Israel’s enemies are always looking for chinks in its armor and they believe they have found one in recent years in Israel’s vulnerability to rocket and missile attacks on its civilian homefront. Indeed, groups like Hamas and Hizbullah have been making and stockpiling missiles at alarming rates. And on at least three occasions in recent years they have bombarded major Israeli cities with massive rocket barrages. Now Israel has been trying to close any holes in its defenses by developing a multi-tiered missile shield that includes the Patriot 3, the Arrow 3, David’s Sling, and now the impressive Iron Dome. There are also some more amazing missile defense systems being readied for deployment to close all the gaps. But Israeli security experts remain concerned that these missile defenses may be simply overwhelmed by hundreds of rockets fired at one time. And latest estimates claim that there are currently more than 170,000 rockets and missiles aimed at Israel’s civilian heartland. So what is Israel doing to prepare for large-scale missile attacks in the next war with its enemies? Has Israel developed some new surprises to help shield the nation from massive rocket barrages? Who is it that has all those rockets pointed at Israel’s homefront? And will the Israeli military be able to successfully defend the home front? Preparing for the Next Rocket War! That’s our focus this week here on Front Page Jerusalem! We’ll look at what Israeli military and government officials are doing to get the nation ready for all those massive missile barrages expected in the next conflict with its Arab and Islamic foes. Today’s main report will feature a sobering assessment on Israel’s missile defense capabilities by Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror, a former IDF intelligence officer who just stepped down as the top National Security Advisor to Israel’s prime minister.
On today’s program we’re looking at what Israeli leaders are doing to prepare the nation for the next major rocket war with its enemies. There are now over 170,000 missiles and rockets aimed at Israel’s civilian heartland, so defending against this threat will not be an easy task. At a recent briefing for Israeli military planners, Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror, a former IDF intelligence officer, gave his honest assessment on where the nation’s missile defense capabilities stand. Front Page reporter Aaron Hecht brings us the highlights from this briefing by the just-retired National Security Advisor to Israel’s prime minister.
Word From Zion
In today’s Word From Zion, we continue our recent focus on the biblical subject of Restoration, and particularly as it relates to Israel. Front Page senior producer David Parsons, an ordained minister with the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, talks this week about the partners of restoration – meaning all those Gentiles that God said would one day assist in Israel’s return to her ancient homeland.
Join hosts Earl Cox, Ben Kinchlow and David Parsons for this week’s Front Page Jerusalem, on a radio station near you or visit our website to download the MP3 and to subscribe to program podcasts
Next weekend Israel will celebrate Purim, a special holiday which recalls the time the Jewish people were delivered from a great threat in ancient Persia. The events surrounding Purim are recounted in the biblical Book of Esther, named for the beautiful Jewish Queen who helped save her people from annihilation at the hands of the evil Haman. It is an especially joyous occasion for Jewish children, who get to dress up in colorful costumes and eat special Purim pastries. Now the story of Purim ends with a great deliverance of the Jewish people, but the threats and enemies they faced back then never seem to truly go away. In fact, the Jews have always been on the lookout in every generation for the rise of new Hamans seeking to plot their destruction. This is true for our day as well, as an existential danger against Israel is arising in the same land of Persia in the form of the Iranian nuclear threat. So why were the Jewish people targeted for destruction by Haman? How did God deliver them from his evil plan? And what can we learn from the story of Purim to help us combat the hatred of the Jewish people today? The Lessons of Purim! That’s our focus next week here on Front Page Jerusalem! We’ll look at the story of Queen Esther and how she was able to deliver the Jewish people from certain destruction in the days of the Persian empire. Plus, we’ll explore the lessons that can be drawn from the holiday of Purim in order to confront the many threats facing Israel today. Our special guest will be the very popular Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.
