A DOLL FOR CHRISTMAS?
What are you buying your children, or grandchildren, for Christmas or Hannuka this year? A doll perhaps? How about one of these?
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This week Israeli customs officials confiscated a shipment of 4,000 Palestinian terrorist dolls, made in the United Arab Emirates, and bound for the West Bank. The kefiyah clad dolls are clutching a rock in their raised right hands, and bear a picture of the El-Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount, with a caption that translated reads "O Jerusalem we are coming" and "Jerusalem is for us".
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/22728-israel-confiscates-4000-palestinian-puppets
For whom were these dolls intended? Children? If so, then surely this must be the lowest and most despicable act of incitement I can imagine. But for all that, it doesn't surprise me. A people that brainwashes their children to hatred and violence from the cradle, that encourages their children to go out and commit murder, and rejoices when they are killed as a result, has surely sunk to the lowest depths of humanity. How I cry out for these children. What chance do they have of a decent and worthwhile life? How can they ever grow up to build a nation and lead their people in the path of peace with their neighbors - us?
Yet this week New Zealand put forth yet another draft proposal for bringing about peace between Israel and the Palestinians, calling for the Security Council of the UN to mandate a course of action for the two parties to prepare for talks in "a realistic but early timeframe".http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b99accfddab140d88fff2d5c9df12028/new-zealand-circulates-un-resolution-israel-Palestinians
The fact that the Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, stated that his country supported the new draft resolution saying "We have always claimed that the UN should be more involved," perhaps says it all. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/world-news/the-israeli-connection/russian-supports-new-zealand-on-israeli-palestinian-peace-talks-16824 Putin's Russia continues to strengthen its influence and power in the Middle East by supporting and arming Israel's enemies, Iran and Syria. They are hardly neutral observers.
I think most Israelis would be in favor of a two state solution if the terms of its establishment were to ensure lasting peace. Most would be quite happy to live beside the Palestinians and even have them live and work amongst us, if they could be trusted not to attack us with knives and bombs.
Actually Jews and Arabs are cousins- they have similar languages and cultures. Israelis love to eat Arab food and shop in Arab souks (markets). Many of us work and shop together quite happily. Sadly however, there have been a number of instances when a Palestinian who has worked alongside Jews in Israel suddenly one day pulls a knife or a gun and kills his workmates, even though they may have eaten together in their homes and even invited each other to their family weddings. Such treachery has eroded all trust.
The Palestinian Authority still does not even recognize Israel's right to exist and is doing everything it can to incite violence against Israelis. The only path to peace is negotiation and compromise, but at this juncture there is no one to talk to, and the intervention of the UN would only make things worse. Israel has a deep distrust of the UN that is seen as heavily biased against Israel. What the NZ proposal and the Western world in general does not seem to recognize is that it 'takes two to tango". Israel is willing to negotiate and compromise but that there is no one to talk to. Westerners think all people want nothing more than peace, but here in the Middle East, that is simply not so. there is no way to negotiate peace if the other part does not want peace. How many more 9/11s and the type of attacks that occurred in Paris recently will it take for the world to wake up? There is a huge movement of Islamic fundamentalism that is quite open about its one and only goal, to overcome the whole world and destroy anyone who is not Muslim. This is Jihad. They want war not peace and sadly, the Palestinians are but a pawn in their game. It suits them to 'keep the pot boiling' by incitement and accusation against Israel. The greatest threat to the Palestinians is not Israel but Islamic fundamentalism.
Imagine if tomorrow Israel took all its settlements and all its soldiers out of the West Bank and turned it all over to the Palestinian Authority. What would happen? Its not hard to guess. Just look at the Gaza Strip. That's what we did there - we took out all our soldiers and all our settlements. Did the Palestinians raise up a viable state with schools, and hospitals and all the infrastructure needed for a decent standard of living for their people? Did they stop shelling our communities in the south? No, Hamas took over from the Palestinian Authority and turned Gaza into something not far short of Hell. It also happened in the Sinai, and the same thing would almost certainly happen in the West Bank. The PA is weak and crumbling. Hamas is stronger and is supported by Iran, but standing in the wings, just waiting for the right moment, and growing in power and support daily, is Dayish (ISIS). I think, in view of this, most Israelis have come to despair of the 'two state' solution'. It just no longer seems even possible. The incitement and poison in Palestinian society runs too deep now. We feel there is no one to talk to about peace, and little point in trying.
HOPE
So is there any hope at all? Yes, there always remains hope.
This week Sarah Tehiya Litman and Ariel Beigel were married, and it was celebrated by thousands of Israelis from all walks of life, religious, haredi, secular, right wing, left wing, you name it. Why? On November 13, Sarah and her father, Yaacov, and her brother, Netanel, were driving home from a pre-wedding celebration when their car was fired upon by Palestinian terrorists. Sarah's father and brother were hit. A Palestinian ambulance arrived on the scene, but seeing that the wounded were Jews, they refused to treat them and left. Before help could arrive both Yaacov and Netanel died of their wounds. Sarah and her fiancé, Ariel, could have retreated into their private grief and cancelled, or at least postponed their wedding, but instead they determined to hold it anyway. Not only that but they hired the largest reception venue they could find and invited to their reception any Israeli who wanted to attend. According to some reports at least 5,000 accepted the invitation.
Sarah's brother, Dvir, had this to say, "This evening, I have to say Kaddish on my father and sing ‘Come, O Bride’ for my sister, but we’re showing that no one will ever defeat the people of Israel. We are here forever". http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/195434/thousands-of-israelis-attend-wedding-of-israeli-woman-who-lost-her-father-and-brother-in-terrorist-attack
It is interesting to note that Sarah Tehiya' s names literally translate as 'princess of resurrection life'. Pray that she and her new husband, and their families will rise up out of their sorrow, call upon the LORD of Israel and find resurrection life.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Psalm 33
Let us pray this prayer together with the Psalmist:
Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
9 Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera,
As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10 Who perished at En Dor,
Who became as refuse on the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves
The pastures of God for a possession.”
As with Sisera,
As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10 Who perished at En Dor,
Who became as refuse on the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves
The pastures of God for a possession.”
13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
14 As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Like the chaff before the wind!
14 As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 83
AMEN
PS. Lately there have been a number of excellent and positive articles in the local Hebrew press about the Messianic movement. This is indicative of the beginnings of an opening of hearts in Israeli society. Not long ago such positive press coverage would have been unthinkable. For those of you who understand Hebrew, take a look at this one:
http://familyguide3.walla.co.il/item/2914039
I also recommend going to the link - for an excellent explanation in Hebrew about what we believe (This may be a good resource to share with your Israeli friends).
http://www.messiah.co.il/index.php/theblog/107-messianic-jews-jesus-christ-yeshua-messiah
http://www.messiah.co.il/index.php/theblog/107-messianic-jews-jesus-christ-yeshua-messiah
video in Hebrew about Messianic Jews.
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