“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122: 6
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Israel’s Worst Enemy—Self-Seeking Politicians from the United States
In an op-ed for the New York Times, Avi Shlaim wrote,
On Jan. 14, the Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, told the daily Yediot Aharonot, “Secretary of State John Kerry — who arrived here determined, who operates from an incomprehensible obsession and a sense of messianism — can’t teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians.” Even by Israeli standards, Mr. Yaalon’s comments were rather rude. Mr. Kerry’s crime was to try to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that began last July and to stipulate a nine-month deadline. This is the kind of talk that gives chutzpah a bad name.
The episode also reveals a great deal about the nature of the much-vaunted special relationship between the United States and Israel. It suggests that this relationship is a one-way street, with America doing all the diplomatic heavy lifting while Israel limits its role to obstruction and whining — repaying Uncle Sam’s generosity with ingratitude and scorn.
Shlaim goes on to accuse Israel of a client state’s dependence on American financial largesse, of relying “on America to shield it from the consequences of its habitual violations of international law,” of hewing to policies “diametrically opposed to America’s true national security interests,” and, not to put too fine a point on it, of not being “a normal country.”
Where to begin? There are so many holes in Mr. Shlaim’s argument that it would take a book to address all of them. I’ll address just one and suggest that while the United States is and has been a staunch supporter of Israel, it has also been the source of most of Israel’s problems — not the least of which are the repercussions stemming from a prolonged attempt to force Israel and the “Palestinians” into a “peace” agreement while the “Palestinians” call for Israel’s annihilation.
The Oslo Accords grew out of the Madrid Conference in October 1991. They were completed in August 1993 and signed on September 13, 1993. The two-state solution that we hear so much about today was mapped out in the Oslo Accords, and since the Oslo Accords were signed, movement toward the creation of a Palestinian state inside Israel has been the primary pursuit of the Quartet—the United States, Europe, Russia, and the UN.
The United States was the pivotal player in the formulation of the Oslo Accords. The elder George Bush was president of the United States when the Madrid Conference convened in 1991. President Clinton followed the Bush path, as did George W. Bush, and President Obama and Secretary Kerry continue to pressure Israel to move ahead with a “peace” deal that will divide the Promised Land, threaten the sanctity of Jerusalem, the holiest city in the world, and threaten Israel’s security. All the while, “Palestinians” are following Yasser Arafat’s playbook to the letter.
On September 13, 1993, the very day that he signed the Oslo Accords, Arafat said this on Jordanian television:
“Since we cannot defeat Israel in war we do this in stages. We take any and every territory that we can of Palestine, and establish sovereignty there, and we use it as a springboard to take more. When the time comes, we can get the Arab nations to join us for the final blow against Israel.”
In a 1980 article in El Mundo in Caracas, Venezuela, Arafat presented his objective so clearly that you need help to be confused. He said,
“Peace for us means the destruction of Israel. We are preparing for an all-out war, a war which will last for generations. Since January 1965, when Fatah was born, we have become the most dangerous enemy that Israel has….We shall not rest until the day when we return to our home, and until we destroy Israel.” (El Mundo, Caracas, Venezuela, February 11, 1980)
In a nutshell, the Oslo Accords — as high-minded and well-meaning as they were — played into Arafat’s hands, and the current Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, hasn’t deviated from Arafat’s plan one iota. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon knows this, and that’s why he said that Secretary Kerry “can’t teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians.”
The problem is that Obama and Kerry are too stubborn to learn the facts and adjust their thinking accordingly. I suspect that Kerry wants a Nobel Peace Prize and that he believes imposing “peace” on Israel will win him one. I think that Obama is still trying to show the world that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize that he won already. But whatever the case may be, Israel is the loser because Palestinian leaders have demonstrated again and again and again that they have no intention of living peacefully with Israel.
Mr. Shlaim isn’t just wrong: he is dangerously off base. Israel has shown more restraint in her dealings with self-seeking politicians from the United States than we have any right to expect. Shlaim needs to get off of his high horse and get familiar with the facts.
This SnyderTalk editorial first appeared in American Thinker.
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This is a march in Paris. They are chanting, “Jews out of France.” If you are Jewish and you live in France, you had better take this seriously.
