Israel Watch

21 Feb 2022

Published on: by RR7

The Bible Confirms It

One of the things I’ve observed about the Left over the years is that they never give in, and they never, ever accept your premise. Especially when it’s back by facts.

It’s why I realized 20 years ago that giving people just facts and data about Israel didn’t cut it. They were just statistics at precisely the same time the evil PLO was kicking into high gear its “narrative” propaganda. For example, Israel would release numbers of those killed by terrorists.

Following that, the Palestinians would utilize their corporate media contacts around the world and pump-out stories of individuals that had “suffered” under “Occupation.” These would typically take place in some ramshackle house, with plenty of photographs of grieving elderly family members. Much of this was staged, not to mention the fact that many Palestinians were living in fine homes (I’ve seen this myself).

 

I have long advocated for an approach in advocacy that captures the heart. If there is no emotional connection, few people will awaken to Israel’s plight. At that point, one hopes that we no longer have to appeal to “how does this affect me?” (given our cultural obsession with self, particularly within the Church) and people will demand justice for the Jews simply because it’s the right and moral thing to do.

There is one area that does excite people and bring alive a connection between Israel and her ancient homeland.

Archaeology.

I noticed a powerful quote this week on Facebook by Phillip Pasmanick:

“Sad, how to the millions of anti-Israel activists, no amount of proof, historical or archeological, even spread over centuries, is enough to convince the anti-Semites of the ancient Jewish presence in Israel. Think about that.”

I agree, but am a bit more optimistic about the chances of getting somewhere with people that to this point were hostile to Israel, or indifferent (perhaps the worse of the two views).

I do think archaeology matters in people’s perceptions.

Under the terror reign of Yasser Arafat, the little Egyptian-born troll would claim that he was a Canaanite! To the PLO/PA, if they could “be there before the Israelites,” it would bolster their case. Only a stupid and uneducated populace believed that whopper. But it did prove that digging into the past, literally, can make a difference.

Every day, archaeological teams in Israel uncover something fascinating, often in Jerusalem.

In 2020, teams found in Jerusalem a group of “capitals,” the caps on pillars, in the “Proto-Aeolian” architectural style, from the First Temple period. These were made between the reigns of Kings Hezekiah and Josiah.

In 2017, an ancient Hebrew town was uncovered near Beit El; it dated to the time of the Persian occupation of Judea.

In 2009, along a beach, the so-called Magdala Stone was found, a carved stone block. On it was a representation of the menorah in the Temple. Such finds are specifically Jewish, and dated to a particular biblical period, something no Palestinian can claim from any nation known as “Palestine.” Or the Canaanites. Or…

One of the most impressive sites tying the Jews to the land is located just outside the Old City walls in Jerusalem. In 2017 I had the pleasure of seeing this for myself, during a stroll around the city with my friend Brian Schrauger.

Dating from 168 B.C., the area known as Acre was thought to be either lost for good, or perhaps mythological (from the critics).

Then it was found under a parking lot. The densely packed fortress, set up outside the city by the evil Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire that oppressed the Jews in the time of the Maccabees.

It is a visual reminder that God is not mocked, as Antiochus set himself up as something of a god, but in the end he died a horrible dead and his famed fortress ended up under a parking lot.

Don’t mess with the Creator of the Universe.

Point being, such sites—places that people can see for themselves—can have a powerful impact on those that believe Jewish history in Israel is myth. Or perhaps they have come under the influence of evil people that want to erase the Jewish links to their ancient homeland in the present day.

Seeing is sometimes believing.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com

 

 

14 Feb 2022

Published on: by RR7

The Ghouls are Back

One of the outcomes of living in this bizarre world now is that it feels like living in a time warp from every direction. The future seems scary, the present is staggering in its weirdness, and we also seem to be repeating some of the past.

With regard to Israel and the Jews, anti-Semitism is absolutely on the rise at levels none of us have ever seen. I could write a series of books on Jew-hatred in the Church; it’s worse than you can imagine (especially at the leadership levels). That’s my area of research.

I also watch the signs around the world, and predictably, Europe still has a problem with the Jews.

I will tell you that I think while anti-Semitism has always existed in Europe, I believe it has become a serious problem in the last century primarily because of the liberal biblical scholarship coming out of Germany, and Darwinian philosophy. Both were/are wicked attacks on the veracity of Scripture. It is known that the so-called “German Christian Movement” de-emphasized the teaching of the Old Testament in the lead-up to the Nazis.

Among other things, one grotesque outcome of such false teaching is that Jewish history becomes marginalized. In those days, Jews became “Other” and were then easily sidelined, persecuted, and finally murdered by the millions.

Sadly, indifference or even outright hostility to the Jews has spilled over into America.

But it’s England that now intrigues me. Recently, Israel’s Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich visited London; afterward he came under sharp criticism from Jewish leadership in the city. He criticized them as being similar to pre-World War 2 British Jews that believed they could essentially pacify their enemies by being more reasonable, more accommodating.

It didn’t work.

Smotrich has the right attitude, I believe. From a Jerusalem Post report:

“’It is ridiculous to bring up antisemitism on a day when a report is published on the massive rise of antisemitism in Britain, long before I arrived,’ Smotrich said. ‘Those who say the way to deal with antisemitism is to hide who and what we are repeat the awful strategy of German Jewry ahead of World War II, who thought if there is antisemitism, let’s be more like the non-Jews and they will forgive and accept us. The opposite is true. The response to antisemitism must be a strong and secure Israel that can justify the Zionist vision and the belonging of Israel to the Land of Israel and the entire Jewish people, and the strong connection of the Diaspora to Israel, instead of trying, yet again, to find favor with the hegemony and renounce anyone because someone thinks they should, due to warped, progressive, almost sick dictates.’”

Exactly.

For their part, official British Jewry said that Smotrich’s comments weren’t even worthy of response! Wow.

I have always believed in the concept of peace through strength. That policy has waxed and waned with American presidents through the years. The same holds true for Israeli leaders, but the one difference between Israel and all other countries is, they know they can’t afford to lose a war. That includes the war of anti-Semitism.

 

Israel knows what it has to do to win. I’m not sure their relatives in Europe can say the same thing.

A Wall Street Journal piece, by Andrew Doran, speaks of the so-called “new anti-Semitism.”

“The pretext of the ‘new’ anti-Semitism is hatred of Israel, which justifies Jew hatred anywhere. Other forms, like the popularity of ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,’ endure. Jews are said to have a plan to dominate the world, spread drugs and venereal diseases, and much else. The crimes of capitalism and communism alike are blamed on Jews. Anti-Semitism is resurgent on the political right, which feels alienated from governing institutions. And the most refined anti-Semitism continues to be taught on university campuses.”

The writer then goes on to discuss (bravely, I think!) the problem of anti-Semitism among Christians.

All this proves one thing: anti-Semitism is a global problem, a human problem. Religious and non-religious alike don’t like Jews. Someday I’ll write about my investigations into Christian anti-Semitism.

I think that is an epic tragedy. But it is also prophetic. The Bible is full of evidence that Jew-hatred is a spiritual problem.

A problem not likely to be solved any time soon.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com