POPE'S HOLY LAND VISIT . . . VATICAN QUEST FOR ' PEACE , PRIMACY & POWER '

POPE'S HOLY LAND VISIT . . . VATICAN QUEST FOR ' PEACE , PRIMACY & POWER '

The 3-Day Papal Tour of Jordan - WestBank - Israel was a major event in the Vatican's ' master - plan ' for global dominion. Every aspect of this whirlwind tour was choreographed to promote interfaith dialogue & Pope Francis' aura as ' the Great Peacemaker 'preparing the way for the Vatican's rise to religious & political primacy. While claiming the tour was " purely religious " the Pope's words & actions ran deep with political intent. Consider this :

1 ) Pope Francis chose both a Jewish Rabbi & an Islamic Imam to travel with him during the trip to underscore the Pope's credentials & standing as the world's pre-eminent ' Peacemaker '.

2 ) He chose to fly ' direct ' from Jordan to the Palestinian-controlled Bethlehem - widely seen as a deliberate show of ' solidarity ' with the Palestinian cause. Never before has a Pope entered into Bethlehem without going through Israel first. The Pope repeatedly backed Palestinians' statehood aspirations , addressing its leader Abbas as the president of the ' State of Palestine ' & calling Abbas a ' man of peace ' even as Abbas forms a ' unity government ' with the Islamic militant / terrorist group Hamas !!


3 ) Pope Francis sparked controversy , when he provocatively stopped to pray at Israel’s controversial West Bank separation barrier. Standing before dozens of journalists & photographers, Francis put a hand on the wall, bowed his head & said a short prayer alongside a section on which “ Free Palestine ” & " Apartheid Wall " was scrawled in graffiti. Later , he also held a private lunch with five Palestinian families who say they have been harmed by Israeli policies. Media events, all ' staged ' by the Vatican to draw attention to Palestinian victimhood & more importantly , to ' demonise ' Israel & isolate the Jewish State internationally.

4 ) The centrepiece of the trip was Pope Francis' meeting & prayer with Patriarch Bartholomew ( spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians ) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a similar meeting between their predecessors that ended a 900-year rift between the Catholic - Orthodox Churches. This event further underlining the Pope as a ' transformative peacemaker '

5 ) Fulfilling prophecies in Matthew & Mark - Pope Francis became only the 2nd Pope EVER to enter ' inside ' the Dome of the Rock (The Holy Place ) confirming he is the ' Abomination of Desolation '. Meeting with Islamic Imam's it was a display of merging Catholic-Muslim Unity & a chance to debate the last practical solutions before a ' final agreement ' can be reached on peace & universal brotherhood under ' One Universal Religion ' of all faiths - led by the Pope - from one throne of authority in Jerusalem

6 ) Finally , Pope Francis injected himself - politically - decrying Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts , declaring “ The time has come to put an end to this situation , which has become increasingly unacceptable ” then instigating his own ' Peace Process ' by issuing a joint invitation to Abbas & President Peres to visit the Vatican on June 6 to ' pray for peace '. A Vatican spokesman said it was a papal peace initiative , based on the Pope's moral & spiritual ' authority ' ( whose fraudulent claim is of being ' the Prince of Peace ' )


As we see these events unfold , the time draws near when THE TRUE ' Prince of Peace ' the Lord Jesus Christ will soon return to collect His faithful followers , before returning with them to execute the long-prophesied judgments against this Apostate system & all its harlot daughters. The 2014 Papal Tour provided one unmistakable ' prophetic sign ' warning of coming trouble on an unprecedented scale . . .


Matthew 24v15,21 - When ye therefore shall see the ' abomination of desolation ' ( Pope ) spoken of by Daniel the prophet STAND IN ' the holy place ' ( whoso readeth , let him understand : ) . . . For THEN shall be great tribulation , such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time , no , nor ever shall be. ( We have ' JUST WITNESSED ' this amazing sign - - Time is short !!! )

THE FALLING CRUCIFIX . . . THE ' FISHY ' ORIGINS OF PAPAL WORSHIP REVEALED

THE FALLING CRUCIFIX . . . THE ' FISHY ' ORIGINS OF PAPAL WORSHIP REVEALED


The bizarre death of a Catholic pilgrim beneath the collapsed crucifix was God's forewarning of coming divine judgment on this 'false religion ' that has its origins in ' Pagan Worship '. Among the Papacy's most notable symbols of its Pagan roots , is the ' Mitre' commonly worn upon the heads of Catholic Popes & Bishops. This unusual headdress originated from the worship of the ancient Pagan Fish god , Dagon. In a stunning parallel , scripture vividly describes the demise of the original worshipped statue ofDagon over 2,000 years ago , in the ' exact identical circumstances ' to the fallen crucifix of recent days ( incl. cutting off of both head & hands of both idolatrous statues ) This terrible crucifix incident was no random event. Its an unmistakable warning from Almighty God of the judgments coming upon the Roman Mother Church & those who would partake of her sins



1 Samuel 5v2-5 - When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon & set it by Dagon & when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow , behold , Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon & set him in his place ' again ' . And when they arose early on the morrow morning , behold , Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD ; & the head of Dagon & both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold ; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon , nor any that come into Dagon'shouse , tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day

Who is the “antichrist”

The word “antichrist” is found only 5 times in the Bible, all in the Letters of John.  In the Greek, “antichrist” means either against Christ or instead of Christ.  (Vine’s Expository Dictionary), “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ” (Westcott).

