Goodenough

By Stan Goodenough

I love watching Israel being exonerated. It has happened time and again over the years: Israel’s enemies falsely level blood libels against the Jews, the reflexively anti-Israel news media snatches and runs – exhilarated – with the story, spreading the perverted version of events far and wide. Sooner or later their “reporting” is shown to be inaccurate if not downright false, and Israel is absolved.

Not that this makes much difference to those who hate Zion(ism) – of course. But it is music to the ears and eyes of those who love Israel.

The attempt Monday morning by Israel’s navy to enforce its blockade of the Gaza Strip terrorist mini-state is just the latest example. There is no telling what distortions you may have heard, but let me lay out how it was.

Days ago two organizations – the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH) – the latter known to have ties with internationally-recognized terrorist organizations – began making announcing their intention to sail a flotilla of boats towards Gaza in an attempt to breach the Israeli government’s blockade of the Strip.

Israel, which banned all maritime traffic to Gaza in an effort to limit the quantity of weapons being shipped into the Hamas stronghold (from which thousands of rockets have been fired upon Israeli civilian population centers) made it clear it would not permit the ships to reach Gaza.

The government of Turkey – an erstwhile ally of Israel’s that has become increasingly antagonistic towards the Jewish state in recent months, while moving deeper into the orbit of Ahmadinejad’s Iran – stepped into the developing fray, warning Israel not to try and stop the boats.

Emboldened by this, the “activists” sailed to Cyprus and prepared for the final leg of their voyage to Gaza. Israel, making every effort to avoid a confrontation – short of backing down – invited the demonstrators to sail into Ashdod and have their humanitarian supplies shipped overland to Gaza from there. Israel’s officials outlined in detail the exact course of action they would follow (which they did) to foil the flotilla’s purposes. The “peaceniks” rejected the offer and paid the warning no heed. And on Sunday evening set course for Gaza.

This was Israel’s response: Naval ships intercepted the flotilla and Israeli commandos, armed with paintball rifles (!) and wearing side arms strictly for self-defense, slid to the deck of the largest ship – the Mavi Marmara. Their purpose: to tell the protesters one last time that they would not be allowed into Gaza.

A few minutes later a reporter for Turkish television was heard screaming into his camera: “These savages are killing people here, please help!”

The news flashed around the globe. That is to say, an uninformed and misinformed version of what was happening flew from network to network.

The headlines and reporting, condemnations and outrage voiced on the morning of May 31, 2010 were predictable.

Israel had attacked a sailing flotilla of peace activists who were simply seeking to take humanitarian aid to the “suffering” people of the Gaza Strip.

IDF soldiers had opened fire indiscriminately on the unresisting protesters, killing up to 19 of them.

The Israelis had “dropped from a helicopter onto the deck of a Turkish ship [and] immediately opened fire on unarmed civilians.”

Israel had deliberately “targeted innocent civilians,” claimed trouble-making Turkey’s foreign ministry, warning of “irreparable consequences” to the two countries’ relations.

Israel had committed “a massacre,” cried PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, while his mouthpiece, Sa’eb Erekat, pronounced Israel guilty of “another war crime.” For good measure the PA/PLO immediately declared three days of mourning for those killed.

Screamed the BBC: “Death as Israel storms aid ship.”

CNN: “Israeli commandos killed at least 10 people in pre-dawn raids on a flotilla of six ships carrying aid for the Palestinian territory of Gaza…”

The network also gave a platform to Gaza-based Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri who said: “The Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla is an ugly crime and against international law and this reflects the nature of the criminal Israeli occupation.”

Deceived (willingly?) by these hysterical headlines, officials like Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs, and senior UN figures Robert Serry and Filippo Grandi laid the blame for the whole affair at Israel’s door and demanded Israel immediately lift the blockade of Gaza.

The new British Foreign minister John Haig also called on Israel to open all the crossings for free flow of aid into Gaza.

Deputy United Nations chief Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said the deaths could have been avoided if only Israel had lifted its blockade. Needless to say, the fact that the deaths could have been avoided if the “activists” had kept their noses out of Israel’s affairs never entered the man’s head.

Sky News’ Dominic Waghorn said Israel had “handed an enormous PR victory to the Hamas.” Waghorn is oblivious, it seems, to the fact that it is his and other international journalists’ skewed coverage of what occurred that was providing that very PR victory for their Arab friends.

What really happened? Israel has plenty of footage revealing the truth.

You can view the sickening scenes here , and here, and here.

The “peace-loving” protesters tried to lynch the Israeli soldiers. As each paintball-armed soldier reached the deck he was leaped upon by iron-bar wielding, chair-smashing, knife-stabbing and even gun-firing “activists.”

Some soldiers were beaten senseless. One was dropped headfirst onto a lower deck, sustaining serious injuries. Another was stabbed, his pistol was grabbed from him and used to fire at the Israelis. Stun grenades and firebombs were thrown at the soldiers.

When they eventually opened fire, it was only to defend themselves, and we still do not know how many of those killed were killed by the soldiers or by the terrorists (because that’s what they were) who were trying to shoot the IDF men.

This is the real story. But don’t hold your breath waiting for the currently convening emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to find in Israel’s favor.

When it comes to the state of the hated Jews, the truth rarely finds traction in the court of international opinion. Thanks largely to the media, many millions of people are primed and ready to believe the worst about the actions of Israel’s Jews. For them it’s a case of: why let the facts get in the way of a convenient and expedient story that further feeds their prejudices and satisfies their twisted desires.

By Stan Goodenough

The eruption of violence that occurred on the high seas in the early hours of May 31, when criminals and terrorists masquerading as peace activists attacked and tried to kill Israeli soldiers had at least one positive outcome:

It caused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his visit to the White House, which had been set for Tuesday after President Barack Obama extended an invitation to the Israeli leader last week.

Few observers were fooled by the “friendly” request. Obama, who has unabashedly realigned his country away from its traditionally pro-Israel stance, had come under withering fire from many quarters – including some in his own corner – after treating Netanyahu like dirt during his last visit to Washington.

With a virtually 0 percent approval rating among Israelis, the American leader had clearly been forced to accept the fact that he would not be able to cajole the people of the world’s only Jewish state into embracing his vision for a new Middle East.

Hungry for a foreign policy feat – and none is as enticing as the thought of securing an Arab-Israeli peace – Obama was ready even to eat a little crow, thus the invitation sent by the hand of his chief of staff, Israeli turncoat Rahm Emanuel.

Not that the president has had a change of heart. Having waved the threatening stick of publicly chastising Israel if the just-begun proximity talks go awry, he now dangles the sweetened carrot of renewed commitment to the “special relationship” between Israel and the United States.

Simply put, Obama planned to spring a sweet trap on Netanyahu in the White House. Some flattering words, a smiling photo opportunity, and perhaps a friendly meal around the presidential table, and Israel’s prime minister would have been ripened for manipulation.

According to the Bible:

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1)

And, speaking to Israel:

Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. (Isaiah 43:4)

And, exhorting His people against the odds:

You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.’ (Deuteronomy 3:22)

You may be familiar with a poem that has thrilled and delighted many a child. An American believer shared earlier this week her understanding that its theme speaks to the heart of what President Obama is hoping to achieve in his belated wooing of Netanyahu.

Here it is:

“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the Spider to the Fly,? “‘Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy; ?The way into my parlor is up a winding stair, ?And I have many curious things to show you when you are there.” ?”Oh no, no,” said the Fly, “to ask me is in vain; ?For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.” ??”I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; ?Will you rest upon my little bed?” said Spider to the Fly. ?”There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin; ?And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in!” ?”Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said they never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”?? Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, “Dear friend, what can I do? to prove that warm affection I’ve always felt for you?? I have within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;? I’m sure you’re very welcome – will you please take a slice?”? ”Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind sir, that cannot be,? I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”?? ”Sweet creature,” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise;? How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!? I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;? If you step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”? ”I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you’re pleased to say;? And bidding good morning now, I’ll call another day.”?? The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,? For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again;? So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,? And set his table ready to dine upon the Fly.? then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,? ”Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;? Your robes are green and purple, there’s a crest upon your head;? Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are as dull as lead.”?? Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,? Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;? With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, -? Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;? Thinking only of her crested head – poor foolish thing! At last,? Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.? He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den? Within his little parlor – but she ne’er came out again!?? And now, dear little children, who may this story read,? To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne’er heed;? Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,? And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

by Stan Goodenough

God commands it:

“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom; That you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”

For thus says the LORD:

“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66: 10-13)

Children from across the nation descended on Jerusalem Tuesday – filling the parks, crowding the sidewalks, clambering up the slopes of Mount Zion and flooding in through the gates of the Old City.

