Your thoughts on this plea from the Temple Mount Faithful Movement?

"8 Israelis Murdered on Bus by Suicide Bomber, 19 Wounded

8 Israelis were murdered yesterday (10th April 2002) and 19 wounded when a suicide bomber detonated a charge in a bus on the outskirts of Haifa. The suicide bomber was a terrorist from the Hamas group which is controlled by the arch-terrorist, Yasser Arafat. The terrorist came from Tulkarem, the city from where the Israeli Army left under intense pressure of President Bush and the European Union. Since the Israel army started the military offensive against the terrorist in Judea and Samaria, no terrorist attacks have taken place in the cities of Israel. The Israeli army has succeeded in destroying many terrorist bases and to capture many hundreds of terrorists. Even those terrorists who still remain in the areas have not been able to come to kill Israelis. The moment that the Israeli army was pressured into leaving Tulkarem before their goal of completely destroying the terrorist bases had been reached, one of the terrorists who still remained was able to perform this inhuman murder on a civilian bus which was completely destroyed.

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement sends this message to George Bush and his Secretary of State who is coming to Israel tonight - Stop your pressure on Israel immediately. Because of your pressure, Israel has again paid another terrible price of blood; another 8 Israelis have been murdered and 19 wounded. By your pressure you have become responsible for the spilling of this innocent blood and for that of those who will be murdered later. Israel is no longer ready to sacrifice her children on the altar of your materialistic interests of oil and popularity among the Arab enemies of Israel who thirst for Jewish blood and want to destroy Israel completely and create another holocaust; this time in the holy land of Israel.

Israel has decided to no longer give in to the pressure. She is no longer ready to shed her blood for the hypocritic and egoistic interests of nations and powers al over the world, especially the European Union who “love” Israel and the Jews only when they are poor victims but when they are defending themselves against their enemies and have victories in their battles against the evildoers and those who murder Jews. Israel has decided that never will there be another holocaust.

As in the holocaust in Europe when 6 million Jews were murdered by the Germans and all the other nations of the world were passive and did nothing to prevent it, during the last 18 months and even all the times before, when hundreds and even thousands of Israelis were murdered in inhuman ways by the terrorists of Arafat, none of these hypocritical nations tried to prevent it or even to make declarations against it. Now they have all “woken up” when the Israeli army is making a godly successful offensive against these terrorists and murderers and is destroying the bases of these evildoers. With unlimited determination, they are today standing with the devil, Arafat, and his terrorists to save these murderers who after they have been saved will continue to murdering innocent Israelis. Where is the President Bush who, after the 11th September 2001, stated that he was starting an unlimited war against the terrorists of Bin Laden and terrorists all over the world? He even made a war in Afghanistan, thousands of miles from the United States in order to kill the terrorists and destroy their bases. The terrorists of Yasser Arafat, are not thousands of miles from Israel but 1 mile from Jerusalem and a few miles from Tel Aviv, Haifa and other places in Israel. Where are the European nations who joined in the war against the terrorists in Afghanistan? Now they are doing everything to stop Israel from destroying evil and defending the life and freedom of the Israeli nation?

The Israeli nation has learned in a hard and difficult way that we should never trust the hypocritical nations of the world and to only trust the Almighty One of Israel, our only Saviour and Defender Who saves us from our enemies in every generation.

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement states and swears today in the name of all Israel complete faithfulness to our beloved G–d, the G–d of Israel. We shall forever be His soldiers and servants to serve Him and His end-time causes with Israel and all the world. He is our only Father and Creator and the Israeli nations is His eternal creation. We dedicate our lives completely to place Him, His Word, Principles and morals, in the midst of the life of Israel in His rebuilt house on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In front of all the nations we sware - Hear O Israel, the Lord our G–d , the Lord is One"

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2002

Answers

My thoughts..........

6000 years of history & the Jewish nation STILL hasn't learned a thing!

