Hello Friends,

The situation in Egypt continues to burn from the outrageous events at the conclusion of a soccer match in Port Said.

79 people lost their lives and over 900 people were injured in the post game violence.

Egyptian soccer violence is not unfamiliar to local matches - but never since 2006 this widespread and deadly.

Yesterday we had three deaths and over 400 injuries in rioting.

Tonight, after Friday prayers, will be the true test.

People's anger is focused on the Military Government that is ruling Egypt, and the organized soccer fans – called 'Ultras' last night besieged the country's Interior Ministry across from Tahrir Square.

The main theory over how all this got started is that pro-government men were planted into the crowd to disrupt the event.

It is possible that that was true, as there, by accounts, were large amounts of knives and clubs present in the mealy.

The other theory is that after the unexpected defeat of the team from Cairo, rival fans began to brawl being fueled by a large banner that was present throughout the game stating that those Cairo supports were not 'men'.

The ruling Egyptian military government has declared three days of mourning for the dead – but this has not slowed the violence nor kept people of the street. If anything they have gotten worse...

The Military rulers hosted the Cairo team promising to find all those who instigated the violence and to punish them severely, but clearly the situation is bigger than what they can handle at the moment.

The government also announced the firing of the entire league leadership and suspended the rest of the league's season,

For their part the 'Ultras' are now saying that they will begin targeting Egyptian Generals.

As of now – it appears we haven't reached the climax of this very sad occurrence. I'll have a live update on Monday's Harvest Show – be sure to tune in!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All!

I mentioned on yesterday's live broadcast from Jerusalem that we are entering the election year here in Israel and today is the Likud leadership election.

The Likud Party was formed by an alliance of several right wing parties back in the early 70's. The word means 'Consolidation', and Menachem Begin was the party's first leader.

There are several political parties here in Israel, and Likud is one of the largest and most influential. It is the political party of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, and part of his job is to lead his political party.

About 125,000 party members are expected to go to some 150 polling stations across the country. At the time of posting this, towards the end of the afternoon here, only 14% of the party people have cast their vote.

Mr. Netanyahu is expected to win. There is no real primary rival other than the extreme Right Wing candidate Moshe Feiglin who's power base is the settler movement.

Last election he garnered almost 24% of the vote. He is poised to make stronger gains, all be they inflated due to eligible voters not turning out.

The settler movement has been gravitating towards Likud for some time. It is part of Mr. Netanyahu's power base. His tough and nationalistic stances have traditionally been well received in settler circles.

But of late Mr. Netanyahu has expressed concerns over the growing influence of the Settlers in his Likud Party.

Mr. Feiglin has been gaining notarization, as he is a settler himself. And as trends in the Nation reflect a shifting to the political right, interest in his extreme views has gained media buzz and a wider political base.

However, one commentator here wrote today that neither candidate offers a bright future, and the fact is that Mr. Feiglin is younger, he may be in a position in time to come to seriously challenge for the Likud Leadership.

Earlier in the day his staff made the claim that there has been voting irregularities. Mr. Feiglin has announced a surprise speech for later this evening – a rallying cry I am sure for his supporters to get out and vote to greater increase his percentage in this primary election.

I'll have the details tomorrow on the Harvest Show – so be sure to join us!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

With the attention on the Arab Spring, lets examine what may be one of the lesser know potential fatalities in the Middle East.

Hamas and here's why.

The militant group is going through some difficult times right now with a not so bright a future.

The unnatural alliance with Persian Iran is diminishing because Hamas is a Sunni organization, and being the proxie of a non-Arab Shi'ite state just isn't working out.

Hamas basically has refused Iran's directive to support the embattled Bashar Assad in Syria.

Result – Iran's money isn't coming in.

Hamas looks after approximately 50,000 'officials' and security personnel in Gaza alone.

Next thing, the organization is also experiencing internal power struggles. This is reflected in last weeks developement, Hamas's leader Khaled Mashaal decided to step down and with it – the leadership that has navigated it's successes.

Then Hamas's Head Quarter is obliged to quit Damascus and has not found a new home. Moving to Gaza is not an option because Israel would eliminate it.

Forth, Hamas hasn't received much verbal support from the Arab world's newly-installed Islamist governments, so there's no outlook for a bailout from any of them anytime soon.

Lastly, the reconciliation talks with the 'internationally accepted' Palestine Liberation Organization is not really going anywhere.

One interesting idea is that if Israel would lift it's blockade on Gaza and the situation improve there, the people would not be so quick to associate with Hamas who largely lives off anti-Israel talk, rallies, and actions.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All!

Here is some interesting (and nice) news;

Something we all fear is the loosing of our sight. It is something that can potentially effect us all and many of us have loved ones who are potentially at risk. In the current issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology Israel has lead a study whose findings are very impressive!

In Israel, because of the practice of marrying near to kin, blindness and poor eyesight are an issue in some religious communities as well as the public in general.

But with new treatments and expanded private medical care -blindness in Israel has declined by 51 percent over the past decade! In 1999, the numbers showed that 33.8 out of every 100,000 Israelis were legally blind. That figure had fallen to 16.6. in 2008!