Their presence added reams of youthful color and vibrancy to the many-thousand-strong crowds of Jews and their friends here to celebrate 43 years (by the Hebrew Calendar) since the Six Day War saw their ancient capital returned to Jewish hands.

And it will be festive: The next 24 hours will be marked by ceremonies and speeches on Ammunition Hill and in the Tower of David, hora dancing in the city’s public squares, marches through the streets, all night music concerts and prayer meetings at the Western Wall.

Organized tours will show off the massive development and growth that has taken place in the city under Israeli sovereignty. Modern high-rises, new residential developments and ambitious transportation projects will vie for attention with the famous historical sites and legendary biblical landmarks that make Jerusalem an engrossing magnet for millions, nay billions on the planet.

But while it enthralls multitudes – there is only one nation that loves this city, only one people that has longed to return here and remained faithful in devotion to Jerusalem for thousands and thousands of years.

The Jews’ veneration of Jerusalem hugely outstrips the feelings any other nation has for its capital. This can be said without exaggeration or apology.

Which other people has acclaimed a single city for 30 solid centuries – or even a third of that time? What city has Chinese or Russians or Britons, or Norwegians or Indians or Africans or any other nation or people group prayed daily for generation after generation to return to? What other nation – violently driven from its land, and enduring hundreds of years of what it calls “captivity” in exile – clung to, and drew hope from, their belief in their ultimate restoration to that land, and to the pulsating city that was its heart?

Indeed, the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, followed by the return of Jerusalem to the Jews, should be reason for rejoicing by all men and women of goodwill.

But as music fills the air and drumbeats echo off the golden walls across the valley from my home, people in other capitals around the world are watching these celebrations through glowering, resentful, even hate-filled eyes.

Jerusalem Day 2010 has been preceded by intensifying gentile efforts to force Israel to stop building here. Spearheaded by the increasingly openly hostile Obama administration, the international community is galled by the “effrontery” of Jews’ administering, developing and growing their own flagship city.

Israel’s claim to Jerusalem flies in the face of the world’s plans to turn half the city into the capital of a new Arab state called Palestine. Instead of acknowledging that Muslim violence, threats and incitement against Jews is the primary reason for the failure of their “peace process,” the world blames the Israeli government for building up its own home.

As I write, US special envoy George Mitchell is here, trying to get some form of shuttle diplomacy underway in order to “jump start” the repeatedly discredited diplomatic process with the Palestinian Arabs.

In an attempt to get some traction, Mitchell claimed last week that the Israeli government had agreed to freeze building in northern Jerusalem for two years. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat have denied that there is any freeze on construction in the city.

As Israel tries to resist the pressures of its “friend and ally” across the Atlantic, Washington – which has realigned the once pro-Israel United States with the Arab/Islamic world – is expected to get nasty.

Let it. The superglue of their entire history holds the Jews to Jerusalem. Any nation trying to remove it from them will only injure itself.

Badly.

Rejoice with Jerusalem – all you who love her!

We are!!

By Stan Goodenough

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Almost hidden under waves of red hair, his young eyes smile out from my television screen, bright windows to his irrepressible soul. A brief shadow flickers across his face. Slowly the smile fades, dulling his eyes; straightening his mouth. A questioning look replaces the happiness of a minute before. The camera holds it, holds it, holds it, then gradually fades to grey.

Like the now dark screen, the beautiful light in that life has gone out. His father’s weeping, recorded moments before – deep, wracking sobs – throbs in my memory. Also his mother’s empty eyes as she recalls the piercing words: “Ari is no more.” We have been allowed to see the precious family photographs: the new-born infant suckling at the breast, the toddler taking his first steps, the boy with his gaily painted Purim face, the mischievous teen, the serious scholar, the young man in love, the new recruit with his arms around his IDF buddies. Family and friends share their memories, one after the other breaking down as they get to the part where he fell in the war.

Today is a terribly sad day – Memorial Day in Israel. All day long I have watched the photos of the beautiful young men who fell in defense of this small nation. I listen to their parents; their children, their siblings – - tears flow again and again, and mine fall too. So many tears. So much pain for such a small land.

Wailing sirens across the country marked the start of this national day of anguish at eight-o-clock last night.

In Jerusalem’s Old City, the cameras panned across, and zoomed in on, the ranks of Israel’s bereaved families; filling the public stand in the plaza at the Western Wall. A young woman, widow of the latest soldier to fall, put the flame to the Torch of Remembrance.

Scars of irretrievable loss lie in deep grooves across faces, old and young; red eyes swim, and teeth bite down to steady shaking lips.

President Shimon Peres addressed the mourners, telling them nothing could counterweigh the loss of a loved one.
“I am aware that nothing can compensate for the sound of the steps of a son you expect to hear in the staircase and that has suddenly turned silent, the son whose uniform you hung on a hanger in the closet and that generates a yearning to smell the smell of his body one last time.

“Facing your tormented eyes – there is a loss of words,” Peres continued.

After the speeches a man who lost his son in Gaza read – with heavily accented Hebrew – the Kaddish – song for the dead. Like the parents of many, he had made Aliyah, immigrating with his children to the promised land of the Jewish people – and added the payment of his son’s life to all the others who have made the supreme sacrifice to secure this nation in its land.

All afternoon, and late into the evening, Israel’s television screens have been filled with tales of tragedy. Photographs and home movies of young men, full of life and fun and promise, are followed by the shared memories of those they have left behind – wives, girlfriends, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons.

For every life lost in defense of the Jews’ right and ability to live in their homeland – tens of people mourn. On Memorial Day that mourning – even when subdued by the, sometimes many, years that have passed – returns in force.

It unites the nation in grief.

“Snap out of it,” I try to deal with my own emotions even as I deliberately immerse myself in Israel’s hurting. “You don’t know any of them.”

I don’t. I know none of the soldiers that have fallen in Israel’s seven wars – and in the between war terror campaign; I know none of the civilians that have been murdered in acts of terror; I know none of the families who – so heartrendingly – play back their memories. But I can’t deflect the piercing points of pain.

The words of Psalm 13, put to music by Brian Doerksen, roll in on my mind:

How long, O Lord, will You forget me? How long, O Lord, will You look the other way? How long, O Lord, must I wrestle with my thoughts ? And every day have such sorrow in my heart? Look on me and answer, O God my Father, Bring light to my darkness before they see me fall. But I trust in Your unfailing love. Yes my heart will rejoice, Still I sing of Your unfailing love; You have been good, You will be good to me.

By tonight this weeping, anguished nation – hated by almost everyone, surrounded by enemies who daily prophecy (falsely!) their national destruction – will be wrung out like a sponge; emotionally spent.

Suddenly, almost brutally, we will transition from the day of mourning to the day of rejoicing as Israel celebrates its 62nd year of independence.

Along with tens of thousands, my family will head downtown to join the throngs on Jerusalem’s Ben Yehuda Street. Cafes will overflow, lively music and dancing will breathe life back into the heart of the capital, fireworks will light up the sky, also over the jewel of Jerusalem, the Old City, whose golden walls have witnessed so much war, so much sadness and, paradoxically, so much joy.

At the Western Wall, in cemeteries, in schools and other public places today, ceremonies of sadness were concluded with the amazingly sanguine national anthem, Hatikvah (The Hope).

Indeed, concerning His chosen, battered people, God’s word holds so many promises for the future, when:

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise.
The sun shall no longer be your light by day,  Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;  But the LORD will be to you an everlasting light,  And your God your glory.  Your sun shall no longer go down,  Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;  For the LORD will be your everlasting light,  And the days of your mourning shall be ended.  Also your people shall all be righteous;  They shall inherit the land forever,  The branch of My planting,  The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.  A little one shall become a thousand,  And a small one a strong nation.  I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.” (Isaiah 60: 18-22)

Amen.

by Stan Goodenough, Jerusalem Newswire 

Barack Obama can package it anyway he likes.  After sabotaging his own – glaringly transparent – “bilateral talks” approach, he can table “another” peace plan; he can call it “new.” He can build it on what American administration officials reportedly see as “past progress achieved” in the peace plans littering the last two decades of history. He can draft it in close conjunction with Israeli traitor Rahm Emanuel and Jewish turncoat Dennis Ross. He can credit – or, if it fails, blame it on – his special board of present and former national security advisors.

