Finally Standing Up?
Some good news this week from Israel, in a spiritual sense. It seems the Israelis are starting to gather themselves to assert their claim to the Land.
Sondra Oster Baras, the director of Christian Friends of Israeli Communities, a group that links churches with Israeli communities, noted that Israel’s new government has approved nine “young communities” to be built in the Land of Israel. This is a bold move that shows their ideological opponents (basically, everyone: Palestinians, European Union, US government, international community overall) Israel is committed to remaining in the Land permanently.
I am reminded of a statement 20 years ago by Ariel Sharon that Israeli towns and cities were here to stay and that they would never be uprooted. This stance was first laid down in Amos 9:15, “I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God.”
I remember being thrilled to hear Sharon’s statement, which lined up with Scripture (and Sharon was not known for being particularly religious!).
This comes at a time when Israel’s population in the biblical heartland has now reached 500,000! I’ve been tracking this over the years. Only a few years ago that same area was home to 250,000 Israelis. God and His Word are marching forward.
Baras posted this message:
“Israelis have been eagerly waiting for the new government’s response to the issue of young communities in Judea and Samaria. Young communities, established by young idealistic families seeking to revive Jewish presence in their Biblical homeland, are new communities still waiting to receive final government approvals to develop the Land.
Sadly, obtaining building permits and proper infrastructure for Jewish communities is a lengthy process, sometimes dragging on for over twenty years!
“Recently, the new government clarified its position on new communities in Judea and Samaria. In response to a string of recent bloody Arab terror attacks in Jerusalem, the Israeli cabinet approved nine young communities at the request of Minister Itamar Ben Gavir. More than a strategic move to discourage future attacks, this step is a spiritual response to these evil and dark acts through spreading the light of prophecy fulfilled. They promote terror, and we respond by building and creating new life.
“The nine approved settlements are Avigayil, Asael, Shacharit, Givat Arnon, Givat Harel and Givat HaRoa, Malachi HaShalom, Mitzpe Yehuda, Beit Hogla, and Sde Boaz. Each approved community corresponds to one of the nine murdered victims.”
Ben-Gvir, as we’ve noted lately, is the new Israeli Minister of National Security. Finally, it seems like they have the real deal in that capacity, as Ben Gvir seems to be dogmatic about Zionism.
I couldn’t be happier that he sits in Netanyahu’s cabinet.
All these developments also come as Ben Gvir has met resistance from members of Israel’s security apparatus, and Netanyahu hasn’t given him completely a free reign in combatting terrorists. Certain segments of Israel’s political leadership still try to play nice with the other side. Ben Gvir and his allies in the Knesset have this week been at odds with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, who rigidly follows the law so that the police act “while respecting human rights.” Of course, the rule of law is vital in a civilized society, but I prioritize the Jewish victims of Arab terror. According to a report in the Times of Israel:
“In addition to clashing over police enforcement at protests, Ben Gvir also reportedly clashed with Netanyahu and Shabtai earlier this week after the pair rebuffed his requests to demolish structures built illegally by Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
“Ben Gvir has vowed to take a more aggressive stance against Palestinian homes that were built in East Jerusalem and the West Bank without the necessary permits from Israel. He has framed the demolition of such structures as part of Israel’s efforts to combat Palestinian terror, even though there have been no links between the ers of the homes razed for a lack of permits in recent weeks and security offenses.”
These situations highlight the tightrope that Netanyahu walks in trying to keep all parties reasonably happy.
“In past election campaigns, Netanyahu said Ben Gvir — who has been convicted for incitement to violence and has said he would encourage Arab citizens to emigrate Finally Standing Up?
Some good news this week from Israel, in a spiritual sense. It seems the Israelis are starting to gather themselves to assert their claim to the Land.
Sondra Oster Baras, the director of Christian Friends of Israeli Communities, a group that links churches with Israeli communities, noted that Israel’s new government has approved nine “young communities” to be built in the Land of Israel. This is a bold move that shows their ideological opponents (basically, everyone: Palestinians, European Union, US government, international community overall) Israel is committed to remaining in the Land permanently.