      “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18).

      “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).

       “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:1-3).

      “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7).

According to the inspired words of John, everyone who does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh” is a member of antichrist! John wrote these words because there were people in his day claiming that Jesus was a spirit who only used a body for 33 years and then discarded the body when he died. Tragically, there are still people today who believe and teach that Jesus was a pre-existing spirit who took on a body for his life on earth and then left the body when it was killed. The apostle says that this is antichrist teaching because it separates Jesus from his body and teaches that Jesus did not really come “in the flesh” since, according to these people, he could exist without the body.

The truth of the matter is that Jesus was born of a human mother, with God as his father (Luke 1: 34.35; 2 John 1:3). Because his mother was human, Jesus inherited a nature like ours which can be tempted to sin (Matthew 4:4; Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:15), and like everyone since the days of Adam he inherited mortality (Romans 5:12-14). The body of Jesus was exactly like ours and he could no more leave his body than we can leave our own. When the body of Jesus died, Jesus himself died and remained dead for three days (Acts 2:23-32; Matthew 16:21). After that, Jesus (including his body) was resurrected and his body changed to flesh and spirit instead of flesh and blood (Luke 24: 36-43; Acts 2:24,32). Jesus himself said after his resurrection:

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).

In this way, the Bible explains to us that Jesus Christ did actually come “in the flesh”. God warns us in His Word that to separate Jesus from his flesh is deadly wrong, for this is the teaching of antichrist.

Notice how the Bible uses “antichrist” to describe anyone who does not teach that Jesus really came “in the flesh”. There actually is no such thing in the Bible as one “future Antichrist”, because antichrists were already in existence during John’s day and many more arose during the following centuries. Antichrists are also in existence NOW since there are many false prophets today who do not teach that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh”. Therefore, it is completely unbiblical to speak of one “future Antichrist” and this alone should teach us to beware of the “future Antichrist” theory.

Pope Francis and Atheists

A few weeks ago, Pope Francis said that atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Catholic Online 25-May-13

He explained that atheists can be led to God by doing good. He said, “We are judged by a just God who will welcome us based on what we have done with what we knew. Those who do not know God will be judged on the good they have done and the values lived by.”

But the Bible teaches: “He that comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6).



The issue is faith and works.  Ordained a Catholic priest in 1507, Martin Luther found from his Bible studies that good works do NOT make a man good, but a good man does good works. The essential difference is FAITH. We learn and slowly develop faith, an absolutely acceptance of what God has promised. Faith only comes by ONE process – “hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17).



We have to make the mental change FIRST.  “Let this MIND be in your which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5), and then good works will be the natural outcome of the conscience.



Start reading your Bible.  “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).  Christ is the mediator, the High priest, we need no priest of the Church to bring us to God.



Heaven?  God never promised heaven!  He promised “dominion over the earth” (Genesis 1:26) for “the heavens are the Lords, but the earth has he given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16) We wait for the day with the “Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).

VATICAN'S DOUBLE SAINTHOOD . . . & AN ' OMINOUS ' MESSAGE ( literally ) FROM ABOVE !!!

VATICAN'S DOUBLE SAINTHOOD . . . & AN ' OMINOUS ' MESSAGE ( literally ) FROM ABOVE !!!

Yet another ' Freak Co-incidence ' - or - ' Sign from Above ' ?!?  On the eve of an extraordinary ' double canonisation to sainthood ' of two Popes ( John XXIII  &  John-Paul II ) an enormous over-hanging crucifix monument  honoring the late John Paul - has collapsed crushing & killing a 21 y.o. man in northern Italy.  This horrifying incident follows a bizarre string of disturbing events plaguing the Vatican.  The ' freak ' mid-winter Lightning Strike on the Vatican's Sistine Chapel ( just hours after Pope Benedict's sudden resignation ) ;   [26-Jan]  Pope Francis' Peace Doves  being attacked & mauled by a crow & seagull ;  [28-Jan]  a giant ' rolling stone ' dislodges & destroys a 300 y.o. Vatican-owned villa in north Italy ( very same week of Pope Francis' unprecedented Papal appearance on the cover of the iconic rock music magazine ' The Rolling Stone ' )  So , are all these mystifying events & their unmistakable timing , simply random meaningless events ??  Obviously not !!  They are clear warnings of the coming ' divine judgment ' on this apostate religion that ' falsely masquerades ' as God's representatives on earth . . .  &  all who hold to her ungodly sorceries.

2Thess 2v3-11 - Let no man deceive you by any means : for that day shall not come , except there come a falling away first  &  that man of sin be revealed , the son of perdition ; Who opposeth  &  exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped ; so that  he  as God sitteth in the temple of God , shewing himself that he is God.  Remember ye not , that , when I was yet with you , I told you these things ? . . . For the mystery of iniquity doth already work :  only  he  who now letteth will let , until  he  be taken out of the way. Then shall that wicked be revealed , whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth  &  shall destroy with the brightness of his coming :  Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power & signs & lying wonders & with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ;  because they received not the love of the truth , that they might be saved.  For this cause God shall send them strong delusion , that they should believe ' a lie '

The Latter Days

“The Latter Days” is a time period mentioned in scripture. It is important, because in the latter days Jesus Christ will return to the earth and it is the time period we are living in now.

