MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

“Iranian Defense Minister General Ahmad Vahidi said Israel would be attacked with 150,000 missiles if it launches any military action against the Islamic Republic, the Iran Independent News Service reported Sunday.

Speaking before 50,000 army volunteers in Bushehr, the minister said ‘Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan, if the Americans make the mistake and attack Iran, we will show them how to fight,’ adding ‘Israel has to be punished for what it has done to the Muslims in Palestine and Lebanon.’

However, according to Iranian news outlets Vahidi did not specify if the missiles would be fired from Iran or other locations.” Read more.

Iran Navy acquires new submarines amidst nuclear tension – “Iranian state TV said the country has added three more domestically-built submarines to its naval fleet. The report on Sunday said the vessels were delivered to the Iranian navy in southern port of Bandar Abbas. It said the submarines were from the Ghadir class, of which Iran already has four. This class of submarine can fire missiles and torpedoes and operate in the Gulf’s shallow waters.” Read more.

Is Iran claiming to have secret “hidden energy” weapon to use against Israel and America? – “Iran dares Israel to attack, because the retaliation would send the Jewish state to ‘the dustbin of history,’ a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said, according to the Fars news agency Monday. ‘Our greatest wish is that they commit such a mistake,’ the chief of the Guards’ aerospatial division, Amir-Ali Hadjizadeh, was quoted as saying. ‘For some time there has been a hidden energy we hope to expend to consign the enemies of Islam forever to the dustbin of history,’ he said. ‘Our ballistic (missile) capacity never ceases to grow,’ he added. The comments were one of the most belligerent reactions yet by an Iranian official to speculation that Israel was considering launching air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.” Read more.

Flashback: Nasrallah: Next War with Israel Will Start in Tel Aviv, Says Hezbollah Has ‘Many Surprises’ That Will Change the Face of the Region in a Future War – “The next war with Israel will start in Tel Aviv, not on the northern border, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned on Friday, the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper reported. ‘If Israel decided to wage a war against Lebanon, we will not only break the Israeli soldiers’ bones, we will smash them,’ Nasrallah was quoted as saying during a meeting with Hezbollah members. ‘The war would be waged without any red lines, and [Hezbollah] would in return commit to the new equations,’ Nasrallah said. ‘[Hezbollah] has many surprises that will change the face of the region,’ he added.” Read more.

Flashback: Hezbollah may be receiving weapons of mass destruction from Syria – “French newspaper Le Figaro reported on Saturday that Israel has asked Western countries to stop their diplomatic campaign against the Syrian regime for fear that the weapons of mass destruction of the Syrian regime will fall in the hands of Hezbollah and Hamas. The newspaper said the chief of military intelligence in the Israeli army, Major-General Aviv Kochavi has relayed the Israeli position during his visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York a few weeks ago. According to a French diplomat Kochavi warned that the Syrian arsenal of weapons will be directed at Israel if the regime of Bashar al-Assad falls.” Read more.

There they go again.  Sure, it’s another ‘Allahu Akbar’ for the string of Islamist victories as of late, but I’m referring to the media and their love affair with the word ‘moderate’ and ‘Islamist’ — and the romance often associated with Casablanca has nothing to do with it. We’ve all seen ‘moderate’ states governed by Islam and the resulting obligatory destruction of religious freedoms and basic human rights that eventually takes place, yet the willingly ignorant in the mainstream media still chooses to ignore what should otherwise be the sobering realities of Islamic rule, both today and throughout history …

By Souhail Karam – “(Reuters) – Morocco’s moderate Islamist PJD party won the most seats in the country’s parliamentary election, final results showed Sunday, in the latest sign of a resurgence of faith-based movements since the Arab Spring uprisings.

The victory for Morocco’s Justice and Development Party came a month after Tunisia handed power to a previously-banned party of moderate Islamists. Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood is also expected to do well in an election starting Monday.

PJD, which will get its first chance to head a coalition government, has said it will promote Islamic finance but steer clear of imposing a strict moral code on a country that depends on tourism.

The party, whose deceased founder was a physician of King Mohammed’s grandfather, is loyal to the monarchy and backs its role as the supreme religious authority in the country.

PJD won 107 seats in the 395-seat parliament, according to results from the interior ministry carried by the official MAP news agency.” Read more.

