Tag: hamas

Hypocrisy at its finest!

On By marvinsk3 Comments

“What can we expect from an American administration under the presidency of Joe Biden? We cannot ignore the fact that he was the Vice-President under the Obama administration, which was one of the most, if not the most, anti-Israel administrations in U.S. history. That’s eight years of influence that he would bring with him to the White House.

“In all likelihood, an attempt will be made to resurrect the so-called “two-state solution” to the Israeli-“Palestinian” conflict, which many political pundits considered to be a dead policy. Of necessity, that would mean that the U.S. would oppose any increased settlement activity in Judea and Samaria. Without question, unilateral annexation of territory in those areas is no longer viable – an opportunity missed by the Netanyahu government in favor of normalization agreements with certain Arab countries. Notwithstanding that Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for over 30 years, it is doubtful that such acquaintance would develop into such a friendship that the Biden administration would continue relations with Israel where the Trump administration leaves off. In all likelihood, it would revert to the perspective of the Obama administration and try to dictate to Israel how things should be worked out, namely, through a “two-state” solution. This would also entail re-establishing diplomatic ties with the “Palestinians” that seriously deteriorated under the Trump administration. This would also fulfil a Biden campaign promise to renew relationships with the “Palestinians”, which could well mean that Biden would direct the reopening of the “Palestinian” mission in Washington that was closed by Trump. Things could be somewhat different, as Biden is not Obama. This remains to be seen. Much will depend upon the politicos in the Senate and House of Representatives.” [The Week That Was: A Joe Biden Presidency – What Can Israel Expect? – November 7, 2020]

And here we are, three and a half years later, in the midst of a war with a brutal, vicious, blood-thirsty, Israel-hating terrorist organization and another U.S. presidential election looming in the not-too-distant future. And what do we hear from our friend, our ally, the one who has repeatedly stated that there exists between us an “unbreakable bond”?: Conduct your war the way WE want you to conduct it. Prioritize the safety of civilians in Gaza. Don’t fight to defeat your enemy; work out an agreement that WE think is the right one to end your war and bring home all of those taken hostage by a totally immoral group of terrorists, who use their own people as human shields and who execute their own people who disagree with them. Don’t expand your settlements in Judea and Samaria; Consent to give your enemy international recognition as a sovereign state that will exists both sides of your heartland with a shared Jerusalem as the capitol of both states, as the only way that you will both have enduring peace (a two-state solution). And if you don’t want to, we’ll go ahead and recognize your enemy as a sovereign state without your consent. By the way, we think the proposed deal with Hamas is a good one. Go for it. If you don’t listen to what we tell you to do, we’ll consider putting a few chinks into our “unbreakable bond” with you. That latter demand, to close the deal with Hamas, is the epitomy of hypocrisy. The United States doesn’t want to negotiate with terrorists, but it wants Israel to do so. 

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Chuck Schumer, the U.S. Democratic Senate Majority Leader, gave a speech explaining his views of the present war and giving his opinion how to live in peace and harmony with people sworn to Israel’s destruction. The full text of Senator Schumer’s speech can be viewed here.

If my count is correct, he referred in his speech to a “two-state solution” 21 times and to the term “Palestinian” 66 times. If something is repeated often enough, the one making the statement expects that it will become internalized by those who hear it and they, themselves, will begin to believe it and maybe pass it on. He said that Israel should call for new elections and refers to P.M. Netanyahu one of four obstacles to peace (the other three being Hamas; radical right-wing Israelis in government and society; “Palestinian” Authority President Mahmoud Abbas). He ignores reports that the vast majority of the people in Gaza voiced support for Hamas and its actions of October 7th. He also said, in part: “We should not let the complexities of this conflict stop us from stating the plain truth: Palestinian civilians do not deserve to suffer for the sins of Hamas, and Israel has a moral obligation to do better. The United States has an obligation to do better.” Well, Senator Schumer, the civilians in Gaza (not “Palestinians”) elected Hamas. That turned out to be a major mistake on their part and they are suffering the consequences of their actions. As for Israel having a “moral obligation” vis-a-vis the civilians in Gaza, it should be understood that Israel’s “moral obligation” is first and foremost is to its own population, to defend against and to fight an enemy bent on Israel’s destruction. The problem is that this enemy hides in civilian population centers and uses those civilians as human shields. The United States and its allies in WWII should first and foremost apologize for their failure to prioritize the safety of the civilian population in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in Dresden and in a multitude of other locations that were bombed to oblivion and not to point a moralizing finger at Israel, who is seeking to eliminate a ruthless enemy and ensure that there will not be a repeat of October 7th – an event that Hamas has publicly announced that it plans to pursue over and over again.

One of the problems with Senator Schumer’s speech is his apparent failure to understand that the present situation is a continuation of a religious war against Israel and the Jewish people, that is based on an ideology that demands, in part, the total elimination of Israel from the area of the Middle East. The Qur’an and Islamic traditions support and nurture an ideology of hatred towards the Jews, whose destiny, as determined by Islam, is one of absolute and total slaughter. Qur’an, Sura 5:64, makes clear that there will be “enmity and hatred” against the Jews until the end of the present age. This position has been inculcated in Islamic teaching for well over a thousand years old. So, the call for the final slaughter of all Jews is not based on the present war with Hamas, or even upon the establishment of the State of Israel. Yet, it continues today with even greater force than in previous years. Speeches by modern-day Imams confirm the call of the “Palestinians” to take the lead in the war against the Jews and that irrespective of how many agreements are signed or how many treaties are ratified, the Islamic call is to annihilate the Jews, as well as those who support them. If the United States thinks that it is exempt from the ultimate call of the Qur’an and its related Hadiths, to subject the entire world to an acceptance of Islam or be killed, then it is in for a very rude awakening. It should take a look at what has happened in France, in the countries of Scandinavia, in England and in other democratic countries, as well as take a good and long look at the demonstrations taking place in the streets across the U.S. and the statements made by elected officials in its own government. 

I rarely attach a link to a video in this blog. But, given the misguided and uninformed opinions of a multitude of politicians in the U.S. and around the world, I would urge them to view, “Israelis must listen to the Palestinians” . My first reaction to this was to consider it one more attempt to get us to compromise with the so-called “Palestinians”, again. But, when viewed, it becomes readily apparent that the content does not leave much room for misunderstanding. We are encouraged to really listen to how much we are hated, how different our perspectives are and how we, as a people, value life, while those with whom we are told should be given an independent state value death, and, particularly, Israel’s death. If you can, send this to your political leaders. Maybe it will open their eyes to what they want us to ignore.

Senator Schumer says that his name is derived from the Hebrew word “shomer”, which means “guard”, “guardian”, or “keeper”. He adds: “Of course, my first responsibility is to America and New York. But as the first Jewish Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in America ever, I also feel very keenly my responsibility as Shomer Yisrael – a guardian of the People of Israel.” But, Israel already has a Protector, the best there is, the Keeper of Israel, Who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 122:6 – Hineh, lo yanoom v’lo yeeshan Shomer Yisrael = same word). 

There are dates and events in history that become etched in our memory banks. They are brought forth from time to time to remind us to remember them. Some events are international in their scope, such as September 11, 2001 (i.e., 9/11) and the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020. Some are national, such as the Exodus from Egypt on Passover and the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai; December 7, 1941 – the bombing of the U.S. Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, “… a day that will live in infamy forever”. Some events are regional, such as 70 A.D. – the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman General Titus. Some relate to individuals – the death of Messiah Yeshua as the Passover Lamb and His resurrection, both according to the Scriptures. But, there are other events that relate to a specific people, and the attempts to eliminate them from the face of the earth – Psalm 83:4 – “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” This is actually a series of events and attempts by those who hate God, who have exalted themselves and who made and make shrewd plans against “Your people” (Psalm 83:2-3; Deuteronomy 7:7; see the Scroll of Esther). And to this list we now solemnly and painfully add “Black Saturday” – October 7, 2023.

The Passover Haggadah (the telling of the Passover story at the annual Seder meal, the night of the Passover) contains the following statement (translation from Hebrew): “In every generation they rise up against us to destroy us.” A reading of Biblical history confirms this – Pharaoh’s command to kill all newborn, Jewish males and Herod’s command to kill all Jewish males under the age of two years old. Persecution under the Romans – You cannot live here as a Jew; convert or die. The slaughter of over a million Jews during the time of the Crusades; the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal – You cannot live here. The pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe and, eventually, to the Holocaust, the planned “final solution” to rid the world of the Jewish people – You cannot live!

But, WE DO LIVE. [The Week That Was: We Will Remember and Will NOT Forget – April 21, 2020]

“In 1898, Mark Twain’s “Concerning the Jew” essay was published in Harper’s Magazine. When his comment about the Jews not serving in the military was later proven to be untrue, he issued a public apology. In the latter part of his essay, he wrote, in part: 

“What has become of the Golden Rule?”

It exists, it continues to sparkle, and is well taken care of. It is Exhibit A in the Church`s assets, and we pull it out every Sunday and give it an airing. But you are not permitted to try to smuggle it into this discussion, where it is irrelevant and would not feel at home. It is strictly religious furniture, like an acolyte, or a contribution-plate, or any of those things. It has never been intruded into business; and Jewish persecution is not a religious passion, it is a business passion.

. . . If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world`s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?” (Mark Twain: Concerning The Jews, Harper’s Magazine, March, 1898).

“Indeed, the question of the ages has been “What is the secret of the immortality of the Jew?” Clearly, we are but human, fallible, given to every vice and virtue of almost every other people on the earth, whether presently existing or in ages past. We cannot over-simplify the answer, nor should we try. Yet, a question that relates to immortality can only be answered by reference to that which “immortal”, which lives forever, which defies logic and necessitates a reliance upon faith.  

“We need to wake up to reality from a Biblical point of view.  A time is coming, and it is not very far off, when the world will turn against this tiny stretch of desert land and its inhabitants and/or will idly stand by as nations gather together in an attempt to destroy us, so that the name of Israel would be no more (Ps. 83:4). Life for the Jew will be difficult beyond our imagination.  Non-Jews who will come to faith in the Lord Yeshua, the Lord of Glory, the Holy One of Israel, during that time, will have their faith tested by the manner in which they relate to the Jew, as He stated (see Matt. 25:40): “…’to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’”  This statement was made by the Lord Yeshua before He went to the cross and died as the Passover Lamb that took upon Himself the sins of the world.  His “brothers” were, therefore, according to the flesh, namely, the Jews. This is not the place to deal with the similarities or distinctions between the wars referred to in Psalm 83; Ezekiel 38:4-5, 10-12; 39:2 and Revelation 16. That is for another time.

“Israel as a nation and the Jews as a people, will continue to exist. “Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day, And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: ‘If this fixed order departs From before Me,” declares the LORD, “Then the offspring of Israel also shall cease From being a nation before Me forever.’ Thus says the LORD, ‘If the heavens above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done,’ declares the LORD.” (Jer. 31:35-37).  The wars seeking to eliminate Israel and the Jews are physical manifestations of the spiritual warfare taking place – the spirit of Islam against The Spirit of the Resurrected Messiah, Israel in the midst of a sea of her enemies, who seek to destroy her.  

“What is the secret of the immortality of the Jew? Simply, God! He is sovereign in all His ways…This world, with all of the evil that is in it, is fading away. We have to hold on to that which is eternal and to the One who dwells in eternity. We need to see the whole picture.” [The Week That Was: The Immortality of the Jew – 29 September, 2019]

By the way, notwithstanding Senator Schumer’s claim that Jews around the globe are driven by “Tikkun Olam”, the call to “repair the world”, it should be clear that we don’t need to try to fix the world. Efforts to do that over the millenia have failed miserably and we, as a people, have paid the price. “Fixing the World” is not our job. It belongs to the Creator of the Universe, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the One who has fashioned us in our mother’s wombs. He alone can channel the hearts of kings like water and turn them whichever way He wants (Proverbs 21:1).0

Lest one think that my criticism of Senator Schumer’s speech is an isolated one, I am joined by politicians from both sides of the Congressional political isle, although some from Schumer’s own party were more reserved in their responses. Some of those comments can be read here and here. In the words of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky), Schumer’s comments were not only “unprecedented”, but “grotesque and hypocritical”, as well. He added: “The Democratic Party doesn’t have an anti-Bibi* problem. It has an anti-Israel problem.” [* Bibi is the nickname for Benjamin Netanyahu.]

The present U.S. Administration should stay away from playing armchair-military strategists and leave the decisions about how to conduct warfare to the people who are best trained for it and who have life experiences that guide their decisions. In short, President Biden should take the advice of General Jack Keane (Ret.) and “Leave Israel Alone”. Gen. Keane, who was interviewed on Fox News, dealt first with the return of ISIS in Afganistan and then applauded Israel’s actions in the present Gaza War. He disagreed with President Biden’s comments and said that Israel should be allowed to achieve its military goal of eliminating Hamas: “I just wish frankly that the President and his teams would leave Israel alone here and let them conduct their military operation in accordance with their values and as they see fit. They have taken unprecedented moves to remove the problem that no other military has had in my memory of dealing with such a concentration of civilians that are actually in the combatant zone inside urban centers. When the sound of the guns come, people normally leave. Hamas doesn’t let them leave. The Israelis had moved them away, as best as they possibly can. And so it’s resulted regrettably in civilians casualties. But, the rose has to be pinned. The reason for those casualties is Hamas. We’ve got this thing twisted and blamed Israel for that. That’s not the case. Israel has to finish this…If we let Hamas live again because we don’t destroy the remaining batallions and their leaders, they’re going to rearm and re-attack and make the people of Israel vulnerable once again…They’re after [Israel’s] destruction and … the millions of Jews who are living there. They certainly trust their government and their security forces, until October 7th. And that trust will have to be renewed and regain the trust of the Israeli people so they’re not put further at risk by not destroying this force.”

I will repeat, and continue to say, that Western nations fail to understand the realities of the present situation of Israel and her neighbors. A “two-state solution” would add insult to injury, fuel the flames of antisemitism, and be a reward for terrorism. Nations may choose to abandon Israel because of the present Gaza War. Their choices will have consequences, either for good or for bad. If they do choose to forsake Israel, then we can rely on a statement from Mordechai to his niece, the Queen, in the Book of Esther: “For if you [fail to help Israel] at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place” (Esther 4:14).

A little longer than usual, but every now and then, we need to say what needs to be said.

Whatever your situation may be, remember: Bless, be blessed and be a blessing!

Have a safe, healthy and God-honoring week.

Marvin

Hamas Is Looking for an All-Out Regional Conflict

On By marvinskLeave a comment

Shalom all,

The number of IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive has now reached 247. The total number of IDF deaths since October 7th stands at 587. We still don’t know how many hostages are still alive or who they are.

Hostage negotiations stalled, again, and Hamas doesn’t know where the hostages are. During the last round of talks just over a week ago, Israel demanded that Hamas provide a list of the hostages that are still alive. The representatives of Hamas balked at the request. As a result, Israel refused to continue in the talks. But, this past Monday, there was suddenly an apparent willingness on Israel’s part to agree to the basic terms laid out by the Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. participants in the negotiations. What was needed was the consent of Hamas. And then came the bombshell! Basic Naim, a political official of Hamas, who was interviewed by the BBC, said that Hamas didn’t provide a list of living hostages because it doesn’t know who they all are and where they all are. In his words, “We didn’t until now submit any list. But first of all, technically and practically, it is now impossible to know exactly who is still alive and who has been killed because of the Israeli bombardment or who has been killed because of starvation because of the Israeli blockade…[adding that the hostages] are in different areas with different groups and therefore we have called for a ceasefire to be able to collect the data.” He repeated that Hamas would not agree to conclude a hostage release / prisoner swap without an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza. The rhetoric of Hamas officials continues to blame Israel for the deaths of hostages. The representative added a new, absurd claim, that hostages died from starvation “because of the Israeli blockage”. This is an insult to everyone with even half a brain, like the Hamasnikim. Why is it that only the hostages have died from starvation, but Hamas fighters and officials apparently never go hungry? Multitudes of humanitarian aid trucks have been pouring into Gaza, but they are taken over by Hamas terrorists, and others, at gunpoint. Lest we forget, there is no humanity exhibited by Hamas. Their concerns are from first to last the members of Hamas and the continuing existence of their terrorist organization. We should not be surprised that they don’t have any real concern for the well-being of the hostages, but use them as pawns for negotiation. 

At 18:30 this evening (6:30 p.m.), Hamas announced that in addition to the three hostages who were reported to have been killed last week, another four male hostages were reportedly killed, with Hamas blaming their deaths on Israel. The numbers of hostages continues to dwindle, 2, 3 and 4 at a time. More statistics to be added to the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7th. One can only imagine what is happening with the 19 women and, particularly, the soldiers, who remain in Hamas captivity. Hamas has consistently refused to allow the International Red Cross to visit the hostages and to provide much-needed medical assistance to some of them. Although the families of the named hostages were informed by the IDF, Israel claims that the report of Hamas is psychological warfare and that there is no proof of the deaths that were reported.

In an article in The Times of Israel and in the Ynet News site in Hebrew today, Vice President Kamala Harris did it again, apparently parroting the present policy line of the Biden administration. She was interviewed today by the American CBS and was asked to differentiate between the government policy and the people of Israel, while being questioned whether Israel would be endanger if the U.S. ceased providing military aid to Israel. Her response was: “It’s important for us to distinguish or at least not conflate the Israeli government with the Israeli people. The Israeli people are entitled to security – as are the Palestinians. In equal measure…And our work as always as the United States is to do what we must, and what we always have, to stand for the security of Israel and its people, and also to do what we have done behind closed doors and in public around forcing a better path forward in terms of what’s happening currently in Gaza.” She added: “This conflict has to end as soon as possible, and how it does so matters. We need the hostages out, we need humanitarian aid to so in and ultimately we need a two-state solution.”  The Hebrew site has minor variations of Harris’ comments. 

The Dry Bones Blog – 8 March, 2024

There is a sense of single-minded blindness that has gripped the members of the Biden administration, who think that a two-state solution is really a solution that will bring about peace and harmony between Israel and so-called “Palestinians”, who are less interested in having their own state than they are about removing the State of Israel from the land of Israel. There is an old saying that “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” It is, indeed, difficult to try to force understanding on someone who chooses to remain ignorant. 

The senior policy makers in the U.S., along with those in many other countries, either failed to pay attention in their classes that discussed the history of the Middle East, or they willfully choose to ignore such history and even try to deny it. Establishing a “Palestinian” state alongside Israel is doomed from the start. Israel will never willingly agree to cut away its heartland and give it to an enemy that is sworn to Israel’s destruction. Apparently, the U.S. and other countries that are pushing for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state totally ignore what the criteria are for recognition of a people group as a state, none of which exist regarding the people in Gaza or those living under the “Palestinian” Authority in the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria, commonly referred to as “The West Bank” (of the Jordan River). This has been reported in previous posts and may be discussed again in future posts, but need not in this one. 

From the “Palestinian” perspective, all of the land that constitutes the State of Israel is “occupied”. This ideology stems from the Islamic belief that any soil where Islam has placed its foot becomes holy to Islam, even if the Islamic presence is later removed. So, the chant “From the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea” is a call for the elimination of the State of Israel, which would, from an Islamic point of view, cleanse the land and make it ready for the appearance of the “Mahdi”, or the messianic savior in Islam. 

The fantasy of a two-state solution will only serve to bring an enemy closer to our doorstep and give it legitimacy as a nation-state, with all of the privileges that such an entity would possess. To say that it would pose a greater danger to Israel than that presently existing would be an understatement.
Ron Dermer, a member of the War Cabinet and Minister of Strategic Affairs, and former Ambassador to the United States, in an interview with Jewish News Syndicate, stated, in part: “Anybody talking about a Palestinian state right now is living on another planet because it will be the greatest reward for terrorism. That the international community will reward somebody for doing what was done on Oct. 7; would be a complete disaster. If tomorrow, there would be a Palestinian state, it would be a clear and present danger to the Jewish state.” The interview is worth reading.

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is literally around the corner. Initial considerations for restricting access to the Temple Mount have fallen by the wayside. The government of Israel has caved into international pressure to allow the Temple Mount to remain open for worshippers, without “major” restrictions. Threats of an all-out holy war have, apparently, succeeded to convince Israel that the last thing we need right now is an expanded holy war with presently uninvolved players. This is clearly a reversal of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plans expressed last month, which were intended to put limitations on visitation to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.  In the words of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir: “Hamas’ celebrations on the Temple Mount = total victory”. He also indicated in a separate statement: “The decision to permit visits to the Temple Mount during Ramadan similar to past years, against the recommendation of the police and against my advice, shows that Prime Minister Netanyahu and the mini-cabinet think that nothing happened on the 7th of October. This decision threatens the security of Israel’s citizens.”   Disruptions in and around the Temple Mount during Ramadan will clearly make a presently bad situation considerably worse, which appears to be one of the goals of Hamas.

We will soon see how this works out. Past experience shows that even in the best of times, the month of Ramadan is problematic and can easily become a spark that ignites the entire region.

Did you know that there is a UN sexual violence envoy? Apparently, the formal title is: “UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict”. Well, that representative, Pramila Patten, led a special mission team through Israel and reported that there was “clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has been committed against hostages.” She called on Hamas to “immediately and unconditionally release all individuals held in captivity and to ensure their protection, including from sexual violence.” In presenting her findings to a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Ms. Patten added that there are “’reasonable grounds’ to believe that such violence is still ongoing against those hostages still in captivity in Gaza.”  The above article noted the response of Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN: “It took the UN five months to finally recognize the horrifying sex crimes that occurred during the Hamas on onslaught of October 7,” Erdan said in a statement. “Now that the report of the sexual atrocities and abuse that our hostages are going through in Gaza is being released, the shame of the silence of the UN — which is not even holding one hearing on the issue — is crying out to the heavens.” Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, voiced strong opposition to the failure of the Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, for the failure to call a meeting of the Security Council “to declare Hamas a terror group and place sanctions on its supporters”, adding that Guterres did not say even “one word” over the report of the sexual atrocities, concluding with: “Guterres, wake up.” The time has come for not only Guterres, but for the rest of the world to consider whether the UN has any socially-redeeming value in world affairs today.

I am aware that the news media in many locations fail to give an accurate account of what is happening here. So, for those who may still question whether or not the Hezbollah terrorist organization is actively engaged in military conflict with Israel, I am attaching a link to some of the fireworks that took place in the north of Israel this past Wednesday. The situation may soon get worse, as it was reported that the grandson of Hassan Narallah, the Secretary-General of the Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli strike in south Lebanon earlier this week. And Ramadan begins tomorrow night (Sunday, March 10, 2024) and will continue until Tuesday, April 9th. We certainly live in interesting times.

May your week be safe and remember: Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.
Marvin

That’s going too far.

On By marvinsk5 Comments

Kamala Harris went too far when she condemned Israel for not doing enough to provide aid to Gazans, who she said were “caught in the war between the Jewish state and the terrorist organization bent on its destruction.” Mr. Harris spoke at an event in Selma, Alabama, commemorating the anniversary of civil rights activists who were beaten by state troopers. Given the nature of the event where she spoke, it would be only natural for Ms. Harris to inject a few tidbits regarding other matters that in her mind are appropriate matters for discussion at that same event. But, she went beyond tidbits, focusing on crowd appeal and getting on Israel’s case.

I try not to get embroiled in U.S. politics or politicians. But, when either or both reflects upon events in Israel, it would be wrong for any of us to remain silent. In her castigation of Israel, she appears to have forgotten that we are in the throes of a war against a ruthless, totally immoral terrorist organization, whose sole raison d’être is to kill the Jewish people and eliminate the State of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. She asserted: “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid…[and] must open new border crossings.”

It is clear that the perspective of the Vice-President of the United States, of what is happening thousands of miles away from where she lives, is removed from the realities here. Her comments included that Israel “must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites and convoys are not targeted.” Targeted by whom? The IDF denies without hesitation that it does not target any humanitarian aid sites. That leaves Hamas and the Gazans themselves. As far as protecting the “humanitarian personnel”, with all due respect to Ms. Harris, that is not Israel’s responsibility. It provides humanitarian aid and allows other nations to participate in that regard. For all intents and purposes, Israel does not need to help in the distribution of the aid that enters Gaza, nor to act as a bodyguard for “humanitarian personnel”, who are undefined. Maybe she is referring to UNRWA employees. In any event, others are responsible for the trucks, the personnel and for the distribution. But, if those others fail in their responsibility, or choose not to participate in such distribution because of fear of Hamas, or because the fighting poses potential danger to them, the blame for what happens because of the failure of others should not be placed at Israel’s doorstep. 

Then Ms. Harris added that “Israel also needed to work to restore basic services and promote order so that ‘more food, water and fuel can reach those in need’.” So, now, in the midst of fighting, she wants Israel to restore/repair basic services for the Gazan civilians. Maybe she expects that Israel would send over a few plumbers, open up all-night grocery stores and set up fueling stations throughout the coastal enclave. She played to the crowd and got the response that she wanted … from them, at our expense.

It has been shown that when humanitarian aid shipments enter Gaza, Hamas is the primary beneficiary of those shipments, which are intended for the multitudes. That terrorist organization has no genuine concern for the civilians in Gaza, but only for its own survival, and it forcefully takes what it wants. A natural result of the lack of an orderly distribution of humanitarian aid could clearly lead to a crisis, which, in the opinion of Kamala Harris, would then be the catalyst that should result in “an immediate ceasefire…for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table. This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in…Let’s get a ceasefire, let’s reunite the hostages with their families, and let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.”

Her words give the impression that she is personally involved in either fighting this war or negotiating an end to it. “Let’s get…let’s reunite…let’s provide….”  Apparently, Ms. Harris fails to grasp the realities of this war and the nature of the terrorist organization that is, and absolutely should be, responsible for everything suffering in the Gaza Strip since October 7th. When she says, “Let’s”, she really means that Israel should do what she stated: “get, reunite, provide”, as if these are magical words that merely uttering them will bring about the desired result. No, Ms. Harris. There are casualties in every war and Israel’s primary goal is to defeat its enemy and bring the hostages home, alive. It is not to placate the enemy, or to pull out all the stops to make sure that the people who put Hamas into power are not harmed and are treated well. 

Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties, but is not an insurance company that needs to compensate Gazans who suffer because of the evils brought about by the government of blood-thirsty terrorists that those Gazans empowered to rule over them. 

“Let’s get a ceasefire.” War is not an electric outlet that can be turned on and switched off at whim, because some politician thinks there is too much alleged innocent suffering. What about the innocent suffering of the hostages? Where is the humanitarian aid that should have been given to them during the past 150 days, humanitarian aid that the world should have demanded be given to them. Does their suffering not count? Where are the medical supplies that some of the hostages desperately needed? Hamas refused to provide access to the hostages by the International Red Cross. What are the names of the hostages that are still alive? Hamas refused to give a list of names to Israel. Are our hostages treated well? Testimonies of released hostages reveal ill treatment of them by Hamas and abuse that is contrary to what international law would require. Israel says that 32 hostages have died or are declared dead. Hamas claims that 70 hostages have been killed due to Israeli attacks, but did not return the bodies for examination. So, how many are really still alive and will be able to survive another six weeks in Hamas captivity? I honesty believe that even Hamas doesn’t know, so it cannot provide a list.  

“Let’s reunite the hostages with their families.” This should have been uppermost in minds of those who call themselves “friends”. But, it wasn’t. This call has been sounded loud and clear by the families of the hostages and has been exerted and felt both near and far. There is no guarantee that all of the hostages, whoever may still be alive, will be released. The “deal” that’s on the table is not a one-time hostage release in exchange for a ceasefire and a swap of 10 prisoners in Israeli jails for every 1 hostage held by Hamas. It is a staged release and at each stage, Hamas can back away, just like it did before, or it will turn up the heat and make its demands more severe, leaving members of the IDF as the last ones to be returned. “Let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.” Thousands of truckloads of humanitarian aid have entered into Gaza after Joe Biden’s visit to Israel following the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on the final day of the most joyous annual feast day here. The best and most appropriate “immediate relief” for the people of Gaza is for them to be rid of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. 

If Kamala Harris really wants the present situation to change, she should be making every effort to help Israel, America’s friend and ally, to rid itself of a deadly enemy and free the hostages. This will also allow the tens of thousand of Israelis to return to their homes, who have been displaced because of missiles launched by terrorist organizations, resulting in those who were displaced becoming refugees in their own country. The sooner we can take care of what we need to do, the sooner the war can end, families can be reunited, and displaced Israelis can return to their homes. Then, if the U.S. still has a mindset to do so, it can extend its hand of help to the people of Gaza. 

It’s easy to condemn. It’s more difficult to take a stand for a friend during its hour of need. There are consequences to both choices. “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” (Gen. 12:3) This is as true today as it has ever been. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)

May the rest of your week be one of blessing.
Marvin

The U.S. plans for a “Palestinian” state behind Israel’s back – Day 134 of the War.

On By marvinsk7 Comments

Shalom all,

The number of IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive has now reached 235. The total number of IDF deaths since October 7th stands at 572. The number of hostages still held by Hamas and other terrorists is estimated at around 130, without knowing who and how many, are still alive.

A Spirit of delusion has taken hold of the United States leadership, along with a number of Arab countries. That fantasy relates to the push for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It is difficult to state with exactitude how many nations genuinely believe that such a step will actually be the catalyst for peace in the Middle East. If we listen to U.S. President Joe Biden and his team, one might actually think that they truly believe in the nonsense that they are espousing. And these actors are moving forward with their plans, which are doomed to failure – or worse, regional war. There are a multitude of reasons why such behind-the-scenes political maneuvering will not succeed. But, the paramount reason is because their discussions do not include Israel! As one journalist expressed it: “The Biden administration’s dogged focus on creating a Palestinian state is ‘obtuse’ and ‘delusional’.”

In his article in “the Algemeiner” yesterday, columnist Jack Elbaum reported that the U.S., along with Jordan and Egypt, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates are “quickly working to form a plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and create a Palestinian state. The first step of such a plan would be for Israel and Hamas to agree to a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the Israeli hostages. Then, during that pause in fighting, the U.S. and its Arab partners would announce the plan and start to form an interim Palestinian government.”  

Let’s look at the Arab countries listed as “partners” with the U.S.: Jordan and Egypt both have peace agreements with Israel, but have been strongly outspoken against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Egypt refuses to allow Gaza residents to cross into its territory, being clearly concerned that Hamas terrorists will join the mixed multitude and wreak havoc in Egypt in due course, as they have in Gaza. Qatar has been a major financial supporter of Hamas and somehow has managed to become the major mediator in the talks between Israel and Hamas – a fact that remains difficult to comprehend. Pakistan issues passports that contain a statement that they are valid for everywhere in the world, with the notation “except Israel”. The United Arab Emirates was the first to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel, but those accords are primarily for economic interests. It never became an “ally” of Israel.

Those countries are talking and making plans behind Israel’s back. They are Biden’s “Arab partners” in the Don Quixote quest of charging at windmills in the totally misguided and, in some instances, intentional goal of dismembering the State of Israel from within, by the establishment of a so-called “Palestinian” state in the heartland of Israel. In choosing to move forward with his “Arab partners”, Biden and his team of spokespersons, have single-handedly written off the “unbreakable bond” that existed between the U.S. and Israel, until October 7, 2023. 

In a  lengthy telephone conversation between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed his view that Israel should not pursue its military operation in Rafah (Rafiah), without developing an executable plan to provide for the safety of the civilians there. That this is a political decision for the benefit of Bidenik politics is without question. He calls Israel the friend of the U.S., but his actions are for his own benefit. The concern that has been expressed over and over again by U.S. representatives is for the civilian population and for the number of non-combatant casualties in the Gaza enclave. Somewhere along the line, the unfathomable atrocities that were committed on Black Saturday in Israel have been cast aside for political expediency, along with the fact that the multitudes of civilians in Gaza cheered the successes of Hamas, which was their leadership of choice. It has been revealed and reported over and over that Gazan civilians, including dozens of UNRWA employees, actively participated in the bloody assault. War is hell and people die, some justifiably and intentionally, while others, who are not active combatants, become casualties of war.

The Bideniks, all politicians of one sort or another and from one country or another, have conveniently ignored their own actions in the war against Germany and its allies in World War II. In a war that lasted for years (not just 4-1/2 months like the Gaza War), the Allied forces, that included the U.S. and Great Britain, conducted bombing raids against the City of Dresden that almost completely destroyed the city. According to Britannica :

“During World War II, Allied bombing raids on February 13–15, 1945… almost completely destroyed the German city of Dresden. The raids became a symbol of the “terror bombing” campaign against Germany, which was one of the most controversial Allied actions of the war.

“Throughout the war, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had called for increased British air raids against the population centres of Germany [my emphasis] in order to swamp German authorities and services, particularly transportation, with hordes of refugees. As the Allied forces closed in on the Third Reich in 1945, such targets became more feasible because of the air superiority and improved navigation techniques of the Anglo-American bomber force.

“Before World War II, Dresden was called ‘Florence on the Elbe’ and was considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities because of its architecture and art treasures. Having never previously been attacked in the war, the city offered increased value for terror bombing against an inexperienced population. On the night of February 13, the British Bomber Command hit Dresden with an 800-bomber air raid, dropping some 2,700 tons of bombs, including large numbers of incendiaries. Aided by weather conditions, a firestorm developed, incinerating tens of thousands of people. The U.S. Eighth Air Force followed the next day with another 400 tons of bombs and carried out yet another raid by 210 bombers on February 15. It is thought that some 25,000–35,000 civilians died in Dresden in the air attacks, though some estimates are as high as 250,000, given the influx of undocumented refugees that had fled to Dresden from the Eastern Front [my emphasis]. Most of the victims were women, children, and the elderly….

“Given the high number of civilian casualties and the relatively few strategic targets, some even called the bombing of Dresden a war crime, though both the British and the American militaries defended the bombing as necessary [my emphasis].

The goal of the Allies was to bring about an end to the war. Israel’s goal is not any different. While the Allies intentionally targeted “population centers”, Israel makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties. But, that becomes a gargantuan challenge, when seeking out an enemy that hides in civilian population centers and uses every type of civilian facility as a location from which to conduct its terrorist operations, even using the civilians themselves as human shields. Enough is enough. Israel has been engaged in military conflicts since its establishment as a State. It has compromised time and time again, entering into multiple agreements with its enemies, only to find itself attacked over and over again. This present war has created serious divisions within Israeli society. But, a recent poll taken by Channel 13, a major television station here, revealed that most of the Israelis polled are in favor of removing Hamas leadership from Gaza, even if it means not having the hostages returned. The question asked was (free translation from Hebrew): 

“Suppose that Israel’s leaders come to the conclusion that they have only the two following options, which of them, in your opinion, should be chosen? –  (choices):

The hostages should be returned and Hamas will remain in control of Gaza = 25%-  

The hostages will not be returned, and Hamas will lose its control in Gaza = 47%-  

Can’t reply” = 28%”

Why should the United States and Great Britain and their other allies be allowed to defend themselves against an aggressor that was determined to dominate the world, but minuscule Israel is denied that right against an aggressor that seeks to eliminate its very existence? Is the dependence on U.S. aid a justifiable reason for the Bideniks to dictate to Israel not to pursue military action in Rafiah – the last, remaining Hamas stronghold, and to set a timetable to end the Gaza War before the onset of the Muslim feast of Ramadan? Setting a timetable in a war, particularly this war, is not only an exercise in futility, but an indication that those who make such a decision are removed from realities on the ground and live on fantasy island. Is the U.S. abandoning Israel at a time when it looks to its alleged ally that is powerful enough to say “no” to resolutions against Israel in the U.N. Security Council? The evil of politics is found in the politicians that make decisions that have far-reaching consequences. The failure to pay attention to what is readily visible and the failure or refusal to learn from present-day events will inevitably result in a repetition of them. Those who close their eyes and ears will end up with a rude awakening.

The Dry Bones Blog – 14 February, 2024 <blog@mrdrybones.com>

As if the talks of establishing a “Palestinian” state were not difficult enough, according an article in the Washington Post, “One Arab official said Hamas’s political wing should be included in the talks, if not in the future government. ‘We need someone there who represents them to ensure they’re on board with this…If not, and they’re not happy about it, we will have Fatah and Hamas all over again’, the official said, referring to earlier confrontations between the two Palestinian groups that ultimately led to Hamas’s election as the governing power in Gaza. But if they can achieve two years of stability and prosperity under a revitalized government…’no one will choose Hamas’ at the ballot box.” Fatah and Hamas agreeing for two years? They can’t even agree for two hours. Such a proposition will never be accepted by Israel. It recognizes the power that Hamas exerts and it is that very power that this present war is being fought to eliminate. 

Following his telephone conversation with President Biden, P.M. Netanyahu wrote in his “X” (formerly Twitter) account (translated from Hebrew): “Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the “Palestinians”. Such an arrangement will be reached only through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions. Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a “Palestinian” state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would give a huge reward to unprecedented terrorism and prevent any future peace settlement.” Whether or not Israel will ever agree to a “future peace settlement” that will allow for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state as planned by the U.S. and its “partners” is doubtful. In any event, such a plan is doomed to failure because it is premised on the survival of Hamas and the involvement of Qatar. What is not doubtful, however, is that even the planning of such a move by the U.S. is nothing short of a betrayal of its friend and ally, Israel. As the situation has developed to this time, it is clear that Israel cannot, and should not, be dependent on any foreign government for its existence. Our leaders need to decide what is in our best interest, not the interest of any other government or nation or even the re-election of someone who once called Israel his friend. 

Israel wants to end the Gaza War. It has other issues that need to be dealt with. Hassan Nasrallah, the General Secretary of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, delivered a speech yesterday at a ceremony honoring the “martyrs” – as he referred to them, who were killed in a retaliatory strike by Israel on terrorist targets. He stated, in part, that Hezbollah’s determination increased as a result of the deaths of ten civilians and that the Hezbollah would increase their “presence, strength, fire [and] anger” and expand their operations and that Israel “must expect that and wait for that.” He added, that if Israel expands the war with Hezbollah, the terrorist group possesses a “huge arsenal” of “precision-guided missiles that can reach everywhere in Israel”.

One more item for prayer. The International Court of Justice (or Injustice – call it what you want) will be considering this coming week whether Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria is “legal”. A decision against Israel would be disastrous. 

If we look at things from a spiritual perspective, as we must, and have our eyes opened, we really have no reason to fear. There are more with us than there are with them. (2 Kings 6:16) Still, a miracle here and there just now wouldn’t hurt.

Have a great week.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin

How Far Does Your Love For Israel Reach? – Day 127 of the War.

On By marvinsk2 Comments

Shalom all,

“It is now evident that the tactical victory that Hamas achieved on Oct. 7 with all its scenes of unimaginable horror has become a leading driver of its strategic defeat, by compelling the Israeli government to persist in spite of the atrocious plight of the hostages, by motivating IDF troops to fight until its destruction, and by forfeiting much potential support even from within the Arab world, allowing all Arab governments that had them to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. That feckless American college students sing its praises will not avert the well-deserved fate that awaits Hamas, and without the heavy casualties that some feared while others gleefully anticipated.”

It is a bit too early to sing the praises of “total victory”, but there is certainly cause for optimism.  Hamas militants have surrendered in different locations during the course of the war. Two days ago, one of the commanders of a Hamas elite Nukhba unit, along with two other Hamas fighters, refused to open fire on advancing Israeli forces, despite being sufficiently armed with weapons. “We sat in the room [inside a tunnel in Khan Younis – my insertion], we placed all the weapons outside…We sat and we waited. When the [Israeli] army arrived, we put up our hands and surrendered.” When asked by Israel’s Shin Bet (Security Service) intelligence officers if he had any advice for other Hamas terrorists, the unit commander said, “I recommend to everyone to surrender, because your destiny otherwise is to die.” A portion of the interview can also be seen here.