The return of Israel

We read this amazing prophecy in Hosea:

“For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” Hosea 3:4, 5

This shows that the Jews would once again return to their land. This happened in 1948 with the declaration of a Jewish state. We are therefore living in this Biblical time period termed “the latter days”.

The verse however is not completely fulfilled, as Israel are not engaged in the activity of “seeking the LORD their God” or “David their king”. The Lord their God is the God of the Jewish Fathers – the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. David is a reference to Jesus Christ – David means “beloved” – see reference to Christ as the “beloved” in Luke 9:35, 2 Peter 1:17. The Jews therefore will once again seek God and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah in the not too distant future, when he returns to the earth to rebuild the temple and establish God’s Kingdom on the earth. (See more about the Kingdom in this article “The Kingdom of God »“.)

The tribulation of Israel

The Bible describes the circumstances of the turning point when Israel will accept Jesus as the Messiah. The Bible speaks of a time, after the Jews have returned to their land, when all the nations will gather against them.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” Zechariah 12:2-3

We read in Zechariah of how Israel is almost defeated by the armies of the invading nations. It is at this point of desperation that God will intervene and “save the tents of Judah” (v7). It is clear He will do this by sending His representative, the Lord Jesus Christ, for we read that “they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (v10). Before moving away from Zechariah, it is worthy of note that when Christ does come, he comes with his “saints” (or “called out ones”) – see Zechariah 14:1-5. This gives us an idea of the sequence of the events which are to unfold at Christ’s return – in order for the chosen saints to be with Christ in glory, it means that they have first been resurrected and judged. The return of Christ to the earth, the resurrection and the judgement therefore take place before the attack on Israel by the nations.

This is all very exciting as it links us into a prophecy directly about “the latter days” given by the prophet Moses to Israel:

 ”I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” Deuteronomy 4:26-31

So if we piece together the prophecy of Zechariah 12 with the prophecy of Deuteronomy 4, we get a picture of what is soon to happen on the earth. We have seen the fulfilment of the prophecies of the regathering of the Jews to Israel. We are living in a time just before the return of Jesus who will soon return and perform the resurrection of the dead and judgement. The nations will come against Israel. Israel will be in dire tribulation and on their last legs. At that point Messiah (and his saints) will appear to them and they will accept him and then they will begin to serve God once more. This is all going to happen in the time period called “The Latter Days”.

The Kingdom to be set up

The details in the famous prophecy called “Nebuchadnezzar’s image” recorded in Daniel 2, were given to prove that “there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known… what shall be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28).

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is all about the history of the kingdoms of men and God’s future Kingdom which is to be set up on the earth on the territory of the kingdoms of men. This future Kingdom is to be set up after Jesus Christ returns to the earth. 

Bible Prophecy Christianity Corrupted

Christianity Corrupted

Nearly all of the writers of the New Testament predicted that changes would occur in key beliefs after their deaths. That people would “fall away” and that “apostasy” would enter the body of believers. Consider the following verses:

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock… For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:27-30

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come (the return of Christ), except there come a falling away first…” 2 Thessalonians 2:3

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy…” 1 Timothy 4:1-2

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude v3

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

A Warning

We can see from the verses above that the established church would be deceived by false ideas. The warning is to take heed to what the Bible teaches. We must get back to the word of God. We cannot afford to rely on what a Vicar, Priest, Bishop or Pastor dictates to us.

We have to search out the scriptures to ensure that we hold the truth as preached by the original believers in Jesus Christ. Such searching can be done by any individual who is seeking for truth. It takes an open and independent mind, one which comes to the Bible to find that truth. The verses above show the importance of finding the true original doctrines as taught in the scriptures and holding fast to them. It clearly does matter what we believe and to ensure we have not been deceived by an apostate system we have to get back to what the Bible teaches.

The Historical Fulfilment

From the verses we have looked at, you can clearly see that the established body of Christians would be infiltrated and deceived by false ideas. History shows that the early church changed its stance on core doctrines quite early on. This changed and corrupted church soon became political under the name of the Catholic church. Many split offs from this “Mother” church have occurred but most of these “daughters” adopted the already changed and corrupted doctrines of their Mother.

The historian Edward Gibbon, in the 15th chapter of his ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’, tells of how the original beliefs of the early Christians were changed over the course of time. He writes the following:

“The ancient and popular doctrine of the Millennium was intimately connected with the second coming of Christ … a joyful Sabbath of a thousand years; when Christ, with the triumphant band of the saints and the elect who had escaped death, or who had revived, would reign upon earth…”

So the early believer’s hope, as outlined in the Bible (more here) was that Jesus was to return to the earth to set up a Kingdom. Believers were to reign with him on earth for 1000 years. This belief changed. A core doctrine which most churches adopted was that men have an immortal soul (a belief brought in by ancient Greek philosophy) and that, upon death it floated to heaven or hell. Many churches, including the Catholic church, its break off daughters and even churches who claim to have nothing to do with the Catholic church such as Evangelical churches, hold this same corrupted doctrine today.

Justin Martyr, an early Christian, also wrote in 150AD:

“For if you have conversed with some that are indeed called Christians, and do not maintain these opinions, but even dare to blaspheme the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and say that there is no resurrection of the dead, but that the souls, as soon as they leave the body, are received up into heaven, take care that you do not look upon these. But I, and all those Christians that are really orthodox in every respect, do know that there will be a resurrection of the body and a thousand years in Jerusalem, when it is built again, and adorned, and enlarged, as Ezekiel, and Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets declare.” – Dialogue With Trypho, The Jew, section LXXX.