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Tom Wilson: How Much Will Kerry’s Peace Cost?—It doesn’t take a great deal of investigation to discover that neither Palestinians nor Israelis are particularly enthusiastic about the latest U.S.-backed peace initiative. Neither side has been subtle about making known precisely what they think of Secretary of State John Kerry’s suggestions for a final-status framework. Perhaps Israelis and Palestinians can be forgiven for being inclined toward cynicism on this matter. Yet, Kerry seems not to detect the mood and plows on regardless.
Glenn Fairman: The Nazarene and the Prophet— It should not seem surprising that as the curtain begins to close on the History of Men, that two great universal systems of apprehending the Divine have commanded center stage: Christianity and Islam. Although both posit their ends in the worship of the One God, when one scratches beneath the surface, the stark differences become manifest.
Raymond Ibrahim: Top Islamic Leader Calls on U.S. to Wage ‘Jihad for Allah’— A video of Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi calling on the U.S. government to wage jihad for Allah in Syria, is currently making the rounds on Arabic media and Facebook, to mockery and dismay.
Elliott Abrams: What to do in Egypt— U.S. policy in Egypt has managed to offend every political actor there. It has been unprincipled and has apparently aimed at currying favor with whoever is in power.
Katie McHugh: Iranian commander: We have targets within America—A top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards boasted Saturday that his forces have plans in place to attack the United States from within, should the U.S. attack the Islamic Republic. “America, with its strategic ignorance, does not have a full understanding of the power of the Islamic Republic,” Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said in a televised interview. “We have recognized America’s military strategy, and have arranged our abilities, and have identified centers in America [for attack] that will create a shock.”
Dr. Haim Shine: Kerry’s own undoing— Following the destruction of the Kovno Ghetto, my father, may he rest in peace, was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp, where he was ultimately liberated from the horrors of the Holocaust. Dachau is very close to the city of Munich, where an international security conference is currently being held. My father and his friends, bereaved, battered in spirit and body, vowed “never again.”
Soeren Kern: Spain Rethinks Universal Jurisdiction— Worried that Spain’s judicial system was being hijacked by activist judges pursuing a political agenda, Spanish lawmakers voted…to restrict the scope of universal jurisdiction. “Universal jurisdiction risks creating universal tyranny — that of judges.” — Henry Kissinger
Ephraim Kam: Egypt: Elections Amidst Violence— The starting point for the current deterioration in Egypt is the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood government by the military, which occurred in cooperation with the liberals and the support of the masses seven months ago. The Muslim Brotherhood’s refusal to join the new government has led to a direct confrontation between the movement and the army and security forces, and since the summer of 2013, the situation has escalated. For Israel, the significance is twofold. The violence and terrorist attacks harm the stability of a government that is important to Israel, not to mention that these attacks could spill over into Israeli territory through Sinai. At the same time, there is no doubt that the military-led government is much better for Israel than the Muslim Brotherhood government, and Israel has common interests with the current regime in Egypt. In practice, security cooperation with this government has increased, especially in regard to the situation in Sinai. Furthermore, the military government sees Hamas as a threat and has intensified its efforts to block the Sinai-Gaza Strip border.
Dan Margalit: Curing our conflict won’t fix Middle East— Is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict really more consequential for regional stability than the threats in Egypt, Syria and Iran?
Fay Voshell: Evangelicals: Alone and Exiled in Hollywood— Her story is the stuff Hollywood films are made of. She is a severely disabled woman with an inspiring story and the singer of a sweet song entitled “Alone and Yet Not Alone,” a piece about the person who stood by her side and helped with her struggles. The song was recently nominated for an Academy Award.
