Olivier Melnick

October 4, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Why Did Palestine Really Joins Interpol?

On Thursday, September 28, Palestine was accepted as the newest member of INTERPOL. INTERPOL is the “INTERrnational POLice” Agency that was started in 1923 with the goal of coordinating various world police forces and sharing intel across borders. In the second article of its constitution, INTERPOL states the reason for its existence:” To ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities within the limits of the laws existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’; To establish and develop all institutions likely to contribute effectively to the prevention and suppression of ordinary law crimes.

The creation of the INTERPOL Agency was needed and has resulted in the cooperation of worldwide police forces to fight international crime over the years, and that’s a good thing. But the recent addition of Palestine to the INTERPOL roster might be creating problems more than solving them. By admitting the State of Palestine, INTERPOL admits that Palestine exists as a state. That is its first mistake, and it creates a false premise for the rest of the process. The geographical area known to the world as Israel that was renamed Palestine never ceased to be Israel. Until the 1960’s the word “Palestine” was simply used to describe Israel, nothing more, nothing less. After the arrival on the Middle East scene of Yasir Arafat, Palestine took on a new meaning and became politically charged. A newly displaced people were created. A struggle was justified and terrorism popularized.

It took over fifty years of patient international nagging punctuated by regular acts of terrorism for Palestine to exist. Exist in the mind of those who cretaed it that is! But today, Palestine also exist in the politically correct, brainwashed minds of many people who would rather root for the fictional underdog instead of checking if that underdog has legitimate reasons to complain. So the question is no longer “Does Palestine exist?” but “How come Palestine isn’t recognized by more international agencies?”

Over the last few years, the Palestinian authority managed to get recognized by about fifty world organizations, including the United Nations, UNESCO and the ICC (International Criminal Court) only to name a few. The moment that the Nobel Peace Prize was given jointly to Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat, was a defining moment for all those who understand the concept of peace. It made the Nobel Organization look like a bunch of fools and tarnished their reputation for good. Then, the inclusion of Palestine as a “Non-Member Observer State” at the United Nations in 2012 solidified the obvious bias that the UN has had against Israel for several decades.

So it was only a matter of time before INTERPOL joined the others. Of the 192 countries belonging to Interpol, more than two-thirds voted in favor of the inclusion of Palestine. These were not only Arab countries. But to those who are interested in the facts, the integrity of the Palestinian Authority leaves a lot to be desired. Millions of donated funds have been used for the building of tunnels to infiltrate Israel illegally whenever possible and perform more acts of terrorism. Schools and hospitals in Gaza have been repeatedly used to hide and use weapons against Israel, not only ignoring the safety of Palestinian civilians but also using them as human shields.

By admitting Palestine as one of their new members, INTERPOL exposes itself to a corrupt body more interested in the complete destruction of Israel than in any international police cooperation. Sure, the Palestinian Authority might show good faith by sharing some intel that would lead to the arrest of a few Palestinians or other criminals, but that is most likely not their overall intention. In the meantime, it also gives them access to other intel that could be used to hurt Israel. How many of us really believe that the Palestinian Authority will ” ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities” as stated in INTERPOLS’s constitution. Instead, it will use its recent international vindication to further demonize Israel and the Jewish people.

It is ironic that INTERPOL’s inclusion of Palestine would ignore their repeated violations of human rights and in the same breath declare in their constitution that their cooperative work is always done “in the spirit of the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’.” Seriously? By accepting Palestine as their newest member, INTERPOL will tarnish their reputation and further facilitate the Palestinian agenda of Israel’s annihilation. Now “Palestine” has the backing of an international body of police forces to fulfill that agenda, and don’t think for a minute that they won’t use it to their advantage!

September 19, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Rosh Hashanah 5778: Apples, Honey and Uncertainty!

