For the night of July 22/23, 2013 there is a supermoon (perigee full moon). So we might ask 'what of the night?'

In Isaiah, the people of Dumah, in Arabia, looking North called out of Seir (modern Jordan), “Watchman, what of the night?” As the events move in Syria, we make some notes about what might be seen from the South looking North and how the prophets to the nations spoke of these nations' futures in our time.

First we will begin with an article on the relationship between the USA and Israel picked up by Reuters, as it has some bearing on events. On March 09, 2010 Israel's PM Netanyahu said to the US Vice President Biden,

“I have one thing to offer you right now, and it’s broken glass”

For the full article see here or Pdf

For the full speech see here

Biden was in Israel seeking to revive 'peace talks'. The events occurred during a 'building freeze' on Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria for 10 months (which was not lifted until September 2010 Guardian.uk.

The freeze was called for by the USA and imposed by the Netanyahu government. It can be no co-incidence that such a method was used as there is a deep irony, as Netanyahu was trained as an architect at MIT. When young and idealistic,

At one point, Mr. Netanyahu told MIT professors he hoped to use his combined studies in management and architecture towards alleviating Israel's acute housing shortage. MIT

The method chosen by the USA to promote 'peace' (to divide the land) by preventing Jews building on the mountains of Israel, directly relates to prophecy regarding the time after Jews return to the land of the their fathers. Ezekiel had said that Jews would build on the mountains given to Jacob,

Thus says the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob. And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God. (Ezekiel 28:25-26)

Because it was written that the Jews should build houses on the land given to their father, it would be a bold move to put a stop to that building. It was even more of a bold move to seek to give the mountains of Israel to the enemies of the Jews (compare 'to divide' the Holy 'land for gain' Dan. 11:39). At this time,

I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. (Amos 9:14-15)

From 1948-67 Jews were pulled up from the land of the mountains and exiled from Jerusalem. But their captivity was returned in 1967. There have been attempts at small scale pulling up of settlement including in Gaza, Migron and a few houses in Bethel. But as it is declared that God has planted them and they will not be pulled up, it would be a brave person who would seeks to defy God and pull up a settlement in the historic home land. This is what the USA, backed by the UN and EU, is attempting to do again now, at this time in promoting an Arab state that would prevent Jews from living in their historic homeland (Arabs were not prevented from living in Israel and they were not required to all leave when Israel won territory). Back in 2010, they were given broken glass. Since March 9, 2010, the whole issue has shifted to be come a fragile complex mess, cutting the USA whichever way they turned. The issues in Lybia did not resolve in the way the USA hoped, Egypt has become unstable, and nearly exactly one year after the broken glass was given, the conflict began on 15 March 2011 in Syria, with popular demonstrations.

Now the US leadership is pushing the Israeli government to 'negotiate' to give up land, so new protests break out in Turkey, over something a trivial as a park.

Broken glass is being seen nearly everywhere about Israel: Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey with fears it might affect Jordan. It is not just any broken glass, it all has the potential to cut US interests in the complex disorder which is emerging.

For the Jewish people broken glass has a history, repeated at every wedding. It seems the tradition began when a Rabbi broke glass at a wedding to sober some drunk guests, whereupon they were shocked into silence. It has since taken on more layers of meaning,

From the Talmud it would appear that breaking the glass served to engender sobriety and balanced behavior Psalms 2:11 says, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" .. It is customary to recite the following words when breaking the glass: "If I forget Thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand fail... at the height of my joy." Jewish wedding

In this view, with the broken glass of March 2010 the US was reminded that the 'peace talks' were not rational, and subsequent events have left the US looking increasingly sober.

Now Syria is in turmoil, it is clear how inconsequential seeking 'peace' is, in a limited area barely a few kilometres wide. There is no war in Israel, but there might be one between Syria and Israel.

Fragile peace in Gilead (Golan) between Syria and Israel

Though it appears Israel does not wish to support either side in Syria's civil war, the involvement of Lebanon-based Hezbollah in Syria has resulted in events where Israel has prevented Syrian arms leaving Syria for Lebanon. The result is exchanges of threats.

