Israel is soon to complete the construction of the largest runway in the Middle East. The Israeli Air Force is planning to move its base of operations from Lod in central Israel to Nevatim in the south. The project cost roughly $421 million to complete, and special bulldozing equipment had to be flown in to Israel to help make this 'highway' in the desert. The asphalt used in its construction was enough to cover a two lane highway fifty-six miles long. At two and a half miles long, the new airstrip will be the longest in the Middle East, and will provide plenty of room for Israeli pilots to manoeuvre on take-off and landing.

Quote: "The Nevatim base, which currently houses several fighter planes, will now have some new "occupants" in the form of transport aircraft such as the Hercules and the Boeing 707, which are also used to refuel aircraft in mid-flight and are occasionally also utilized in combat operations. The new landing strip will allow the IAF to utilize the Nevatim Air Base for routine as well as emergency operations. Construction on the new airstrip will be complete by 2009, at which point the IAF transport base will officially make its move to the Negev. This project heralds an IDF wide initiative to move many of its bases to the Negev.

If you remember back to a few years ago, you will recall Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's proposed 'convergence' plan, in which the Israeli government was preparing to disengage from Judea and Samaria and forcibly relocate hundreds of thousands of its citizens to the Negev desert. Olmert was convinced that his party was elected by the Israeli public to carry out the plan, although this unilateral move was strongly opposed by both the Palestinian Authority and the international community. Shortly following his appointment as Israeli Prime Minister, Olmert stated that he believed Israel's possession of Judea and Samaria actually posed a threat to the existence of the Jewish state. Recently we heard that the convergence plan may not be dead yet, but that the government may be considering implementing some sort of disengagement plan in the event that no agreement can be reached with the Palestinians. Olmert's convergence plan also has the full backing of Israeli President Shimon Peres, who believes Israel's future lies in the desert. In preparation for the inevitable eviction of over 100,000 Israelis from their homes in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, Israel is constructing settlements in the Negev.

According to the Scriptures, the proposed Middle East peace plan will fail (Daniel 9:27). And as the Gentile nations lay siege to Judea and east Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2), it seems that Israel may be forced to urgently airlift hundreds of thousands of its citizens to the desert. With the largest airstrip in the Middle East now nearing completion in the Negev, and the international community pressing for a solution to the Middle East conflict, perhaps this prophecy has just come one step closer to fulfilment.

Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Source YNet News