Tensions continue to remain high along the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip. Yesterday dozens of rockets and mortar rounds were fired from Gaza into Israel resulting in several injuries but no casualties among the Israelis. Although one of the rockets hit inside a school play ground, no student was injured. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for those rocket attacks. Almost immediately Israeli warplanes were scrambled and flew several missions over the Gaza Strip destroying training facilities for Hamas recruiting. An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council is scheduled for today to discuss this latest increase in violence along this volatile border.
The cry from the liberal left here in America and in Europe is that the responsibility for the unrest within the Gaza Strip can be laid at the feet of the Israeli people. After all, it is the Israeli people who are keeping the Palestinians prisoner within the Gaza Strip. Fact number one: Egypt joined Israel in isolating the Gaza Strip in 2007 when Hamas declared itself the sole representative of the Palestinian people living within Gaza. From 2005, after the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, to 2007 both Israel and Egypt had become the recipients of terrorist assaults. So in 2007, both Israel and Egypt joined forces to isolate the Gaza Strip with border closures and a sea-embargo.
Fact number two: The plight of the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip can be laid directly at the feet of the leadership of Hamas. The dollars from Europe and the United Nations Relief Agencies have often been used, not for foods and medicines and housing and businesses so the people could have a job, but to purchase rockets, weapons, and to dig tunnels. Just think of what could have been accomplished for the Palestinian people if they had been given incentives to better their lives.
Fact number three, and this is a fact that the liberal left does not want to hear: Since the Israeli War of Independence of 1948, those Arabs who fled their homes at the urging of the Arab League leadership, have been recognized by the Arab world and the United Nations as being refugees. No Arab nation wanted to assimilate these Arabs into their states. Tens of millions of dollars are spent every year to help these people maintain their status as refugees. Few have sought gainful employment, and why should they as the United Nations will take care of them. Of course their status is never elevated - that would destroy the picture of a refugee that enters into the minds of many of us. It really is time for the world to remove the label of "refugee" from these people and instead seek to bring them into the 21st century.
But, how is that to happen, you might ask. Well that brings us to fact number four, and this is one that needs to be corrected: The ultimate goal of the Palestinian leadership is the complete destruction of the State of Israel. This doctrine of hate is taught to children, beginning in the elementary years. I have seen videos where children as young as six or seven are taught in school how to kill Jews. With this hatred being taught from one generation to another, there can be no hope for peace or even for a betterment of life. Hatred breeds violence; violence breeds more hatred. It is a destructive cycle that can only be broken if the Palestinian people determine that they want something better for their children other than death through acts of terror.
Yes, Israel can be part of the solution - but only part of the solution, and that only after the Palestinian people resolve to take steps to better their own lives, not through hatred and violence, but through acceptance and peace. It is going to take a decision on the part of the people to change the leadership, to remove from power those who have only been the warmongers. Can such a revolution occur within the Gaza Strip? It seems highly unlikely but I have learned never to count something completely out.
Does God have a plan for the Gaza Strip? Yes, He most certainly does. Does God care for those people within Gaza who are suffering because of terrible political decisions? Yes, He most certainly does And we know that God's purposes will always been accomplished. Praise God for that powerful truth.
On a lighter note: This past weekend was Memorial Day. Marlys and I were in the Des Moines area to attend our granddaughter Meghan's high school graduation. On Monday afternoon we drove to the cemetery where Marlys's parents are buried and also Meghan's Mom. Hundreds of American flags fluttered over the driveways that meandered through the cemetery. And small American flags graced the graves of all the veterans buried there. It brought tears to one's eyes. Hundreds of men and women had given time out of their lives to serve our nation - many of them during times of war. Oh the debt of gratitude that we owe them. Then last night we attended the graduation exercises for Meghan. It was held at the Hilton Coliseum on the campus of Iowa State University. Perhaps the highlight of the ceremony was the playing and singing of The Battle Hymn of the Republic by the choir and symphonic band of Ankeny High School. That piece has become the traditional closing for graduation ceremonies. As that song neared its crescendo at the end, two large American flags were unfurled, one behind the choir, the second behind the band. The audience rose with thunderous applause. It still feels good to be an American. It still feels good to get a tear in your eye as you see our flag being honored. Now it is off to our granddaughter Abby's graduation at Stewartville, Minnesota on Friday night. Ah, life does go on.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Another School Shooting; Another Call for Gun Control - But Is That the Solution?