The New York Post yesterday (February 9th), published an eye-opening editorial, entitled: “Joe Biden throws Israel under the bus in a sad ploy to win on Election Day”. Biden verbally accused Israel, that our “response in the Gaza Strip has been over the top” and added, “I’m pushing very hard to deal with this hostage cease-fire. There are a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying, and it’s gotta stop.” That’s his perspective and it’s a shameful one, for the leader of a country who has touted “an unbreakable bond” between our two countries. America has lost its understanding of what it means to really fight a war and to press on to win, as opposed to fighting with the expectation that a political compromise would be achieved. America is not in a struggle for survival against visible enemies whose entire life’s goal is to destroy America. Biden’s concern is not Hamas, or Islamic Jihad, or the P.L.O., which threaten the very existence of Israel. As noted in the above editorial, his concern is his “obsessive fear that supporting Israel too hard will alienate Arab-American voters in Michigan…[where] Islamist extremism and Jew-hatred have a worrying foothold there…Whatever his thinking, the gratuitous Israel-bash means his defense of our greatest regional ally, currently locked in a struggle with genocidal, Jew-hating terrorists openly committed to its destruction and the murder of its citizens lasted all of three months…And it wasn’t even much of a defense to begin with: He’d already been pushing the lie that the IDF is bombing indiscriminately; he’s been trying to hem in Israel’s efforts to defend itself almost since the atrocities of Oct. 7.”  So much for friendship and “an unbreakable bond”.

Ambassador Danny Danon is a senior member of Israel’s Knesset and chairman of World Likud, who previously served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, minister of science and technology and deputy minister of defense. In an interview with Jewish News Syndicate earlier this past week, he stated, in part: “[One] cannot expect us to win the war with our hands tied behind our back. We expect our allies to realize that we have to use force to eradicate evil. We can’t do it without our air force or with humanitarian aid going straight to Hamas.” That statement reflects the difference between fighting “to win the war” (Israel’s perspective) and fighting without an expectation of vanquishing the enemy (Biden’s perspective). If the U.S. and other countries are so desirous of ending the Gaza War, they should do everything possible to exert pressure on Hamas and on those who support Hamas in one way or another, to push for a Hamas surrender and the immediate return of the hostages. Pressuring Israel to end the war, because of the alleged number of civilian casualties, is to put the ac-cent’ on the wrong syll-a’-ble.

While Israel is advancing militarily against Hamas, the renewed American “push” for “Palestinian” statehood is another slap in the face to Israel. American politicians must have fallen asleep during their grade school classes in geography. The creation of a “Palestinian” state uniting the “West Bank” (Judea and Samaria) with the Gaza Strip, will necessitate a diagonal slicing of Israel to create a contiguous enemy state in our heartland. Such a declaration would also be contrary to every normal understanding of what essentials are required in order to create statehood, none of which exist with regard to the people group that calls itself “Palestinian”.

The two “issues” – fighting the Gaza War and creating a so-called “Palestinian” state should not be treated as being interrelated. The Gaza War was undertaken to ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel. Allowing Hamas to remain in Gaza would be an unacceptable resolution to the war and will not only enable, but encourage, future attacks against Israel by terrorist organizations, as Hamas representatives have already publicly stated. The creation of a “Palestinian” state is a political consideration that will not bring peace in this region. It will only establish a terrorist base that is within our borders from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea that will be a catalyst for repeated assaults upon Israel, only this time it will be from inside the country, instead of from outside.

Right now, there are protests in various parts of the country calling for the return of the hostages being held by Hamas and by who knows whatever other organizations and individuals. In essence, the call is for Israel to end the war, as demanded by Hamas, as a preliminary for entering into a deal for the staggered release of the hostages, as well as a renewed call for new elections here. But, these are not the only voices being heard. Two days ago (February 8th), thousands of Israelis, including “soldiers, parents of fallen soldiers and relatives of Hamas hostages, took part in a rally…[that] concluded a five-day cross-country march titled, ‘Victory March: Keep Going Until IDF Victory’.” It was established by IDF reservists, who served in the Gaza War, as well as those who served along our northern border with Lebanon, since October 7th. So, Israeli society is being pulled from both directions, in addition to the pressures being placed on the government from outside sources. 

A possible solution that is being bounced around to end the war and bring about the return of the hostages is to allow the main Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Deif, along with four other senior Hamas leaders, to be sent into exile. That consideration is still a possibility, but has not moved forward since November. 

Some of you will remember the request for prayer for Urijah Bayer, a non-Jewish, Israeli-born, evangelical of German extraction, who was wounded in the fighting in Gaza and eventually died from his wounds. Many articles have appeared regarding him, including reports on major television news stations here. His father, Gideon Bayer, spoke recently to a group of journalists at a Foreign Media Event about the call to live and serve in Israel and his son’s involvement in the IDF. The entire program was over two and a half hours in length and included other speakers, who were family members of some of those being held hostage. The story about Urijah starts at 2:13:30. At the end of the various presentations, an opportunity was given to those who were on the panel to add a message to the representatives of the foreign press. Gideon Bayer shared that his family sat Shiva (a week of mourning for a dead relative) in Israel as well as in Germany, where he was asked why Urijah joined the IDF when he didn’t have to. He explained, among other things, that he and his family believe in God and that his firm belief is that those who truly love God should also love Israel. He asked them what he considered to be a legitimate question to ask all true Bible believers, “How far does your love for Israel reach? Urijah didn’t have any boundaries regarding this question.” Joel Rosenberg, who moderated the panel, responded to this statement and quoted the Lord Yeshua, who said: “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Have a healthy and God-honoring week.
Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.
Marvin

War! Terrorist Invasion of Israel: Day 106 of the War.

On By marvinsk1 Comment

Shalom all,

The number of IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive has now reached 194. The total number of IDF deaths since October 7th stands at 530. The number of hostages still held by Hamas and other terrorists is estimated at 136. The number of war-wounded is far beyond what any of us want to state out loud. 

We are a country that is bleeding, physically and emotionally. Israel is dealing with major pressures from outside the country, both from our “friends” as well as our “foes”, to immediately cease the military operations in Gaza. We’ve dealt with foreign pressures before and usually stood up against them. But, this time, the international pressure is being supplemented by massive demonstrations in Israel, calling upon the country to “Bring them home, NOW!” So, while not directly demanding a cessation of hostilities – although there are a number of “minor demonstrations” that do make such demands – the message from the demonstrations is that Israel should do everything possible to bring about the return of the hostages. The demands are being made primarily, although not exclusively, upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There are, of course, those who consistently claim that Netanyahu is keeping the war going in order to remain in power. I don’t deny that such a possibility exists. Nevertheless, he is not the only one that makes decisions regarding the continuation of the war.