Again we see how that the original church doctrine was changed – and we could cite from many more writers who lived in the early period of the church.

With further study you would find that other core doctrines of modern Christianity are not original beliefs as taught in the scriptures – the four most profound corruptions are on the doctrine of the resurrection, the Kingdom of God on earth, the unity of God and the devil (select a link to find out the true Bible teaching on these topics).

Recent Changes

Many recent changes are occurring in most churches as the pressures of modern, humanistic society challenge already weak church practices and doctrines. In a desperate attempt to keep up their popularity, churches adopt these ideas. There are a few doctrines which have recently been changed in many churches – such as the authority of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, divorce, adultery, cohabitation, homosexuality, and women priests amongst many more.

The Catholic church especially has exposed its changing character with the public ‘apologies’ of its leader (Pope Benedict XVI). One Catholic doctrine is that the Pope is God’s infallible representative on earth. How is it then that one Pope can apologise for another’s declaration – especially for beliefs or decrees which followers died for! Consider the recent declaration that the idea of Limbo for child “souls” is not true. What of other Popes who believed it or indeed the Mothers and Fathers who paid money to the clergy to supposedly get their children from Limbo to heaven? Did God change his mind? What about Pope Benedict XVI’s apology for offending Islam in one of his speeches in 2006 – were the Popes of previous ages sorry when they ordered the destruction of thousands of Muslims?

These recent changes clearly show that change is something which does and will occur – but is it something which should occur?

God’s ways do not change

The Bible clearly teaches that God’s ways and purpose do not change. Consider these verses:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

“For I am the LORD, I change not…” Malachi 3:6

“God is not a man,  that he should lie; neither the son of man,  that he should repent: hath he said,  and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken,  and shall he not make it good?” Numbers 23:19

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it wasimpossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” Hebrews 6:17-18

“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2

It is important therefore to read the Bible, for what we find there will not change. Although man changes and society’s rules may change – the Bible will stay constant, both in its doctrines and its teaching on how we should live. What we believe and how we live our lives, should be consistent with the Bible if we claim to be followers of it.

"Come out from among her my people"

You may find the Lords counsel more beneficial, even if less appealing.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The Angels That Sinned! 2 Peter 2 Jude 6 & the book of Enoch

The devil and body of Moses, Jude 9 & the Book of Enoch

Israeli tech start-ups join London IPO wave

Israeli tech start-ups join London IPO wave
Daily Telegraph 12-Feb-14
Marimedia and Matomy part of a clutch of Tel-Aviv based businesses eyeing a London listing
Britain’s equity market is becoming a magnet for Israel-based technology companies which are considering choosing London rather than the Tel Aviv stock exchange this year for flotations.
Israeli investors and entrepreneurs raised $361m (£219m) last year via IPOs, the most since 2007, and a stark reversal of a trend which saw most companies exiting through a sale.
Israel has been dubbed the “start-up nation” due to an explosion of innovation in the region. Six Israeli technology companies are currently in discussions about listing in London this year, sources close to the process said.
Digital advertising company Matomy is understood to be working with Rothschild, UBS and Bank of America Merrill Lynch on launching an initial public offering before the summer. The company is looking to raise £60m, which will value it at around £200m to £300m. Matomy declined to comment.
Unlike other digital advertising companies, Matomy only charges a publisher when an advert generates revenues. The company’s founder, Kfir Moyal, started programming computers aged 10 and made $100 a month pocket money by building websites at 14.
The company now has 10 global offices in Israel, Spain, Germany, Mexico, San Francisco and New York, employing 400 people. Matomy has recorded double-digit revenue growth, reporting $200m last year.
Meanwhile, Marimedia, another Israeli digital advertising company, is in the early stages of considering a London listing, sources said.
The company is understood to have met with a clutch of investment banks but has not yet given a mandate.
A Marimedia spokesman declined to comment.
Digital advertising spending has grown at three times the rate of traditional advertising revenues, leaving companies to grapple with incorporating new technologies into their business plans.
Israeli website design company Wix, which successfully floated in New York last year, is understood to be behind the resurgence in Tel Aviv-based companies looking to tap the capital markets.

