by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

“Inside The Revolution,” the non-fiction book I’ve been working on for the last several years, finally launched in book stores yesterday. Interviews this week include Glenn Beck on radio and TV, Michael Medved, Michael Reagan, the “700 Club,” and Janet Parschall. The first public event we’ll be doing is the 2009 Epicenter Conference in San Diego.

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTRODUCTION: (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

Largely overlooked by the Western news media over the past few weeks was an enormously significant story. The government of Iraq is moving forward with plans to protect the archaeological remains of the ancient City of Babylon, in preparation for building a modern city of Babylon. The project, originally started by the late Saddam Hussein, is aimed eventually at attracting scores of “cultural tourists” from all over the world to see the glories of Mesopotamia’s most famous city. What’s more, the Obama Administration is contributing $700,000 towards “The Future of Babylon Project,” through the State Department’s budget. (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

One thing is now clear after Tuesday’s national elections in Israel: the center-right coalition made dramatic gains and how can have an operating majority with 64 seats in the 120 seat Knesset (parliament), if they choose to work together in unity.

The center-left parties, by contrast, were trounced and now have only 56 seats, eight of which are held by Arab parties who so deeply resent the left-wing’s participation in the recent Gaza war against Hamas that they cannot be counted upon to help the left form a stable governing coalition.

The big surprise last night was that the leading center-right party – Likud, headed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – did not win a plurality. The left-wing Kadima party, headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, did. So things get really interesting from here. (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

(email from Mumbai, India)

Greetings from Mumbai (aka, “Bombay”). I’m here in the commercial capital of India and the site of the horrific terrorist attacks by Pakistani Islamic jihadists that killed more than 200 Indians at the famed Taj hotel, the Jewish “Chabad” center, and several other locations around this city.

Today, I had the opportunity to visit several of these sites and pray for the survivors and for the families of those injured and killed. Currently, I’m on a two-week speaking tour throughout India with several dear friends, teaching Christian pastors, ministry leaders and lay leaders about “God’s love and plan for the people of Israel and the epicenter.” I promise to write more about what I’m seeing and hearing very soon. (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

Warns of Iran’s “nightmare scenario”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a 25 minute conference call today with conservative bloggers in which I had the opportunity to participate, made it clear that he sees Israel’s current war against Hamas in Gaza as a “just war,” as a proxy war with Radical Muslim leaders in Iran, and very possibly as a prelude to a future war to stop Radicals in Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, an event he described as a “nightmare scenario.”

Israel is pursuing a “just war,” Netanyahu said early in the discussion. He noted that “Hamas is pursuing an illegitimate goal to accomplish the annihilation of the Jewish State” and is using “illegitimate means,” including the “firing rockets on innocent civilians.” (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

Israelis here traumatized as Hamas rockets are still coming in at 40 to 50 a day.

“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. When you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:1-4)

I flew to Israel on Sunday and arrived Monday morning, joining several colleagues in southern Israel to assess the situation and help direct The Joshua Fund’s relief efforts. It’s been an intense 48 hours, and it’s currently 5:54am Wednesday morning Israel time. A few brief observations: (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

During his military tribunal at Gitmo, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM)– al Qaeda’s chief of external operations until he was captured in Pakistan — admitted that he was not only responsible for the 9/11 attacks. He also the mastermind of “second wave” attacks and other mega-attacks in the United States, Israel and around the globe.

In a written statement given to interrogators, KSM went on to confess no fewer than thirty-one separate terrorist attacks. Some had already been carried out. Others were foiled by U.S. and foreign security forces, or by the fact that KSM had been arrested. Each provided a sobering insight into what Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network really want. (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

You have probably never heard of Father Zakaria Botros.

But you need to know his story. He is far and away the most-watched and most-effective Arab-American evangelist focused on reaching the Muslim world, and by far the most controversial. The Rush Limbaugh of the Revivalists, he is funny, feisty, brilliant, opinionated, and provocative. But rather than preaching the gospel of conservatism, he is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. And his enemies do not simply want to silence him. They want to assassinate him. (more…)

by Joel Rosenberg [novelist]

Governor Palin dramatically shakes up the race as Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Mahmoud bear down on the U.S. and Israel

Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden got a 10 point bounce coming out of their impressively orchestrated convention. They had been down two points going in; they were ahead by eight on Friday. But McCain’s stunning choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has dramatically changed the equation.

According to a new poll out Sunday morning by John Zogby, McCain and Palin had a two point lead over Obama/Biden, 47% to 45%. A new CNN poll released Monday morning has Obama/Biden at 49% vs. McCain/Palin at 48%. That’s a dead heat – again. But the momentum is now McCain’s going into a very challenging week. A Republican convention. A hurricane moving towards the Gulf coast. An economy that’s rebounding (up 3.3% last quarter). The Russian Bear reemerging. And the possiblity of a major war in the Middle East this fall.

I have to say that I am very impressed with Governor Palin and moved by her story. (more…)