On the eve of September 20th, 2017 ( 29 of Elul) Jewish people around the world will gather in synagogues and community centers to celebrate the New Year. Rosh Hashanah (literally “Head of the Year”) is a special time of rejoicing and looking forward, for Jewish people around the world. We celebrate by blowing the shofar and eating special foods such as round challahs (bread loaves,) apples, and honey for a sweet year. Jewish people will go around wishing one another L’ Shanah Tovah Tiketevu meaning “May your name be inscribed for a good year!” This day marks the beginning of a series of Jewish Holy Days including Yom Kippur and Sukkot. But for the Jewish people worldwide, beyond the tangible AND symbolic sweetness of this season’s foods, there is quite a bit of uncertainty about the past, the present, and the future.

Jewish history is one of the longest uninterrupted narrative in the history of mankind–about 3800 years since the birth of Abraham, even though the Jewish calendar starts with Adam and eve 5778 years ago. Jewish history is both rich with a diverse heritage and heavy with acts of anti-Semitism that punctuated its long stream. The uncertainty about the past comes in a few different ways, but they all lead to a possible eradication of Jewish presence in mankind’s history.

With the exponential decline of the last few thousand survivors from the death camps, Holocaust memory is at risk. First account stories will soon be impossible to collect. This fact of time, coupled with a strong desire by many to re-write Holocaust history and revise it, put the greatest Jewish catastrophe at risk of becoming obsolete in postmodern minds. Additionally, various organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and others, are trying to disconnect Israel from any Jewish roots. We saw it recently with the ludicrous, yet very bold attempt at making the Temple Mount area a Muslim site with no Jewish connection. The past should always be something to learn from and build upon, but Jewish people around the world feel uneasy as they see their past history at risk.

The present situation also offers many challenges for our global Jewish community. Modern anti-Semitism has replaced the once believed defunct historical anti-Semitism of yesterday. The hydra of Lerna of classic anti-Semitism saw its head being cut off after World War Two, only to grow two more within two decades after that. There is no safe place in the world for Jewish people except maybe for the one place that most of the world wants to eradicate, that is Israel. A Jew in Iceland, South Africa or Australia is in danger today–as if by proxy–simply for something that takes place in Israel. In some big metropolis like London or Paris, it isn’t safe to be outside wearing a yarmulke or a Star of David. Jews around the world have to watch their back just about anywhere they go. With BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) pushing a pro-Palestinian agenda, even those who wish to support Israel are at risk now. Killing Jews is even back on the agenda in France as we can see from the recent events involving the mostly unreported death of Sarah Halimi. The present is something that many Jewish people want to live for but uncertainty is real, as danger looms around the corner every single day.

So with a past and a present as described, what is left to look forward to? Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the 72nd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on September, 19th, 2017. He started by painting the picture of a world, embracing Israel more than ever before. But he quickly turned our attention to the danger of Syria, Iran, and global anti-Semitism. Yet much of the future of the world in the fields of technology, agriculture, innovation, and security, takes place today in Israel; at the hands of a myriad of entrepreneurs. Where would these people be today if G-d had allowed for the Holocaust to continue for a bit longer? Yet, G-d isn’t bound by time. He is the G-d of the past, present, and future, and He never changes (Numbers 23:19.)

There is indeed a future for Israel and for the Jewish people. It is clearly delineated in the Tanach and the B’rit Hadashah. Israel will never cease to exist and the Jewish people will NEVER be completely decimated (Jeremiah 31:35-27.) As we enter 5778, I want to believe more than ever that my Jewish people will look forward to their glorious future, when Mashiach will rule on the throne of King David in Yerushalaim. Only the Messiah can bring real peace into the world. I am convinced that He came in the past (Isaiah 52:13-53:12.) to sustain us through the present as He promised us a bright future. There is no uncertainty in my heart and mind for my destiny is secure in Messiah. I look forward to a sweet 5778 as I wish you all the same. May YOUR NAME be inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life forever!

L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu B’shem Yeshua Mashienu!

September 1, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Can We Prevent Another Holocaust?

Jewish history is punctuated with important milestones –both negative and positive– such as the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70, The Crusades started in 1096, or even the re-birth of the modern State of Israel in 1948. One of these unavoidable milestone is the Holocaust. One cannot speak of or understand Jewish history outside of the events of this Jewish catastrophe. Historians even go as far as speaking of pre and post Holocaust Jewish history. Once we realize that the 6,000,000 Jewish victims represented about 2/3 of European Jewry, it becomes obvious. In light of all the acts of anti-Semitism that have occurred globally in the last decade and the many threats against Israel as a whole, one can ask “Is another Holocaust on the horizon, and if yes, can it be prevented?”

While the Bible promises us that God will never forsake Israel (Jeremiah 31:35-37) it also tells us that God is just and disobedience will be met with discipline. From a human perspective, despots from many authoritarian countries would love to see Israel completely eradicated from the face of the earth, but from a biblical standpoint, not only will they fail, but they will also pay a hefty price (Zechariah 12:9). This doesn’t mean that they will not try, and try they have and they continue to. So, even though there might never be another Holocaust, Jewish casualties can escalate in the near future, and yet, we can all do our part to alleviate some of it by learning from the past and adjusting for the future.

We need compassion:
Not everybody bought the lies of the Nazi Regime that painted the Jewish people as vermin or a sub-race to be eradicated. Those who did, simply felt like they were doing Europe a great service by killing the unwanted, and they justified it by looking at the Jews as not being human beings. But many had compassion as they simply looked at the misfortunes of the Jewish people and felt compelled to reach out, and in many cases provide safe haven and/or safe passage to other countries. Pastor Henri Trocmé and the villagers of Le Chambon in central France had compassion for their fellow human beings. To them, humanity came first and Jewishness second. They simply cared for their fellow men. When asked why she did it, one of the villagers–a key player in this conspiracy of goodness– answered “It was the most natural thing to do!” It is estimated that 5,000 Jews were saved from the nazi claws in that little French village alone.

We need creativity:
Beyond compassion, we also need creativity such as was displayed by the people of Chambon who when they received new jewish refugees, simply heard their pastor saying that a “new shipment of Old Testaments had arrived.” Then people would decide who would take them in.
Creativity was key to fool the Nazi war machine and it came in many different ways. How about the story of Vittorio Sacerdoti, the Jewish medical doctor who worked in a small hospital near Rome during World War Two? He is credited for having invented the false disease known then as Syndrome K. The hospital received Jewish people (sick or not) and he told the “patients” to start coughing uncontrollably when Nazi officials showed up. Dr. Sacerdoti presented the coughing as the highly contagious AND lethal “Syndrome K.” His creativity allowed for 45 Jewish people to be saved. Before you ask me if it is biblically OK to lie to save a life, consider the story of Rahab the Canaanite prostitute who lied to the King of Jericho to save the Jewish spies (Joshua 2:1-8.) She received faith in the God of Israel in the process. You draw your own conclusions!

We need courage:
Compassion and creativity will not avail to much if they are not strengthened with courage. Fighting for the truth is never easy. It was not easy in the days when people fought for different truths, even though common sense has always dictated that there cannot be multiple truth co-existing. But today, truth isn’t even in the picture anymore. People don’t seek truth anywhere, anymore, they just want social justice. Whatever brand of “social justice” THEY declare is the right one, is worth fighting for. People who seek truth today about the Middle East narrative will discover an Israel that the media, Hollywood and academia refuse to accept. Insults and abuse will abound against those who dare support Israel.

We need commitment:
Modern Christian Zionists have a long road ahead as they strive to support Israel and help the Jewish people. They have compassion given to them by God and can be creative to various degrees. They also have the courage that only they can get from God reassuring them from His Word that if He promised to never forsake Israel, whatever else He promised them is a sure thing. But even when we know that God is on our side, it can remain difficult to commit to the cause. Intimidation runs rampant against those who try to fight BDS, anti-Semitism or any of the anti-Israel agendas. If God is committed to the preservation of and provision for Israel, who are we not to be committed the same?