Last week's shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas, rekindled that American debate regarding gun control and the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. That Amendment states: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." For the past nearly two and a half centuries, that amendment has guided the American response to matters focusing on guns. Yes, some safeguards, such as firearm registration and waiting periods and background checks have made the ownership of guns safer. The United States Supreme Court has upheld the right for Americans to possess firearms.
But, whenever there is a tragic incident where guns were used, the immediate cry is for "gun control." An example of such conversations occurred on Sunday when ABC "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos interviewed Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick about the Santa Fe shooting. Stephanopoulos began his interview: "Children who've never known school without lockdown drills expecting what should be unthinkable. Santa Fe, the ninth fatal school shooting this year reflected in this stunning fact: There have now been more students or teachers killed by guns in U.S. schools than active duty military deaths in 2018. A year not even halfway over." (www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2018/05/20/abc-host-pushes-gun-control-ignores-devaluation-life).
The Lieutenant Governor's response was: "George, should we be surprised in this nation? We have devalued life. Whether it's through abortion, whether it's the breakup of families, through violent movies, and particularly violent video games.... But we, again, we have to look at our culture of violence, just our violent society. Our Facebook. Our Twitter. The bullying of adults on adults and children on children. We have to look at ourselves, George. It's not about the guns. It's about us. Can there be gun regulation? Gun control? I believe that starts at home, George."
This Lieutenant Governor really "hit the nail on the head." We do live in a culture of violence. Violence sells on the big screen - in fact, the more violence the more tickets that are sold. The language we use toward one another is filled with hatred. Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions. We worship at the shrine of violence.
But I think there is a second problem that is little addressed. It primarily concerns our young people. They are growing up in a world where the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. They play video games where the object is to kill as many of the "bad guys" as possible. Yet, those images of the "bad guys" keep reappearing. Perhaps death is just a game. They attend movies where one star is shot to death; yet the following week that star reappears in a new movie. Again, there is that thought that perhaps death is just a game. So they take a gun and shoot others thinking that death is just a game to be played. Yet death is a stark reality. There is no "do-over" with death. There is no "recovery" from death. There is a finality with death that I believe many of our young people today simply do not know.
So, is there a solution? I can assure you that the solution is not the confiscation of guns, yet I believe that that will ultimately happen when the Antichrist begins his rule over this world. Perhaps a limit can be placed upon who can purchase and use weapons that are primarily designed to kill other humans. Not everyone needs a military-style weapon. Perhaps our young people should be trained to discern more clearly between fantasy and reality.
The ability to own and use firearms is almost as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. The Lieutenant Governor of Texas was correct - it is not guns that kill; it is the person using the gun. Friends, if we were to use the arguments from George Stephanopoulos, then automobiles should be controlled because more people are killed by cars in a year time than by any other instrument.
It is time that we return to the biblical understanding of the condition of man's heart - it is inherently sinful (Jeremiah 17:9). The Apostle Paul exclaimed it this way - for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We have a heart problem - not a gun problem. It is time to take a hard look into the heart of America. How America needs what only Jesus can do - change the heart.
But, whenever there is a tragic incident where guns were used, the immediate cry is for "gun control." An example of such conversations occurred on Sunday when ABC "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos interviewed Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick about the Santa Fe shooting. Stephanopoulos began his interview: "Children who've never known school without lockdown drills expecting what should be unthinkable. Santa Fe, the ninth fatal school shooting this year reflected in this stunning fact: There have now been more students or teachers killed by guns in U.S. schools than active duty military deaths in 2018. A year not even halfway over." (www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2018/05/20/abc-host-pushes-gun-control-ignores-devaluation-life).
The Lieutenant Governor's response was: "George, should we be surprised in this nation? We have devalued life. Whether it's through abortion, whether it's the breakup of families, through violent movies, and particularly violent video games.... But we, again, we have to look at our culture of violence, just our violent society. Our Facebook. Our Twitter. The bullying of adults on adults and children on children. We have to look at ourselves, George. It's not about the guns. It's about us. Can there be gun regulation? Gun control? I believe that starts at home, George."
This Lieutenant Governor really "hit the nail on the head." We do live in a culture of violence. Violence sells on the big screen - in fact, the more violence the more tickets that are sold. The language we use toward one another is filled with hatred. Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions. We worship at the shrine of violence.
But I think there is a second problem that is little addressed. It primarily concerns our young people. They are growing up in a world where the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. They play video games where the object is to kill as many of the "bad guys" as possible. Yet, those images of the "bad guys" keep reappearing. Perhaps death is just a game. They attend movies where one star is shot to death; yet the following week that star reappears in a new movie. Again, there is that thought that perhaps death is just a game. So they take a gun and shoot others thinking that death is just a game to be played. Yet death is a stark reality. There is no "do-over" with death. There is no "recovery" from death. There is a finality with death that I believe many of our young people today simply do not know.
So, is there a solution? I can assure you that the solution is not the confiscation of guns, yet I believe that that will ultimately happen when the Antichrist begins his rule over this world. Perhaps a limit can be placed upon who can purchase and use weapons that are primarily designed to kill other humans. Not everyone needs a military-style weapon. Perhaps our young people should be trained to discern more clearly between fantasy and reality.
The ability to own and use firearms is almost as American as baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. The Lieutenant Governor of Texas was correct - it is not guns that kill; it is the person using the gun. Friends, if we were to use the arguments from George Stephanopoulos, then automobiles should be controlled because more people are killed by cars in a year time than by any other instrument.
It is time that we return to the biblical understanding of the condition of man's heart - it is inherently sinful (Jeremiah 17:9). The Apostle Paul exclaimed it this way - for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We have a heart problem - not a gun problem. It is time to take a hard look into the heart of America. How America needs what only Jesus can do - change the heart.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
The US Embassy Move: What the Main Stream Media Got Wrong
This past Monday marked an historic day. First, it marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. And second, it was the day that the United States opened its embassy in Jerusalem, having moved it from Tel Aviv. The majority of the world condemned the Trump Administration for moving the embassy, although appropriations for such a move were approved by a bipartisan act of Congress back in 1995. Our European Allies were highly critical and representatives from those nations did not attend the dedicatory service on Monday.
The main stream media's focus was upon the strife within the Gaza Strip that day. The headlines of the Minneapolis "Star Tribune" stated: "Carnage in Gaza as U.S. moves embassy." That paper joined with dozens of other major papers across America in denigrating the embassy move. What should have been recognized as acknowledging that Jerusalem is Israel's capital city, instead became another picture of the self-imposed carnage that is the Gaza Strip.
Yes, there were deaths along the Israeli-Gazan border. As of this morning 60 Palestinians were killed by IDF soldiers who were protecting that border. For the past six weeks, the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, at the behest of their Hamas leadership, threatened to break through the security fence with the objectives of killing Israelis, burning their fields, and hoping to kidnap an Israeli soldier. Tunnels were dug under the fence; fortunately the Israeli military discovered those tunnels and they were destroyed. It seemed that almost everyday, for the past six weeks, forays were made by the Palestinians against the fence, but those attempts were stopped by the IDF. On Monday, huge stacks of tires were set on fire creating an intense black smoke that shielded the attackers from the IDF security forces. Several thousands of Palestinians rushed the security fence in several locations with wire cutters in hand as well as torches, weapons, knives, etc. In the melee which followed, Palestinians were killed - many of them were Hamas members.
Almost immediately the main stream media began to declare the injustice of Israel's response to the encroachment of their border. Here was the response by Rupert Colville, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: "The mere fact of approaching a fence is not a lethal, life-threatening act, so that does not warrant being shot. Lethal force may only be used as a measure of last, not first, resort. It is not acceptable to say that 'this is Hamas and therefore this is OK.'" (www.israelnationalnews.com). Yet what other nation would just stand idly by and let their security be breached and allow their citizens to be terrorized? Friends, this was not a peaceful demonstration on the part of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It was never intended to be peaceful. The Hamas leadership encouraged the people to create acts of violence saying that it would be through violence that the land of Palestine would be fully returned to the Palestinian people.
The world's press and leaders would have us believe that the people living in the Gaza Strip are living in a virtual prison created by the Israeli government. When the Israelis, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, disengaged from the Gaza Strip back in 2005, it was with the hopes that the people living in the Gaza Strip would become productive members of society. But what happened? Almost as soon as the last Israeli had been removed - many of them forcefully by the IDF - every vestige of Jewish life was destroyed, including Jewish hospitals, clinics, and synagogues. Almost immediately the leaders of Hamas led the people in anti-Israeli demonstrations. Rockets have consistently been launched from Gaza into Israel. The leadership of Hamas have consistently declared that there can be no peace while Israel occupies their lands. It is through the humanitarian aspects of Israel's government that food, medical supplies, electricity, natural gas and other necessities for life are brought into the Gaza Strip; this is a fact that the world's media often overlooks. Friends, it is no wonder that Israel is building a security wall - most of it underground - around the Gaza Strip for purposes of protecting its own people.
Yesterday marked the Palestinian day of "nakba" which means "destruction." It is a commemoration of the fleeing of Arabs from the British Mandate after Israel's declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948. Nearly 700,000 Arabs fled their homes at the request of Arab leaders. They were told that the war would be short and Arab victory was inevitable. Many left their homes with dishes still on the table, fleeing into Jordan and Lebanon. Of course, the outcome of the War of Independence was not exactly what they had hoped. Following the war, Israel offered the "rite of return" to tens of thousands of Arabs, but that offer was rejected. Thus those people became refugees - many of them by choice. To this day, the descendants of those refugees lay claim to homes and lands they abandoned in 1948, demanding that the Israeli government grant them a full return.
But, here is what the world's press will not tell you. When the War of Independence broke out in 1948, over 600,000 Jews were expelled from Arab nations in the Middle East. Many of them left with only the clothes they had on their back. Yet, when was the last time you heard their stories? Answer - you have never heard their stories unless you have done incredible research on that period of time. Did they become refugees? No they did not. Many of them immigrated to the United States. Many of them chose to live in the new land called Israel.
Friends, I would urge you to not believe everything you read in the main stream media when it comes to matters of Israel and the Palestinians. They are hardly objective in their reporting of the facts. No matter what happens, Israel is always the antagonist. Israel is always the bad guy. Will real peace ever come to the Middle East? The answer is "absolutely, but not until Jesus returns." What a day that will be!
The main stream media's focus was upon the strife within the Gaza Strip that day. The headlines of the Minneapolis "Star Tribune" stated: "Carnage in Gaza as U.S. moves embassy." That paper joined with dozens of other major papers across America in denigrating the embassy move. What should have been recognized as acknowledging that Jerusalem is Israel's capital city, instead became another picture of the self-imposed carnage that is the Gaza Strip.
Yes, there were deaths along the Israeli-Gazan border. As of this morning 60 Palestinians were killed by IDF soldiers who were protecting that border. For the past six weeks, the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, at the behest of their Hamas leadership, threatened to break through the security fence with the objectives of killing Israelis, burning their fields, and hoping to kidnap an Israeli soldier. Tunnels were dug under the fence; fortunately the Israeli military discovered those tunnels and they were destroyed. It seemed that almost everyday, for the past six weeks, forays were made by the Palestinians against the fence, but those attempts were stopped by the IDF. On Monday, huge stacks of tires were set on fire creating an intense black smoke that shielded the attackers from the IDF security forces. Several thousands of Palestinians rushed the security fence in several locations with wire cutters in hand as well as torches, weapons, knives, etc. In the melee which followed, Palestinians were killed - many of them were Hamas members.
Almost immediately the main stream media began to declare the injustice of Israel's response to the encroachment of their border. Here was the response by Rupert Colville, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: "The mere fact of approaching a fence is not a lethal, life-threatening act, so that does not warrant being shot. Lethal force may only be used as a measure of last, not first, resort. It is not acceptable to say that 'this is Hamas and therefore this is OK.'" (www.israelnationalnews.com). Yet what other nation would just stand idly by and let their security be breached and allow their citizens to be terrorized? Friends, this was not a peaceful demonstration on the part of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It was never intended to be peaceful. The Hamas leadership encouraged the people to create acts of violence saying that it would be through violence that the land of Palestine would be fully returned to the Palestinian people.
The world's press and leaders would have us believe that the people living in the Gaza Strip are living in a virtual prison created by the Israeli government. When the Israelis, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, disengaged from the Gaza Strip back in 2005, it was with the hopes that the people living in the Gaza Strip would become productive members of society. But what happened? Almost as soon as the last Israeli had been removed - many of them forcefully by the IDF - every vestige of Jewish life was destroyed, including Jewish hospitals, clinics, and synagogues. Almost immediately the leaders of Hamas led the people in anti-Israeli demonstrations. Rockets have consistently been launched from Gaza into Israel. The leadership of Hamas have consistently declared that there can be no peace while Israel occupies their lands. It is through the humanitarian aspects of Israel's government that food, medical supplies, electricity, natural gas and other necessities for life are brought into the Gaza Strip; this is a fact that the world's media often overlooks. Friends, it is no wonder that Israel is building a security wall - most of it underground - around the Gaza Strip for purposes of protecting its own people.
Yesterday marked the Palestinian day of "nakba" which means "destruction." It is a commemoration of the fleeing of Arabs from the British Mandate after Israel's declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948. Nearly 700,000 Arabs fled their homes at the request of Arab leaders. They were told that the war would be short and Arab victory was inevitable. Many left their homes with dishes still on the table, fleeing into Jordan and Lebanon. Of course, the outcome of the War of Independence was not exactly what they had hoped. Following the war, Israel offered the "rite of return" to tens of thousands of Arabs, but that offer was rejected. Thus those people became refugees - many of them by choice. To this day, the descendants of those refugees lay claim to homes and lands they abandoned in 1948, demanding that the Israeli government grant them a full return.
But, here is what the world's press will not tell you. When the War of Independence broke out in 1948, over 600,000 Jews were expelled from Arab nations in the Middle East. Many of them left with only the clothes they had on their back. Yet, when was the last time you heard their stories? Answer - you have never heard their stories unless you have done incredible research on that period of time. Did they become refugees? No they did not. Many of them immigrated to the United States. Many of them chose to live in the new land called Israel.
Friends, I would urge you to not believe everything you read in the main stream media when it comes to matters of Israel and the Palestinians. They are hardly objective in their reporting of the facts. No matter what happens, Israel is always the antagonist. Israel is always the bad guy. Will real peace ever come to the Middle East? The answer is "absolutely, but not until Jesus returns." What a day that will be!
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Some Thoughts from Israel
I begin with greetings from the land of Israel. As you know, Marlys and I had the privilege of sharing with a group of 25 for two weeks in the Holy Land. What a wonderful time we had. The land of Israel continues to be one of those amazing places.
We visited many sites - both new and old. Yet, at almost every place we were reminded that Israel is a nation that is always under the threat of war. We stood on a Sunday morning on the platform atop the Carmelite Monastery at Mount Carmel. We joined a group of about 25 young Israeli soldiers. They were there as part of their training. They seemed so young, yet the burden of war lay heavily upon their shoulders. This was the first time I had ever witnessed soldiers on Mount Carmel. But that area is of strategic importance.
While in the Galilee area, we drove to Mount Bental, a former Israeli observation post peeking over into Syria. Mount Bental lies deep within the Golan Heights. Just below this former observation post lies the city of Kuneitra - a Syria city that changed hands during both the Six Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. While standing there, we saw the puffs of smoke coming from mortar fire within the city and then heard the sounds of automatic weapons. It became quite intense. Our guide shared with us that it "merely the cousins shooting at each other." The forces loyal to Syrian President Assad waging war with rebel forces. One could almost imagine the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in that city as well. It was just another reminder to us that Israel is always on the state of high alert.
Just yesterday, Israeli authorities placed a high alert status upon those living in the Golan. They were to be ready to head to bomb-shelters as Israel had seen an increased presence of Iranian activity near the border. While we were in Israel, Israeli planes bombed a missile site just north of Damascus where the Iranian backed forces of Syrian President Assad were storing missiles. In that strike several Iranian soldiers were killed and Iran has vowed to retaliate. Since returning home, Israeli planes have attacked another munitions depot south of Damascus.
And yet, in spite of the heightened threat of war, thousands of visitors flocked to the holy sites of Christendom. To be honest, I have never seen so many people in Jerusalem in my life. One of our visits was to the site of the Upper Room. People were packed into that room so tightly that it almost became claustrophobic. And the Church of the Holy Sepulchre reminded me of trying to walk down the grand concourse at the Minnesota State Fair on the final day of the fair. Hotels were filled. Buses were filled. Traffic jams were commonplace. Perhaps people are sensing that if they do not get to Israel soon, the opportunities for unfettered visits there might soon end.
Next week the United States will move its embassy staff from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, housing the embassy in one of its two consulates within the city of Jerusalem. This move will surely bring some types of demonstrations. But I am grateful that finally the embassy is where it should be - within the eternal capital of the nation of Israel. By the way, several others countries are now following the American lead by moving their embassies as well.
Where is the greatest threat to Israel? Is it from Hamas located within the Gaza Strip? It would appear that the Israeli Defense Forces have Hamas pretty well in check. The border, although penetrated on occasions, remains pretty secure. And Israel has not been afraid to use bunker-buster bombs to destroy tunnel-makers. Oh, there will always be tension along the Gaza Border, but Hamas is not a real threat.
Is it from Syria? Certainly the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria presents a problem for Israel. Yet, Tehran knows that any attack upon Israel will be met with an equally strong attack from Israel. Plus, there is the likelihood that America would stand by its Middle East Ally, Israel. So, there will continue to be those surgical strikes from the Israeli Air Force keeping the Iranians from stockpiling weapons that could be used against Israel.
It seems to me that the greatest threat to Israel comes from Hezbollah which operates out of Lebanon. Forces of Hezbollah have been fighting alongside the Syrian army in the Civil War there. They have become battle-hardened. They have the backing of the Iranians and are seen as Iranian proxies in this fight. I refer you to an excellent article written by Jacob L. Shapiro titled "The Next Israeli War." It was posted on the Geopolitical Futures website on May 4 - www.geopoliticalfutures.com. The author presents a strong case for a possible war between Israel and Hezbollah. These two forces have tangled in the past - as recently as 2006. Could this become the "strike zone?"
Friends, although our group felt incredibly safe while in Israel, there were just those reminders that Israel lies within a war zone. Its military is always on alert. Its planes are always in the skies. Its people know what to do should the alarms go off. And yet life continues as normal. Perhaps that is the greatest psychological impact Israel has upon its neighbors. They do not exhibit daily fears. They go to work. They play soccer in the parks. They attend the theater. They eat at the many sidewalk cafes. Their children attend school. They attend the synagogue. The Israelis are an amazing group of people to observe.
I want to close this blog by reminding us of our responsibility toward the people of Jerusalem and Israel. It is found in Psalm 122:6-9 which states, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God, I will seek your prosperity."
We visited many sites - both new and old. Yet, at almost every place we were reminded that Israel is a nation that is always under the threat of war. We stood on a Sunday morning on the platform atop the Carmelite Monastery at Mount Carmel. We joined a group of about 25 young Israeli soldiers. They were there as part of their training. They seemed so young, yet the burden of war lay heavily upon their shoulders. This was the first time I had ever witnessed soldiers on Mount Carmel. But that area is of strategic importance.
While in the Galilee area, we drove to Mount Bental, a former Israeli observation post peeking over into Syria. Mount Bental lies deep within the Golan Heights. Just below this former observation post lies the city of Kuneitra - a Syria city that changed hands during both the Six Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. While standing there, we saw the puffs of smoke coming from mortar fire within the city and then heard the sounds of automatic weapons. It became quite intense. Our guide shared with us that it "merely the cousins shooting at each other." The forces loyal to Syrian President Assad waging war with rebel forces. One could almost imagine the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in that city as well. It was just another reminder to us that Israel is always on the state of high alert.
Just yesterday, Israeli authorities placed a high alert status upon those living in the Golan. They were to be ready to head to bomb-shelters as Israel had seen an increased presence of Iranian activity near the border. While we were in Israel, Israeli planes bombed a missile site just north of Damascus where the Iranian backed forces of Syrian President Assad were storing missiles. In that strike several Iranian soldiers were killed and Iran has vowed to retaliate. Since returning home, Israeli planes have attacked another munitions depot south of Damascus.
And yet, in spite of the heightened threat of war, thousands of visitors flocked to the holy sites of Christendom. To be honest, I have never seen so many people in Jerusalem in my life. One of our visits was to the site of the Upper Room. People were packed into that room so tightly that it almost became claustrophobic. And the Church of the Holy Sepulchre reminded me of trying to walk down the grand concourse at the Minnesota State Fair on the final day of the fair. Hotels were filled. Buses were filled. Traffic jams were commonplace. Perhaps people are sensing that if they do not get to Israel soon, the opportunities for unfettered visits there might soon end.
Next week the United States will move its embassy staff from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, housing the embassy in one of its two consulates within the city of Jerusalem. This move will surely bring some types of demonstrations. But I am grateful that finally the embassy is where it should be - within the eternal capital of the nation of Israel. By the way, several others countries are now following the American lead by moving their embassies as well.
Where is the greatest threat to Israel? Is it from Hamas located within the Gaza Strip? It would appear that the Israeli Defense Forces have Hamas pretty well in check. The border, although penetrated on occasions, remains pretty secure. And Israel has not been afraid to use bunker-buster bombs to destroy tunnel-makers. Oh, there will always be tension along the Gaza Border, but Hamas is not a real threat.
Is it from Syria? Certainly the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria presents a problem for Israel. Yet, Tehran knows that any attack upon Israel will be met with an equally strong attack from Israel. Plus, there is the likelihood that America would stand by its Middle East Ally, Israel. So, there will continue to be those surgical strikes from the Israeli Air Force keeping the Iranians from stockpiling weapons that could be used against Israel.
It seems to me that the greatest threat to Israel comes from Hezbollah which operates out of Lebanon. Forces of Hezbollah have been fighting alongside the Syrian army in the Civil War there. They have become battle-hardened. They have the backing of the Iranians and are seen as Iranian proxies in this fight. I refer you to an excellent article written by Jacob L. Shapiro titled "The Next Israeli War." It was posted on the Geopolitical Futures website on May 4 - www.geopoliticalfutures.com. The author presents a strong case for a possible war between Israel and Hezbollah. These two forces have tangled in the past - as recently as 2006. Could this become the "strike zone?"
Friends, although our group felt incredibly safe while in Israel, there were just those reminders that Israel lies within a war zone. Its military is always on alert. Its planes are always in the skies. Its people know what to do should the alarms go off. And yet life continues as normal. Perhaps that is the greatest psychological impact Israel has upon its neighbors. They do not exhibit daily fears. They go to work. They play soccer in the parks. They attend the theater. They eat at the many sidewalk cafes. Their children attend school. They attend the synagogue. The Israelis are an amazing group of people to observe.
I want to close this blog by reminding us of our responsibility toward the people of Jerusalem and Israel. It is found in Psalm 122:6-9 which states, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.' For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God, I will seek your prosperity."
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