In many areas of medical research and development, Israel leads the way - and here too the study found declines in most of the causes of blindness.

Some of you may have heard of the new so-called bionic methods that might return sight to blind patients. These procedures are in their experimental stages.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey is here now in Israel.

Gen. Dempsey wasted no time heading straight into meetings with the Israel Defense Forces top brass upon arriving. He also met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and then with the President of the State of Israel Mr. Shimon Perez.

This morning Dempsey toured Vad Vashem, Israel's official holocaust memorial.

The message he touted through out was one of mutual interests between America and Israel, the deep friendship the two countries have, and then of course action on Iran.

It is true that the bond between Israel and America is very very strong. And in confronting the issue of a nuclear Iran, one can say that Europe is the missing element in pressuring Iran to alter it's course.

For some in Europe, the argument is that Israel is part of the problem.

Some of that reasoning stems from Israel's lack of going along with European thought, but one should distinguish that between this situation of nuclear weaponry in the hands of the Iranians.

And when one looks at the current statements coming out of Europe they are clear that Israel is not the issue.

Israel is facing the Iranian nuclear program and Iran's support for terrorism, more than ever.

Yesterday an alleged 10 man terror cell supposedly funded by Islamic Jihad in Syria (which means ultimately understood that the money was coming from Iran) was rounded up in the West Bank.

But the need is for cooperation with Europe alongside the cooperation that already exists with the US.

The career diplomats in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who deal with diplomatic relations with Europe, are seemingly convinced that a clear message must be broadcast to Europe.

A nuclear Iran is a threat to you as it is to us.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

On the American campaign trail and it the Republican debates the question of Iranian options and how to handle her keeps coming up...

Should sanctions be given time to work? Should military action be taken? But one question I have heard very little of is what if Iran where to strike first?

Very few think that Iran is more likely to make that fateful first step. But why would they?

Essentially it boils down to the tightening of the economic sanctions. True, they are coming under increasing international isolation – but the average man on the street feels the sanctions effect more right now.

So if the Iranians feel that their backs are to the wall – how are they going to feel once the tougher sanctions targeting their oil and banking are applied?

It doesn't really seem that Tehran will collapse economically very soon – but it could over time.

But the issue is whether or not somebody decides 'enough' – and goes off and pulls a trigger...

Perhaps we have seen a little of this in the Iranian idea of closing the Straits of Hormuz?

Some would call such an act 'desperation' on the part of the Iranians – but the point is it would be them firing the gun at the would rather than the US, Israel, or the world firing at them.

Such an act seems suicidal for Iran to do – as the world will go to war over their oil – not over the bombing of their nuclear program – and they know it.

And so does NATO, who is having all their chiefs-of-staff for a meeting this week...

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone!

Lets break down the meeting between the Israelis and the Palestinians held this past Tuesday.

It was the first time the two parties had publically met in a year and a half.

Talks stalled when Israel refused to extend a 10 month limited freeze on new settlement construction in the West Band and East Jerusalem.

The Jordanian-hosted meeting between Israeli special representative Yitzhak Molcho (a lawyer friend of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu) and Palestinian representative Dr. Saeb Erekat, was not meant to produce any type of breakthrough towards renewing diplomatic negotiations between the parties.

At this point, the only thing that has come out of the meeting is the agreement to more talks.

This in and of itself is an accomplishment...

We do know that the Palestinians continued, at least publically, in their position of refusing discussions without pre-conditions.

And with the absence of Israel's pledge to freeze all construction over the Green Line, including Jerusalem, and of course the 'biggie', that Israel agree to the 1967 borders, we seem stuck.

There will be no real progress unless the parties are held accountable and demonstrate flexibility in positions for the sake of goodwill and compromise.

But there is one more important thing that came from this meeting.

Jordan's King Abdullah is not sitting on the sidelines watching things rot in stalemate. He is getting involved and is credited with this initiative to getting the parties to meet.

This is critical – particularly with the absence of Hosni Mubarak – Egypt's fallen ruler, who facilitated communication between the Israelis and Palestinians for decades.

Without communication there will be limited optimism for peace.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everybody!

Just a quickie to wish you all a Blessed and wonderful New Year ahead.

We had rain on Christmas here, and it looks like there may be some in store for this weekend too – perhaps even snow on Mount Hermon in the north!

So may God have mercy on us all and may we be convicted, comforted, and become more Christ-like through the power of His Holy Spirit.

Happy New Year!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All!

I've been out and about all day and in some parts of Jerusalem's Old City there's a lovely spirit of anticipation for Christmas.

It seems there are many Europeans are here this year as one walks the streets and hears the multitude of language.

Perhaps this is as close as we can get today to the feelings of the shepherd's that first Christmas eve... they knew the King had come – their Deliverer, and they went to worship the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.

As you prepare to worship the Christ-child, I send you all the most joyous of Christmas blessings from here in the Holy Land!

Merry Christmas,

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting