Dire expectations grow in Israel
Posted: Thursday, June 17, 2010
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Although news stories tell lightly of differences of views between the Obama administration and the nation of Israel, behind the scenes distrust and anger continues to grow unabated.
Needless to say, good relations with Israel are imperative. They are (were) our only loyal friends in the region. When they become de-stabilized, the entire region will become so.
This included all the land west of the Dead Sea, the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee from the Egyptian border northward past the Sea of Galilee near the city of Dan, plus a broad area east of the Jordan River where the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh chose to dwell. God promised them good harvests and protection from their enemies so long as they were obedient to His commands. They did stray from Him time and again until he finally allowed their enemies to take their land and made them subjects eventually of the Roman empire.
They lived intermingled with the citizens of the other nations and with Arabs who had settled in their lands once they lost control of it. Even though they had lost their rights to the land in God's sight, they continued to feel it was theirs because of His promise to Abraham. There were many wars and crusades through the ages and eventually the area came under British control. Then after World War 2, and the creation of the United Nations, the area now known as Israel was given back to the Jewish people in 1948. Not nearly all the land they once possessed.
A strip of coast line named Gaza, a huge area east of the Dead Sea and Jordan River from below Hebron almost to Beth Shean called the West Bank and a plot east of the Sea of Galilee north to the city of Dan, called the Golan Heights were not included in the land granted to them by Britain and the U.N.
This action of granting the land to the Israelis did not sit well with the many Muslim residents throughout the area. Also, the fact that Jerusalem was given as a divided city to both groups, did not sit well with either. So, it was a recipe for disaster. The Palestinians complained of it to all the surrounding Arab nations which resulted in border clashes and growing resentment towards Israel. The United Nations placed a peacekeeping force in the Sinai peninsula in 1957.
In May 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nassar, expelled the U.N. Troops and amassed 1,000 tanks and 100,000 troops on the Israeli border. He also closed the Straits of Tiran to any ships flying the Israeli flag or carrying strategic materials. Jordan an Syria also readied themselves for conflict. Jordan had signed a mutual defense treaty with Egypt on May 30.
Israel responded by calling up 70,000 reservists to reinforce their active duty military. On June 5, Israel launched a preemptive attack on Egypt's forces. In a retaliatory action, Jordan attacked the western portion (Israel's) of Jerusalem and Netanya. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco an Algeria also supplied troops and arms.
Little did those nations realize the determination and ferocity of the tiny nation of Israel. They drove the others out of Israeli proper and out of the Gaza strip, the Golan heights and the West bank areas and the war ended on June 10.
The Arab nations were embarrassed and angry, claiming they had no intention of invading Israel, even in the face of the massive military buildup and belligerence towards Israel. They demanded the U.N. to make Israel give back the territories they had taken. Israel refused, choosing rather to use the lands as a buffer zone for protection. This has resulted in almost constant animosity and clashes between the Palestinians and Israel, especially since Israel insists in establishing settlements in some areas.
This has created a situation. Israel claims ownership of the lands due to the promises of God to Abraham. The Palestinians claim them simply because they have been there many years.
In times past, people who could conquer lands became the owners of it. Fairness had nothing to do with it. Might was the determining factor. Israel, regardless of the circumstances, now hold title to their land as well as control of the lands they took in war. They do not bother the other peoples except for protective measures while the Palestinians constantly harass them.
The United States has sided with Israel and assisted them with funds and defensive arms since they were granted the lands in 1948. They, in turn, have been our loyal friends and have cooperated with us in sharing intelligence concerning those who would do us harm.
Two factors have been made clear by the Israelis. One is they will continue building settlements on the conquered lands and two, they will not surrender the city of Jerusalem, or even acknowledge that it partially belongs to others. These two factors are like sore toes on the Palestinians and the other Muslim nations.
Although some U.S. policy has been an effort to urge compromise on these issues by both sides, yet, when it comes down to the crisis, we have always sided with the Israelis.
Now, since this administration has taken over, our relationship with Israel has bottomed out. An article in the Israel Today News dated April 29, 2010 shows stark evidence of where we now stand in the eyes of our friends in Israel
The title of the article is: Obama, a 'Strategic Catastrophe' and the subtitle says:
Israeli officials say it's not Iran that is Israel's greatest threat by Aviel Schneider.
Rather than attempt to explain what the article discusses, let us note a few excerpts and then encourage readers to visit the link and read the entire article.
Although Israeli officials publicly play down the crisis in relations between Jerusalem and Washington, privately the language is much different. Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describe Obama as a "strategic catastrophe" for Israel.Perhaps I am prejudiced in favor of the Israelis. But I have been closely associated with numerous Jews throughout my life time and served in the U.S. military with several. Although I have strong differences in some areas, religion for one, I have found them overall to be highly trustworthy, honest and fair. I hope all readers will go to this article linked above and also to contact our legislators to take whatever action is necessary to protect this tiny nation rather than to squander its friendship.
"President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have drawn a clear line, supporting the Palestinian position at the expense of Israel," said one Netanyahu confidant. "It is insane, it is sick. Relations between Jerusalem and Washington are simply disastrous; the situation has never been so dangerous. This US President wants to establish a Palestinian state at any price and hand them Jerusalem on a silver platter."
The feeling among the Israeli public is that Obama is appeasing the Muslim world at the expense of Israel.
"The American President told me in confidence that he is a Muslim," said Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Nile TV. That could explain why Obama has instructed that the term "Islamic extremism" no longer be used in official government documents and statements.
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