I often wonder what would the outcome of World War Two have been in regards to Jewish casualties if more people had had compassion, creativity, courage and commitment? Not everyone could have been instrumental in saving 5,000 Jews or even 45 Jews. But what if more citizens of Europe had chosen to do something for the Jews as opposed to remain by-standers at best? I know from God’s Word that the future includes Israel, even though there will be casualties (Zechariah 13:9.) I also believe that we can all do more for the Jewish people this time around. The current hatred against my people will not stop anytime soon. In a sense, much of the world’s agenda is like an on-going Holocaust of the 21st century. But this time around, nobody can claim that they were unaware of what was being perpetrated against the Jews. All of us can do something when our heart is in the right place!

August 21, 2017 By Olivier Melnick 1 Comment

Antifa joins BDS! What could possibly go wrong?

There is currently in America a political, social and racial polarization that is reaching levels of animosity never reached before. The source for this dramatic polarization is highly debated depending on what side of the fence you position yourself. Trump supporters blame the previous administration and democrats blame the new President. Regardless of who is to be blamed for the current wedge being forced into the American people, it is changing the fabric of America at a rapid pace, and it presents some serious risks to several minorities.

One group that has emerged around the time of Mr. Trump’s victory if not slightly before, was the group self-labelled as ” Antifa”,” an abbreviation for anti-fascist or anti-fascism. They seem to be reacting and protesting Trump’s every move and policy, labelling them as fascist at the core. They claim to fight racism, homophobia, sexism and capitalism. Antifa comprises people who would position themselves on the extreme Left, also known as Alt-Left.

Fascism became a real political influence in the early part of the 20th century in Europe. It was characterized by actions that reflected a rejection of communism, liberalism and anarchism. Fascism is a strange political bird that can somehow be found flying across the spectrum from left to right–always adhering to a more totalitarian approach to government. Fascism has been notorious for the use of violence on property and people for intimidation and control.

Then comes “Antifa” to protest fascism. They take the streets and speak up against the ills of such an ideology. After all, America’s Founding Fathers gave us all Free Speech, Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Religion, so it is perfectly acceptable to protest in America. The problem is that Antifa proponents are for the most part using methods of intimidation, silencing and protest that very strongly resemble the very methods they claim to oppose. They destroy property and use violence on people just like fascists. In their own way, they are becoming an Alt-Left brand of fascism. They use violence and intimidation which are the two main pillars of terrorism, and they should be labelled as such.

In some rare, cases “Antifa” proponents who claim to be fighting for equality, free speech and tolerance, might achieve it, even without much violence or verbal abuse. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Jewish community and/or Israel’s right to exist, they are are not helping. For a while now, the Left has increasingly distanced itself from support of Israel and helped push the Palestinian narrative. Antifa’s primary goal isn’t to hurt Israel, but there is a new trend on American university campuses linking Antifa with BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions). From the standpoint of protesting fascism, oppression and colonialism, Antifa and BDS seem to be on the same page, at least politically and ideologically, and again its really bad for the Jews.

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists are a clear danger for the Jewish community, so is Antifa. And now that we are starting to see Antifa teaming up with BDS proponents, the horizon is becoming gloomier for my Jewish people who once again in our history are being sandwiched between two groups who hate them. While Antifa and BDS might not seek a joint photo-op to declare their anti-Semitism, they do line-up ideologically. At a time in our history when anti-Semitism has morphed to a hungrier and angrier beast, we do not need to be sandwiched between the Alt-Left and the Alt-Right. We already have our hands full with radical Islam and some of the evangelical Church teaching Replacement Theology and Christian Palestinianism!

Really, when Antifa joins BDS…What could possibly go RIGHT for the Jews?

August 8, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Failed Multiculturalism Will lead to Rigid Monoculturalism!

