The Iranians believe it’s their moral obligation to respond to a string of assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, killings either claimed by the Israeli government or theorized to have been the work on the famed Mossad.
Of course, two of the killings came after a Hezbollah rocket hit an Israeli youth soccer field and 12 children died.
So round and round goes the conflict in the Holy Land.
“As the Quran states, a non-tactical retreat in any domain – whether military, political or economic – will incur divine wrath,” for the people of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told government leaders last week.
Amid the rising tensions, many Israelis feel a sense of confidence, Joel Rosenberg, a noted Middle East analyst and author, said on American Family Radio Wednesday.
“There is a sense of resilience. I think people who aren't even particularly religious, or spiritual here in Israel, don't believe that God has reconstituted the sovereign native state of Israel in 1948 and is bringing us here by the millions from all over the world, out of exile, back to the land of our forefathers in order to kill us,” Rosenberg told show host Jenna Ellis.
Israel is continuing its effort to eradicate Hamas following the Iranian-backed terror organization’s murder and kidnapping spree. Soon it will be a year since Hamas executed a well-planned attack in northern Israel on Oct. 7.
As part of its effort to eliminate Hamas, the Israelis have taken out Mohammed Deif, Hamas’ No. 2 man and the mastermind of the attack.
They also killed Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s No. 2, in the bedroom of his Beirut apartment.
The Israelis have not claimed responsibility for the death of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader, who was killed on Iranian soil during a visit to Tehran.
“The Iranian government was hosting the top terrorist in the world,” Rosenberg said.
Israel’s terrorist triple play occurred within roughly a three-week span in July.
Small window of sympathy after Oct. 7
Sympathy for Israel was short-lived last fall. World leaders quickly condemned the Israelis for the their response as Hamas terrorists took shelter among civilians in Gaza.
Led by President Joe Biden, world leaders have repeated calls for a ceasefire, while Hamas continued to hold Israeli hostages, that number growing fewer as many have died in their custody.
Israel recovered six bodies in a rescue operation this week while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the area trying to finalize a ceasefire agreement. He left empty-handed.
“We’re on the highest-possible alert here,” said Rosenberg, who has just returned to Israel from a speaking tour in the U.S. “Iran and Hezbollah are threatening a massive, arguably apocalyptic missile attack any moment. Israelis are stocking their bomb shelters afresh. Many are cancelling their summer vacation plans. Others are returning like we did back to the country to be with our people as we face these threats.”
Confidence and hope are different things.
“We have a real purpose in this country, but if you don’t know the Lord personally, it’s very difficult to maintain hope, courage and optimism when you see Israel under attack from almost every possible direction,” Rosenberg said.
For now, there is a sense of resilience even from people who aren’t especially religious or spiritual, Rosenberg said.
As days pass with no Iranian response Rosenberg sees God’s hand guiding events. He believes the words of the prophet Amos are playing out.
“God says, ‘I will shake the whole house of Israel among the nations.’ Why would he say that? Why? Because God often in our lives and in our country shakes us to wake us up if we're asleep spiritually, or we're drifting spiritually.
“I think God is shaking America right now. I think God is shaking much of the world. He's certainly shaking Ukraine and Russia and other countries, but he is definitely shaking Israel and our neighbors in order to draw to himself people who don't yet know the Lord.”
Iranian generals threaten Israel, too
While Israel waits, Iranian Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guard, suggests it could be waiting a long time.
Naeini says a response will come at the “proper time and place.”
The delay could be because Iranian officials see the effect of fear on the Israeli economy as roughly two dozen airlines have shut down operations into and out of Israel.
Or it could be the chess game of Iran trying to plot Israel’s next move. What strategic targets might the Israelis hit in response?
“I think there’s also the fear that a massive attack on us would be an excuse for the Israeli government to launch a massive, unprecedented attack on Iran, as well as Hezbollah, to take out Iran’s nuclear bases and nuclear forces," Rosenberg predicted.
"We don’t believe they have nuclear weapons yet, but the facilities that are creating all of this enriched uranium, Israel has wanted to take those things out for a long time,” the author added.
Iranian oil facilities would be another prime target, he said, but the No. 1 cause of delay for an Iranian response may be God Almighty.
“Is it God himself that is stopping and thwarting Iran and Hezbollah from launching this attack?” Rosenberg asked.
Biden, in spite of numerous other “mistakes” in his handling of the U.S.-Israel alliance, did order a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group to return to the region.
Also, in recent days there’s been a “massive” cyber attack on the banking system in Iran, Rosenberg said. The source of that cyber attack is unknown.
God has intervened for His people before
Rosenberg laid out his case for God’s involvement at AllIsrael.com.
He cited three examples from scripture of God’s people praying in Israel when they believed an attack was coming.
“And God thwarted the enemy,” Rosenberg said.
He called on Christians to continue to stand with and pray for Israel.
“We need God to supernaturally thwart and confuse our enemies,” Rosenberg said.