No matter what his “new approach,” the truth is that from Madrid to Annapolis, from Oslo to the Road Map, there has all along only been one peace process, one peace formula, one peace plan. And the version Obama’s White House floated via David Ignatius in The Washington Post this past week changes nothing.

Well, there is one little difference, or perhaps not such a little one. This president is stooping to a low reminiscent of the 1991 “linkage” ploy played by Secretary of State James Baker, who tied the granting of loan guarantees desperately needed by Israel for the absorption of a million immigrants from the former USSR, to Jerusalem’s agreeing to participate in the International Middle East Peace Conference in Madrid.

Now, aware of Israel’s enormous concerns about the danger of an Iranian atomic bomb – and nothing troubles Israel today as much as this threat – Obama’s line of attack is to link America’s support against Iran to Israel’s compliance with the White House’s demands on the peace process.

The message will be:

Yes, Israel, you DO face an imminently nuclear-wielding Iran. You ARE a tiny country that cannot absorb and survive a nuclear strike. And yes, you ARE without friends (as in national allies) in the world. So listen up, Israel. We have you over a barrel. You NEED the US, and we WILL stand with you on Iran, but ONLY IF you go along with our “new plan for peace.”

All of which boils down to one, ugly, word: “Blackmail.”

But let’s not be sidetracked by even this below-the-belt attack.

What’s absolutely vital is that we keep focus sharply on the essence of the issue: the same old, unaltered plan, now assuredly – despite protestations of denial from Washington – being prepared for presentation as a new one.

Like all the other versions, it will be doomed to fail. For at the very base of its foundation festers the wrong and immoral notion – to mollify Arab-Muslim aggression and warmongering by feeding it pieces of Jewish land.

British Prime Minister Richard Chamberlain’s apologists have tried to excuse his appeasing Hitler with pieces of Czechoslovakian land by arguing that Britain had not yet recovered from the monstrous toll exacted by World War I, and was in no condition to confront the Nazis. “He had no choice.”

Such reasoning may placate the indignation of some, but it cannot and does not expunge the immorality and wickedness of the peace plan known as the Berlin Diktat.

How much more repulsive is prosperous America’s readiness to sell Israel down the river rather than face down Arab threats of oil price hikes and boycotts.

Smelling Jewish blood, the leaders of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey this week denounced Israel as the main threat to peace in the Middle East, and called on President Obama to force the Israeli government to negotiate.

Not just in the Middle East, but around the world, when it comes to apportioning blame for the never-ending Arab-Israeli conflict, there’s a lot of finger pointing going on.

Almost all are pointing at Israel.

Not mine. More than anyone responsible for perpetuating this conflict, I accuse officials in the current and previous governments of the United States.

These include presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.

With them are current and former national security advisors, Jim Jones, Brent Scowcroft, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Sandy Berger, Colin Powell, Frank Carlucci and Robert C. McFarlane.

Also in the dock are secretaries of state Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, Lawrence Eagleburger, James Baker, George Schultz, Alexander Haig, Cyrus Vance and Henry Kissinger.

When it comes to their behavior towards Israel, all have this in common: They have been, and are, bullies and cowards.

They are bullies because they have been willing to brandish the massive size and influence of the United States over the head of little Israel; trying to coerce Israel into acceding to Arab demands.

And, like all bullies, they are cowards; too yellow-livered to identify denounce and reject the Arab and Islamic world and declare their strong and biased support for the Jewish state that looks to them – albeit in vain – as friend and ally.

As long as American foreign policy in the Middle East is designed and implemented by immoral politicians it will fail.

They must be replaced with men and women of courage and statesmanship who understand, and are willing to act according to, this profoundly simple fact:

Only a plan predicated on truth and justice can – and will – bring peace.