10 June 2013. Syrian president threatens well-planned resistance; Netanyahu: “We are dealing with these developments with determination.”

Syrian President Bashar Assad has issued a strong warning to Israel, saying that he is completely serious in opening up the Golan front against Israel, Lebanese paper Al-Akhbar reported on Monday.

“The resistance will not launch primitive rockets aimlessly from time to time, but will carry out a well-planned and continuous resistance,” Assad reportedly said to a group of visiting Jordanians. He added that Israeli attacks will elicit a strategic, rather than a local response.

Assad told Al-Manar TV at the end of May a similar plan, stating that “there is pressure by the people to open a new front on the Golan.”“Even among the Arab world there is a clear readiness to join the fight against Israel,” he added in his interview with the Hezbollah TV station. Assad stated that Hezbollah is involved in fighting the Israeli enemy and its agents in Syria and Lebanon.

JPost

If the war in Syria is not complex enough it has spilled into Lebanon due to Hezbollah. Lebanon opened its doors to the PLO and has seen very little peace since.

Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. (Zechariah 11:1)

I will bring them (Jews) again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. (Zechariah 10:10-11)

The Jews have left Egypt and Syria, but as yet they have not fully inherited Gilead, which includes the Golan Heights captured in 1973, (or Lebanon). The pride of Syria is being destroyed now, and the leadership of Egypt is uncertain. Egypt’s top ranking defense official warned on Sunday that the military was “ready to intervene to stop the violence” [in a coup]. mcclatchydc.com

Golan vacated due to danger.. so Russia offers

The presence of the UN in the Golan (Gilead) was to prevent either side attacking. For it to be too dangerous indicates the situation is now fluid.

6/12/2013 Austrian troops in the UN monitoring force on the Golan Heights began withdrawing on Wednesday, days after Vienna decided to quit the mission over security concerns linked to Syria's civil war.

Austria, which has been a cornerstone of UNDOF, the UN force monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974, announced on Thursday it would withdraw its peacekeepers because of deteriorating security. Earlier this year, Israel expressed concern the UN force might pull out altogether after rebels snatched 21 peacekeepers from the demilitarized zone.

Israel fears the departure of UNDOF troops could leave a vacuum in the ceasefire zone, leaving it open to infiltration by hardline militant groups like Al-Qaeda. "The disintegration of the UN force in the Golan clarifies the fact that Israel cannot base its security on international forces," Prime Minister Netanyahu said this week.

Moscow has offered to send Russian troops to bolster the depleted UNDOF.

But under the terms of the 1974 agreement which established the peacekeeping force, no troops from the permanent five members of the UN Security Council can participate. INN

The mere fact that Russia offers indicates the strategic importance of any involvement in Syria to Russia. The situation was too tempting, and it is slowly drawing Russia into the area. In the future is is said that the Lord Yahweh would bring the prince of Ros down via hooks in their jaws, that is having bitten on irresistible bait.

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the prince Rosh of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn you back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (Ezekiel 38:3-5)

How irrelevant peace seems between people who are already dwelling in Israel, and who are not at war, in the context of all-out war divided on complex social, tribal and sectarian lines in Syria spilling into Lebanon and Egypt which might then, because of this, include Israel. But if this hazard is not small enough for the US to negotiate, there is a king behind the pawn that is Syria and that king is also in dispute with Israel.

Russia's role in Syria & it's fragile relationship with Israel

There have been warning words from Russia about Israel's elimination of equipment bound for Lebanon. First in January 2013

Russia has expressed concern at an alleged Israeli attack on Syria, saying such a strike..“on the territory of a sovereign country,.. blatantly violates the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motives to justify it." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21272171

After a second attack this time near Damascus, from DebkaFile 7 May 2013

Binyamin Netanyahu, while in Shanghai, was given a sharp dressing-down by President Vladimir Putin Monday, May 6, a warning that Russia would not tolerate further Israeli attacks on Damascus and would respond. (http://euro-med.dk/?p=29963)

The rhetoric goes two ways, with Israel warning Russia also,

9th June 2013. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told Russia’s President Vladimir Putin over the weekend that Israel will hold its fire against Syria – as long as Syria holds its fire against Israel.

