Israel's Current Dilemma...In My Opinion

Sep 22, 2008 16:11 | Updated Sep 22, 2008 20:00
'Fight terrorists, don't talk to them'
By JPOST.COM STAFF

"One does not talk to terrorists, one fights them," French Justice Minister Rachida Dati said Monday.
Dati stressed that France would never allow negotiations on Israel's security and existence. "When it comes to terrorists' activity that threatens Israel's security, our stand is very clear: ?one does not talk to terrorists and to the ones that call for the destruction of Israel, one fights them," she said.
Dati added that "France supports Israel's security. I also said it to the Palestinians yesterday. The Palestinian people are entitled to have their own country but that goes hand in hand with keeping the security of the state of Israel."
The French justice minister also called for open dialogue and for leaving past disagreements behind, like the French and Germans did after the Second World War. She emphasized that French President Nicolas Sarkozy was personally committed to Middle East peace process, since the safety of citizens around the world was dependent on the peace in the Middle East.

My Commentary

In the mean time, Israel has held elections in the wake of former Prime Minister, Ehud Ohmert's departure, and his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, has won by a narrow margin. This will allow her to attempt to form a coalition and become the next Prime Minister of Israel.

The question is: will Livni follow the gutless policies of Ehud Ohmert, who by appeasement attempted to give away half of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Islamists, or will she be cut from another mold?

I remember the days of Golda Meir, the first real Iron Lady politician. Her stiff backbone, and undying defense of Israel led to victory over her enemies and the expansion of Israeli territory to the present borders. She was a model of courage....no backing down to overwhelming odds.

Ohmert, on the other hand, was tired of the constant battle involved in Israel's right to exist. His great ambition was peace...PEACE AT ANY COST. He held the opinion that anyone who believed in God's covenant promise of land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was dumb. To him, if giving away half of Jerusalem to the Palestinians looked like it might secure peace, then it was worth the cost. But he was dead wrong! Islam will not be satisfied with a part of the holy city. It will only be satisfied when all the Jews are driven into the sea and Israel is a side note in history. (Look up the words of every radical, Islamic leader and see if it isn't so.)

If Livni is able to form a government, watch closely the direction she takes in regards to a permanent Palestinian state and a divided Jerusalem. If she chooses Ohmert's route of appeasement, look out! Joel 2 and Ezekiel 38-39 will be just around the corner. If she chooses to defend Israel's territorial integrity and its national capital, Joel 2 and Ezekiel 38-39 may be just around the corner, but God will honor her.

That's not all....which direction will France and Sarkozy take? Will he really defend Israel, or will he push Livni towards a "peace-at-all-costs" position, with a promise to help defend her? Hmmmm The days, they are exciting!!!
Pastor Jim

Autumn Rush

Yeah, for those of you who've seen the recent movie, August Rush, this is kind of a corny play on titles. However, there is a point. At 10:44 pm (central time) last night, the season changed. (Amazing how it can happen in a moment!) Yup, Summer gave way to Fall and I paused before bedtime to look to the night sky for my old friend Orion. No, he hasn't shown up yet, and won't for a few weeks, but old patterns seem to follow the seasons.
For instance, with the arrival of Autumn comes several changes. A big one for me has always been a trek into the woods to get the ole deer stands in order. Hunting season is here. (Haven't done that one yet, Lita!) The other is the semi-annual cleaning of the garage in preparation for winter. (Haven't done that yet either..hmm) Then, a guy needs to start thinking about the great fall fishing at Smithville lake, Thanksgiving Turkey, Christmas, and eventually the bowl season of college football. Man, there is so much to do and so little time.
But Autumn speaks to me of spiritual things as well. It speaks of steeling the mind and spirit for a long winter....and I hate winter! Those terrible, snowy, cold, days of shortness drive me crazy. I'm a spring-guy, summer-thriving, lover of life, not a sit-around-and-shiver-dude. Yet the changes of the calender reflect seasonal changes in our walk with Christ. Thankfully, there seem to be more periods of fresh life and newness in our spiritual journey than times of cold, dark loneliness. But the dark times seems to stand out as being bigger. Why? Because we remember pain more than we remember health.
Just as seasons change in nature, so they change in life. Therefore, it is wise to use the time we have and prepare for those long, dark winter moments. A little spiritual house-cleaning goes a long way in removing the clutter that builds up around our faith. A little hunting after God does much to build up our faith-supply. A little expectation for great things to come keeps us going.
James said it this way: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. An when endurance has had its full effect, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing!"
I guess that means I need to get with it.....how 'bout you?
Pastor Jim