I am reminded of a statement 20 years ago by Ariel Sharon that Israeli towns and cities were here to stay and that they would never be uprooted. This stance was first laid down in Amos 9:15, “I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God.”
I remember being thrilled to hear Sharon’s statement, which lined up with Scripture (and Sharon was not known for being particularly religious!).
This comes at a time when Israel’s population in the biblical heartland has now reached 500,000! I’ve been tracking this over the years. Only a few years ago that same area was home to 250,000 Israelis. God and His Word are marching forward.
Baras posted this message:
“Israelis have been eagerly waiting for the new government’s response to the issue of young communities in Judea and Samaria. Young communities, established by young idealistic families seeking to revive Jewish presence in their Biblical homeland, are new communities still waiting to receive final government approvals to develop the Land.
Sadly, obtaining building permits and proper infrastructure for Jewish communities is a lengthy process, sometimes dragging on for over twenty years!
“Recently, the new government clarified its position on new communities in Judea and Samaria. In response to a string of recent bloody Arab terror attacks in Jerusalem, the Israeli cabinet approved nine young communities at the request of Minister Itamar Ben Gavir. More than a strategic move to discourage future attacks, this step is a spiritual response to these evil and dark acts through spreading the light of prophecy fulfilled. They promote terror, and we respond by building and creating new life.
“The nine approved settlements are Avigayil, Asael, Shacharit, Givat Arnon, Givat Harel and Givat HaRoa, Malachi HaShalom, Mitzpe Yehuda, Beit Hogla, and Sde Boaz. Each approved community corresponds to one of the nine murdered victims.”
Ben-Gvir, as we’ve noted lately, is the new Israeli Minister of National Security. Finally, it seems like they have the real deal in that capacity, as Ben Gvir seems to be dogmatic about Zionism.
I couldn’t be happier that he sits in Netanyahu’s cabinet.
All these developments also come as Ben Gvir has met resistance from members of Israel’s security apparatus, and Netanyahu hasn’t given him completely a free reign in combatting terrorists. Certain segments of Israel’s political leadership still try to play nice with the other side. Ben Gvir and his allies in the Knesset have this week been at odds with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, who rigidly follows the law so that the police act “while respecting human rights.” Of course, the rule of law is vital in a civilized society, but I prioritize the Jewish victims of Arab terror. According to a report in the Times of Israel:
“In addition to clashing over police enforcement at protests, Ben Gvir also reportedly clashed with Netanyahu and Shabtai earlier this week after the pair rebuffed his requests to demolish structures built illegally by Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
“Ben Gvir has vowed to take a more aggressive stance against Palestinian homes that were built in East Jerusalem and the West Bank without the necessary permits from Israel. He has framed the demolition of such structures as part of Israel’s efforts to combat Palestinian terror, even though there have been no links between the owners of the homes razed for a lack of permits in recent weeks and security offenses.”
These situations highlight the tightrope that Netanyahu walks in trying to keep all parties reasonably happy.
“In past election campaigns, Netanyahu said Ben Gvir — who has been convicted for incitement to violence and has said he would encourage Arab citizens to emigrate — was not fit to hold a cabinet post. But ahead of Israel’s November 2022 election, and amid Ben Gvir’s growing popularity in polls, Netanyahu backtracked, saying he could “certainly” hold a ministerial position in his next government.
“Former police commissioner Moshe Karadi on Saturday said Ben Gvir was ‘a pyromaniac with a gas tank’ and ‘entirely unequipped’ to head the national security ministry.”
For my part—and no one asked me, of course—I’d rather have a pyromaniac with a gas tank in charge of Israeli security than a smooth politician.
Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com
— was not fit to hold a cabinet post. But ahead of Israel’s November 2022 election, and amid Ben Gvir’s growing popularity in polls, Netanyahu backtracked, saying he could “certainly” hold a ministerial position in his next government.
“Former police commissioner Moshe Karadi on Saturday said Ben Gvir was ‘a pyromaniac with a gas tank’ and ‘entirely unequipped’ to head the national security ministry.”
For my part—and no one asked me, of course—I’d rather have a pyromaniac with a gas tank in charge of Israeli security than a smooth politician.
Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com