Mediterranean energy finds ‘game changers’ in renewed Cyprus peace drive

Mediterranean energy finds ‘game changers’ in renewed Cyprus peace drive
The Times of Israel 11-Feb-14
As leaders prepare to meet in world’s last divided capital, prospect of gas deal with Israel increases likelihood of resolution
Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot leaders meet Tuesday to relaunch talks on ending the island’s division after a nearly two-year break, with optimism that the energy card could provide a breakthrough.
Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek-Cypriot leader, and his Turkish-Cypriot counterpart Dervis Eroglu are to unveil a road map for the renewed UN-brokered talks, finally agreed on last week after protracted haggling over the text delayed a relaunch originally earmarked for November.
The breakthrough, according to experts, was triggered by the changed dynamics in the region created by the island’s untapped gas and oil riches offshore and a huge natural gas find in waters off neighboring Israel.
Hopes are high that these factors can transform the current frosty climate into one of reconciliation and trust that would make an elusive peace deal achievable.
“Turkey and Israel’s energy cooperation has triggered an American intervention and forced both sides to agree on a joint statement leading to a resumption of talks,” Hubert Faustmann, associate professor of history and political science at Nicosia University, told AFP.
“Washington has put so much weight behind this latest peace effort because oil and gas is a game changer in the wider context … It’s a win-win situation for all,” he added.
He said the lack of a Cyprus settlement after 40 years of division was hindering Israel’s cooperation with Nicosia to export gas.
“Israel is looking to diversify by gas pipeline through the sea of Cyprus to Turkey and invest in an LNG plant on the island, but Israel won’t give its gas to Cyprus unless there is a solution,” said Faustmann.
The talks, starting from 11:30 am, are to be held in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, the world’s last divided capital.
Turkish Cypriots suspended the last round of talks in mid-2012 when Anastasiades’s internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus assumed the European Union’s rotating presidency.
A draft text of the joint statement leaked to the media says any final agreement would be subject to simultaneous referendums in both communities.
“This is the best chance for peace since 2004 because of oil and gas,” said Faustmann.
Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 still a divided island, after Greek Cypriot voters rejected a UN reunification blueprint that was approved by Turkish Cypriots.
And current President Anastasiades was one of the few Greek Cypriot politicians to back the controversial UN plan 10 years ago.
The US — which has commercial interests in the island’s gas and oil exploration — is aware that a divided Cyprus is a source of tension for NATO members Greece and Turkey.
Turkey is opposed to Cyprus exporting oil and gas – saying the energy wealth also belongs to Turkish Cypriots — and been accused of “gunship diplomacy” by the Greek Cypriots.
“There are huge time pressures for energy investment and any delay will see more economic misery for Cypriots,” said Faustmann.
A resumption of talks was delayed by the eurozone debt crisis, which forced Nicosia to secure a bailout from international creditors last March, plunging the island into deep recession.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third in 1974 in response to an Athens-engineered coup aimed at uniting it with Greece.
A breakaway state which Turkish Cypriot leaders declared in 1983 is recognized only by Ankara.
Greece has given its backing to renewed talks, with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras calling them “one of the leading priorities of Greek foreign policy.”

PA Minister: We Demand Sovereignty Over Kotel

PA Minister: We Demand Sovereignty Over Kotel
Arutz Sheva 11-Feb-14
A top Palestinian Authority official said that the PA was demanding sovereignty over all areas of Jerusalem Israel liberated in the Six Day War, including the Kotel (Western Wall).
Speaking to Channel Ten, Mahmoud al-Habbash, Minister of Holy Places in the PA, said that “there will be no peace until the end of the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. Every piece of land that Israel conquered then belongs to the Palestinians.” That includes Jerusalem, “the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall.”
Asked what would happen if Jews wished to pray at the Wall, al-Habbash said “they will be welcome, there will be no problem. There will be no limitations on freedom of religion and worship. Religious ceremonies are one thing, and politics are another.”
Under the Oslo Accords, Israelis are supposed to have access to several religious sites in PA-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria. In actuality, however, Jews are almost completely banned from these sites, including the Tomb of Joseph in Shechem and the Tomb of Joshua in Kifl Hares. Jews are rarely allowed to visit these sites, and then only under very strict security conditions. Several Jews, including Rabbi Hillel Lieberman h”yd, have been killed in area of Joseph's Tomb.
With that, Channel Ten quoted sources in the PA that most of the issues brought up in the negotiations being conducted by US Secretary of State John Kerry, including land swaps, have been resolved. But the Palestinians are insisting that all areas of Jerusalem liberated in the Six Day War, including the Jewish Quarter, the Kotel, and Jewish neighborhoods such as French Hill, Ramat Eshkol, and Har Homa be placed under PA sovereignty. Kerry has spent much time and effort in trying to come to a compromise on Jerusalem, but has so far failed, PA sources said.
Speaking to Channel Ten, the PA's Jerusalem Minister, Abu-Ala, said that the current round of negotiations was one of the most intense ever between Israel and the PA, thanks to the strenuous efforts of Kerry to get the two sides to agree to a negotiation framework.
But he said that effort came with a risk.
“Given the intensity with which the Americans are approaching this, there will probably be undesirable consequences if the talks fail.”