By Stan Goodenough

Today, as midnight arrives in country after country, explosions of celebration are set to rend the skies, from over the Opera House in Sydney (GMT minus 10 hours) to over Pearl Harbor in Hawaii (GMT plus 10 hours).

Wherever the Gregorian calendar is held to, toasts will be drunk, fireworks fired, dances kicked off, resolutions made and new wall calendars hung.

As the final days of 2009 ticked away, television networks and other media parsed the main happenings of the year, held votes for the most influential people of the year, and tried their hand at forecasting the events they believe could come to pass in 2010.

The annual, worldwide party has almost “everyone” hyped up with excitement and anticipation.

Almost, but not quite, everyone. From here in Israel, in a strange – almost eerie way – the Christmas and New Year holidays appear to be happening way “out there.” The mood, the atmosphere – the bright lights, decorations and festivities – all seems to mostly pass Israel by. Apart from in the Arab-occupied town of Bethlehem and among the tiny Christian minority and the ex-patriots – Christmas Day here was an ordinary working day, and New Year’s Eve and Day are normal working and school days.

It’s a strange feeling. I watch on Sky News and Fox News as 2009 flickers out and 2010 is ushered in “all around us” and think – not for the first time, about how out of step Israel is with the rest of the world; in another, more serious sense, how alone.

There can be little doubt about what the international community’s wishes are for Israel in 2010. The Muslim world will be hoping to secure Israel’s destruction – through terrorism, war and the global outlawing of the Jewish state – in the coming year. The “Christian” world will be hoping to secure a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs – at Israel’s expense and to the Arabs’ benefit, in a way that will ensure as much as possible the stability of the oil market.

Yes, western democratic leaders and eastern despotic mullahs will continue to plot and plan ways to realize their aims and goals with this nation. Will Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama succeed in squeezing Israel into compliance with their plans? Will Mahmoud Ahmadinejad triumphantly announce Iran’s acquisition of an atomic bomb? What about the newly-strengthened European Union? What about Syrian belligerency, Lebanon’s Hizb’allah, Gaza’s Hamas, Ramallah’s Fatah? Will Marwan Barghouti be released and in him, Yasser Arafat rise sphinx-like from the grave?

How much longer can Israel stand? As we look into 2010, polls in the country show that Israelis are more pessimistic about what lies ahead than they were a year ago. Without question, the pressures have continued to mount exponentially year after year. While things have been relatively still on the surface since Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip a year ago, few here doubt that this is anything other than the quiet before the storm.

Unsurprisingly, then, there are lots of questions; plenty of unknowns. In the face of this, Isaiah 41:9-14 is a source of great encouragement to me. I have taken the liberty of inserting a few thoughts between each line:

But you, Israel, are my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

The Mighty God directs His following comments to Israel, that is Jacob: not some spiritual entity but to the physical children of Israel.

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from the chief men thereof, and said to you, You are my servant; I have chosen you, and not cast you away.

Contrary to what so many Christians (God forgive us) espouse, God has not cast His ancient people away.

Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

Exhortation after exhortation: Don’t be afraid; don’t be dismayed – because HE IS YOUR GOD. He will strengthen, help and uphold His nation.

Behold, all they that were incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them, and shall not find them, even them that contended with you: they that war against you shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nothing.

Oh, no matter how powerful the nations, how influential, how deceitfully diplomatic or belligerently boastful; neither the power of the White House nor the power of a nuclear bomb amounts to anything Israel need fear. Mighty as they seem, these nations are doomed to disappear, to destruction, to everlasting nothingness.

For I the LORD your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not; I will help you. Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, said the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Small Israel might be. Sheep without a shepherd. A worm in the site of the world. A worm to be squashed, as far as the nations are concerned, but a small nation to be lifted up, shielded and protected as far as the God of Israel is concerned.

Party on, world, with your guilty pleasures, your twisted reality shows, your power trips and blood lust, your manifest hatred of God and devious designs on His land.