One of the biggest buzzwords of the twenty-first century is “multiculturalism.” It actually defines one’s tolerance level for other cultures– the trait of a good, compliant postmodern citizen. The more we tolerate other cultures, the better! In essence, there is nothing wrong with such an approach. I grew-up in France where I had Arab, Vietnamese and African friends all throughout my childhood, and nobody thought anything of it . In the 60s and 70s, various cultures were kept in the home and/or respective places of worship, and adherence to a country’s laws were the norm when outside the home and/or communal life. That was what we can call successful multiculturalism. Those days are long gone!

To an extent, various cultures are still able to truly co-exist within the same country. Yet there is a dominant culture, or more accurately a dominant “ideology” that doesn’t play well with others, and that is the Muslim ideology. I say ideology because there is not doubt in the mind of those who look at Islam, that it is much more than a religion. It is an ideology that includes a religion, a financial system, a legal system and much more. In other words, Islam is a way of life! We all have the right to choose which way we want to go through life and if one wants to do it as a Muslim, it is their personal choice. I happen to have chosen a different path that includes Judeo/Christian ethics and a belief system based on the teachings of the Bible (Old and New Testament.)

I like my way of life as a disciple of Yeshua and I wish that more people would adhere to it and be as blessed as I am, yet I would never impose it on anyone because it would then instantly become legalism. My Jewish people have been the victims of legalism for centuries. Forced conversions, forced baptism and other Christian dogmatic indoctrinations have driven a wedge between Christians and Jews and led to a plethora of bloody massacres over the ages. People should always be given a choice not an order when it comes to culture, customs and beliefs. After all this is why the United Nations came up with the “Declaration Universelle des Droits de l’homme.” in 1948 (Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)

In Article 2 of the UDHR, we read “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” When this is applied properly, we have multiculturalism at its best. It protects world citizens wherever they come from and wherever they live. But in the last few decades, these principles have been abused and used against the very people who tried so hard to uphold them. What more? Under the very eyes of modern Western countries that once were thriving democracies. The ideology of Islam taken to its radical fringes is very far from what people try so hard to call the “Religion of Peace.” It demands multiculturalism in a world still willing to provide it, but is it really in the name of tolerance, co-existence and mutual acceptance?

Many European countries that once promoted free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press, are self-inflicting a series of restrictions in the hope that they will appease the ire of radical Islam. Western civilization’s self-inflicted multiculturalism has failed greatly and is leading only to one thing; a rigid brand of “monoculturalism.” In many cases including in the United-States, people either do not understand Sharia Law or fear reprisals for speaking negatively about it. In a 2016 article in the Washington Post, titled “Five myths about sharia”, the reader is told that :
1. Sharia isn’t “Islamic law.”
2. In Muslim countries, Sharia isn’t the law of the land.
3. Sharia isn’t anti-women
4. Sharia doesn’t demand brutal punishments
5. Sharia isn’t about conquest

I find this very hard to believe when the West has been witnessing the treatment of Jews, Christians, women and gays under Sharia. But again, if Muslim communities choose to live by Sharia standards, it is their choice according to the same Article 2 of the UDHR, and they shouldn’t be ostracized, harassed or persecuted for it. Where we are going wrong is when we extend our over-tolerant multiculturalism to let one particular ideology dominate the rest of the world. If we do not rectify our course, I am convinced that our failed multiculturalism will lead to rigid monoculturalism! From what we have seen, Islam isn’t necessarily the path to freedom. In many cases, it looks more like a theocratic dictatorship. Choose Islam if you will, but please do not choose it or any other ideology for me. I have chosen to be a Jew who follows his Messiah (Yeshua of Nazareth), and while I wish more people would investigate his claims and the simple message of salvation (Psalm 16:11; 36:7-10, Genesis 2:17; Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Ezekiel 18:4, Jeremiah 2:22, Psalm 49:7, Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4, Proverbs 28:13). After all, it should still be about personal choices!

Subscribe to our Daily Devotions

Archived Articles

Tags