YOM HASHOAH/HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY

My previous blog was published on Yom HaShoah; after publication, I checked my emails and saw this headline out of Ukraine, Ukrainian Jewish Mayor Shot on Holocaust Remembrance Day; and this out of Berlin, Palestinian Arabs Attack Israeli Jew in Berlin. It is not just in Israel, surrounded by hostile nations, and with many hostile Arabs living inside Israel, that Jewish people are threatened. Why, one might ask, after all we have “learned” through the events of WWI and WWII and through the whole process of threats and terrorism in the Middle East since then, do we keep this world-wide anti-Semitism alive? If I was more cynical, I’d ask, “Why are we surprised that it is alive and well?”

We need people like Andrew E. Harrod (a freelance researcher and writer who holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law) whose May 2/2014 article in FrontPage Magazine, (Campus Watch highlighted it), holds Rashid Khalidi (a Palestinian-American Columbia University professor) accountable for the “false narrative of Israeli history” he is spewing into the academic world. The address that Andrew analyses was given on April 17, 2014, at Washington, DC's Jerusalem Fund; Khalidi was addressing "America's role in the Arab-Israeli peace process". Please read Andrew’s expose' at: http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/andrew-harrod/rashid-khalidis-false-narrative-of-israeli-history/ . 

Daniel Pipes, Middle East Forum, raises concerns about Obama's connections with Khalidi; which he suggests are part of Obama's real foreign policy; a policy that is more and more difficult to see clearly, except that it seems to benefit the nations that have traditionally been enemies and harm the nations that have traditionally been allies of Western democracies. Israel being the key nation harmed, and the only democracy in the region; but also nations like Egypt. Who are Obama's real advisors?

Caroline Glick addresses the question of American foreign policy as seen in America's actions/inaction around world; notably, strong words but no action regarding Russia in the Ukraine, rewarding Iran with lifted sanctions so its nuclear journey can continue and Kerry's hopeless bungling in Israel regarding the conflict with the Arabs there, threatening BDS response and using the "apartheid" word rather inappropriately, are a few examples. Her May 2/2014 "Life under the Obama Doctrine" http://carolineglick.com/life-under-the-obama-doctrine/ is well worth reading. Let the truth be told! Log into her website to encourage her, and pray that she will be heard; she is in the US for a few more months.

The lie seems so easy to believe.

I’m challenging everyone reading this to take some form of action; perhaps no more than interjecting a query into a conversation when you hear misinformation being presented as fact, or correcting it with the truth.

The photograph below depicts one such interaction. Grace and I were hiking in the Ein Gedi area and met this young man who had just completed his Israeli military service and was, like we, enjoying a holiday hike. Our introductions included his question about our reasons for being in Israel; why choose Israel? I told him we had been in Israel for the last few months volunteering with the Christian organization, Bridges for Peace. His initial reaction to "Christian" was quite significantly negative; but with further explanation of our work, he became not only acceptant, but applauded the activities of this "Christian" organization. It was the truth injected into an erroneous concept that made it possible for us to bless one another as we parted rather than part with a wall between us.

In 2012, as we prepared to volunteer in Israel, we began to learn about Bethlehem Bible College’s Christ at the Checkpoint, which took place while we were there. Since then we have been back to Israel to experience, although all too briefly, life in Bethlehem. We saw and heard firsthand the mindset of “Palestinian” Christians; both those whose dhimmi acceptance kept them from being forthright regarding their living conditions, blaming instead "the occupation", and those who are being persecuted for not accepting dhimmi status; they need to have large buckets of water ready for their church service in case of a fire bombing; we sat next to the water buckets for a worship service in a church in Bethlehem last year. In 1995, when Bethlehem began to be governed by the Palestinian Authority, the population was about 82% Christian Arab. Today, after less than 20 years, only about 7% of the population is still Christian Arab. The PA is Muslim. Why are Christian Arabs leaving Bethlehem when the "Palestinians" are in control of that territory?

If the term "dhimmi" is new to you, here is a brief explanation. According to the Koran, in a Muslim governed territory, non-Muslims, or "infidels", have 3 choices: convert to Islam, accept an official inferior status and pay the fee for that privilege, or, thirdly, say goodbye to your head. The name for this inferior status is "dhimmi"; and often the fee paid is not enough to prevent persecution anyway.

Which brings me to another reading recommendation; this one regarding Christ at the Checkpoint and its inherent anti-“Israel” position; Although, they are adamant that they are not "anti-Semitic", but rather "anti-Israel". (I guess that is why Abu Mazen cannot accept Israel as a “Jewish State” – he does not want to be "anti-Semitic”) All right, all right, that was supposed to be a joke.

I have not read a better analysis of the 2014 Christ at the Checkpoint event than this one: http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=32&x_article=2683. Again, please take time to read this if you have not already done so.

Part of my intention with these blogs is to connect you with materials that have impacted me greatly, and I trust will help get the truth out. Feel free to pass this on to others.

Introducing you to Christy Anastas last week was part of that same intention.

She has been further vindicated, but also further threatened for speaking the truth since I wrote about her last week. Her family, who are still in Bethlehem, are suffering on her behalf. Please pray for them.

Today is Yom Hazikaron, Israel Memorial Day; let us join Israel to remember all the fallen soldiers and victims of terror who have given their lives in Israel's struggle to live again as a nation.

LORD BLESS ISRAEL!