Update (Day 966) Swords of Iron “Colonialization”

As Shabbat begins, I’m thinking about a great colonization that has happened across the Middle East—one nobody wants to talk about.

Lebanon was not always overrun by Hezbollah terror. Beirut was once called the Paris of the Middle East, beautiful and vibrant. Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria all had deep Christian histories. Coptic Christians are native to Egypt. These lands were not always what they have become. Something has happened, and the world needs to wake up.

This does not stop with Israel. It may have started with the Saturday people, but it came for the Sunday people too. 

Belgian authorities recently released photos of suspects linked to an arson attack on a synagogue in Liège. An Iranian-aligned group, tied to the IRGC and pro-Iranian militias, reportedly claimed responsibility. In New York, an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia commander was indicted over a plot targeting a synagogue and Jewish sites across Europe.

This is real. These are not isolated incidents. There are people who hate the Jewish people, hate the Bible, and hate the God of Israel. That is why I read Scripture in these videos. We must know what we are facing.

Meanwhile, everyone is asking what will happen with Iran. Trump says Iran must remove its nuclear material, surrender its ambitions, and open the Strait of Hormuz. But as we speak, dozens of access tunnels to Iranian missile sites are reportedly being cleared and repaired after Israeli strikes blocked them. Why are they reopening access to underground missile sites if they are serious about peace?

 In Lebanon, Israel is pushing back strong. Our forces have crossed the Litani River and are advancing toward strategic positions in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has made it clear: our forces are operating across Lebanon, including Beirut and the Beqaa Valley, and the entire front is being hit hard.

We cannot allow Hezbollah drones, missiles, and terror infrastructure to threaten our northern communities. Any agreement with Iran must not tie Israel’s hands or stop us from protecting our people.

And can Iran be trusted? Their own parliament speaker reportedly said they gain concessions not through dialogue, but through missiles. He said they do not trust guarantees or words. If that is who we are dealing with, then we must be clear-eyed: we cannot capitulate to terror.

The Houthis are also escalating, reportedly shooting down another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen. Iranian-backed groups are active everywhere—Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, Iraq, Europe, and beyond.

So as Shabbat begins, be strong and courageous. Take time to thank God for your family, and remember that He is faithful to His promises.

Numbers echoes the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12: “Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.”

That promise was not only for Abraham. It was for the nation of Israel.

Shabbat shalom.