Obama arrives in Israel and meets with Netanyahu

US President Barack Obama arrived in Israel today amidst concerns about Syria, Iran, and the Palestinian situation:

March 20, 2013

JERUSALEM — U.S. President Barack Obama arrived to a full ceremonial welcome at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday and declared that America’s alliance with Israel is “eternal and forever.”

Walking down a long red carpet, he shook hands with and embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres…

“Across this region, the winds of change bring both promise and peril,” he said…

President Obama is also scheduled to visit a set of cultural and religious sites in the region, including seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum and a stop at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Many Palestinians have said they are disappointed with Obama, and see little reason for optimism in his second term. There were scattered protests in the Palestinian territories on Wednesday ahead of Obama’s arrival.

On Friday, his schedule includes talks with King Abdullah in Jordan, where the United States has been helping authorities to cope with a flood of refugees from the Syrian civil war. http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-makes-first-visit-to-israel-as-president/1624979.html

March 20, 2013

Obama faces strong doubts among Israelis over his pledge to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and concerns that the civil war in neighboring Syria might spill over the border, with Western powers reluctant to get involved.

The U.S. president said last week he believed Iran was still more than a year away from developing an atomic weapon and is counseling nervous Israelis to show patience, vowing to use all options to stop a nuclear-armed Tehran.

Shortly after leaving Air Force One, Obama was told by an official to “follow the red line” marked on the tarmac as he set off to see an Israeli-made Iron Dome anti-missile battery.

Standing alongside Netanyahu, Obama joked: “He’s always talking to me about red lines” — a reference to Israel’s demand that Washington establish a red line for Iran’s nuclear program. “So this is all a psychological ploy,” he added. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/us-israel-palestinians-obama-idUSBRE92J01X20130320

The situations in Syria and Iran are deadly serious, and the Palestinian matters are also highly charged and dangerous.

At least one chemical weapon seems to have been used in Syria yesterday (see Chemical weapons reportedly being used in Syria), and that seems to be one of those “red lines” that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said would cause Israel to make a strike into Syria. Right now, however, there is some question if the Assad regime, the rebel opposition, or a terrorist group like Al-Qaeda released the chemicals yesterday (with the latter the one some consider most likely), so that, combined with the Obama visit, may slow down an Israeli response.

UPDATE: Later today, the following came out, so I added it (and nothing else) to this post:

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Wednesday to hold Syria to account if it used chemical weapons and reassured Israel of U.S…

“We have been clear that the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people would be a serious and tragic mistake,” Obama said at a news conference in Jerusalem with Netanyahu.

“The Assad regime must understand that they will be held accountable for the use of chemical weapons or their transfer to terrorists,” he said. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/us-israel-palestinians-obama-idUSBRE92J01X20130320

While Israel faces many threats, it has long been my view that its Prime Minister has been a bit too optimistic about the difficulties that a major attack against Iran and/or Syria could pose for his country (as well as that of the United States). The overall position of the Obama Administration of the dangers of war are closer to the reality of the situation. The situation in Syria, for one example, is quite tense and fighting Israel may be perceived to be in Syria’s best interest (Syria is a strong Iranian ally)–especially if Israel makes a significant attack in Syrian territory. Even without that, Syria could attack Israel, especially if it does so with the help and direction of Iran.

While USA President Obama hopes not to have a major war if Israel strikes Iran and/or Syria, I suspect that a regional war in the Middle East could get out of control. Both sides have electromagnetic pulse and/or certain other weapons that have not been used in quite the same way that they have the potential to be used now.

According to the Bible, the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will rise up and we will see if this happens sometime after an Israeli conflict with Iran. Since Iran is not destined to be the King of the South, but Syria seemingly is, I have long written that Iran will somehow be neutralized (through a conflict involving Israel and/or internal strife, etc.) and the regime in Syria would change.

This does not mean that I believe that Israel (or the USA and/or its allies for that matter) will end up without potentially severe losses (actually I do think that Israel and/or one of its allies will), only that Iran and Syria may start to feel so desperate that they will conclude that military conflict with Israel is their best option–if so, this would be a mistake on those nations’ part.

But Israel, and or the USA, are also at risk. Iran and/or Syria have chemical and biological weapons that could affect Israel and the USA, as well the potential for emp type bombs, “dirty” bombs, and other nuclear-type bombs that Israel and/or the USA may have underestimated.

An EMP attack by Iran could greatly affect Israel, the USA, or even Europe. Power transformers in the USA (and elsewhere) are at risk and this could cause major economic and other damage to the USA. Such emp weapons, however, have never been used large scale, so precisely what would happen is subject to debate. But the reality is that emp weapons, as well as solar flares which have similar potential, are threats to the USA, its defenses, and its economy.

The USA, despite its military strength, is vulnerable to being hurt by EMP weapons as well as nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, dirty bombs, terrorism, and biological weapons. Since Iran knows that EMPs basically work as advertised, this may give the Iranians more reason to look further into using them if they feel pressed.

Furthermore, Terrorist and other attacks are also possible–and any could hurt the USA, perhaps more seriously than many Americans think.

Wars do not always go as planned, for either side (or their allies). The situation in the Middle East is tense and conflicts there can spill over into many areas.

Watch (Mark 13, Matthew 24).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.