Prophecy News Watch - December 24, 2018

Around the World
Turkey deploys troops near Kurdish stronghold in Syria
Turkey deployed hundreds of troops near a Kurdish stronghold in Syria Sunday, in the wake of the United States announcing plans to withdraw from the country.
Death toll from Indonesia tsunami increases
Doctors worked to help survivors and hundreds of people searched on debris-strewn beaches for more victims Monday from a deadly tsunami that smashed into houses, hotels and other buildings without warning in the darkness along an Indonesian strait.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli army chief: US exit from Syria significant, but mustn't overreact
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria shouldn't be 'exaggerated' as it has little bearing on Israel's activity in the region since the Israeli military has been operating independently in the war-torn country for years.
PA arrests 44 Palestinians for selling properties to Jews
The Palestinian Authority announced on Sunday that its security forces have thwarted attempts by Palestinians to sell lands and houses in the West Bank and east Jerusalem to Jewish buyers, and the PA’s Preventive Security Service said in a rare statement that it has arrested 44 Palestinians suspected of involvement in the alleged real estate transactions.

Inside the United States
Partial Government Shutdown Expected to Last Through Christmas
The federal government remains in partial shut down after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to reach an agreement on $5 billion in spending for his border wall.
John Kasich signs bill that would prevent most second-trimester abortions
Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed a bill into law that would imprison doctors who perform an abortion method commonly used during the second trimester, but vetoed another bill that would have banned abortion after six weeks.
Trump insists on steel slatted fence with funding counteroffer to Democrats
President Trump has offered to come down from his $5 billion border wall demand, the White House said Sunday, signaling he would sign a bill that includes less money and puts limits on the type of fencing that can be constructed.
Mattis to exit Jan. 1; Trump taps Patrick Shanahan as acting defense secretary
President Trump said Sunday that Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will become acting Pentagon chief on Jan. 1, greatly accelerating the exit of current Defense Secretary James Mattis who had promised to stay on the job until the end of February.