Gilad Shalit’s Release: A Blessing and a Curse!
In our world punctuated by death, wars, famines and a global economic crisis, good news is a rare breath of fresh air that we seldom get to enjoy. Then, just a few days ago, the news came from the Middle East that Israeli 25 years old IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was about to be released from his Hamas captors, and THAT, is good news!
Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas on June 25, 2006 and held hostage ever since in an undisclosed location somewhere in Gaza. For over five years, during which he became an international figure, Shalit has been secretly kept away from any and all government delegations and human rights agencies. Countless organizations, countries and people have been in favor of his release…to no avail!
Because of the nature of his abduction and Hamas’ lack of willingness for any dialogue, his capture is now commonly and rightfully so, referred to as a “kidnapping”, one that goes against the Geneva Convention.
For the last five years, much prayer has gone in favor of Shalit’s release. It appears that on October 11, 2011, an agreement was reached between the Israeli government of Benyamin Netanyahu and Hamas. The agreement regarding the release of Shalit within days includes the release of 1,027 Palestinians in return.
The negotiations will take place in three phases. Firstly, in the middle of next week Shalit will be moved to Egypt and then to Israel while the first 450 prisoners will simultaneously be realesed from Israeli prisons. Secondly, After Shalit is released to the Red Cross, 27 female prisoners will be added to the 450 previously released. Finally, in another two months, another 550 prisoners will be released for a grand total of 1,027.
There you have it, the sanctity of human life versus the idolatry of death!
I understand how important the choice of the 1,027 is, in regards to the degree of danger posed by the release of some key terorrists, and I agree with Israel for not releasing senior Palestinian prisoners like Marwan Barghouti or Ahmed Saadat. I also understand, and frankly, I admire the commitment of the Israeli government to secure the release of Gilad Shalit. YES, ONE LIFE IS THAT IMPORTANT!!!
How ironic that Israel, so often painted as the “New Nazis of the Middle-East” or “Occupiers of Palestine” would see fit to exchange 1 life for 1,027 lives! But you see, Israel really is the only democracy of the Middle East and the only country to respect human life in that volatile region of the world. While numerous Islamists stand in line to blow themselves up in the name of Allah, Netanyahu’s cabinet stays up all night to figure out a way to negotiate for the life of ONE.
There are three guarantees from Gilad Shalit’s imminent release:
1. A number of the released prisoners will soon be back on the street posing a real danger to Israeli soldiers AND citizens, again!
2. Kidnapping will most certainly be added to the list of successful methods that terrorist organization like Hamas and Al-Qaeda will use to fulfill their destructive agenda.
Yet, in spite of all this, I rejoice with Gilad’s parents, Noam and Aviva Shalit as well as the myriad of supporters and friends around the globe.
I am reminded of this passage of the Bible in Isaiah 63:7-9:
I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has granted us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has granted them according to His compassion, And according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.
Play Soccer and Kill the Jews!!!
One might ask what do soccer and Jew hatred have to do with each other? Nothing at first glance! Yet if you attend a soccer game in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, you might hear fans shouting things like “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas!” or even “horrible cancer Jews!”
Why in the world would such anti-Semitic slogans be delivered from the bleachers, during a soccer game? Is one team playing against the Israeli team? No! (not that it would justify the hatred anyway). Are some of the players Jewish? Not necessarily!
It appears that the team from Amsterdam known as Ajax had its fans refer to themselves as Jews years ago. Some claim that it has Jewish roots. Israeli flags are displayed at games, fans call themselves “Super Jews” and there was even a time when the song o f victory was “Hava Nagila”. The Jewish connection, if it ever existed, is far into the past anyway. The fans have recently been encouraged to drop the Jewish themes, to no avail, as the picture below seems to indicate.
Personally, I think that this is a bit strange and out of place at a sport’s event, but I cannot really complain when anybody chooses to identify themselves with my people in any positive way. It just happens so seldom!
My concern lies with the rival teams using anti-Semitic diatribes against Ajax and its fan base. To be sure, they are anti-Semitic in content NOT in context! But does that really matter? When is it EVER appropriate to shout back that Jews should be gassed or to make a hissing sound reminiscent of the sound of the gas flowing in Auschwitz corridors of death, during the game?
There is something inherently wrong going on here. While I can understand the mockery that goes on between two sides at a game, belittling the Holocaust will never be an appropriate approach in that context (or any context for that matter).
Would it be OK to shout “Go back to picking cotton” at an African American team or fan base? NO!
Would it be OK to shout ” We bomb you again” at a Japanese team or fan base? NO! But not to worry, this would never happen anyway in our politically correct/ ethically crippled world! Do I detect a bit of a double standard here?
So, by the same principle, while it is unfortunate that the Ajax fans call themselves “Super Jews” the politically loaded statement of “Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the Gas” sends a message that goes much deeper into the Jewish psyche than a simple soccer game insult, and that is simply loathsome and wrong.
It is rooted in anti-Semitism and fueled by the modern acceptance that Jews around the world are a nuisance, thus it OK to denigrate and demonize them. Nobody seems to care anyway!
All over the world, my people tread on very thin ice already. Europe is increasingly becoming a continent where Jews are again NOT WELCOME. I think this goes to prove that the chameleon of hatred that is anti-Semitism can take many different colors but at the end of the day, it is the same beast!