Moroccan Islamist Party latest to win election inspired by the Arab Spring – “The victory of an Islamist Party in Morocco’s parliamentary elections appears to be one more sign that religious-based parties are benefiting the most from the new freedoms brought by the Arab Spring. Across the Middle East, parties referencing Islam have made great strides, offering an alternative to corrupt, long serving dictators, who have often ruled with close Western support… ‘The people link Islam and political dignity,’ said Monjib, who describes himself as coming from the left end of the political spectrum. ‘There is a big problem of dignity in the Arab world and the people see the Islamists as a way of getting out of the sense of subjugation and inferiority towards the West.’ Like the Ennahda Party in Tunisia, the PJD is also from the more moderate end of the Islamist spectrum.” Read more.

In case you weren’t aware, the Ennahda Party is showing signs of a radical shift and hailing ‘a new cycle of civilization’ with the arrival of the ‘Sixth Caliphate‘. Welcome to ‘the more moderate end of the Islamist spectrum’ …

By Anshel Pfeffer – “… the Muslim Brotherhood is determined to win a large number of seats in parliament. In an effort to ensure orderly elections, the Islamic group has said it does not support the current wave of protests…

.Convinced of their upcoming success in the vote, some Muslim Brotherhood supporters had concerns beyond Egypt’s borders – over Israel’s intentions to dismantle the temporary Mughrabi bridge leading to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. At Al-Azhar University, a stronghold of the movement, giant posters called for the defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the mount, and Palestinian flags mingled with Egyptian ones. Guests of honor at prayers at the university were members of a Hamas delegation that was in Cairo for talks with Palestinian Authority officials…

Sermon after sermon before and after the prayers at the university accused Israel of harming Muslim holy places and claimed that the Jews were defiling Palestine…

Among the crowd was Abed Khaled, an accountant, who said the Jews would be fought until the fighters’ last drop of blood.” Read more.

Jew-hatred heats up as Islamic Winter grows colder – “In our current issue Israel Today discusses the causes and ramifications of the Arab Spring-turned-Islamic Winter. One of the obvious outcomes is that the kind of seething hatred for Israel that is official policy in Iran will spread to the rest of the region. It is already happening in Egypt… now, with Islamists threatening to take over the country, Egypt is returning to the pre-Camp David years during which it led the rest of the Muslim world in its quest to eradicate the Jewish presence from the Middle East.” Read more.

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Holds Venomous Anti-Israel Rally, Vows to ‘One Day Kill All Jews’ – “A Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo’s most prominent mosque Friday turned into a venomous anti-Israel protest, with attendants vowing to ‘one day kill all Jews.’ Some 5,000 people joined the rally, called to promote the ‘battle against Jerusalem’s Judaization.’ The event coincided with the anniversary of the United Nations’ partition plan in 1947, which called for the establishment of a Jewish state.” Read more.

Egyptian Cleric Leads Pro-Al-Qaeda Demonstration in Tahrir Square, Threatens US and Jews with ‘Men Who Love Death’ and ‘Seek Death’ – “… the Prophet Muhammad prophesied that the return of Islam was inevitable… we adhere to the Jihad for the sake of Allah… Please turn our skulls into a ladder for your glory. We say to infidel America: By Allah, if you contemplate coming to Egypt, you will encounter men who love death more than you love life… I say to the Jews: if you contemplate harming Egypt or its Muslim people, you will encounter men who seek death more than you seek life…” Watch video.

Flashback: Muslim Brotherhood Elder: ‘Jerusalem Belongs to Us, and the Whole World Belongs to Us … the Caliphate Will Return’ – “We are the children of Islam, the children of prophecy, the children of ‘there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.’ … we will kill anyone who has polluted the al-Aqsa Mosque. I say unto you that we will return, as the day of Qurayza from long ago… Jerusalem belongs to us. Al-Aqsa belongs to us. Jerusalem belongs to us, and the whole world belongs to us. Every land upon which Islam has set foot will return to us. The caliphate will return to us, on the platform of prophecy.” Read more.

Flashback: Egypt: Rising Islamic Leader Declares ‘We Will Launch a Campaign of Islamic Conquest Throughout the World’, ‘Exterminate’ Christians Who Get In the Way of Sharia – “A rising leader in the radical Islamic movement in Egypt that has become a major political player since the demise of Hosni Mubarak’s regime says Christian churches may need to be blown up and Christians exterminated to allow the advance of Islamic law, or Shariah. The comments come from Sheik ‘Adel Shehato, a senior leader with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad terrorist group… The sheik, a senior jihadist leader, responded to a question about using violence against Christians, who make up a substantial minority in Egypt.” Read more.

In other words, Libyan Islamists are offering weapons and fighters to help secure a victory for Syrian Islamists.  With Assad’s no-win predicament soon to be that of a cornered wild animal with nowhere left to run, I can almost hear echoes of Isaiah in the distance …

By Ruth Sherlock – “At the meeting, which was held in Istanbul and included Turkish officials, the Syrians requested ‘assistance’ from the Libyan representatives and were offered arms, and potentially volunteers.

