-

The Alpha-Omega Report's

-

-

-

Middle East News Spotlight

-

-

-

For 12/28/09

-

-

-

Editor's Note: In the past 10 days we've seen a decided lack of significant prophetic news developments and this is reflected in this week's edition of the Spotlight with only a few significant news stories of a prophetic development nature. We had delayed posting this edition by one day in hopes of adding at least a few more stories, which we did. This trend may continue until after the New Year before picking up once again.

-

-

-

Iran was awash in riots across the nation over the weekend during the holy period of Ashura. The holy day of Ashura just happened to coincide with the funeral of a Grand Ayatollah who had opposed to the Supreme Leader for years. The funeral, combined with the Ashura observances provided a perfect window of opportunity for political protesters who had marked December to become 22 days of protests against the current regime.

As protestors took to the streets in cities around the nation, riot police began clashing with thousands of protesters, much like what occured in June after the presidential elections. The protesters believe that the presidential elections were rigged and that the entire ruling regime, including the Supreme Ayatollah must be removed from office. It is not known how many protesters have been injured or killed as the Iranian government is preventing news media from covering the events.

There have been widespread rumors across Iran that a military coup is underway, but such reports remain unconfirmed, and mainstream media reports include nothing about such rumors. In the wake of the protests, top Iranian opposition leaders have been arrested and the Supreme Leader has warned that political oppoinents may face death for treason. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++

-

Once Again...

What part of "no" does the UN Security Council's 5+1 not understand? Repeatedly for the past month and more, Iran's leaders have signalled a rejection of the UN compromise proposal for Iran's uranium enrichment program.

Once again, just 3 days before Christmas, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad publicly stated that his nation rejects the UN compromise proposal and signalled his disdain for an end of year deadline.

In response to the Iranian leader's comments,  diplomats of the UN 5 + 1 (Germany) held a conference call to discuss their next move. The only decision reached was to wait until early January to meet in person and discuss what course of action to pursue.

The White House and State Department have reportedly been hard at work behind the scenes testing international opinion for a new round of harsh economic sanctions. China has previously signaled disdain for such measures and Russia has vascillated back and forth on the idea.

For more on this story, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++

-

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered the Kadima Party an opportunity to join his coalition and create a "unity" government. The offer was made in part because some members of the Kadima Party were reported to be on the verge of quitting Kadima and joining the Likud Party. More details, LINK HERE.

-

+++++

-

Apparently six Kadima Party members of Israel's Knesset are prepared to defect from the party and join the Likud Party. Such a move is expected in the wake of the Kadima Party's rejection offered by the Israeli Prime Minister, to form a new "unity" coaltion government in preparation for probable military action in 2010.

Six prominent Knesset members of the Kadima Party are prepared to defect perhaps within a few hours, according to published rumors inside Israel. The Kadima Party at present has the largest number of parliament members at 28 but the Likud Party has created a large coalition of smaller parties to create a ruling government.

Should the six rebel members switch parties, 5 are expected to join Likud which would give Likud 32 seats in the Knesset. Another defector is reportedly expected to join the Labor Party which would give Labor 14 seats. The defections would drop Kadima's standing Knesset members tally from 28 down to 22 members. Kadima would become a distant, number two party, far behind Likud.

While the addition of 6 new Knesset members would certainly strengthen the ruling coalition and weaken the opposition, the political situation remains a far cry from what Prime Minister Netanyahu had been hoping for. Netanyahu's invitation for Kadima to join in a coalition government was made in an effort to form a united government front in expectation of war in 2010. The war expectations arise from an apparently rising need for Israel to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities which would result in at least a proxy war with Hezbollah, Hamas and perhaps Syria.

For more details on the potential Kadima party defections, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++

-

The Israeli government announced over the Christmas holiday that it will distribute gas masks to all Israeli citizens beginning in February. Some interpret this as an indication that Israel intends to launch military action after February. More on this story, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++

-

Israel's Defense Minister and Labor Party Leader, Ehud Barak testified before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and the Defense committees and told them that Iran will have the capability to make a nuclear weapon by early next year.

Never before has Defense Chief Barak been so explicit in publicly indicating what he believes to be Iran's ability to make a bomb. His assessment is not shared by others. The US Intelligence groups reportedly believe that Iran's weapons program has not even been operational since before the US invaded Iraq in 2003.

However, French and German intelligence agencies believe that Iran already has the capability to assemble a bomb along with the necessary materials. Of course, Germany and France are not planning pre-emptive military strikes on Iran but Israel is mulling the idea.

Barak's comments suggest that Israel may take military action in early 2010 just before Iran reaches that magic moment of nuclear assembly. For more on the IDF Defense Minister's comments. LINK HERE.

-

 

-

Israel's ambassadors and consuls generals from all over the world have been summoned to attend a conference to be held over global challenges facing Israel.

The meeting to be attended in Jerusalem Al-Quds on December 27-31 is hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the ministry reported on its website.

"The idea is to facilitate direct dialogue with the country's leaders, mutual updates on major diplomatic issues, and a discussion of action plans to deal with the challenges awaiting Israel in the international arena in the coming year, including the Iranian threat," it said. 

More story details, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++

-

Israel's Defense Minister stated on Monday (12-28) that Iran's newly discovered nuclear facility located in a mountain near Qom is bomb-proof. The Israeli military leader indicated that no conventional bomb was capable of destroying the facility. The facility would be vulnerable to nuclear weapons.

The Defense Minister's statement came during testimony before Israel's Knesset committee meeting. More details, LINK HERE

-

++++++++++++

-

A secret war game conducted by Tel Aviv University found that a military strike by Israel on Iran's heavy water nuclear facility at Arak would result in diminished diplomatic relations with America and the world while doing little to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program.

The "war game" however, seems fatally flawed as it was limited to an Israeli commando strike against the Arak facility and not against Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities. Indeed only one target was struck. The simulation however may have a profound impact on Israeli political leaders. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++

-

Since the failed airliner bombing on Christmas, mainstream news media has begun talking about Yemen as a new breeding ground for Al Qaeda. This is not really "news" since here at The A-O Report we've been posted on the Yemen problem for quite some time now. It's amazing how the mainstream news media suddenly "discovers" news. The British newspaper, The Telegraph, is but one of many mainstream outlets now spotlighting the problems with Yemen. See their story, LINK HERE.

-

+++++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++++

-

-

+++++++++++++

-

Pakistan continues to be racked by terror strikes intended to foment a civil war between Shiite sect Muslims and Sunni sect Muslims. The latest on terror bombings - LINK HERE.

-

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-

-

-

-

-

-

-