Sunday, October 12, 2014

RAYS OF HOPE
 
 
 
In a world that seems to be increasingly driven by hate and torn apart by violence, it is easy to be overcome by despair, especially here in the Middle East. In Israel the endless conflict between Israel and the Palestinians seems to have no solution. We are surrounded by nations and terrorist organizations  that desire nothing more than to wipe us off the map. Meanwhile the Islamic State is spreading like wildfire and extremist, salafi Islam is taking hold like cancer in every part of the globe. Where is there any hope for the future?
 
Yet, in the midst of all this darkness there are some rays of hope shining forth. The other day a friend sent me this link, a speech by an Israeli diplomat in Norway, George Deek, an Israeli-Arab from Yafo (Jaffa). Please take 30 minutes out of your busy lives to listen to the speech (or read the transcript). You will not regret it, I promise.  It is the best speech I have ever heard on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and it moved me greatly.
 

http://www.miff.no/Englisharticles/2014/10/04ThebestspeechanIsraelidiplomateverheld.htm

This eloquent and courageous young man dares to speak of grace, forgiveness and hope. If more were to speak out and take his stand, then and only then would the Palestinian Arabs have any hope for a better life. There is a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Deek outlines it clearly, but the question remains, will the Palestinian Arabs embrace it or choose their current path that leads only to hatred, bitterness, violence and despair?

George Deek speaking  in Oslo 27 September 2014.
 
Here are a few excerpts from Deek's speech:
(The)Time has come to put an end the culture of hatred and incitement- because Anti-Semitism, I believe, is a threat to Muslims and Christians, as much as for Jews...
 
I know that this might sound naïve,
But I believe that it’s possible, and the only thing that is standing between us and a more tolerant world is fear.
When the world changes, people start worrying about what the future holds.
This fear makes people shrink themselves into the passive position of victims, rejecting reality, and looking for someone to blame for being behind all this.
It is true today as much as it was true in 1948.
 
The Arab world can overcome this mindset, but it requires the courage to think and act differently.
This change demands that the Arabs realize that they are not helpless victims,
It demands that they open up to self-criticism, and to holding themselves accountable;
 
Up to this day, not a single history book in the Arab world questions the historic mistake of rejecting the establishment of the Jewish state.
No prominent Arab academic has come out saying that if the Arabs would’ve accepted the idea of a Jewish state, there would’ve been two states, there would’ve been no war, and there would’ve been no refugees’ problem...
And I fail to see self-criticism in the Palestinian mainstream today about the use of terrorism, the launching of the second intifada, or the rejection of at least two Israeli offers in the last 15 years to end the conflict.
Self-reflection is not a weakness; it is a sign of strength.
It brings forth our ability to overcome fear and face reality.
It demands us to look sincerely into our decisions, and take responsibility for it.
 
Only the Arabs themselves can change their reality.
By stopping the leaning on conspiracy theories and the blaming of outside powers – America, the Jews, the West or whoever – for all the problems;
By learning from past mistakes,
And by making wiser decisions in the future;
  
 Yesterday’s enemies can be tomorrow’s friends. It happened between Israel and Germany, Israel and Egypt, Israel and Jordan.
 
It is time to start in making a ray of hope in the relations between Israelis and Palestinians, so that we can put an end to the replaying of old grievances, and focus on our future and the exciting possibilities it holds for us all, if we’d only dare.


George Deek's is not the only Arab voice that is being raised up to speak against the majority positions in the Arab world. 


There are others also daring to speak out.  George Deek is a Christian Arab, but there is also a Muslim scholar,  the Jordanian Sheikh Ahmad al-Adwan,  who is not afraid to challenge the traditional interpretations of the Koran and point to a different way. This takes great courage.


Ahmad al-Adwan

 

Sheikh Ahmad al-Adwan has this to say:
“Palestine” doesn’t appear in the Koran, that Allah commanded to bequeath the Land of Israel to the Jews and anyone who argues otherwise distorts its meaning.
 He bases his opinion on Sura 5: 19-21 of the Koran which says this:

"O People of the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making things clear to you-after a cessation of messengers-so that you cannot say, "No preacher has come to us, and no warner." In fact, a preacher has come to you, and a warner; and God is Capable of everything.
When Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember God's blessings upon you, when He placed prophets among you, and made you kings, and gave you what He never gave any other people."
  O my people, enter the Holy Land which God has assigned for you, and do not turn back, lest you return as losers."
 
In December 2012, Sheikh Ahmad al-Adwan visited Israel and met with Jewish Rabbis, including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu in Sfat (Safed), in order to discuss peace and reconciliation between the religions.

In an interview given after this visit he said:
Indeed, I recognize their sovereignty over their land. I believe in the Holy Koran, and this fact is stated many times in the book. For instance “O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you,” [Koran 5:21], “We made the Children of Israel inheritors of such things.” [Koran 26:59] and additional verses in the Holy Book
 
And there are additional reasons: this people (Israel) is peaceful and peace-loving, is not hostile or aggressive; [they are] a people that defends itself only when necessary, while trying to minimally harm its enemies. In addition, I recognize the fact that God may He be praised gave preference to these people over humans and demons until the end of days. God does not give preference for nothing but grants all that which they deserve. God may He be praised never turned to any [other] people by name and grant them this honor, aside from the People of Israel, who are named for their ancestor Israel (Jacob), may he rest in peace, as it says in the Koran “O Children of Israel”. In contrast, in approaching others it is said “O Believers” or “O people”, which is a more general greeting

A complete translation of this interview can be seen on  http://mida.org.il/2014/03/03/a-zionist-islam-an-interview-with-sheikh-ahmad-al-adwan/. 

There always remains hope. In an analysis of the world situation by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank, it was concluded, in relation to the situation in the Middle East, that:

Despite the turmoil in the region, the Arab world is not condemned to instability and violence. Tunisia has already demonstrated what a commitment to pluralism and inclusion can produce in three short years. But old forces must realize that the old Arab order is done—forever. Either new leaders will share power, develop inclusive policies, defend the rule of law, offer sound economic plans, and establish meaningful institutions to fight corruption or more chaos lies ahead. 
 
The choice is the Arab world’s to make.

http://carnegieendowment.org/2014/08/14/is-world-falling-apart

Amongst Messianic believers here in the Land there is much talk currently of the Isaiah 19 Highway. Isaiah 19: 18-25 says this:
In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 
 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.
And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them.
Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 
 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.
 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.
 
 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land,  whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
Has the 'construction' of this highway begun? I don't know, but as I was driving out of the city recently I noticed that the new Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway currently under construction  involves a great deal of destruction in its early phases. My prayer at this time is that out of the current destruction and turmoil in the Middle East will come something new and better. Even as many Christians flee for their lives from the region, we hear reports from many parts of the Arab world of many Muslims receiving revelation, often in dreams and visions,  and coming to faith in Yeshua (Jesus). I pray that the  rise of radical, salafi Islam will cause many Muslims to rethink their faith, see it for the empty lie that it is, and call out to the true God for Truth. In Yeshua, there always remains hope.

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:13.


 


 
 
 
 
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