Egypt, Russia Seal $2B Arms Deal

Egypt, Russia Seal $2B Arms Deal
Arutz Sheva 09-Feb-14
Saudi Arabia and UAE foot the bill for sale of advanced defense systems, helicopters, aircraft and anti-tank missiles.
Egypt has concluded an arms deal with Russia worth $2 billion, a senior official source told Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, noting that the Egyptian and Russian sides reached agreement on all details of the agreement over the past few weeks.
The source, who asked not to be named, said the two Gulf kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and the UAE played a “vital role” in sealing the deal.
The official revealed that the first tranche of Russian weapons to Egypt will be delivered before mid-2014. The delivery and payments will both be phased, he explained.
In November, Russia declared that it had received an Egyptian offer to buy advanced defense systems, military helicopters, MiG-29 aircraft and anti-tank missiles with a combined value of $2 billion. The overall cost of the purchase was in fact double, but cash-strapped Egypt would only pay half of that, according to the source. The apparent show of Russian largess was no act of altruistic generosity, however; the Kremlin has been aggressively capitalizing on perceived American weakness in the Middle East to - particularly over crises in Iran and Syria - to expand its own sphere of influence in the Arab world, which until recently was limited to Syria.
According to reports in a Kuwaiti newspaper late last year, one of the objectives of the arms deal was to enable a newly pro-Russian Egypt to achieve military parity with the United State's closest ally in the region: Israel.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Kuwait, have been Egypt's top Arab financiers following the overthrow of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, with financial and in-kind aid totalling about $12 billion. Since the overthrow of Morsi's predecessor Hosni Mubarak in 2011, the north Africa state has seen its economy go into a virtual free-fall, and now relies heavily on foreign support.
Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan al-Saud, reportedly told European diplomats in October that his country plans to scale back its cooperation with the US in efforts to arm and train Syrian rebels, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The decision was said to be the result of Riyadh's "frustration" with the Obama administration's foreign policy in the Middle East, and reflects a growing sense of discontent by one of America's staunchest Arab allies.
That statement came days after the Gulf Kingdom surprised observers by turning down a temporary position on the United Nations Security Council, in what it said was a protest at the Security Council's ineffectiveness in solving regional conflicts.
Saudi Arabia is also said to be concerned about American overtures to its arch-foe, Iran, and alarmed at what they see as an incoherent and weak American Middle East strategy.
“The Saudis are very upset. They don’t know where the Americans want to go,” WST quoted a "senior European diplomat" as saying.

Pentagon expands, modernizes its base for Fifth Fleet in Bahrain

Pentagon expands, modernizes its base for Fifth Fleet in Bahrain
GeoStrategy direct w/e 12-Feb-14
 The United States has advanced in a project to expand its military presence in Bahrain.
Officials said the Defense Department has been awarding contracts for the expansion of the U.S. Navy base outside Manama.
The U.S. will invest $500 million to expand its Fifth Fleet base in Manama.
They said the project, estimated at more than $500 million, focused on construction and modernization of facilities at the Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters, responsible for operations in the Gulf.
On Jan. 22, the Pentagon awarded a $9.7 million contract for the construction of the Fifth Fleet complex. Under the contract, American International Contractors would construct the British Maritime Component Command at Bahrain's Mina Salman port.
"Funds in the amount of $9,788,000 were obligated at the time of the award," the Pentagon said.
American International has been identified as a leading company in the U.S. military project in Bahrain, overseen by the Army's Corps of Engineers. The project was meant to establish additional residential facilities as well as protect the compound from attack.
Officials said the Pentagon has overseen the completion of a flyover at Mina Salman. The 122.5 meter-long bridge, begun in September 2012, was installed on Jan. 31 by the U.S. company Contrack NASS.
"This will remain a landmark project in the history of bridge construction in Middle East," Contrack International chief executive officer Wahid Hakki said.
Under the latest Pentagon contract, American International would construct a forward support unit warehouse and headquarters for the British component. The contract was expected to be completed in April 2015.
"Bids were solicited via the Internet, with eight received," the Pentagon said. "Work will be performed in Bahrain."

A More Assertive German Foreign Policy

:A More Assertive German Foreign Policy 

Stratfor 04-Feb-14 

By George Friedman and Marc Lanthemann 

The Ukrainian crisis is important in itself, but the behavior it has elicited from Germany is perhaps more important. Berlin directly challenged Ukraine's elected president for refusing to tighten relations with the European Union and for mistreating Ukrainians who protested his decision. In challenging President Viktor Yanukovich, Berlin also challenged Russia, a reflection of Germany's recent brazen foreign policy. 

Since the end of World War II, Germany has pursued a relatively tame foreign policy. But over the past week, Berlin appeared to have acknowledged the need for a fairly dramatic change. German leaders, including the chancellor, the president, the foreign minister and the defense minister, have called for a new framework that contravenes the restraint Germany has practiced for so long. They want Germany to assume a greater international role by becoming more involved outside its borders politically and militarily. 

For Berlin, the announcement of this high-level strategic shift comes amid a maelstrom of geopolitical currents. As the de facto leader of the European Union, Germany has to contend with and correct the slow failure of the European project. It has to adjust to the U.S. policy of global disengagement, and it must manage a complex, necessary and dangerous relationship with Russia. A meek foreign policy is not well suited to confront the situation in which Germany now finds itself. If Germany doesn't act, then who will? And if someone else does, will it be in Germany's interest? The latter is perhaps the more intriguing question. 

Setting Boundaries 

Such a reconfiguration shows that Germany has its own national interests that may differ from those of its alliance partners. For most countries, this would seem self-evident. But for Germany, it is a radical position, given its experience in World War II. It has refrained from asserting a strong foreign policy and from promoting its national interest lest it revive fears of German aggression and German nationalism. The Germans may have decided that this position is no longer tenable -- and that promoting their national interests does not carry the risk it once did. 

The timing of the announcement, as Ukraine's strategic position between Russia and Europe continues to make headlines, was not coincidental. While the timing benefited Germany, it would be a mistake to ascribe too much importance to Ukraine itself, particularly from the German perspective. That is not to say Ukraine should be discounted entirely. As a borderland between the European Peninsula and Russia, its future potentially matters to Germany -- if not now then perhaps in the future, when unexpected regional realities might show themselves. 

