The Vote

When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.” Luke 19:42-44 (The Message Translation)

I do not have any special gifts as far as my faith is concerned, but I could not fail to see the significance of this verse after the recent UN vote to give the Palestinians a form of recognition as a nation, needing a country to call their own. Of course there is a long history of bad blood between the Jews and the Muslims, which goes way back to Biblical Old Testament times when Ishmael became the father of the Islamic faith, and Israel who became the father of many nations, and was Blessed by God.

Perhaps like many, you didn’t pay much attention to the vote in the United Nations. After all, it is not an unreasonable thing for a nation of people to want a piece of land to call their home. It is reasonable as long as that country wants to live in peace, and at peace (there is a difference) with its neighbours. I think that’s where those who voted against this ‘reasonable’ UN request were coming from. It is not unreasonable to show that those against were largely ‘Christian’ in outlook, and those for the recognition were mostly ‘Islamic’.

The people of Gaza and other areas who want some of ‘their land’ back, as they see it, are led and governed by Hamas, a terrorist group with strong ideological links to those of Iran. Do we need to be reminded that the majority of Islamic Palestinians, and all of Iran, do not recognise Israel as a nation, and have it on their open agenda to annihilate the Jewish nation, country and people? Have you looked at a map of the middle east, and where the State of Israel is located? Take note of the nations and their political and religious allegiances which surround it, and then read the verse again. This was the time when Jesus wept over Jerusalem and its people for rejecting Him, and He knew clearly what was ahead. Might be a good idea for us to take note too. Just saying!

The Rachel Corrie

The ship 'Rachel Corrie' is on its way to a port in Gaza with supplies and food and medical equipment and building materials, but the Israelis want to intercept it, and in fact did. On the face of things, this is a strange action, but I think we need to ask why? As in everything, there are two sides to every story. This is no exception. Everyone has rights. Everyone, and that includes Israel. Sometimes I think we have lost sight of reason, and reckon that if Israel is involved, then they are automatically in the wrong.


Lets look at some facts. In the past few days, the Israeli military boarded a ship, which was part of a flotilla of ships on their way to Gaza with 'supplies', and carrying peaceful 'activists'. It turned out that some the supplies were not allowed, and internationally illegal. Not all building materials are legitimate. Some were very obviously for weapons building or use. Another point worth remembering is that Israel does allow aid to get to Gaza every week, after checking the content. Who can blame them? On many occasions, they have found material to make weapons which will be used against the ordinary people of Israel. Nine people lost their lives, and others were seriously injured trying to make a political point. Take a look at the word 'activist'. This does not mean supporter, or sympathiser, it means action, and actions of defiance as necessary. All aid was eventually sent to the people of Gaza by the Israelis, by land. So what's the problem?


This ship is making another point. It is more than just taking aid to Gaza, because no matter what happens, the appropriate aid for the people in that land, will get there. But only after it has been checked by the authorities, who also want to protect their own civilian population from indiscriminate rocket attacks. The point is that after the media storm over the boarding of the flotilla ship last week, the activists know that any and all media will be on their side. I believe that these same activists are more interested in the ship being boarded, and the sympathetic benefits they would get for their cause from the media, than the aid getting to the stricken peoples of Gaza.


Gaza is a pawn in a bigger game, and the Palestinians are using this to full advantage. Lets not mince words. The Israelis and Arabs don't like each other. Ok, they hate each other... ok ok they detest each other's very existence. In fact, the basic tenet of the Arab nations is for the 'destruction of Israel' and that's a quote. Oh, another point. There is a common thread in the following words, see if you can tell what it is.... Arab, Muslim, Al Qaeda, Suicide Bomber, Islamic Extremist. It doesn't take a whole lot of thought to know that they all want the annihilation of the Israeli race. Now balance that!