Any blessing or help from God that they desire (outside of faith in Christ)went away 2000 years ago.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2002

I fully support the Israeli offensives, and believe that they should NOT be called on by ANYone, President Bush included, to pull back or lighten up. They have been shamelessly attacked for years by the Palestinian terrorism organizations. When Israeli forces attack, Palestinian and terrorist bases and strongholds are hit, and, unfortunately, some civilian casualties ensue. When Palestinian forces attack, they do not attack military posts. They attack shopping centers, grocery stores, restaurants, schoolbusses, and the like. Civilian casualties are the goal.

I believe that it is long past time for Israel to vigorously work to put a stop to this. The Palestinians do not want peace -- they do not want to live side-by-side -- they want the destruction of Israel. Israel should be encouraged and even aided in their effort to destroy the Palestinian terrorism.

And isn't that just what we are trying to do in Afghanistan and other places? Where does the United States get off saying, "We have to press this war, but Israel just has to sit there and be slaughtered"?

Now, please note this -- my support of Israel's right and duty to defend herself has nothing whatsoever to do with their position as "God's chosen people". I agree with Mark that they gave that up long ago, and that "God's chosen people" and "the Israel of God", as Paul says, are those who give their will and faith and trust to God for salvation thru the blood of Jesus.

But that doesn't mean that Israel should be abandoned, any more than we should abandon any other free nation seeking our aid.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

I believe even though Israel rejected His son, God still has a soft spot in his heart for them and protects them. It would be difficult to explain some of the things that have happened to that nation otherwise.

-- Anonymous, April 12, 2002

I don't know, John.

The Israelite Nation basically has ignored everything God said & did for them over thousands of years, evidenced by their refusal to do what He asked of them. And then they willfully & joyfully murdered His Son (literally a "piece" of Himself as God in the flesh). How could God still be a just & righteous God, and still harbor a "soft" spot for such as that??

If someone did all those things to you (including killing your only son) how "soft" of a spot would you have for them??

True.....God's ways are not our ways (and praise God for that), but yet we are made in His image too. And I have to believe that part of that "likeness" we share with Him is an innate desire for truth & justice. God's love provided a way to provide both justice and salvation through the death of Christ, but those outside of Christ are outside of that salvation and MUST (for righteousness sake) face the justice due them..................doesn't seem to leave much room for a soft spot. I'm sure their "loss" must hurt God, but I don't see Him superceeding His own nature just to give them another chance that no one else gets.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2002

Mark,

You wrote: "The Israelite Nation basically has ignored everything God said & did for them over thousands of years, evidenced by their refusal to do what He asked of them. And then they willfully & joyfully murdered His Son (literally a "piece" of Himself as God in the flesh). How could God still be a just & righteous God, and still harbor a "soft" spot for such as that??

If someone did all those things to you (including killing your only son) how "soft" of a spot would you have for them??"

Seems to me that although the Israelites were the ones who physically had the Romans kill Jesus, He allowed it to happen so that OUR sins might be forgiven as well. Yet, we still screw up. Nonetheless, God still has a "soft" spot for us, otherwise it wouldn't have been written that God desires for all men to be saved.

As a nation, Israel blew it, we all know that. But how many times did they blow it through the recording of the Old Testament and how many times do we see God deciding not to destroy the nation but to draw them back under His wing?

I have no doubt in my mind that the Israel of today is not the chosen Israel of the OT, but who are we to say who God can or cannot have a "soft" spot for? I sure pray that He continues to have a "soft" spot for me cause I know I mess up.

God bless, Scott

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2002

Scott,

I agree (& am thankful) in that God stills has a soft spot for sinful mankind - but that's the point................that spot is for all mankind not specifically or specially for the Israelite race.

And there is a very good reason why God continued to deal kindly with the Israel of the Old Testament..............there was still a promised Messiah that had to come through their race! He HAD to preserve a remnant in order to fulfill the prophecies of the coming Christ. But that is not the case anymore. Messiah has come and they killed Him. Very true, Jesus willfully GAVE His life......but Israel was just as willing to TAKE it, if such had been possible.

Bottom line, God chose to USE the Israelite nation as a vessel for bringing His word & His salvation into this world.......not because they deserved it or were worthy of this honor, but rather because they WERE NOT worthy of it - showing the power of God to overcome all situations and circumstances to those who remain faithful unto death. If you doubt this, read Romans chapter 9 again.

