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Dan's Thoughts on the war against IsraelJust some quick thoughts about the recent violence against Israel, from my point of view as a Christian and a military professional. (Note: I wrote this on July 25th, 2006, while the Hezbollah attacks and Israel's military response were still on-going. Obviously, this will become old news quickly...)
Dan on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, in June 2005.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
Please pray for and support Israel in this time of being under attack. Israel is under siege: militarily, politically, and spiritually. They need the wholehearted prayers and support of Christians all over the world.
God established Israel originally in the promised land, and has restored them to that land in modern times. God promises to defend the people of Israel and the land he gave them.
Sunset over the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv, June 2005.
I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from?
Violent Islamists started the hostilities this time, just as they have for many years. Here's just a little of the history:
(Please understand that I don't mean to over-generalize...There are Israeli government policies I disagree with, and I have many Arab Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world...but this situation between Israel and Hezbollah is very clear-cut.)
Hezbollah is at war with the United States, too. Hezbollah terrorists murdered 241 U.S. Marines, soldiers, and sailors on October 23, 1983 in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. And, earlier this year (2006), those arrested for planning to destroy New York's Holland Tunnel had connections to Hezbollah.
Beach in Tel Aviv, with Old City of Jaffa in background, June 2005.
There are fundamental differences between the two sides.
Israel is a sovereign state, with a democratically elected
government. The Israeli military is doing what it should -- defend the country -- under the direct civilian control
of its national command authorities. The Israeli military is protecting
Israeli citizens and property, and attacking targets of military
significance, intending to destroy the Hezbollah threat at minimum cost
in civilian casualties.
Hezbollah, on the other hand, is a violent Islamist terrorist organization, unresponsive
to the legitimate Lebanese government, bent on the destruction of a
neighboring sovereign state, uninterested in any sort of peace, and supported and armed by
outside powers (Syria and Iran). Hezbollah fighters are cowards, hiding
behind Lebanese women and children, unconcerned about casualties among
their own countrymen, and indiscriminately trying to kill and terrorize
Israeli civilians.
Some say Israel has responded "disproportionately."
That's a false interpretation. There's a difference between starting a war, and doing what it
takes to end a war. In WWII, the US was attacked on its soil by Japan at
Pearl Harbor. We didn't start that war, but we did what it took to end
it. President Truman had it right when said, on April 16, 1945:
That's how it should be in this war.
Dan at the Western Wall of the Temple Mount (a.k.a. Wailing Wall) in Jerusalem, June 2005.
War is not about proportion. War is about victory. Peace does not come through appeasement. Peace comes through victory. There's no moral ambiguity here. Israel is right. Hezbollah is wrong.
How should Israel respond? By winning the war. Decisively.
Should the U.S. and other nations of the world intervene? Yes...to help destroy the
threat of Hezbollah, and Hamas, wherever they are found. Let's support
Israel in their defense against the evil on their borders.
Most of all, though, pray! I pray especially that those on both sides of the conflict come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Those
who believe in other things, or say that their faiths are equally valid,
are deceived. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NIV). He alone is the path to real peace.
Sunset over the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv, June 2005.
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