Netanyahu said he had discussed the situation with Putin in a phone conversation, warning him that “the situation is becoming daily more complex. ..Only last week, we saw battles close to our border on the Golan Heights. Israel is not intervening in the Syrian civil war, as long as fire is not being directed at us” INN

The whole situation is bringing Russia into the Mediterranean, as it takes the irresistible bait set for it by Yahweh Elohim.

Russia in Mediterranean

After an absence since the 1990's

Russia has deployed a naval unit to the Mediterranean Sea, it said on Thursday, a move President Vladimir Putin said was to defend Russian security but which comes as Moscow faces off with the West over Syria.

In what is Russia's first permanent naval deployment in the Mediterranean since Soviet times, it has stationed 16 warships and three ship-based helicopters in the region

"This is a strategically important region and we have tasks to carry out there to provide for the national security of the Russian Federation," Putin said.

Large-scale naval exercises Russia held in March and ship movements near Syria have been seen in the West as muscle-flexing by Moscow, which has sold weapons to Assad's government and shielded it from any action by the U.N. Security Council.

Russia also has a naval maintenance and supply facility in Syria.

The announcement comes days after Moscow said it planned to resume patrols by nuclear-armed submarines in the southern seas as part of a Putin's broader effort to revive Russia's military might. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/06/us-russia-navy-mediterranean-idUSBRE95515I20130606

Russia is there “to be a Guard” as Ezekiel requires,

Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Ezekiel 38:7)

And so they are

Last week, Israel conducted an extensive military exercise that saw the participation of the IDF ground forces, the Israeli Navy and the IAF... assessments are that it was aimed towards Israel's northern arena - towards the tension with Syria and Hezbollah.

..at the same time, the Russian Navy vessel CCB-201 - one of the Russian Navy's largest intelligence vessels - was present in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The CCB-201 is ..a naval intelligence gathering unit .. a SIGINT collection and decryption unit capable of intercepting and listening to military transmissions between naval vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea.

The vessel, which is also equipped with air defense systems, departed from one of the bases in the Black Sea and crossed the straits of Turkey on June 10 on its way to an area off the coasts of Syria and Cyprus. From past experience, it appears that the purpose of the visit to the area is for gathering intelligence on NATO and US force activities, as well as Israel's readiness with regards to the situation in Syria - where Russia has military interests and assets, and thus is concerned of military intervention. http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=484&ArticleID=2206

Russia & Iran versus Arabia

The guardianship Ezekiel notes extends to Persia (Iran). Whereas the USA and allies are pressuring Iran to prevent nuclear advancement,

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Iran maintains the right to a peaceful nuclear program. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168831#.UbegJth5FIA

Russia's relationship as the king of the North to the nations of the Middle East is explored in depth here http://www.css.ethz.ch/publications/pdfs/RAD-128.pdf

Russia has taken a strong stand in supporting Syria’s ruling regime in the on-going civil war...The Syrian conflict has had an especially negative impact on Moscow’s relations with the [Saudi Arabian] Kingdom...While sometimes difficult even beforehand, Russia’s relations with Qatar have also soured over the Syrian uprising....

Moscow and Ankara [Turkey] have had serious differences with regard to Syria...Moscow and Amman have also differed over Syria. Like Turkey, Jordan has been forced to care for a large number of refugees fleeing from the conflict in Syria, and so is unhappy with continued Russian support to the Assad regime...

Moscow is adamant that it will not allow what happened in Libya to happen again in Syria. It is ironic, then, that—despite having difficulties at first—Russia has developed relatively good relations with the new government in Libya.

Russia's link with Iran and Syria is increasingly setting it in opposition to Arabia.

Ezekiel speaks also of Ethiopia.

Egypt and Ethiopia

The watchman in Arabia, from looking to Seir, might turn also to look to Egypt.

Egypt's president on Monday hardened his stance against Ethiopia and its construction of a Nile dam, warning that "all options are open" in dealing with the project that threatens to leave Egypt with a dangerous water shortage. Mohammed Morsi said..."If it loses one drop, our blood is the alternative," ..

Ethiopia's $4.2 billion hydroelectric dam, which would be Africa's largest, challenges a colonial-era agreement that had given Egypt and Sudan the lion's share of rights to Nile water. Experts estimate that Egypt could lose as much as 20 percent of its Nile water in the three to five years needed for Ethiopia to fill a massive reservoir.

Morsi said that Egypt considers Ethiopia a "friend" and noted he has visited the country twice since taking office. He said his administration is in continuous dialogue with Ethiopia and Sudan to discuss water rights.

Earlier in the day, angry Egyptian lawmakers accused Morsi's premier of doing nothing to prevent Ethiopia from building the dam.

The crisis started last month when Ethiopia diverted the flow of the Blue Nile, one of the Nile's sources, to make way for the dam — before a 10-member panel of experts from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries released a study on the dam's impact. The move took the Egyptian government by surprise.

http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Egypt-warns-all-options-open-for-Ethiopia-Nile-dam-4590927.php

http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Mursi-says-all-options-open-on-Ethiopia-Nile-dam-316089

This is a turn which few might have thought of,

For untold generations, Egypt has been accustomed to seeing the Nile as its own property, only grudgingly allowing Sudan – which was long under Egyptian rule and considered a sister Arab country contributing to its security – to have a small part of the river’s flow.

According to the treaty signed in 1929, at a time when both countries and part of Africa were under British rule, out of the 85 billion cubic meters flowing annually in the river, Egypt received 48 billion and Sudan 4 billion.

Egypt was given full control of the Nile, while African countries were forbidden to build dams on the river or its tributaries; Egypt also had the right to carry out checks to make sure that the treaty was respected.

In 1959, the treaty was amended so that Egypt received 55.5 billion cubic meters and Sudan 18.5, for a total of 87% of the annual flow accrued through the rains – leaving a mere 13% to the Upper Nile countries of Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya and Congo. The amended treaty gave Egypt the right to build the Aswan Dam, and its Lake Nasser reservoir holds 168 billion cubic meters of water.

Suddenly, last week – following meetings between Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn – Ethiopia published the communiqué announcing that the river would be diverted to facilitate the completion of the Grand Renaissance Dam. Egyptians are offended at what they perceive as an insult, since Morsi knew nothing of the communiqué. However, on a deeper level, they feel that the very basis of their existence is being threatened.

They have yet to come to terms with the new reality in the region and the needs of other countries.

amdeen Sabahi, leader of the Nasserist movement and a former presidential candidate, wants Ethiopia punished – by, for instance, barring its vessels from crossing the Suez Canal. Furthermore, says Sabahi, a similar measure should be extended to Italy, the US and Israel, since according to him these countries are providing the financing for the dam. It was left to the daughter of Gamal Abdel Nasser, a professor of political science, to point out that according to the Constantinople Convention of 1888, there must be free passage in the canal in times of both war and peace – and any one-sided move by Egypt would harm it and endanger the course of world navigation.

To make matters worse, Sudan, which Egypt considered its staunchest ally on the Nile issue, has apparently come to the conclusion that it would not be harmed by the dam – though some argue that Sudan wants to take advantage of the situation, to force Egypt to be more accommodating regarding the vast, disputed Halayeb and Shalatan territories on the Red Sea. (While ruled by Egypt, Sudan claims them for its own.) Ultimately, however, the fact is that due to its copious rainfall, Sudan does not lack water, while Egypt is entirely dependent on the Nile. http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Arab-World-Is-Egypt-losing-the-Nile-315765

By the diversion of water old relationships are turned about. But more that the loss of the river seems to have been directly predicted, in the context of the rulers (plural) of Egypt losing their wisdom.

