Whenever the Middle East is upended by violence and hostility, Israel is generally at or near the center of controversy. But with the recent uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and Libya, the tiny Jewish state has been left alone to watch these frightful events from the sidelines.

This week, Israel’s short-lived role as spectator ended abruptly when a bomb exploded at a Jerusalem bus stop, killing a British woman and injuring more than 30 others. It was the first time in nearly seven years that Jerusalem was hit by a bomb.

This explosion follows the resumption of Hamas’s rocket barrage on southern Israel and the Fogel family massacre in the West Bank on March 11. Added together, these attacks represent a deliberate escalation of violence against Israel.

And looming larger than ever before, behind the scenes, is the Islamic Republic of Iran. From the very beginning of the region-wide turmoil that started in December, Iran has been covertly working to first destabilize, and then dominate, the entire Middle East—just as the Bible said it would.

Nothing illustrates this grand strategy quite like the revolution in Egypt. Despite the best efforts of the Western media to convince us otherwise, this was a radical Islamic uprising from the very beginning.

Egypt’s military began preparations for an Egyptian swing into the Iranian camp as soon as Mubarak stepped down. This is why the Iranian Navy was granted safe passage through the Suez Canal within days of the regime change. It’s why Egypt’s new foreign minister has proposed opening Egypt’s border with Gaza. It’s why the exiled Jew-hating father figure of the Muslim Brotherhood was allowed to return to Egypt with a celebrated speech about the forthcoming Islamic conquest of Jerusalem. And it’s why Egypt’s military has cleared the way for the Muslim Brotherhood to take over the reins of government this fall.

Last weekend, Egyptian voters overwhelmingly supported a referendum for constitutional reform that will limit presidential powers, but which also clears the way for legislative elections to occur as early as June, which leaves little time for secular groups to mount a successful campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood—the largest, best-organized political force in Egypt.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the constitutional amendments “were written by a group handpicked by the military that didn’t include anyone from an organized political group other than the Muslim Brotherhood. All leading secular democratic figures in Egypt opposed the referendum” (emphasis mine).

One of the loudest opposition voices was Mohamed ElBaradei. Just a few weeks ago, he was seen by many as a leading candidate to bringing about democratic reform in Egypt. On Saturday, Islamic radicals hurled stones and shoes at ElBaradei as he attempted to vote against the referendum.

There can be no doubt that these events have galvanized the terrorist sponsors in Tehran. They know Egypt is now on their side. They know the forces of religious extremism are closing in on Israel from every side. And they know the Israel-Egypt peace treaty is in danger of becoming obsolete.

Against this backdrop, what a perfect time this is to provoke another conflict with Israel.

The escalating tensions between Palestinians and Jews have already been compared to the run-up to Operation Cast Lead two years ago. Israel has already responded to the rocket attacks by firing missiles at launching pads in Gaza.

“No country would be prepared to absorb protracted missile fire on its cities and civilians, and of course the State of Israel is not prepared to,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week. “It could be that this matter will entail exchanges of blows, and it may take a certain period of time, but we are very determined to strike at the terrorist elements and deny them the means of attacking our citizens.”

Israel’s response to Palestinian provocation may well play right into Iranian hands. As Stratfor reported on March 23, Israeli retaliation could endanger the Israel-Egypt peace treaty, especially if Israel lashes out at Hamas in Gaza. Stratfor wrote,

When looking at the unrest overall in the region, the one key ingredient that was missing was Israel. Israel is often the single unifying call for many on the Arab streets, and that is certainly something that a lot of Palestinian factions will be paying attention to right now. Watch for groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and others in the region to escalate attacks in an effort to provoke a military confrontation with Israeli forces, create a crisis for Egypt through the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and threaten Israel on multiple fronts. This is something that could well play to the Iranian agenda and escalate the regional unrest overall.

Among Middle East analysts, it has been commonly known that Israel’s alliances with Turkey and Egypt have really been all that have held its enemies at bay for many years. The alliance with Turkey is now extremely fragile—leaving the peace treaty with Egypt the only real security for Israel.

Former cia official Reuel Marc Gerecht, speaking at a forum on the Muslim Brotherhood convened by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on Monday, warned that the Muslim Brotherhood would seek to scrap Egypt’s treaty with Israel. “I think it’s highly likely the Muslim Brotherhood will push very hard for a review of the treaty with Israel,” he said, adding that since much of the secular elite also disliked Israel, “it is possible that you will see that treaty nullified.”

Moreover, he pointed out the extraordinary support Muslim Brotherhood affiliates around the globe have for Hamas. “One point that brings them all together is their support for Hamas. That is the one issue on which they do not compromise,” he said.

This, then, well illustrates why Iran is so pleased with developments in Egypt. In reality, they bring it one step closer to its goal of claiming the city it believes belongs to Islam.

For over a decade and a half, the Trumpet’s editor in chief has warned us to watch for signs of Iran trying to seize Jerusalem. “The most precious jewel of Iran’s plan is to conquer Jerusalem,” he wrote in February 1995. “This would then galvanize the Islamic world behind Iran!”

Zechariah 14:2 prophesies that half of Jerusalem is going to fall. As our booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy explains, Zechariah is speaking of an impending, partial conquest of the Holy City by Islamic warriors—one that will precede a total conquest of the city by a European force.

As Iran works behind the scenes today to destabilize and dominate Middle Eastern nations in turmoil, realize this is all part of its plan to dismantle the obstacles to it taking Jerusalem.

However, remember also that in the final analysis, after the biblical nation of Judah has been punished, there will come a time when, as Isaiah prophesies, “the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off” (Isaiah 11:13)—when Jerusalem truly will be a city of peace upon Christ’s return.