, East Jerusalem and control over the Temple Mount in exchange for a “promise of peace” that is not even worth the paper that it will be printed on.

When it comes to Israel, the arrogance that Obama is displaying is absolutely appalling.  For example, Obama made the following statement about Israel earlier this year...

“Israel doesn’t know what its own best interests are.”

Oh, but Obama does?

Not only does Obama believe that he knows what is best for Israel, he also plans to force them to do it.

Palestinian Minister Hints Peace Deal Would be Temporary Arrangment Before Conquering Israel Outright

The Blaze (Link) - Sharona Schwartz (July 24, 2013)

As Secretary of State John Kerry pushes full steam ahead to try to bring the Israelis and Palestinian back to the negotiation table, a new video is casting doubt regarding true Palestinian intentions and tactics. Palestinian Authority Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash in an on-camera sermon on Friday hinted any peace deal secured would secretly be only a short-term arrangement by comparing it to a truce the Muslim prophet Mohammed negotiated but broke two years later.

This is just the latest example of Palestinian leaders discussing their stepwise plan to liberate Palestine from the “river to the sea,” starting with the late Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.

At the Friday Ramadan services, which were attended by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and broadcast on Palestinian television, Habbash explained to Muslim worshipers that Palestinian Authority officials “only through the wisdom of the leadership, conscious action, consideration, and walking the right path” are headed toward “achievement, exactly like the Prophet [Mohammad] did in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, even though some opposed it.”

Palestinians: U.S. Paving The Way For Third Intifada

Gatestone Institute (Link) - Khaled Abu Toameh (July 24, 2013)

More than three years after he decided to boycott peace talks with Israel, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas finally agreed last week to return to the negotiating table.

Abbas’s decision came after a series of meetings with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who took it upon himself, ever since he assumed office, to revive the stalled peace talks.

Kerry’s dramatic announcement last Friday in the Jordanian capital of Amman about the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks did not come as a surprise to many Palestinians, especially those familiar Abbas’s performance.

By agreeing to resume the peace talks with Israel, Abbas is taking a big gamble.

IDF Intel Chief Warns: Syria Becoming Global Jihad Hub

YNet News (Link) - Yoav Zitun (July 23, 2013)

“Syria is drawing thousands of global jihad activists and radical Muslims from the region and the world who are basing themselves in the country, not only to overthrow (President Bashar) Assad, but also to promote the vision of an Islamic state,” IDF Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said Tuesday.

“Right before our eyes a center of global jihad is developing on a scale that may affect not only Syria and the borders of the State of Israel, but also Jordan and Sinai,” he said at an intelligence officers’ graduation ceremony, shortly after returning from a work trip to Washington.

Kochavi relayed similar warning to senior American security officials.

In April, Syrian rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra, announced that it had merged with al-Qaeda’s branch in Iraq to form a new entity called “The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant,” and that it was taking orders from Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took over Osama bin Laden as the leader of al-Qaeda.

Iran’s Rouhani Affirms Support for Syria, Hizbullah

Israel National News (Link) - Rina Tzvi (July 16, 2013)

Iranian president-elect Hasan Rouhani has sent messages to Syria’s Bashar Assad and Hizbullah reaffirming his support for the two allies, as well as his support of confrontation with Israel.

Iranian-Syrian ties will be able to confront “enemies in the region, especially the Zionist regime,” Rouhani said Tuesday, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency, adding that, Syria will “overcome its current crisis.”

Rouhani also “lauded the Syrian nation for its resistance against western plots” and said Syria will “overcome its current crisis,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Iran’s foreign ministry said earlier on Tuesday referred to Israel as “a warmonger regime,” saying that Prime Minister Binyamin Netnayahu seeks to damage relations between Iran and the international community.

EU Redraws Israel Borders to 1949 Lines

Israel National News (Link) - Gil Ronen (July 16, 2013)

The European Union has issued orders forbidding its member states from cooperating, transferring funds, giving scholarships or research grants to bodies in Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem , and even the Golan Heights, Haaretzwrote Tuesday.

The new instruction, promulgated by the European Commission, which is the operative arm of the EU, sets parameters for cooperation between the EU and its members states, on the one hand, and Israeli governmental and private elements on the other. The instructions are for the years 2014 – 2020 and will go into force on Friday, July 18.

The decision also states that any future agreement signed with Israel must include a section that says the “settlements” are not part of sovereign Israel and therefore not included in the agreement.

A senior source in the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that the new EU decision is dramatic, and can be called “a true earthquake.”

Archaeologist: Discovery of Historic Israeli Jar Fragment Confirms Bible’s Reliability

Christian News Network (Link) - Garrett Haley (July 12, 2013)

A renowned Israeli archaeologist has announced the discovery of an earthenware jug from the Davidic era that features the oldest alphabetical text ever unearthed in Jerusalem.

Dr. Eilat Mazar is a professional archaeologist with a track record of remarkable Israeli discoveries, especially in and around Jerusalem. In 2005, she uncovered several remnants believed to be from the palace of King David. In 2007, Mazar discovered possible remnants from the wall built in Nehemiah’s time around Jerusalem, and in 2010 she claimed to have found ancient city walls built in the 10th century during King Solomon’s reign.

Unlike many secular scientists, Mazar has followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, archaeologist Benjamin Mazar, in using the Bible as a guide for her research. Following her 2005 discovery of remains from King David’s palace complex, she published a lengthy article in Biblical Archaeology Review, in which she explains how the Bible played an integral role in her historic findings.

One third of Israeli Jews want Temple rebuilt in Jerusalem, poll finds

Haaretz (Link) - Nir Hasson (July 12, 2013)

Among religious Jews questioned, 43 percent support construction on Temple Mount, compared with 31 percent among secular Jews. Survey released ahead of Tisha B’Av also finds Western Wall still considered Judaism’s holiest site.

Right-wing organizations devoted to the Temple Mount are buoyed by a new poll they commissioned finding that 30 percent of Israeli Jews support rebuilding the Jewish Temple on the site.

When the poll, commissioned by the Joint Forum of Temple Mount Organizations, asked Israeli Jews,  “Are you for or against erecting a Temple on the Temple Mount?” 30 per cent answered in the affirmative, while 45 percent were against and 25 percent said they were not sure.

Among the numerous Temple Mount organizations that initiated the survey, activists are pleased. he results, they believe, show a strengthening of public perception that the Temple Mount is Judaism’s holiest and most important site.

The survey was released ahead of next week’s Tisha B’Av Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples.