Israel: Important News You Have Not Heard

It is good to be back home.  As you probably noticed, this blogsite has been pretty quiet for the past couple of weeks.  It was not due to the lack of anything of importance happening around the globe; it was just that I took a break from my computer and led a group of 43 people to Israel and Jordan for two weeks.  I never cease to be amazed at how Israel keeps shrinking the desert.  Every time I go back, more land has been reclaimed that had for centuries been barren.  Now date palms, citrus groves, olive trees, flowers and fruits and vegetables of every kind imaginable are growing where desert sands had once ruled. 

Since my return home I have been asked if I felt safe while in Israel and Jordan.  My enthusiastic response was, "Incredibly so!"  Israel, as a country, truly understands matters of security.  I must admit that, at times, it can become stressful.  A simple short trek from Jerusalem to Bethlehem becomes complicated because of several checkpoints along the way.  And the Israeli security fence is certainly not a thing of beauty, in fact, as Amnon, our guide said, "We wish it could come down, but it has done its job in preventing terror attacks upon the Israeli people."  So, yes we felt secure - perhaps more secure there than here in Minnesota, or at least parts of Minnesota. 

I had the opportunity one evening, while sitting along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, of visiting with our guide and our bus driver, both men whom I have known for several years and highly respect.  I asked them about how they saw the future of the ongoing peace process.  One was rather negative and said that he thought nothing would happen because the Palestinians were always changing the rules; the other sounded a little more hopeful.  Both men certainly want peace to come to Israel.  Both would like to live peacefully with their neighbors.  But there is such a spirit of distrust that has been created over the years that has become ingrained into the personalities of the people.  An "open border" like that between the United States and Canada will never happen between Israel and any Palestinian state that might be created.  Reason: lack of trust.  So there will always be check points. 

Speaking of the peace process, I was reading an article from IsraelNationalNews.com Monday that stated, according to IDF Radio, the United States intends to try and force a peace agreement on Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).  "The radio station says the US has informed Israel and the Palestinian Authority that if negotiations between them do not advance, Washington will propose its own solution, that will include a US position on every point that is in contention.  In effect, according to the report, this will be an attempt to force the sides to agree on a solution formulated by the US," the proposal being presented in January 2014.  The Israelis and Palestinians have been meeting for the past three months, but little progress has been made.  The present role of the United States is that of a mediator between the two sides.  The report continued, "The US plan reportedly is similar to the Clinton outline, offered by President Bill Clinton in late 2000, which is based on an Israeli retreat to 1949 Armistice lines, and some swaps of territory.  The Obama Administration is reportedly determined to achieve 'a diplomatic breakthrough' by mid-2014."   (I will try to keep you posted as to how these talks progress, or fail to progress).

On a more positive note, US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is giving Israel credit for much of the pressure that has been brought to bear on Iran regarding its nuclear weapons programs.  According to the article in yesterday's issue of IsraelNationalNews.com, "Netanyahu's threats of military action against Iranian nuclear sites, combined with the pressure of sanctions, may have actually encouraged Iran to take negotiations seriously, Hagel explained."  Hagel continued, "It's true that sanctions - not just U.S. sanctions but UN sanctions, multilateral sanctions - have done tremendous economic damage.  Even many of Iran's leaders have acknowledged that.  And I think that Iran is responding to the constant pressure from Israel, knowing that Israel believes them to be an existential threat.  I think all of this, combined, probably brought the Iranians to where we are today.  Whether the Iranians will carry forth on that, we'll see." 

Two reasons to keep you eyes open to what is happening in Israel.  Of course, if you want to follow more closely I recommend the following websites: Jerusalem Post - www.jpost.com; Arutz Sheva or IsraelNationalNews - www.israelnationalnews.com; and the daily news briefs from Channel 2 news in Jerusalem - www.jerusalemonline.com. 

It is good to be back home, even though we had our first serious taste of winter yesterday.  In the coming weeks I will share some highlights from the tour.  Just remember: Our Lord and Savior and King is coming back to this earth to reign in one specific location - Jerusalem.  So, let's pray for peace to come to that great city through its King.