Yes, God's heart lies with Israel.................but it is with the TRUE Israel (those of faith in God through Christ). God pronounced His judgement on the race of Israel in 70A.D. Their only hope of blessing now is the same as ours, through Jesus Christ.

As far as the Middle East goes..............."let the dead bury their dead". We have much more important concerns in dealing with the living.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2002

Mega-dittos to Sam & Mark!!

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2002

HERE IS AN UPDATE

Sources: White House to cancel $200 million extra aid for Israel By Nathan Guttman, Ha'aretz Correspondent Israel's chance of receiving an additional $200 million American aid package in the coming financial year has diminished because of fears that additional aid to Israel at this time would be seen as a further pro-Israel bias, sources in Washington say.

The State Department had originally asked Congress for additional aid - on top of the $2.8 billion in military and economic aid that Israel gets every year - but this was axed because the White House asked all government offices to cut additional aid requests because for fear of a budget deficit.

Pro-Israel members of Congress then decided to try to get the aid pushed through and had achieved a majority in favor.

But in the last week the administration pressured Republican leaders in Congress, especially Tom DeLay, a leading supporter of additional aid for Israel. The Washington sources said the White House had convinced the Republicans and they would withdraw the request. This means any additional aid for Israel will have to wait till next year. Apr. 29, 2002 Palestinian sources: US offering to rebuild PA police By LAMIA LAHOUD

The United States has expressed interest in aiding the Palestinian Authority rebuild its numerous police and security services, PA sources said yesterday.

A PA source added that US Secretary of State Colin Powell, during his visit to the region two weeks ago, offered PA Chairman Yasser Arafat a US aid package to that would include funds to help rebuild the security forces, but it would be linked to a cease-fire agreement with Israel.

The PA economy and its infrastructure, and especially its security forces, have been decimated by the ongoing violence and Operation Defensive Shield.

An ad-hoc committee of donors has pledged some $440 million in aid to the PA, in addition to about $1.2 billion promised earlier, mostly for emergency aid and infrastructure.

PA Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Sha'ath told The Jerusalem Post yesterday the PA needs about $600 million more than that.

"The conference went very well... in fact they pledged a lot of money, all-in-all they pledged some $2 billion," but it still does not cover all the needs, Sha'ath said.

The Palestinians need to rebuild from scratch their electricity supplies, water supplies, some hospitals and schools, roads, and homes that have been destroyed. They also need to create employment and rebuild their institutions, and pay the salaries of PA employees.

Most donors were eager to donate to emergency projects, such as the rebuilding of Jenin refugee camp and Nablus, but were reluctant to pledge money for the Palestinian police and security forces, Sha'ath said.

A senior PA official added that Western donors would only pledge money for the police and security services if they receive a "green light" from the US.

"Pledging money for the police is a political issue," said a senior PA official, adding that no Western country wants to be seen arming the PA in the absence of a cease-fire.

But Norway and Britain have recently proposed to help rebuild the PA Police, and have suggested that the PA create only one police force and possibly one security service, a PA source said - an idea unlikely to be accepted given the rivalries between the heads of the different security branches, the PA source added.

The PA will not let anyone dictate how to run its security and police force, a security official added.

PA officials could not give figures of how much money is needed to rebuild the police and security services in the West Bank. But West Bank Preventive Security Service chief Jibril Rajoub recently told reporters that he needs some $10 million just to rebuild his security facility in Ramallah, which was destroyed by the IDF.

A senior PA security official said he is not worried about raising money for the police force, since the US and the EU want to extend their influence in the Palestinian area in order to have greater control over the security situation.

The US, one PA source argued, would not let any other country get involved in the process, since they want to extend their influence among the security forces. It is an opportunity for the CIA to deepen its foothold in the Palestinian areas, the source reasoned.

Members of the Preventive Security Service of Rajoub (in the West Bank) and Muhammad Dahlan (in the Gaza Strip) have received training in the US in the past. The CIA and FBI have conducted training courses in PA areas, and in the US for security officers as part of the Oslo agreement.

Britain, Norway, and Germany have also contributed equipment and training to the police forces.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2002