Ukraine is an indispensable borderland for Russia, but it has little value for any modern power that has no designs against Russia. It is one of the gateways into the heart of Russia. A hostile power occupying Ukraine would threaten Russian national security. But the reverse is not true: Ukraine is not a primary route from Russia into Europe (World War II is a notable exception) because the Carpathian Mountains discourage invasion. So unless the Germans are planning a new war with Russia -- and they aren't -- Ukraine matters little to Europe or the Germans. 

The same is true in the economic realm. Ukraine is important to Russia, particularly for transporting energy to Europe. But outside of energy transport, Ukraine is not that important to Europe. Indeed, for all that has been said about Ukraine's relationship to the European Union, it has never been clear why the bloc has made it such a contentious issue. The European Union is tottering under the weight of Southern Europe's enormously high unemployment rate, Eastern Europe's uncertainty about the value of being part of Europe's banking system and currency union, and a growing policy rift between France and Germany. The chances that the Europeans would add Ukraine to an organization that already boasts Greece, Cyprus and other crippled economies are so slim that considerations to the contrary would be irrational. The fact that Ukraine is not getting into the bloc makes German policy even harder to fathom. 

Of course, some European countries have more of an interest in Ukraine than others, particularly those formerly in the Soviet sphere of influence. For Poland and the Baltic states, Russia remains the major geopolitical foe in a way that Western Europe cannot fully comprehend. These relatively small and new members cannot compel the EU heavyweights to commit to a plan of action that would go too far in provoking Russia, but they can still push their peers to take a more measured action. 

During the Orange Revolution, U.S.-led Western powers openly funded opposition groups in the former Soviet states, threatening Russia's strategic interests to the point that it had to eventually invade Georgia to show the consequences of Western meddling. Over the past month, Germany has been behaving similarly, albeit to a smaller degree: opening partisan ties and giving relatively low-cost financial and rhetorical support to opposition groups that can irritate Russia without actually causing an immediate break with Moscow. 

For the past decade, Germany could not afford to alienate Russia, which Berlin thought could be the answers to some of Germany's problems. It could reliably supply relatively cheap energy, it was a potential source of low-cost labor, and it was a potential destination market for German exporters looking for alternatives to stagnating EU markets. 

Diplomatically, Moscow could have become a close ally and strategic partner as erstwhile allies appeared to be growing increasingly hostile to Germany. Relations with the United States were tense ever since Berlin refused to participate in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, and Chancellor Angela Merkel's support for EU-wide austerity measures strained Germany's ties with Southern Europe and France. 

But the reality was otherwise. There is a fit between Germany and Russia, but it is at best an imperfect one. Russia never industrialized or modernized as Germany and many others had hoped as it reaped the profits of high commodity prices. Under President Vladimir Putin, Moscow became increasingly autocratic and went on the political and economic offensive in Central and Eastern Europe. 

This conflicts with Germany's strategic goals. Berlin's core imperative is to preserve its economic power, which is highly dependent on exports. The European economic crisis has caused consumption to falter in the European Union, leading Berlin to search for export markets further afield. While it has had some success in China and the United States for certain industries, it has not been able to shed its overwhelming dependence on European markets as a general destination for its goods. Thus, Germany's only possible course of action is preserving and eventually reinvigorating the free trade zone in Europe. 

Russia's resurgence in Central Europe has concerned EU members in that region. On the surface, the Germans were prepared to live with that resurgence even though it appeared to threaten to unravel the bloc. Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are indispensable components of the German industrial supply chain and a source of relatively cheap skilled labor. That they should remain in the German sphere of influence is a non-negotiable position for Berlin. 

These issues are not new, but until now Germany had been constrained in how it could establish firm boundaries with Moscow. Berlin believed its dependence on Russian energy was a vulnerability that Russia could exploit if it chose to. In addition, it was concerned about Russia's ability to wrest Central Europe from EU control. In a worst-case scenario, Germany would end up with a fragmented Europe, a distant United States and a hostile Russia. 

The fact that Germany actively supported opposition groups in Ukraine, particularly in the absence of a pressing strategic imperative to do so, is a sign that something has changed in Berlin's calculus toward Russia. It seems as though the German government has determined that Russia is facing major challenges at home; that its position in Europe is weaker than it appears; that the risk of energy cutoffs are minimal; and that there are no long-term economic benefits to an economic relationship with Russia that goes beyond energy trade. That last point cannot be overstated. Russia is poised to remain the most important supplier of energy to Europe, and while the dependency runs both ways -- Europe is Russia's largest customer -- Germany will make sure the flow of energy continues unimpeded. 

With the United States increasingly depending on a balance of power approach to its foreign policy, relying more heavily on regional actors to manage threats, the long-term U.S. security guarantees that had been the hallmark of European defense since 1945 can no longer be counted on in Berlin. As NATO continues to fray and the challenges posed by an increasingly volatile Russia loom, Germany seems to be taking the first step back into establishing a new national and regional security framework. 

A New Element 

Germany's talk of a new, more assertive foreign policy that relies more heavily on its military is, however, not solely linked to concerns over Russia or the United States. Germany has accepted that its only option is to rally Europe but as the past six years have shown, it has had limited success on the economic front. The European Union is an economic entity, but economics has turned from being the binding element to being a centripetal force. Either something new must be introduced into the European experiment, or it might come undone. 