And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts. And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up. And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither. The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more. The fishers also shall mourn,..And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: .. Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.

The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof. The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do. In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaked over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that makes mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he has determined against it.

In that day .. [altar] shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. (Isaiah 19:4-22)

As the first part has come to pass, it seems it is all downhill for Egypt until they cry to Yahweh the God of Israel.

Already Copts fear for their lives. It is so serious that Copts in Australia (where there is a significant diaspora) are seeking the Australian government intervene. Now thousands of Sunnis have murdered four Shi'ites in an Egyptian village, including a top Egyptian Shi'ite leader

Before the executions, Salafist preachers riled up the crowd, portraying the Shi'ites as “heretics” who “spread immorality” in the village. (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169266#.Uci5hth5FIA)

Divisions emerging in Egypt are related to the violence in Syria.

Egypt and Syria

June 15: Egypt has cut diplomatic ties with Damascus and has ordered the Syria's embassy in Cairo to be closed, resident Mohammed Morsi also urged world powers to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168949#.UbzjeNh5FIA

As Morsi knows that Russia supports Assad, the person they are breaking diplomatic links with, the 'world powers' Egypt are calling on are American led. At present the world power to the North has said that they will send in anti-aircraft missiles, if the world powers in the South establish a no fly zone.

Thousands of Islamists rallied in Cairo on Friday in support of calls by Sunni Muslim clerics for a holy war against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The demonstration took place outside a mosque where Saudi preacher Mohammed al-Oreifi called in a sermon for a "jihad in the cause of Allah in Syria", the AFP news agency reported.

Oreifi urged worshippers to "unite against their enemy."

Saudi Arabia, like Egypt, is an overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim country, and Sunnis are the backbone of the revolt against Assad, whose Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shiite Islam. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169016#.Ub-Ce9h5FIA

As a result Syria now condemns Egypt

Mr Morsi had joined a "choir of conspiracy and incitement led by America", an "official source" told the state-run Sana news agency. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22927464

It is noteworthy that in the lead up to events in Israel both Assyria (greater Syria to Iran) and Egypt are mentioned,

I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.

I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased. And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD. (Zechariah 10:6-12)

Is it in this way, by the removing of the pride of Assyria, that Judea will become a terror to Egypt? The situation in Syria is already causing consternation for the USA.

USA drawn into Syria, but who is leading?

Israel's message regarding chemical weapons in Syria has a ready audience in the USA, who has a history of removing a regime on the basis of rumour of weapons of mass destruction.

15 June: Israeli and U.S. military officials are coordinating how to target and destroy Syrian president Bashar Assad’s arsenal of unconventional weapons...“But the U.S. plans called for deploying forces on the ground as well as waves of airstrikes, to assure that the chemical and biological components are neutralized, according to the Israeli officials.” INN

When the word “push” has re-entered the leaders vocabulary, it seems that, though reluctant, more and more there is a call for the USA to push into Syria, even from Jordan.

To prevent chemical weapons being used, the US threatened to intervene if they were used.

14 June 2013. The Syrian army used chemical weapons against rebel forces on multiple occasions, the United States government announced ...U.S. officials said that America will increase the “scope and scale” of its assistance to rebels in Syria in response.INN

The truth is hard to establish, but it is not the point, as the words are clear. So is the response from Russia, who is increasingly guarding Syria.

Russia says it is not convinced by U..S. evidence alleging that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against rebels. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168935#.UbuFCNh5FIA

At the G8 the divide was clear:

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, remain divided on key issues in handling the Syrian civil war with the two powers now openly arming opposing sides.http://www.smh.com.au/world/russian-us-view-on-syria-doesnt-match-putin-20130618-2oexy.html

President Barack Obama has authorised sending some US weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time as a part of a new package of military support to the opposition in the fight to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a source close to the matter said on Thursday. SMH

Due to the outcome of the investigation after the “weapons of mass destruction' failed to materialise, one would not know who was telling the truth, but even a liar might call their enemy a liar,

14 June 2013: Syria has dismissed as "a caravan of lies" claims that it used chemical weapons, after the US said it would give the rebels "direct military aid".

Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser to Mr Obama, said the president had made the decision to increase assistance, including "military support", to the rebels' Supreme Military Council (SMC) and Syrian Opposition Coalition. The US was "comfortable" working with Gen Idris, leader of the SMC, and aimed to isolate some of the more extremist elements of the opposition..

Mr Rhodes did not give details about the military aid, other than to say it would be "different in scope and scale to what we have provided before" Until now, the US has limited its help to rebel forces by providing rations and medical supplies. ..it is most likely to include sending small arms and ammunition. The New York Times quoted US officials as saying Washington could provide anti-tank weapons. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22908836

To all appearances, reluctantly, the USA is more surely being drawn into open conflict.

15 June: The CIA is preparing to deliver arms to rebel groups in Syria through clandestine bases in Turkey and Jordan that were expanded over the past year to establish reliable supply routes for non-lethal material, US officials have said. SMH

The USA has used an exercise to increase its active military presence in Jordan.

13 June: The United States will keep F-16 fighter jets and Patriot anti-missile weapons in Jordan after a joint military exercise ends this month, a U.S. defense official said Thursday.

The U.S. administration, which is weighing a decision to arm rebels fighting in neighboring Syria’s civil war, also planned to keep a unit of U.S. Marines on amphibious ships off the coast after consultations with Jordanian leaders, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The warplanes, anti-missile systems and warships had been sent to Jordan for a major exercise, dubbed Eager Lion, but officials decided to keep the troops and weapons in place on the request of Jordan, which is anxious about a spillover of violence and a growing influx of refugees from the conflict...The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit taking part in the drill consists of about 2,400 troops, which arrived in a group of three amphibious ships, including the USS Kearsarge. Officials declined to say how many F-16 jets had been deployed. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/06/14/U-S-F-16s-missiles-to-stay-in-Jordan-after-drill-official.html

On Saturday the US announced it would keep Patriot missiles and F-16 fighter jets in Jordan after a military exercise, angering Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any attempt to use the F-16s to impose a no-fly zone over Syria would violate international law. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22927464

The US led exercises called “Eager Lion” in Jordan that went until 21 June 2013 included 18 nations:

Over 12,000 soldiers are taking part in the war games, representing 19 countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Australia. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/155840#.Ucpeuth5FIA

It seems also to have included Canada, the UAE and Yemen (see reader comment) http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/168765#.Ucl0A9h5FIC

We cannot imagine what might make the US call this exercise “Eager lion” but it fits with what is written. A young lion is also an eager lion.

Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? (Ezekiel 38:13)

The leading role of Qatar

Though 'Eager Lion' was 'US led', as a young lion, the leader in Ezekiel 38 is Sheba and Dedan, both of which describe Arabia. Sheba is most readily identified with Yemen. There might be some debate as the people of that area were later scattered. Dedan is clearly in Arabia. If any might point to who has moved the armed rebellion in Syria, it would point to Qatar,

Qatar has played a central role in the Arab Spring by providing critical aid for Libyan rebels last year and is now a leading backer of Syria's opposition. Qatar's government founded the television network Al-Jazeera in 1996. abcnews

The emir secretly visited Israel in 2010; he made a higher profile visit to Gaza last October. http://honestreporting.com/israel-daily-news-stream-06252013/

He has just stepped down for his 33 year old son.

On 22 June just as we write, Kerry has gone to Doha in Qatar, for a “friends of Syria meeting.”

Qatar's PM Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani said "providing arms may be the only means of achieving peace".

The group also condemned the Syrian government for its use of Iranian and Hezbollah fighters.

The Syrian government says it is fighting foreign-backed "terrorists".

The Friends of Syria group includes the US, Britain, France and Germany as well as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.

