On a daily basis, we read in newspapers and on the Web about deadly clashes between Hamas and Fatah in the Palestinian territories. Part of the peace process requires that these two opposing groups somehow put their differences aside and form a unified government. Why aren’t the neighboring Arab countries stepping up to the plate and putting real pressure on the Palestinians to move in this direction?
For a number of reasons, unfortunately, it is to their advantage to keep the Palestinians stirred up and hostile. With world attention focused on the fighting taking place between Hamas and Fatah, less attention is being paid to what is actually going on in other Arab countries. Iran and Syria are two cases in point. We know that terrorists smuggle weapons into the Palestinian territories by way of Syria. And we know that Iran has a very questionable nuclear development program underway. Both of these rogue countries want to keep world attention focused in other directions; so instead of working toward promoting peace, they often throw more fuel on the fire between Hamas, Fatah and Israel.
The finger is always pointed toward Israel as the culprit behind all of the Palestinians’ woes. But without a heartfelt desire to achieve peace by all parties involved, there will never be lasting peace in the region. Israel is constantly forced to defend itself in one way or another—often in the arena of public opinion—and when it bows to public pressure, it is never a good outcome for Israel. The Palestinians are demanding the right of return for third-generation refugees and that Israel halt all settlement growth as part of the peace process. This, they say, is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, Israel is saying, “No way.”
I hope and pray that Israel stands firm. To people who don’t understand the ramifications of allowing Palestinian refugees to return to Gaza and the West Bank, Israel’s stance sounds rather harsh. But it’s not harsh. It’s simply a matter of self-preservation.
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Showing posts with label arab. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arab. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Is Netanyahu Strong Enough?
It is no surprise that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government has already come under strong international pressure to abandon its opposition to the "two-state solution," and hand over a so-called Palestinian State to the Arabs. Netanyahu's stand has already put him on a collision course with the Obama administration, as well as with the United Nations and the European Union.
We conservative Christians agree with Netanyahu's concerns that a Palestinian state would impose a serious threat to Israel's security, that the Palestinians have yet to show any desire to fulfill the promises they made in several peace agreements, and that they are fighting internally with each other and are in no condition to maintain a viable state.
The US, the UN, and the EU, with some cooperation from the Israeli left, have succeeded in labeling the Israeli Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria as "the West Bank," and in identifying it as "occupied Palestinian territory." These world powers obviously ignore that all of Judea and Samaria are part of the land area that the God of Israel promised to the Jewish people as "an everlasting possession." And they do not seem to understand, therefore, that the Arabs are the illegal occupiers of Jewish land, not the other way around.
While many analysts are expressing doubt that Netanyahu will be able to handle the pressures from the world powers that he has inherited, we Christians will be praying and pulling for him to be strong and stand his ground. After all, shouldn't it be obvious to these world powers that anyone would have to be blind or incredibly biased to believe that this "two-state solution" will guarantee peace? Where have they been looking for the past 60 years?
Meanwhile, it was overlooked by most of the press that Prime Minister Netanyahu quoted from the Bible in his inaugural address. He recited from Psalm 131: "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me."
It was special to hear the new Israeli leader echo the ancient King David in looking up to the God of Israel for some Divine assistance. We would like to see the new prime minister and his entire government maintain such a practice, and we believe God would respond positively. Then Netanyahu stated in his address, "It is not with the elation of the victorious that I stand before you today, but rather with the feeling of heavy responsibility."
He added: "I ask for your trust in a time of global crises, the likes of which have not been seen in years. Our nation faces two enormous challenges, an economic challenge and a security challenge."
We note that Netanyahu's new government platform calls for strengthening security, advancing the peace process, safeguarding the Jewish character of the state, and allowing freedom of worship to all religions. It adds that the government will work to confront the financial crisis, to create jobs, to fight poverty, and to bring prosperity. Until recently there was no mention by Prime Minister Netanyahu of agreeing to a "two-state solution."
Hopefully, the new Israeli leader will be strong enough to withstand all the international pressure by standing his ground insisting the Palestinians fulfill their part of any agreement. I believe he moved in this direction knowing that the Palestinians will never fulfill their obligations under any agreement made with Israel and thus there will never be a Palestinian state. Netanyahu knows Muslims will never recognize Israel as a nation and thus Israel will never have to surrender its real estate to a people bent on its destruction.
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Community News You Can Use
Follow us on Twitter: @gafrontpage
http://www.fayettefrontpage.com/
http://www.georgiafrontpage.com/
http://www.politicalpotluck.com/
http://www.artsacrossgeorgia.com/
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We conservative Christians agree with Netanyahu's concerns that a Palestinian state would impose a serious threat to Israel's security, that the Palestinians have yet to show any desire to fulfill the promises they made in several peace agreements, and that they are fighting internally with each other and are in no condition to maintain a viable state.
The US, the UN, and the EU, with some cooperation from the Israeli left, have succeeded in labeling the Israeli Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria as "the West Bank," and in identifying it as "occupied Palestinian territory." These world powers obviously ignore that all of Judea and Samaria are part of the land area that the God of Israel promised to the Jewish people as "an everlasting possession." And they do not seem to understand, therefore, that the Arabs are the illegal occupiers of Jewish land, not the other way around.
While many analysts are expressing doubt that Netanyahu will be able to handle the pressures from the world powers that he has inherited, we Christians will be praying and pulling for him to be strong and stand his ground. After all, shouldn't it be obvious to these world powers that anyone would have to be blind or incredibly biased to believe that this "two-state solution" will guarantee peace? Where have they been looking for the past 60 years?
Meanwhile, it was overlooked by most of the press that Prime Minister Netanyahu quoted from the Bible in his inaugural address. He recited from Psalm 131: "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me."
It was special to hear the new Israeli leader echo the ancient King David in looking up to the God of Israel for some Divine assistance. We would like to see the new prime minister and his entire government maintain such a practice, and we believe God would respond positively. Then Netanyahu stated in his address, "It is not with the elation of the victorious that I stand before you today, but rather with the feeling of heavy responsibility."
He added: "I ask for your trust in a time of global crises, the likes of which have not been seen in years. Our nation faces two enormous challenges, an economic challenge and a security challenge."
We note that Netanyahu's new government platform calls for strengthening security, advancing the peace process, safeguarding the Jewish character of the state, and allowing freedom of worship to all religions. It adds that the government will work to confront the financial crisis, to create jobs, to fight poverty, and to bring prosperity. Until recently there was no mention by Prime Minister Netanyahu of agreeing to a "two-state solution."
Hopefully, the new Israeli leader will be strong enough to withstand all the international pressure by standing his ground insisting the Palestinians fulfill their part of any agreement. I believe he moved in this direction knowing that the Palestinians will never fulfill their obligations under any agreement made with Israel and thus there will never be a Palestinian state. Netanyahu knows Muslims will never recognize Israel as a nation and thus Israel will never have to surrender its real estate to a people bent on its destruction.
---
Community News You Can Use
Follow us on Twitter: @gafrontpage
http://www.fayettefrontpage.com/
http://www.georgiafrontpage.com/
http://www.politicalpotluck.com/
http://www.artsacrossgeorgia.com/
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