‘There is something being planned to send weapons and even Libyan fighters to Syria,’ said a Libyan source, speaking on condition of anonymity. ‘There is a military intervention on the way. Within a few weeks you will see.’

The Telegraph has also learned that preliminary discussions about arms supplies took place when members of the Syrian National Council [SNC] – the country’s main opposition movement – visited Libya earlier this month.

‘The Libyans are offering money, training and weapons to the Syrian National Council,’ added Wisam Taris, a human rights campaigner with links to the SNC.

The disclosure came as rebels raided an air force base outside the city of Homs and killed six pilots, according to a statement by the country’s military.” Read more.

Report: US Aircraft Carrier Sent to Syrian Coast as Tensions Flare, US Embassy Urges Americans to Leave Syria ‘Immediately’ – “The USS George H.W. Bush, the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, has reportedly parked off the Syrian coast. The move comes as the U.S. embassy in Damascus urged Americans to ‘immediately’ leave the country. ‘The U.S. embassy continues to urge U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available,’ … Adding to the sense of danger, Turkey, a NATO member and fierce critic of Assad’s government, recently warned its citizens to avoid traveling through the country after Syrian troops fired on at least two buses carrying Turkish Muslims returning from the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.” Read more.

Hezbollah warns of regional war if Iran, Syria attacked – “Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Friday warned Israel and the US that a war against Iran and Syria would lead to an all-out regional conflict. ‘They should understand that a war on Iran and Syria will not remain in Iran and Syrian territory, but it will engulf the whole region and there is no escaping this reality,’ Nasrallah said during a televised speech honoring ‘Martyrs’ Day.’” Read more.

Kuwaiti Newspaper: Hizbullah Cancels Vacations For All Militants, Summons Thousands of Members, Preps for War with Israel – “Hizbullah has canceled leaves and is preparing for war, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper As-Seyassah. ‘Hizbullah cancelled the vacations of all its militants, summoned thousands of its members and gave orders to its prominent officials to remain unseen in case a war broke out,’ the daily said. It added that the terrorist army and political party put its combat units, including missile units, on extreme alert.” Read more.

“The Begin Sadat Center, a respected think tank based at Bar Ilan University, held a conference on November 23, 2011 on the subject of ‘Israeli Security in a New Regional Envornment’, which focused on the so-called ‘Arab Spring’ and its implicatons. Its experts concluded that the Arab Spring is not going to result in democracy, despite original hopes in the West, and may make things even worse for Israel.

‘As steep as the price for hitting Iran may be, a military strike on Iran will be less painful than the cost of living with an Iranian nuclear weapons threat,’ argues former Mossad head Maj. Gen. (res.) Danny Yatom. ‘The backlash from a strike on Iran’s nuclear sites will not be as bad for Israel as will an Iran armed with nuclear weapons,’ he says. ‘I don’t think that those predicting apocalyptic repercussions of a strike on Tehran are correct, and even if they are, Israel can’t afford to wonder if Tehran will go crazy and bomb us.’…

The world does not have much time left to act on Iran, the former Mossad head warned, adding that ‘there is an evaluation that they have crossed the red line. They have the knowledge to make the bomb. All that is needed now is the decision to do it…. The world has a year in which to halt the Iranian nuclear weapons program, probably less.'” Read more.

Iran Threatens to Attack Turkey, Israel if Attacked – “Iran has threatened to target NATO’s missile defense installations in Turkey if the U.S. or Israel attacks the Islamic Republic, The Associated Press reported. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division, made the threat on Saturday, saying the warning is part of a new defense strategy to counter what he described as an increase in threats from the U.S. and Israel. ‘Should we be threatened, we will target NATO’s missile defense shield in Turkey and then hit the next targets,’ Hazijzadeh was quoted as having told the Mehr news agency.” Read more.

So much for ‘moderate and non-violent‘. Is this why you were satisfied, Obama? …

By Eldad Beck – “Arab hate: A Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo’s most prominent mosque Friday turned into a venomous anti-Israel protest, with attendants vowing to ‘one day kill all Jews.’

Some 5,000 people joined the rally, called to promote the ‘battle against Jerusalem’s Judaization.’ The event coincided with the anniversary of the United Nations’ partition plan in 1947, which called for the establishment of a Jewish state.

However, most worshippers who prayed at the mosque Friday quickly left it before the Muslim Brotherhood’s rally got underway. A group spokesman urged attendants to remain for the protest, asking them not to create a bad impression for the media by leaving.

