ISRAEL UPDATE

 February 19, 2006 – One of the problems with Middle East events unfolding is people looking only at the present, not realizing the years, even decades of policy that led up to the event.

 During the Nixon administration, William Rogers, the Secretary of State, was the first to coin the phrase, “land for peace” and also called for a “shared Jerusalem.”

 Jimmy Carter sponsored the Camp David Accord, September 17, 1978, which brought the Palestinian issue to the negotiation table, and by March 26, 1979, the ball was rolling.

 President George Bush Senior stepped up the “land for peace” process by initiating the 1991 Madrid talks, repaying the Arab States that assisted the U.S. in the first Gulf War.

 Bill Clinton’s White House saw Yasser Arafat make more visits to the White House than any other foreign representative. His administration probably did more to bolster Israel’s enemies than any of his predecessors. 

 Current President Bush was the first U.S. president to declare forming a Palestinian State next to the Jewish State.

 Now, after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the Hamas control over the majority of the Palestinian Parliament and an Islamic controlled theocracy replacing the pseudo-democracy now in place has caused many people to ask the question how did this happen.

 As terror groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the P.F.L.P are now running wild, democracy does not exist and the region is poised for war.  This is because the world leaders either have been seduced or actually don’t care.  In either case, it is contrary to G-d’s plan and the stage for disaster is being set at a frightening pace. 

  

February 19, 2006 – The movie “Brokeback Mountain” has been in the theaters for several weeks now.  It walked away with the Lion’s share of Golden Globe awards and more than likely will do the same at the Academy Awards.

 Reviews from many movie critics on secular television programs have said, in so many words, that this movie would have been rejected a generation ago but we are ready for it now.

 This trend started more than three decades ago when television programs like “Maude” depicted the strong, aggressive wife while the husband was a wimpy insecure person.  This show was countered by “All in the Family” with a domineering, bigoted individual verbally domineering the wife.

 As the 80’s and 90’s came and went, we saw more movies and prime time programs where an alternative sexual lifestyle is depicted in one or two episodes.

 Then “Ellen” and “Will and Grace,” where the lesbian, homosexual, lifestyle depicted as in complete control and success, while many of the heterosexuals are depicted as dysfunctional and low functioning.

 Obviously, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 18, Paul’s teaching in Romans 1, and others found in the scriptures, show that a large percentage of the world is out of touch with how G-d feels regarding this issue.  The media has done a masterful job at making this issue more palatable and acceptable, but we must never forget G-d’s word is the final authority - in the end, people’s opinion won’t matter.

 

 To be continued…