I am reminded from God’s word that all men are made in His image thus that all men are equal.
“And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27)
Yeshua (Jesus) also taught in Luke 10:27
Boycott Israel if You Must, But Please be CONSISTENT!!!
The act of boycotting a product line, a person or anything else that goes against your own convictions is not new and in essence can be a very positive and rewarding decision. The principle is very simple: “I don’t like what you say, do or represent, therefore I will not support it and stop financing it”. It has a lot of merit, especially in a day and age where most people do not take any position for fear of being politically incorrect. Additionally, the ability to boycott is one of the advantages to living in a free country. I am all for it.
This being said, one must be absolutely sure of the reason why they do such a thing, and more often than not, we find boycotters caught up in the bias agenda of a political whirlwind that blinds them to the real issue at stake, if an issue at all.
Currently, some of the members of the Park Slope Co-op of Brooklyn, New York are considering a boycott of all Israeli products. This is not the first time that the Co-op takes a stand, and this won’t be the last, but of course, I must ask the question: “Why stop at Israel?”
Israel isn’t the only country that might make decisions that would go against one’s convictions. What about China’s undermining their own people’s human rights?
Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, continues to receive the very damaging stigma of “human rights violator”. Accused of occupying territories that actually are part of her geo-political AND most importantly biblical boundaries, accused of treating Palestinians like Nazis treated the Jews during the Holocaust and accused of putting racist policies into effect, Israel MUST BE STOPPED at any cost! says the media, says the liberal left, say the Co-op (at least in their desire to boycott).
The liberal agenda, driven by political correctness and multiculturalism is simply blinding the masses from the reality of the Middle East conflict, or is it?
Is it possible that liberals are covering their own eyes to the truth while listening to the lies of others about the “evil actions of the Zionists”.
Is it possible that this attempted boycott of Israeli products is a result or at the very least related to antisemitism? I think it is, but before I am accused of painting myself in a corner as victim of hatred, let us reason for a moment about the meaning of “boycott”
As a matter of fact, if we must keep antisemitism out of the equation, and I am not sure we can, then we must be consistent in our boycott of Israel and stop using EVERYTHING that comes from or was invented by “the Evil State”!
TO BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR CONVICTION, or in other words to HAVE INTEGRITY, consider refraining from the usage of the following items (or their by products) either invented or produced in Israel:
• The Cell Phone
• The USB Flash drive
Introduced in 2001, Re-affirmed in 2009, Legitimized in 2011? Not if we can Help it!
On September 11 of 2011, as the civilized global community will respectfully and solemnly mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, some others will find nothing better to do than to congregate under the banner of DURBAN III.
DURBAN I (2001, Durban, South Africa) and DURBAN II (2009, Geneva, Switzerland) convened under the guise of “a global fight against racism”. Keynote speakers included Fidel Castro, Yassir Arafat and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who all agreed on the fact that Israel was the worst culprit when it comes to racism. Actually, Ahmadinejad equated ZIONISM with RACISM.
A far cry from an unbiased conference on racism and human rights abuse, DURBAN I, II and soon III ( in New York) have the delegitimization and even demonization of Israel in common. (find out more on this site)
This is nothing new, as the enemy of the ONE who calls Israel “the apple of my eye” is trying to destroy God’s chosen people. King Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 1:9:
That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun.
This not a political battle, this is not a sociological or cultural battle, this is a spiritual battle between the forces of evil and the God of Israel (and He wins at the end!). This is Antisemitism disguised in a false human rights cloak
No other country in the world and in the history of mankind as been more falsely accused and denigrated than Israel. The United Nations even passed a resolution in 1975 that also equated Zionism with Racism, only to rescind on it in 1991(what took them so long?). Zionism has been given a very bad reputation, it currently carries the stigma of intolerance and hatred as Israel is now portrayed as the “New Nazis” of the Middle east, the exact opposite of what it really is!
On September 22, 2011 (9/22/2011), and I cannot help but look at the date as another slap in the face of decent human beings, DURBAN III will convene and attempt to revive, solidify and legitimize the 2001 DURBAN I Declaration while delegitimizing Israel. Several countries have already stated that they wouldn’t take part in DURBAN III ( Canada, Israel, United States, Czech Republic, Italy, The Netherlands and Australia). Hopefully many will follow suit.
This is an event that CANNOT be allowed to succeed. WE ALL NEED TO JOIN IN PRAYER!!! So I would like to offer a suggestion about this upcoming event to take place on 9/22/11.
Many will be able to be present in NEW YORK on 9/22/11 to protest, but many will not be there and that is why we need to pray.
We need as many believers as possible to pray for God’s will and Israel’s protection as DURBAN III takes place. WHY DON’T YOU COMMIT TO PRAY DAILY AT 9:22 AM OR PM FOR THE NEXT MONTH? It doesn’t have to be long, but just genuine and heartfelt. We know that prayer works! (set-up a daily alarm on your phone today!)
As always, firmly rooted in the teachings of Yeshua through God’s Word, we need to admonish and rebuke IN LOVE as the Apostle Paul so powerfully stated:
And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-17
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- …
- 77
- Next Page »