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Muslim’s Reacting to the Presence of a Jew on the Temple Mount
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Abbas suggests NATO troops be stationed in future Palestinian state
Fatah wants Kerry prosecuted before ICC for ‘threatening’ Abbas
NGO begins vigil against possible withdrawal from Judea and Samaria
Deputy Foreign Minister: Jordan Valley must be under Israeli sovereignty
US responds to Israel uproar, says Kerry never called for boycott
Report: Israel-Turkey compensation deal almost finalized
Rouhani orders executions of Iranian-Arab poet, rights activist
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters slams Scarlett Johansson, Neil Young for Israel ties
SodaStream accuses Oxfam of funding BDS
Car bomb in Petah Tikva kills 2
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Jerusalem Mayor Calls for New Chief Rabbis, Rejects Partition
Jordan’s FM Rejects Recognizing Israel
Minister Says Kerry is a ‘Biased Intermediary’
Canada: Telling Jews ‘Get Out Or You’re Dead’ Isn’t A Hate Crime
Israel Offers Turkey $20 Million Over Mavi Marmara Flotilla
Yaalon: Israel Will Manage if Deal Falls Through
Video Shows Arab Activists Taunting IDF
Parents: Close French Hill School Without Security
Former MK Eldad Criticizes ‘Spineless’ Right
French Minister: There Are ‘Opportunities’ in Iran
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Iran warns: ‘No boundary to response’ if US strikes
The day I let Iran’s nuclear secrets slip through my fingers. Possibly
After six-year hiatus, Israeli planes to fly to Turkey again
Turkey: Relations with Israel important, reparable
Israeli minister on rare official visit to Turkey
Abbas: IDF can remain in future Palestine for 5 years
World Food Program can’t meet demand in Syria
ScarJo SodaStream Super Bowl ad spices up blowout game
Mahmoud Abbas, little Dutch boy
Private Egypt TV airs video of journalists’ arrest
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Iran says nuclear talks failure would be ‘disaster’
Chief Palestinian negotiator: We were here before the Jews
French Jews prepare massive pro-Israel rally in Paris
Anti-Semitic Hungarian party to hold rally at former synagogue
Egypt’s ousted president Morsi defiant in court
Egyptian army aircraft pound Sinai terrorists, killing 13
Indonesia volcano erupts again; kills at least 11
‘The Big One’ Earthquake Will Hit L.A. Harder Than We Thought, Scientists Say
US-Russia tensions flare over Winter Olympics security
Kerry and Zarif meet in Munich conference ahead of talks
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Zechariah 1: 1-6
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, “Yahweh was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh Sabaoth, “Return to Me,” declares Yahweh Sabaoth, “that I may return to you,” says Yahweh Sabaoth. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh Sabaoth, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares Yahweh. “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As Yahweh Sabaoth purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’”’”
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His Name is Yahweh explains why the Name of God, Yahweh, is so important. It’s available in eBook format and in paperback. It’s also available for free in PDF format.
- God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This [Yahweh] is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.” (Exodus 3: 15)
- “Therefore behold, I am going to make them know—this time I will make them know My power and My might; and they shall know that My name is Yahweh.” (Jeremiah 16: 21)
- “Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘Yahweh our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23: 5-6)
- Yeshua said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8: 58)
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Making the Transition May be Difficult for Some Preachers
Click here to download the entire audio presentation for free and with no strings attached. Share it as often as you want.
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Blessings in the Book of Revelation is a book that you need to read, especially now. There are blessings throughout the Scriptures but Revelation is the only book in the Bible actually containing a specific blessing for reading it. It’s repeated twice, once at the beginning and again at the end. This is the reason that I believe Revelation should be the first step toward studying biblical prophecy. Though not easy to do, Revelation can be broken down and understood by anyone, not just the academic elite. So, Revelation’s blessings are for everyone. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
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Other Books by Neil Snyder
- Stand! is a suspense novel that exposes the lies, corruption, and greed underlying the theory that man-made CO2 emissions are responsible for global warming. Professor Wes Carlyle and Karen Sterling, his research collaborator, carefully scan the audience for their would-be attacker—a member of the enviro-gestapo who has been following them for days. Wes spots his man in the back of the room leaning against the wall. Suddenly, another man in the audience steps forward and moves toward Karen at a menacing pace. With a vicious stroke, he swings a billy club at her head. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- What Will You Do with the Rest of Your Life? deals with a question that every Christian has to consider: what should I do with my life? Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
- Falsely Accused is a true story about a young woman who was accused of committing a double homicide. It’s about a travesty of justice, and it reveals Yahweh intervening in the life of a believer to rescue her from danger in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Everyone will enjoy the book, but young people in particular need to read it because the mistakes made that led to the problem could have been avoided. They were the kinds of mistakes that young people are prone to make. As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Click here to order the eBook. Click here to order the paperback.
