NEWS: Isreal suffers biblical plague, page 1

In an incident reminiscent of the Old testament a plague of locusts has descended upon Isreal, devouring native vegetation, leaving barren earth in its wake, and causing farmers to fear for the future. In the first locust plague to hit Isreal since 1959 Crop dusters are being mobilised and fearful residents are praying for salvation from the ravenous insects. Sweeping across Isreal headed east Isreali agriculture officials hope that a cold front will keep the locusts on the ground where crop dusters can effectivly target them but if not then Isreal's harvest may be in serious danger.

www.cnn.com
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Millions of locusts swarmed through Israel's Red Sea resort town of Eilat on Sunday, devouring crops and flowers in the country's south.

Israeli agriculture officials sent crop dusters into the air to spray against the locusts that swept in from North Africa in the first such invasion since 1959.

Eilat residents reported clouds of locusts eating palm trees bare and wiping out entire gardens.

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In the bible a plauge of locusts was one manifestatin of the wrath of God and with good reason. A locust swarm containing millins of 1-3 inch locust can defoiliate an area faster than agent orange and napalm combined. Devouring all vegetation they come across these multi-million locust strong swarms can turn a forest into desert before your very eyes. The agricultural officials in isreal believe the weather will keep them immoblised long enough for thier crop usters to kill and I for one hope they are right. If they are wrong then every crop,evry tree, every bush, and every flower in Isreal and soon Saudi Arabia is in dnager of being devoured. Given the political troubles already present in this region a famine caused by the destruction of local crops can only increase the instabillity.