Learn what will happen during the tribulation period from beginning to end
Your comments and questions are always welcome. To send comments and questions please click here to go to our main page. Sat Sep 21, 6:27 PM ET By JAMIE TARABAY, Associated Press Writer RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Israel planted its flag in Yasser Arafat's compound Saturday, and shell bursts shook his offices, chipping away at the building in an ever-tightening siege designed to make the Palestinian leader surrender militants or leave into exile. Soldiers with loudspeakers in the evening shouted to the estimated 200 people holed up in Arafat's offices to evacuate the building - the last one still standing in the compound - or else troops would blow up the building. Israel has insisted that it does not aim to harm Arafat even as it has torn his command center down around him over the past three days, and it appeared unlikely troops would carry out the threat. Earlier Saturday, Arafat appealed to Palestinian militants to halt attacks on Israel but refused to hand over 20 wanted members of his entourage. He spent the day making telephone calls and faxes from a conference room in the battered building, surrounded by shattered cars and barbed wire. An Israeli shell overnight destroyed a staircase in the building, trapping Arafat to four rooms on the second floor of the building. In the morning, several more shells struck the building, including one that hit the floor above and dusted Arafat with dirt and debris. At one point, Israel troops raised a flag on a nearby building in the compound. When told of the flag, Arafat got up to take a look from a window, said Hani al-Hassan, a senior PLO official trapped inside. Israel, preparing for a long standoff, said it would not withdraw from the compound before the wanted men surrender - and left open the possibility that even then troops might not leave. Israeli officials have told the Palestinians the assault, which was launched after a Tel Aviv suicide attack last week, seeks to isolate Arafat. But Israeli television cited defense officials saying the assault aims to make conditions so unbearable that the Palestinian leader leaves into exile. END I don't know about you, but when someone plants a flag on another countries headquarters that usually means that they have overthrown or conquered that country. Israel hasn't officially declared a takeover of Palestine but that's about as close as you can get. Israel may have crossed the line (although I don't blame them) in taking over Yasser Arafat's compound. This could lead to a strong response from the Arab world. Their ultimate plan has always been to get heavily entrenched in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for a surprise attack. If Arafat is ousted that would be a major setback. Look for the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia, to hit the roof over this turn of events. The U.S. will have to step in and stop what could turn into a Middle East war. That would be exactly what Iraq would hope for. You can bet they will be stirring the pot this weekend. Israel usually gives into the wishes of the U.S. Look for them to pull back and repeat the cycle of homicide bombings. But Daniel 9:24-27 states that eventually someone will come on the scene and make a peace treaty to protect Israel. I really believe that this peace treaty will be made to protect Israel from homicide bombers. Israel will also have to make some concessions.
Pastor Malone