Berlin believes that holding the European Union together requires adding another dimension that it heretofore has withheld in its dealing with the bloc: military-political relations. Standing up to a weakening Russia will appeal to Central European nations, and taking a more active role overseas would endear Berlin to Paris. Germany's allusions that it would expand its international military operations, particularly in Africa, is a clear nod to France, which has consistently expressed its desire for a deeper military and political partnership with Germany. 

Notably, the drive to bring Germany closer to France in the short term could create tensions between them in the long term. Last week's summit between British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande was a reminder that France and the United Kingdom may have extremely different views regarding the European Union but still see each other as a military partner and, more important, as a counterweight to Germany. 

Of course, Germany is in no position to take military action. It is in a position to posit the possibility in some vague way, thereby generating political forces that can temporarily hold things together. Berlin needs to buy time, particularly in Central Europe, where Hungary has embarked on an independent course and is being watched carefully by others. With the United States unwilling to become involved, Germany either becomes the counterweight or lives with the consequences. 

At first, Germany's actions seemed confusing and uncharacteristic. But they become more sensible when you consider that that Berlin is looking for other tools to hold the European Union together as it re-evaluates Russia. So far, Germany's announcement has been met positively, mainly outside Germany, but the tension that a stronger and more assertive Berlin exerts on the European continent and the global stage are sure to come to the fore again. For now, however, Merkel has no choice. 

Putin to visit Tehran. King of Morocco invites Iran to “Jerusalem Committee” – with Kerry’s approval

Putin to visit Tehran. King of Morocco invites Iran to “Jerusalem Committee” – with Kerry’s approval 

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report 17-Jan-14 

Tehran’s offensive for establishing itself as the leading Middle East power bar none is in full flight. On his arrival in Moscow Thursday, Jan. 17, Foreign Minister Javad Zerif handed Vladimir Putin an invitation to visit Tehran from President Hassan Rouhani. The Russian president replied: “I hope to visit you in Tehran very soon.” Iran also sent out invitations to Gulf rulers to tour its nuclear reactor at Bushehr,  combined with a round table discussion on regional nuclear cooperation. 

This visit would be tantamount to the Arab oil emirs’ recognition of the legitimacy of Iran’s nuclear program. It is likely to come off because the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are already in favor of rapprochement with Tehran. 

A development more directly affecting Israel’s interests is the King of Morocco’s offer to Iran of full membership in the Al Quds (Jerusalem) Committee of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (IOC), with the approval of US Secretary of State John Kerry. 

Friday and Saturday (Jan. 17-18), in Marrakesh, the king chaired the Al Quds Committee’s 20th session, its first in ten years, announcing an effort to contribute to John Kerry’s efforts to revive the Middle East peace process. The gathering is attended by the foreign ministers of the committee member states, UN Security Council member states, the UN, EU and the Arab League, as well as Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. 

debkafile reports that Kerry has been keeping King Mohammad VI in Rabat au fait of the state of play in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, hoping to win the organization’s cooperation on the tough Jerusalem issue. Any US-backed Israeli-Palestinian accords involving Jerusalem, if achieved, would be referred to the Al Quds Committee. 

Therefore, by inviting Iran to join, Kerry and the Moroccan king have inserted Tehran into one of the most sensitive decision-making hubs affecting the Middle East peace process. 

These pivotal developments flow directly from the events disclosed by debkafile Thursday, Jan. 16: 

Thursday, Jan. 16, Iran’s Javad Zarif and Syria’s Walid Moallem flew together to Moscow aboard the same flight and went straight into a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zarif caught the flight in Damascus after a consultation with Syrian President Bashar Assad and a government-building exercise in Beirut. debkafile’s Middle East sources and intelligence sources report that this spurt of diplomatic motion came after Assad gave the nod to the plan Tehran had prepared to put on the table of the Geneva 2 conference, which opens in Switzerland on Jan. 20 for a political solution of the Syrian conflict.  The two foreign ministers came to Moscow to collect Putin’s signature on the Iranian plan. 

debkafile has gained access to its four high points: 

1. Since the Assad regime and the rebel movement have no hope of coming to terms at this point in the three-year war they have been fighting, a political solution must be sought in stages. 

2. The first stage would be agreement on a truce in the fighting. debkafile notes that a ceasefire has existed de facto in many parts of Syria for the last two months. 

3. Humanitarian corridors respected by both sides will be opened up for essential American, Russian and European aid in food, medicines and equipment for withstanding the cold winter, to reach the rebel-held zones of Syria, most of which are under army siege. 

4. Al Qaeda militias are counted out of any agreements. Therefore, an initiative must be launched for Syrian and rebel forces to collaborate in fighting al Qaeda elements in the areas under their control. 

Zarif also planned to show Putin the plan he has drawn up for bringing political stability to Lebanon with Hizballah’s cooperation. It centers on forming a national unity government of 24 ministers – eight for Hizballah and its allies and eight for the opposition bloc, each grouping holding the right to veto ministerial appointments. 

The Iranian foreign minister has clearly lost no time in filling the Middle East role of leading Middle East power broker and strongman, just allocated Tehran by Moscow and Washington. 

According to prearranged procedure. Iranian officials first hammer out an accord with local rulers, such as Assad, Nasrallah and Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. They then present it to the Russian leader for endorsement, after which Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refers the document to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. 

The Iranian foreign minister set the new arrangement in motion for the first time in Lebanon. Iran’s next exhibition of muscle-flexing as senior Middle East power will be staged on Jan. 20 at Geneva 2.