Those of us who love Him, love His purposes and love His appearing – we can pray and call upon the God of Israel:

Arise, O LORD,
Do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
Put them in fear, O LORD,
That the nations may know themselves to be but men.
(Psalm 9:19,20)

By Stan Goodenough

This is an open letter to United Nations and European Union staff members posted in Jerusalem and Israel. Had I the funds I would print this and place it on every one of the myriad UN and EU vehicles driving around this city. Meanwhile hopefully someone will pick it up and pass it on.
==========================

Dear United Nations or European Union employee stationed in Israel.

You are receiving this notice because it is quite possible that the organization you work for has failed to fully and fairly apprise you of all the realities that come with your posting to Jerusalem or wherever you have been stationed in this country.

Doubtless, before you accepted the position, you learned of all the benefits that come with being on the staff of the UN or EU; the plus side must be considerably attractive, given the number of these organizations’ personnel working in the land.

Or perhaps you are here on a mission; out of a noble desire to help the underdog?

Whatever the case, it is only right you should also know that your presence here, and the activities that occupy you in Israel, place you in potentially grave, personal danger.

You may have to endure quite terrifying consequences for a long, long time to come.

As you may know, Israel is not just another country, and Jerusalem is not just another city.

More than 4000 years ago this land was given by divine decree to three men, who became the Founding Fathers of the most enduring nation in history. (Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 26:2-3; Genesis 28:13,14)

 Whether or not you believe in God – the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible – the land of Israel, and specifically those parts the UN and EU call “occupied Arab lands,” were given by Him exclusively to the Jews, forever.

The Bible calls Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, “the city of the great King.” (Psalm 48:2; Matthew 5:35)

It is referring to Jesus Christ, the Son of God who lived, died and rose again in this city, and who will soon be coming back to reign in this very place – Jerusalem. The site of His Throne Room – according to the same Bible – is the Temple Mount, situated in what you call “Eastern Jerusalem” – that part of Jerusalem the EU and UN want to see becoming the capital of a State of Palestine.

And according to the same Holy Book, God takes a very dim view indeed of any nation that puts its hand to the division of His land. He has vowed to deal extremely harshly with those who do this. God has, He says, “a day of vengeance for the controversy of Zion.” (Joel 3:2; Isaiah 34:1-8)

Browse the Prophets, and you can read about all that will happen to the UN and EU if they insist on forcing the Jewish people to relinquish this land in order to appease and placate the Arabs.

You drive through this city, your logo blazoned brazenly on your vehicle, openly supporting those who hate Israel and working hand in hand with those who plan to take the most important parts of Jerusalem away from the Jews.

The UN and EU reject Israel’s sovereign claim to its ancient capital; they reject the millennia-old claim of the Jewish people to Samaria and Judea – the cradle of their nationhood.

And the UN and EU are determined to impose their will on this, one of the very smallest of the world’s nations.

I am not sure which country you come from, but I am betting the Jewish homeland and the Jewish people have been around a whole lot longer than your nation has.

How dare the UN/EU aid and abet in this way those out to steal the historic Land of Israel from its rightful owners?

You should take note of the fact that Israel has outlasted all the great empires of time. Take careful note: Israel will also outlast the United Nations, the EU, and the rest of the nations who form the so-called Quartet.

And as for the fate of those nations – your nation? As much as the Jews have been singled out for persecution and hatred down through the centuries, so much more will the nations represented in the UN/EU suffer.

God has said He will take the cup of suffering away from Israel and force the nations to drink its bitter dregs themselves. (Isaiah 51:21-23)

Mark these words.

What does this mean for you personally as a member of the EU/UN? In what way will you be held accountable for your role in this? That’s something that you will have to answer in and to yourself. It is certainly something you are set to find out, and I envy you not at all.

Believe me – no matter how honorable you might consider your actions here, you are in for a very rude awakening. Like me, like every individual human being, you are destined to stand before the Almighty one day and give account of your deeds.

You do have a way out – possibly a few to choose from: You can either work within your organization to change the biased and unjust approach it has assumed in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Or you can ask for a transfer to another country where the UN/EU operates.

Or – and this is probably the safest option – you can resign.

The choice is yours. If you ignore this word, beware, for “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The Land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem belong to the Jews. Stop working to wrest it from them. You have no right to do so.

Sincerely, and with the very best of intentions towards you

Stan Goodenough
Jerusalem