A Flotilla of Peace? I Don't Think So!

Once again the eyes of the world are focused upon the Middle East. And, once again, the nation of Israel is caught in the cross hairs of public opinion. As you know by now, this past Sunday commandos from the Israeli navy boarded six ships in a flotilla whose destination was the Gaza Strip. The ships were filled with Palestinian sympathizers from around the world as well as 10,000 tons of humanitarian supplies. The Israeli navy had tried to direct the ships into the Israeli harbor at Ashdod where the supplies could be off-loaded, inspected for contraband and weapons, and then loaded on trucks for the Gaza Strip. In the light of the recent smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip through the border with Egypt, this seemed like a sensible request on the part of the Israeli government.

Five of the six ships were successfully boarded with no incidences of violence. But the sixth ship was a different story. Aboard this ship, flying the Turkish flag, were militants armed with knives, metal rods, and other weapons. As the Israeli navy commandos descended from their helicopters, they were attacked. I have seen the video footage shot from the helicopters. Armed with only paintball guns and side-guns, the Israeli commandos sought permission to return fire. When the request was granted, in the exchange of gun fire nine militants were killed and many more were wounded, including several Israeli soldiers.

Immediately the world was condemning of Israel. The Turkish government recalled its ambassador from Israel. Other European countries denounced the actions of the Israeli military. Protests were staged around the world before a media that displayed a feeding frenzy. "Israel is guilty" was the instant declaration.

Perhaps the facts speak otherwise. First, the world views the Gazans are prisoners locked in a cage. While it is true that Israel and Egypt together provided a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip following the Hamas take-over in 2006, it is not true that humanitarian aide is not getting to the Palestinians living there. During the first three months of 2010, Israel supplied over 94,500 tons of relief supplies - including 48,000 tons of food supplies, 40,000 tons of wheat, 2760 tons of rice and 1987 tons of clothing and shoes. (The flotilla of six ships carried a meager 10,000 tons of supplies).

Second, the Israeli government did not prohibit the supplies from reaching Gaza; they merely asked that the ships off-load at Ashdod so that the supplies could be inspected for illegal weapons and other contraband, and then sent off to Gaza. From a nation that has experienced over 10,000 rockets from Gaza over the past 3 years, this seemed like a logical request.

Third, supposedly the participants in this flotilla were peace-activists. By the very term that should have denoted men and women given to non-violent ways. Instead of promoting peace, they instigated conflict. As one Muslim activist on one of the ships exclaimed, "There are two possible happy endings; either we will reach Gaza or we will achieve martyrdom." Doesn't sound very peace-loving to me, does it to you?

Fourth, according to a report from Al-Jazeera television, you know this station from its broadcasts of the ben-Laden tapes, the Muslim activists were shouting, "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the army of Muhammed will return." Khaybar was Jewish settlement that was viciously attacked by Muhammed; 628 Jews were massacred.

Now, as I write this piece, two more ships are headed for Gaza. The Israeli navy has threatened to intercept them as well. This does not sound like peace; it sounds like provocation to me.

Does this assault have any biblical importance? I believe that it does. It is another step in the isolating of Israel from the world community. As I continue reading and studying the writings of the prophets, I am becoming increasingly aware that God will separate His people from the nations of the world in the end times. He has a special work that He desires to accomplish through them during those days. This will not be the first time the Jewish people have been isolated; in fact, when one carefully studies their history, isolation is almost a Jewish thing.

What I do find sad, though, is the lack of support from our nation's government. Although invited to the White House for a meeting with President Obama yesterday, according to a leading Israeli paper, Prime Minister Netanyahu was told that President Obama did not want him to use the White House as a stage on which to present Israel's side of the story. Thus the Prime Minister returned to Israel.

Friends, the focus of our attention should continue to be on the Middle East. You can rest assured that the Iranians are loving this diversion of attention. Now the eyes of the world are off them allowing them to pursue their goals of nuclear armament. The bulls-eye has been moved over a nation no larger than New Jersey. Satan has hated Israel since the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His one desire would be to see Israel totally destroyed. And with that desire, the Bible tells us that he will be defeated.