‘Treacherous Jews’

Speakers at the event delivered impassioned, hateful speeches against Israel, slamming the ‘Zionist occupiers’ and the ‘treacherous Jews.’ Upon leaving the rally, worshippers were given small flags, with Egypt’s flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other, as well as maps of Jerusalem’s Old City detailing where “Zionists are aiming to change Jerusalem’s Muslim character.”

Propaganda material ahead of Egypt’s parliamentary elections was also handed out at the site.

Spiritual leader Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb charged in his speech that to this day Jews everywhere in the world are seeking to prevent Islamic and Egyptian unity.

‘In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything,’ he said. ‘The al-Aqsa Mosque is currently under an offensive by the Jews…we shall not allow the Zionists to Judaize al-Quds (Jerusalem.) We are telling Israel and Europe that we shall not allow even one stone to be moved there.’

‘We have different mentality’

Muslim Brotherhood spokesmen, as well as Palestinian guest speakers, made explicit calls for Jihad and for liberating the whole of Palestine. Time and again, a Koran quote vowing that ‘one day we shall kill all the Jews’ was uttered at the site. Meanwhile, businessmen in the crowd were urged to invest funds in Jerusalem in order to prevent the acquisition of land and homes by Jews.” Read more.

Flashback: Muslim Brotherhood Elder: ‘Jerusalem Belongs to Us, and the Whole World Belongs to Us … the Caliphate Will Return’ – “We are the children of Islam, the children of prophecy, the children of ‘there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.’ I say unto you Gouraud, we will return and we will kill anyone who has polluted the al-Aqsa Mosque. I say unto you that we will return, as the day of Qurayza from long ago. I say unto you that we will return, as the day of Khaybar from long ago. I say unto you that we will return. Jerusalem belongs to us. Al-Aqsa belongs to us. Jerusalem belongs to us, and the whole world belongs to us. Every land upon which Islam has set foot will return to us. The caliphate will return to us, on the platform of prophecy.” Read more.

By ANTHONY SHADID – “CAIRO — The outskirts of Tahrir Square, the iconic landmark of Egypt’s revolution, plunged into chaos on Wednesday, after attempts by the Egyptian military, religious clerics and doctors failed to stanch a fifth day of fighting that has posed the greatest crisis to the country since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February.

The fighting in darkened streets, suffused with tear gas and eerily illuminated by the flashing lights of police cars and the floodlights of armored personnel carriers, seemed to stand as a metaphor for a political transition that has careened into deep uncertainty just days before elections that were supposed to anchor the shift from military to civilian rule.

The military that seized power with Mr. Mubarak’s fall rebuffed protesters’ demands to surrender authority this week, and the political elite has seemed paralyzed or defensive over the unrest. The discontent in Tahrir Square has broadened from demands for the generals to cede control and anger over bloodshed into dissatisfaction with a transition that has delivered precious little since the uprising’s heady days in February.

‘This is a revolution of the hungry!’ declared Amr Ali Mohammed, a 23-year-old protester taking a break from the battle with the police. ‘Egyptians have had enough.’…

Clashes escalated through the night, and the Ministry of Health said 500 people were injured in just two hours. Bonfires cast a glow down darkened streets, where protesters retreated from tear gas, stumbling over the debris of their days of melees.

‘The turning point is coming soon,’ said Mostafa Helmy, a 55-year-old engineer.” Read more.

Strict Muslims stake claim on Egypt’s political scene – “On a beach-front wall in Egypt’s second city where courting couples often stroll are scrawled the words: ‘Would you accept this for your sister?’ and ‘Be in fear of God.’ For frequenters of Alexandria’s shores, the authors of the disapproving messages are clear: Salafis, ultra-conservative Islamists who have overcome their distaste for politics to stake a claim on Egypt’s future after Hosni Mubarak’s overthrow. ‘What we want is the complete commitment to Islamic sharia law…'” Read more.

Egypt unrest stirs fears inside Israel – “Days of protest in Egypt, ahead of elections expected to produce big wins for the Muslim Brotherhood, have stirred fears in Israel about bilateral ties and the future of the countries’ peace treaty… On Wednesday, Israel’s civil defence minister Matan Vilnai urged Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads Egypt’s ruling military council, to bring the situation under control. ‘The situation is problematic, sensitive and unclear. Tantawi is trying to avoid chaos and transfer power in the mostly orderly way possible,’ Vilnai told Israeli military radio. ‘We hope that he will succeed… otherwise we will see general chaos and that will be very bad for Egypt.'” Read more.