Benjamin Netanyahu and the Middle East
Because the relationship between Israel and the United States has become so secure during the first two years of President Donald Trump’s administration, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the fact that much of the world still opposes the tiny Middle Eastern democracy. Because of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s steady, strong, and conservative leadership of Israel, we take for granted that everything is stable within our closest ally’s borders.
Not so.
For the first time in years, rockets were fired last week from inside Gaza toward Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv. Sirens sounded throughout the area and the entire country went on alert.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad denied responsibility, but since Hamas rules Gaza, Israel holds that terrorist organization responsible for all attacks originating there. Egypt does, too.
Israel struck back at several Hamas terror centers. So far, the incident has failed to escalate appreciably, but it just reminds us that Israelis live under the constant, day-to-day threat of violent attack.
As another reminder of the hostile intentions of Hamas, a Palestinian “court” in Gaza “found Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas guilty of high treason and sentenced him to life in prison.” (The Jerusalem Post).
Of course, Abbas was not present at the mock trial, but it was “aimed at showing what awaits any Palestinian who dares to work with Israel…. Verdict: Any Palestinian who accepts a peace plan with Israel will also be found guilty — and signing his own death warrant.” (Khaled Abu Toameh, The Gatestone Institute)
Hamas is slowly gaining control of all Palestinian politics. Mahmoud Abbas is being propped up from the outside. When there is an election, or when Abbas dies, Hamas will seize all power. And it won’t be pretty for any Palestinian who ever cooperated with Israel.
On April 9, 2019, Israel will hold a general election. The focus, especially of the Left (Israel has a “deep state,” too!) is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In modern Israel’s history, only David Ben-Gurion served longer as Prime Minister. Like Ben-Gurion, I believe Netanyahu was raised up by God at exactly the right moment in Israel’s history.
Before Netanyahu, Israel was in real trouble. For several years, its leaders had been trying to appease the unappeasable Palestinians. Mr. Netanyahu led the nation out of that dark time and brought it to an amazing level of prosperity, military strength, and stability.
But now, he’s in real trouble.
In late February, Israel’s Attorney General announced that he would indict the Prime Minister on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Many observers feel these charges are, at best, trivial and inconsequential, and, at worst, contrived and deceptively and maliciously disingenuous. (Once again, Israel has a “deep state,” too!)
The AG also announced that he would delay the legally required hearing until after the election. That means that Mr. Netanyahu must run for re-election with a fraud indictment hanging over his head. One which the Leftist media reminds Israelis about daily. (Remember, Israel has a “deep state,” too!)
Meanwhile, retired IDF general Benny Gantz is currently Netanyahu’s main rival. Gantz is the former Chief of General Staff of the IDF. He was promoted to that position by Mr. Netanyahu.
It always amazes me how so many of Israel’s military leaders veer left when they assume political office. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak is Israel’s most decorated military figure. When he was PM, he caved to almost every demand made by Yasser Arafat. He tried to give away Israel’s sovereignty and security at Camp David with Bill Clinton’s encouragement. Israel was saved because Arafat really didn’t want an agreement and turned Barak down.
PM Ariel Sharon was, perhaps, Israel’s most famous and admired military leader. He was fearless and unconventional. He was considered the hero of the Yam Kippur War.
Yet, as Prime Minister, Sharon made a bold, but dangerous decision. He forced all Jews to vacate the Gaza Strip and ceded its control to the Palestinians. No matter his strategic goals, Gaza has been a thorn in Israel’s side ever since. Hamas quickly seized control of the Strip from the Palestinian Authority and it has been a hotbed of terrorism and a threat to Israel’s national security since then.
The Israeli media calls Benny Gantz a “centrist.” His campaign strategy seems to be, “Say as little as possible.” He has yet to endorse either a two-state or one-state solution to the Palestinian conflict.
However, several years ago, Gantz helped write a plan to unilaterally give significant portions of the West Bank to the Palestinians. If Israel’s mainstream media succeeds in unseating Mr. Netanyahu, Israel may once again be fighting for its national sovereignty and security.
Bomb Cyclones
The Bible speaks of strange and extreme weather events in the times leading up to the end of this Age. The worst of it will come after the Church has been raptured. But we may be getting a foretaste of it now.
Experts tell us that the United States was recently struck by a “bomb cyclone.” It hit hardest in the Midwest and Plains states, but its effects were felt from Wyoming to the East Coast, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. It brought rain, ice, snow, tornadoes, thunderstorms, massive flooding, and hurricane-force winds.
A “bomb cyclone” occurs when the barometric pressure drops more than 24 millibars in a 24-hour period. A sudden drop in pressure can mean strong winds and intense storms.
Something like that is happening in our culture, too. We have seen a sudden and severe shift in our attitudes toward right and wrong.
A time traveler from only ten years ago would be stunned at how the world has changed. The overall moral climate has taken a staggering fall.
With a meteorological “bomb cyclone,” barometric pressure plummets, then comes the wind and hail, tornadoes and blizzards. But unless you are aware of the pressure change, the storms seem to be coming out of nowhere.
Storms of Immorality
The decline in basic decency and morality is like that. Morals have fallen dramatically and dangerously. Now a massive storm is brewing. We must realize that our society’s blatant turn toward unrighteousness will not be without consequences.
The “sudden” lurch by several states toward extremely late-term abortions — actually infanticide — is just one example. The Bible says that in the last days, “…men will be… brutal.” (2 Timothy 3:1-3 NASB)
Killing babies is brutal!
It’s as if western civilization has lost its collective mind!
Last week’s brutal and brazen murdering of 50 people in two mosques in New Zealand forces us to ask some hard questions. If society treats SOME human beings like garbage, will that change how it treats ALL human beings? I think the answer is increasingly clear. Yes!
It is having a devastating effect. In America, suicide is now the tenth leading cause of death. Among people between the ages of 10 and 34, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
We are learning the hard lesson that there are consequences when we turn our backs to God’s principles.
transmitted by Hal Lindsey – 3/22/2019
