Hunting Bibi

Although Benjamin Netanyahu has been a model of consistency since assuming power in Israel for a second time (since 2009), he is still a target by political rivals.

A few weeks ago, in an effort to bolster his ruling coalition, Netanyahu replaced Moshe Ya’alon, the Foreign Minister, with Avidgor Lieberman. Now, long-time rival (and former PM) Ehud Barak says it’s time to remove Netanyahu “before it’s too late.”

Ya’alon announced this week that he’ll make a bid to replace Netanyahu. As is usually the case, the Jewish state faces so many daunting challenges, politics is anything but usual.

(A very interesting historical irony is now taking place, too. Netanyahu has met several times with Russia’s Putin, the latest coming last week. This is supremely ironic, given the fact that a couple generations ago, the Soviets had all sorts of client states in the Middle East, bedeviling Israel at every turn. Their hardware and observers decades ago led to the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War. Now they are behaving as an ally for Israel.)

Barak is claiming three things:

• Netanyahu’s “right wing” government will alienate the world
• Tear Israeli society apart
• Sour American Jewish youth on Israel

I think this is ridiculous. The international community already loathes Israel. Secondly, Israeli society is unusually strong and together on many issues, such as security. Third, while some youth who are part of the Millennial generation are flirting with leftist ideas, many more remain strongly Zionist.

I think this is about political posturing and competition. Remember, many centrist Israeli politicians like Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni have chosen to make their own political careers priority no. 1.

Notice the odd nature of Barak’s statements:

“’I call on the government to get a hold of itself and to get back on track immediately,’ Barak said at the Interdisciplinary Center’s Annual Herzliya Conference.

“’If you do not, it will be the duty of all of us, yes, all of us, to get up out of our seats, no matter how comfortable they are – and to bring it down, through popular protest and through the ballot box, before it’s too late.’

“Barak stated that Israel was strong in every sense of the word, ‘able to face reality no matter how cruel it is and to defeat any enemy.’”

So, Israel is endangered because of the Netanyahu government, but at the same time, “strong.”

Which is it?

Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu (in the Hebrew: “Israel Is Our Home”) party has brought Netanyahu more seats and, frankly, some statements made recently by Ya’alon (Israel needs to make sure the country’s moral standards are maintained in the face of vicious terrorists) have alienated some on the right.

Barak has said that Netanyahu is leading Israel to “fascism” and to “the abyss.”

Chuckle.

This is typical Israeli politics. The fact is, while one can quibble over some policy issues (I personally decry the government’s rather timid attitude toward allowing Jews on the Temple Mount—though it’s easy for me to say that from my perch), the Netanyahu government has kept the nation safe; no wars and while terrorism has claimed lives, Israel always has to deal with terrorists.

Barak was a failed premier and needs to stick to helping his rival, not undermining him. According to the Jerusalem Post:

“Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) accused Barak of refusing to accept the will of Israel’s voters. ‘Ehud Barak refuses to recognize Israeli democracy and Israel’s citizens’ choice of a nationalist government,’ he stated.

“’Israel has still not recovered from Barak’s short, but failed premiership, and here he is threatening to topple the government,’ Ariel said. ‘He’s like a pyromaniac who started a big fire and then gives advice about how to put it out.’”

Precisely.

Let’s all pray for Netanyahu in the coming days, months, and years. His sole task is to protect the nation.

One day soon, he’ll have to make a decision about Iran. And he will.

The Burden of Arrogance

Hard to believe it’s coming up on a decade that I’ve been writing for RaptureReady. I was looking for something to do when Todd and Terry so kindly asked me to write for them; the column would be titled “Israel Watch.”

I hope you’ll indulge me this week, as I get personal.

I have been actively engaged in advocating for Israel for 20 years. In that time, I’ve attended conferences, published books, written articles, networked, and researched like crazy. I’ve been blessed to visit Israel several times. My friends in the pro Israel community—both Christians and Jews—are precious to me.  The whole endeavor is multi-layered and at once simple and complex.

The foundation for all this was laid many years ago. My father was a strong Bible believer and taught me early on the importance of Israel and the Jewish people. I grew up in the era of the Six-Day War and Entebbe.