Its joint statement said the members had agreed to "provide urgently all necessary materiel and equipment to the opposition on the ground, each country in its own way in order to enable them to counter brutal attacks by the regime and its allies".

Support would be channelled through the Western-backed rebel military command.

The group also called on the immediate withdrawal of Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian fighters from Syria.

The meeting in Qatar's capital, Doha, comes a week after the US announced it would provide Syrian rebels with "direct military aid". That decision followed what the US said was evidence of small-scale chemical weapon attacks by the government.

The Friends of Syria group was set up in response to moves by Russia and China to block UN resolutions on Syria. BBC

If armed conflict was encouraged by Qatar, it is now being championed by Saudi Arabia...

25 June 2013: JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia regards the involvement of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria's civil war as dangerous and believes the rebels must be offered military aid to defend themselves, the kingdom's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference with US Secretary John Kerry in Jeddah, Prince Saud al-Faisal added that Saudi Arabia "cannot be silent" about Iranian intervention and called for a resolution to ban arms flows to the Syrian government. Jpost

It is highly unlikely that supplying arms to the rebel side at present being pushed back would promote peace. That the rebels in Syria are not united and include enemies of the US makes it all rather complicated for the US.

The extent of Broken Glass for the USA

While supplying arms to escalate a proxy war in Syria, the USA is foremost in trying to promote 'peace' on another front, next door in Israel (which isn't actually at war).

13 June: The United States Thursday sharply criticized Israel's plans to move ahead with 1,000 new homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria, the Biblical heartland of the Jews' forefathers, saying it was unhelpful to US efforts to kickstart negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

"We don't accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. “We remain hopeful that both sides will look at the important opportunity we have here to build trust and confidence and move back to the negotiating table, and that's what our focus is on."

Details of Israel's plans emerged as US Secretary of State John Kerry makes an intensive effort to rekindle dormant “peace talks,” with the PA demanding a freeze to Jewish settlement building. INN

The USA having not succeeded in their aims previously when Israel was prevailed on to halt building, when the situation was less complicated, the situation now is full of broken glass which the USA is trying to avoid being cut on. The US State Department are now speaking to the wind.

There are bigger issues that all parties are players in. It might seem absurd to stop Israel building houses when they are at peace, when so many Syrians homes are being destroyed. Some now might be destroyed with US equipment.

Curiously US personnel were seen as a security detail for a UN vehicle in an Arab area in Israel. INN

And to complicate matters even further for the US 'peace' effort, the former PLO has further fragmented. Even if Fatah and Hamas faction can unite from their war (which saw each kill the others), there is further division. After six rockets from Gaza arrived in Israel, Israel has understood there is rebellion from Hamas in Gaza...

Chief of Staff Benny Gantz instructed the army to launch airstrikes against four terror targets in central and south Gaza. The targets, including a rocket-launching pad and a weapons cache, belong to Islamic Jihad. The terror group apparently launched the rocket attack as an act of defiance against Gaza's rulers. However, the army is not ruling out the possibility that extremist Salafists were behind the attack.

Tensions between Islamic Jihad and Hamas have been mounting following the recent death of an Islamic Jihad terrorist at the hands of Hamas' security forces during clashes. Islamic Jihad announced it was severing ties with Hamas for the time being. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4396107,00.html

The United Nations hand wringing

The current Middle East conflict in Syria, involves wider regional players, and even the former superpowers (which seems obvious to all, though none seem willing to bring the conflict into the open) yet the UN is speaking of regional peace achieved by preventing Jews building a few houses,

June 14: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday slammed Israel's plans to increase construction in Judea and Samaria, saying they were undermining hopes of ending the Middle East conflict by setting up a Palestinian state.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky, according to the AFP news agency. Ban was "particularly troubled" at Israel moving forward with plans for more than 1,000 new homes in two communities Judea and Samaria.."These are unhelpful decisions that undermine progress towards the two-state solution," Nesirky. INN

They will find they will be unable to prevent building as no less that the God of Israel proclaimed they would build and be planted. It is the God of Israel who is building there, and the UN is sent to make sure that all the world knows that He causes Jews to build there despite what the nations desire, that everyone may know and that He be Glorified.

