ISRAEL UPDATEAugust 22, 2004 – The wall being built in Israel is a continual source of controversy to many – they see it as interfering with the peace process.
The fact is - this security wall has reduced the death toll of innocent Israeli citizens. Does this justify the expense of construction and world opinion? The answer is a resounding YES!
It is true that it hinders Palestinian children from receiving medical care from the Israeli side, which is unfortunate. Yet just a matter of weeks ago, news reports coming from the Palestinian autonomous areas documented the fact that many Palestinians - including those without jobs – stood in line to give donations to the terror group Hamas. This group’s sole purpose of existence is to eliminate Israel and all Jews.
Where does the obligation of Israel stop and the accountability of the Palestinian leadership begin in regards to the peace process?
The billions of dollars received from oil-rich Arab nations, the European Union, and others could have been used to build many hospitals and medical facilities, plus provided many other necessities. However, some of this money was paid to families of suicide bombers, while the great majority of it has “lined the pockets” of corrupt leaders.
Why a concrete wall? Because the Oslo Accord and subsequent agreements are not worth the paper they were written on… All the speeches and rhetoric made by Palestinian leadership since September 13, 1993, focuses on one thing – they call for the systematic destruction of Israel.
This is not like the Berlin Wall that was built by oppressive leaders, but a wall simply designed to protect a nation’s people who are weary of death – seeking to live in peace with their neighbors…
August 22, 2004 – Over the next several weeks, the Book of Lamentations will be the focus of these articles for two reasons.
First, The G-d of Israel has always used the voice of the prophets to warn of impending wrath and judgment if people and nations do not repent of sin and mend their ways.
Second, the pattern is the same in history… we are doomed to repeat the same scenario if we do not take heed to generations past. (“Those that do not study history are doomed to repeat it.")
Lamentations contains five poems written by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, as he literally laments the tragic situations occurring in Judah and to G-d’s elect.
Perhaps an appropriate subtitle for the Book of Lamentations could be, “It did not have to be this way”, as it was not G-d’s plan for events to transpire as such.
As this is written, we are just a few weeks past Independence Day. Our country is not just four years into this young century and millennium, but in essence starting the second American generation. This generation as a whole has not only forgotten G-d, but diligently working to remove Him from every facet of life, both public and private.
Unfortunately, our review of Lamentations will show that America now very closely mirrors the condition of the nation of Judah prior to the outpouring of G-d’s wrath.
Jeremiah wept not because he failed and suffered G-d’s judgment, but rather he wept prior to and during the horrific events. This is a pattern that America will not escape if changes are not forthcoming… many will weep tears of regret and repentance.
To be continued…