In 1995 I met Avi Lipkin, the indefatigable researcher, writer, and speaker. It was at a conference in Dallas that Avi helped me learn to pronounce the name of a rising Israeli politician:

Net-ahn-ya-hoo.

It has been my joy to support Israel in my own small way. This global community is amazing and multi-faceted, from grizzled veterans like John Bolton to young social media mavens (see Simone Valdary, Chloe).

One of my favorite memories is being invited to a Hanukkah celebration at the home of a friend near Washington D.C. There I met many neo-conservatives.

Another is meeting Ariel Sharon, with David Lewis, in 1998 in Tel Aviv.

So many memories.

I recently reflected on all this after a conversation with a friend—a long-time veteran of the pro Israel community.

I was telling my friend that something felt “off” to me of late, regarding some relationships and activities I’d been involved in with the pro Israel community. In short, I’ve lost work, friends, and other opportunities. I have been told several times that I need to back-off some strong reporting about, for example, how the Palestinian Narrative has made deep inroads into American churches, thus harming traditionally strong pro Israel support.

“Also, you are perceived in some circles as a Rapture guy,” my friend said.

I like information. I like knowing where I stand with people. That way I can make informed decisions.

My friend graciously told me a lot in one or two sentences.

You see, within the varied pro Israel community globally is a segment that is what I’d call highbrow. They identify as intellectuals who are embarrassed by, for example, the Bible prophecy enthusiasts.

I think we’re all aware of the excesses of the prophecy community. These range from the very unfortunate emphases on fringe topics (just this week I saw a post on Facebook that speculates we are all part of a video game produced by aliens. It’s frankly depressing to see this kind of stuff.), to the very public scarecrows our opponents love to tie us to, such as Harold Camping.

Overall, though, some of the most sophisticated thinkers I’ve ever known are folks in the prophecy community. I recently had a remarkable after-breakfast conversation with Todd Strandberg at a prophecy conference. Scholars like Andy Wood enrich us all. I could go on and on.

A couple years ago I listened to a conference address by Hal Lindsey, who has been vilified by many in the Christian community over the years. Some minor criticisms of him are valid, I suppose; anyone could say at least the same things about any of us.

Yet, if push came to shove, I’d rather stand with Hal Lindsey than with all the highbrows who sniff and turn their backs on us at dinner parties.

And if push really came to shove, I’m happy to stand completely alone. Because at the end of the day, any Israel advocacy is ultimately limited if it doesn’t include some mention of the biblical promises to the Jews.

I so appreciated hearing this a few years ago from the peerless (literally) Bill Koenig, my friend who is a White House correspondent. Bill stood at a press conference and asked the organizers to include such teaching. He was politely dismissed, of course.

And of course, he was totally correct in his assessment.

A few years ago, Porter Speakman Jr. (producer of the Christian Zionist-bashing film “With God on Our Side”) referred to me publicly as a RaptureReady “tool.”

Again, I’ve been told that my alliance with RaptureReady removes me from consideration for speaking at certain conferences, publishing opportunities, etc.

Good.

When the smoke clears, I will still be standing with my friends. I am so proud to be able to write for RR, and I hope that when Jesus returns, I will be in mid-sentence for a new “Israel Watch.”

My real friends are much smarter than my sometimes-friends. When my sometimes-friends chatter about Rapture folks and then marginalize me as well, I think of the phrase: They are too clever by half.

So I will double down—check that, quadruple down—on remaining loyal to the community that has been loyal to me.

I could tell you stories that would curl your hair regarding the cowardice at top levels of pro Israel Christian support. Cowardice when it comes to naming names and identifying the real problems with the erosion of Israel support in the American Church.

So often, such leadership and activists call me, email, text…each time wanting information, which I provide. Then publicly they stand quite a few miles away from me because, after all, I’m a RaptureReady tool.

Boy, could I tell you stories.

Maybe someday I will.

Meanwhile, the ones consistently standing for the Word (which is where Zionism originated, after all) will remain the ones I admire.

My sometimes-friends are no friends at all. One day, I will feel sorry for them. I don’t disparage their work; how sad they don’t return the courtesy.

Arrogance must be a terrible burden to bear.