Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader Muhammad Badie (L) gives a press conference with senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during their meeting at Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo on December 26, 2011. Haniyeh came to encourage the Brotherhood in Egypt’s elections. (Flash 90)

ELECTIONS IN EGYPT: On the heels of voting throughout Egypt on Saturday, post election results reveal the Muslim Brotherhood’s coalition has won as high as 47% of seats, with hardline Islamist Nour Party netting some 25% of list seats. This means, in short, the decades-long Egyptian rule has shifted from a moderate regime under last year’s ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, to Islamic domination by heads of the father of all terrorist groups; the Muslim Brotherhood. In recent statements, dating even from the beginning of this year, Muslim Brotherhood chiefs have reaffirmed their hatred for Israel and intentions to bring about the cancellation of Egypt’s peace treaty with the Jewish state. (Ha’aretz/JNN). Pray that the dire turn of events taking place within Israel’s neighbor to the south will be countered by the Good News of Yeshua. Intercede also for the protection of the Coptic Christian community in Egypt that has suffered an upsurge of violence and persecution this past year, carried out by individuals and groups of a hardline terrorist mandate.

TURKEY INTERCEPTS MATERIAL FOR MISSILES, CHEMICAL WEAPONS ON IRANIAN TRUCKS: Material for manufacturing missiles and chemical weapons has been discovered by the Turkish authorities on Iranian trucks heading to Turkey, Turkish media reported on Friday. Turkish customs officials intercepted the four trucks on suspicion of carrying military equipment from Iran to Syria earlier this month. One of the trucks was carrying six six-meter long cylinders, and the remaining three were carrying 66 tons of sodium sulfate which could be used for manufacturing chemical missiles. This is not the first Iranian delivery of weapons material that has been intercepted by the Turkish authorities. In August and March of last year, officials found a delivery of light weapons on planes that had arrived from Iran, and in September Turkey stopped a ship delivering cargo from Iran to Syria, without reporting what was on board the ship. (Ha’aretz)

PERES TO DEMPSEY: IRAN IS THE CENTER OF WORLD TERROR: As part of his round of meetings in Israel, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey met with President Shimon Peres on Friday morning. The two discussed the recent political and security developments in the Middle East and in the world. The meeting was also attended by IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz. During the meeting, Peres addressed the Iranian issue and told Dempsey, “I’m sure that in this fight against Iran we will emerge victorious. It is a fight that does not belong exclusively to the US or Israel, but a global struggle to create a safe world for all peoples.” He emphasized that Iran is “the center of world terror! It funds the most dangerous terrorists in the world and carries out terrorist acts which take the lives of innocent people. Iran seeks to control not only the Middle East, but other parts of the world as well, as is illustrated by its attempts to penetrate the South American continent.” (Ha’aretz)

SAUDI ARABIA SAYS ALL AVAILABLE OPTIONS ARE OPEN ON IRAN: Saudi Arabia says it is ready to go to war to defend its interests. Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal told delegates at a Gulf Cooperation Council conference that his country will use “all available options” to defend itself against Iranian “threats” that might trigger “unwanted military confrontation.” His comments to the conference in Bahrain days ago came after Tehran demanded Saudi Arabia rethink its offer to make up for any oil lost to world markets as a result of threatened curbs on Iranian exports. “Any threat to our interests or security will force us to use all available options to defend our interests, and national and regional security,” Faisal said. “The mounting escalation and persistent tensions might end up in an adventure with unpredictable consequences or in an unwanted military confrontation.” Meanwhile, US intelligence agencies are closely watching Saudi Arabia for indications the kingdom will seek to develop nuclear weapons. One key warning sign was the cooperation agreement recently signed by China and Saudi Arabia to seek joint development of “atomic energy for peaceful purposes, which will help to meet the kingdom’s rising demand for energy.” The administration’s argument against Iran’s reason for developing nuclear energy – that Tehran has enough oil to produce electrical power for a century – also would apply to Saudi Arabia, which holds some of the largest oil reserves in the world. China has in the past supplied Saudi Arabia with 36 DF-3 medium-range ballistic missiles that are considered nuclear-capable systems. (INN/Washington Times)

POLL: NEARLY HALF OF PALESTINIANS WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE ISRAEL: A recent poll shows nearly half of all Palestinians will never recognize Israel’s right to exist as the national homeland of the Jewish people, even if a comprehensive peace agreement that meets all Arab demands is achieved. Conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, the poll asked: “There is a proposal that after the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the settlement of all issues in dispute, including the refugees and Jerusalem issues, there will be a mutual recognition of Israel as the state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the state of the Palestinians people. Do you agree or disagree to this proposal?” While just over 50% said they would agree to such an outcome, 46.8% said they will never recognize Israel under those terms. The results of the poll demonstrate the effects of over a decade of Palestinian Authority school education and media propaganda that has portrayed Israel as a usurper. It is only natural those most fully indoctrinated would never be able to view Israel as anything but an enemy, even with a full peace treaty. That is the reason the original “Oslo Accords” stipulated both sides must educate their people for peace and coexistence. The PA has instead used millions of dollars in foreign aid to do the opposite, as revealed time and again by organizations like Palestinian Media Watch. (Israel Today/ Ryan Jones)

 “The ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, all who have an eye for evil will be cut down.” Isa 29:20