It was written that after the loss of the land and the long era of terrible persecution, which all came to pass as Moses said, there would be good,

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God has driven thee, And shall return unto the LORD thy God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God has scattered thee. And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou may live. And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted you. (Deut. 30:1-7)

The curse was that they would have “a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:” (Deut 28:65). Because the people of Syria and Egypt did not seek peace, because they hated Israel and taught hatred, they all have now trembling heart and sorrow. The numbers of people with trembling hearts and sorrow will yet increase, as these curses will be put on all the enemies of Israel.

Meanwhile the UK is trading with Israel,

Trade between Britain and Israel rose by 21.9 per cent year-on-year between the first quarter of 2012 and 2013....The UK is Israel’s second largest export market. The US is the largest. http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/108636/record-surge-israel-uk-trade

'Drunk' Nations

If we might think that the behaviour of the nations' leaders overall is irrational (as if they were drunk), we might not be wrong. We have America's leader, far from the Middle East calling for 'peace' via making a new nation in an area that is the only place with good prospects of peace in the entire area.

The USA led the 'Oslo agreement' which created Gaza. This resulted in a nearly continual state of war between Israel and Gaza. It could not prevent the PLO violently fragmenting into Fatah and Hamas (which were so much at war they had to broker peace talks to not murder each other) and is likely to further fracture Hamas now. The creation of Gaza also led to conflict between Egypt and Gaza. The US-led interference in Iraq has descended into political uncertainty and sectarian violence. They interfered in Afghanistan and Pakistan brought over 10 years of war and no possibility of peace having not defeated the Taliban. There was interference in Libya, which is still not stable, and in addition 'cut' the US leadership causing political damage by cover-ups. The interference in Egypt via Obama's speech in Cairo, has reduced a stable country at peace with Israel into one that has fallen apart violently on sectarian lines, that is at not peace with Israel, or Gaza, or Syria, or Ethiopia. The interference in Syria so far has led to increasing warfare with little likelihood of any peace that won't involve genocide, destroyed the uneasy calm obtained between Israel and Syria and spilled into Lebanon and Turkey and opened the possibility of fracturing the peace in unstable Jordan. Lastly all interference is bolstering a situation that has strengthened the cold war between Iran and Arabia and more that that extended the situation world wide and by the threat of interference brought Russia down as a foe to Arabia. For the US there is now only a broken state of enmity, with no peace anywhere, everything they touch shatters into sectarian / tribal divisions.

The irrationality is not limited to the Middle East, as the diplomatic spats in the Pacific area attest. Long ago Jeremiah was sent with a cup of wine to the nations leaders,

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it. And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. (Jeremiah 25:15-16)

In the modern era there is one issue 'cup' that it is written the nations become drunk on: Jerusalem. In the time of Jeremiah Israel were told they would tremble as they drank. They did tremble among the nations, but now Yahweh has taken them from the nations as he said he would.

Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleads the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. (Isaiah 51:22-23)

The people of Zion and Jerusalem would not tremble in drunkenness, but those who afflict them now in this time of return and grace would tremble:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3)

The issue Biden came to deal with in March 2010 was to divide Jerusalem. The issue Kerry (for his fifth visit in four months) will deal with will also involve seeking to divide Jerusalem(25 July 2013 JPost Kerry pushing Netanyahu, Abbas for mutual gestures to restart peace talks ). They are drunk to even think they can. It is written Jerusalem shall be a 'cup of trembling' to the nation's leaders who are drunk with their own pride.

I say unto you 'watch'!

In one of Jesus' (Y'shua) last public discourses on the Mt of Olives, he ended by calling upon all to “watch” for the time of his coming, and to note the signs about them. Paul and Peter also speak of watching and not being drunken. The broken glass of 2010 should also startle and wake us up,

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1Thess. 5:5-8)

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1Peter 4:7)

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