ON THE THRESHOLD OF WAR    
I have believed it for years - that the next war Israel will have to face will be with Damascus, Syria, together with the Hizbollah in Lebanon. It will not be, as so many commentators today assume, with Iran. At least not yet - although Iran will surely be happy to deflect the worldwide criticism and condemnation being directed against her by having her proxies - Syria, Hizbollah and Hamas - do her dirty and very risky work by massively attacking Israel with all kinds of rockets.
This is how today's The Jerusalem Post describes this life threatening reality:
IDF prepares for possible Syrian diversionary attack
by Yaakov Katz
Concern is mounting within the IDF over the possibility that Syria will attack Israel as pressure mounts on President Bashar Assad to step down. The move is seen as part of a potential effort by Damascus to deter Arab countries from dispatching military support to opposition forces.
The concern is still under the surface, but the IDF's Northern Command has drawn up a number of operational responses to a range of scenarios that could evolve along the northern front.
Nevertheless, Israel fears that Assad, under pressure, could turn the military force - that he has been using in an attempt to quell the ongoing uprising against his regime - against Israel.
Israel's concern hones in on recent reports that Assad is using nerve gas against the opposition. This has led Israel to reassess the possibility that Syria might now be more willing to use chemical weapons against Israeli targets.
Syria is believed to have one of the most extensive chemical weapon arsenals in the world that reportedly includes Sarin, VX and Mustard Gas.
Israel's is also considering the possibility that Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons will fall into terrorist hands. This stems from intelligence obtained by the West which indicates that advanced conventional military platforms have already been moved out of Syria by Hezbollah.
Though the prophetic Scriptures imply that Israel will ultimately win this war, the casualty rate could in all likelihood be in thousands of Israeli dead before the Israel Defense Forces are able to, once and for all, squash her enemies in the North. It is almost incomprehensible that Jews can be gassed again - now in their own homes and cities - less than 80 years after what this nation experienced at Hitler's hands - and this in spite of all Western protestations that it would never be allowed to happen again seems incredible.
If ever there was a time when the people of Israel needed our help and comfort, it is now. May many, many of you decide now to attend this year's Feast of Tabernacles, together with us showing the people of Israel our love and solidarity after all they have had to go through, again because of their ferocious enemies!
May God pour out upon them His Spirit in love and compassion - the Spirit of grace and supplication, as we stand in faith with them.
Therefore book, and save up now, to be with us at this crucial Feast!
Jan Willem van der Hoeven, Director
International Christian Zionist Center