But, the internal voices are becoming more vocal. While families genuinely want their loved ones to return, alive, there is also no escaping the fact that the protests are being backed by powerful individuals with a lot of money, whose goal now is the removal of Netanyahu as Prime Minister and the calling for new elections – now, in the middle of a war, possibly the most serious and difficult war since our War of Independence.
The Times of Israel refers to a report in The New York Times, which quoted four IDF commanders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that “the dual objectives of freeing the hostages and destroying Hamas are now mutually incompatible.”  I’ve been saying that since the ground offensive began. I’m glad that they finally agree with me. The question now, as it has been the question all along, is which goal needs to be sacrificed in order to achieve the second goal? What is the “greater good” here, if in fact there is a “greater good” in this situation?

Without question, the biggest complaint against Israel is the number of civilian casualties in Gaza. The figures are almost exclusively provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas. Every report issued by that ministry that is reported in the Israeli media is usually accompanied by a statement that the figures reported cannot be independently verified. Well, the IDF has different figures, which are substantially lower than those reported by the Hamas Health Ministry.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a former officer in the British Army and anti-terrorism expert, sides with the IDF and actually concludes that the IDF has the lowest civilian casualty rate ever recorded in history, 1.5 to 1, while the UN estimates that the global average is a staggering 9:1 So, where is the world getting its information from that causes some to accuse Israel of committing genocide? But then, when one is accusing Israel of any time of wrong-doing, facts really aren’t important, are they? What Israel bashers want to do is to make the accusation and then put the burden on Israel to disprove the claim.

There are actually some people that understand the situation of blind hatred towards Israel. Sometimes their eyes are opened and they acknowledge the simple fact that the goal of Hamas is to destroy Israel. Such was the case with Shefali Vaidya, a social media influencer from India. She was part of a 13-member delegation of Muslim and Hindu journalists and social media-recognized personalities, who toured Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities whose members were massacred and butchered on Black Saturday. The tour was organized by the grassroots organization Sharaka, an organization seeking to strengthen the positive relationship between Israel and the Arab and Muslim world. She tweeted, in part: “Hamas does not want land or concessions. What it wants is the complete annihilation of the state of Israel and death of every last Israeli citizen. It was a sobering realisation of a chilling fact! “

Then, there are others, who don’t directly acknowledge the goal of Hamas to destroy Israel, but recognize the need for Hamas to be dismantled. The European Parliament called for a “permanent ceasefire” in the Gaza War, but conditioned it on the dismantling of the Hamas terrorist organization and the unconditional release of the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. Following the decision of the U.E., Haim Regev, Israel’s Ambassador to the E.U., was quoted in “Politico”, as saying that “We are happy to see that the European Parliament understands the need to release the hostages and disarm Hamas before any ceasefire.” Elon Levy, the government spokesman for Israel also commented: “The European Union wants Israel to win this war against Hamas… The European Parliament just demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and dismantling of Hamas. It said no permanent ceasefire until then.” 

Not everyone was happy with the decision of the European Union, as can be understood from the statement of the representative of the “Palestinian” Authority, who denounced the vote as “a moral failure of the European Parliament.” 

Two days ago, P.M. Netanyahu had a lengthy conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden. It would have been great if we could have listened in on what was discussed and the tone of the communication between the two leaders. Following the conversation, Biden intimated that Netanyahu may be open to accepting some kind of “two-state solution”, but the P.M., in a rare statement issued today, Shabbat, repeated the same position that he held for years, namely: that after the elimination of Hamas, “Israel must remain in full security control of the Gaza Strip to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel – and this conflicts with demands for “Palestinian” sovereignty.” So, they can’t both be telling the truth. While Netanyahu credibility before the public has diminished considerably, particularly since the beginning of the Gaza War, I would still accept him position that a “Palestinian” state will not be established “on his watch”. This is in agreement with Biden’s assessment also, that an independent “Palestinian” state is not possible as long as Netanyahu remains in office. Apparently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is not thrilled with a refusal to accept a two-state solution. While speaking in Kampala, Uganda, he stated: “The refusal to accept a two-state solution for Israelis and “Palestinians”, and the denial of the right to statehood for the “Palestinian” people, are unacceptable…The right of the “Palestinian” people to build their own state must be recognized by all.” I have no problem with the so-called “Palestinians” setting up their own state, as long as it is not anywhere on the land of Israel.

This week also saw terrorism committed on the streets of Ra’anana, a central city here. The acts of terrorism were accomplished by two residents from a community near Hebron in Judea. A woman in her late 70s was killed and at least 17 others were wounded, including 4 minors, in a combined car-ramming and stabbing attack. The adult victims were hospitalized and were reported to be in serious to moderate conditions. The terrorists were apprehended by the Police and it was discovered that they were employed in the industrial area of Ra’anana, but without valid work permits. It turned out that both suspects were known to Israeli security forces. We continue to make the same mistake, over and over again, and allow people to work in Israel who should not be allowed entry.

Yesterday, we had a large gathering of family members for an erev Shabbat (Friday evening) meal. In the middle of our conversations, loud sirens went off throughout Haifa, indicating a potential threat from a projectile. We all got up and went into the “secured room” in our apartment. We bolted the metal door that protects the window and locked the reinforced metal door to the room. Admittedly, it was a bit crowded. But, after 10 minutes, we were able to leave the room and resume our time together during the evening. The nature of the projectile was not immediately disclosed, but was said to be “a suspicious aerial target” that was intercepted by the IDF. The reports did not indicate whether or not the drone was armed. Our conversation turned to speculation over the possible destination of the projectile: the oil refinery on the outskirts of Haifa, the Naval Base next to Rambam Hospital or the natural gas facility off the cost of Haifa. Inasmuch as it came from the north, the likelihood is that is was a “smart” projectile, that was either programmed or controlled electronically. The IDF didn’t say and we didn’t ask. We’re thankful that no one was injured.

And, to round off The Week That Was, the Gaza War has become the subject of network television. I’m not referring to the local news, but to the season premiere of the long-running TV series, Law & Order, which aired this past Thursday. According to the Forward, “The episode, titled ‘Free Expression,’ manages to cram just about every major headline even tangentially related to Israel from the past few months into its hour run time.” It would be interesting to see how Hollywood relates to real-life, present-day events that are taking place thousands of miles away, and brings them into your living room, as though they are happening in New York City. 

There’s a lot more, but I think this is where we’ll stop.

Have a safe, healthy, encouraging and God-honoring week.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.
Marvin