The Doctor is…Out

A story this week from Israel illustrates just how difficult the nation’s fight against terrorism really is.

Therityre are several cockroach terror groups in the area, chief among them Hamas and the Palestinian Authority/PLO. Under them though are a variety of splinter groups such as Islamic Jihad and the especially stupidly named Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade (because there are so many infidels storming the mosque to destroy it).

A few days ago, a Palestinian doctor was killed in a firefight with IDF troops in the terror snake bed of Jenin. For years, the Palestinian city has been a refuge for the worst killers in Israel.

Dr. Abdallah Abu al Teen, employed by the Palestinian Health Ministry, was shot from long range by…anyone’s guess. Whether it was the IDF or friendly fire, no one knows at this time. It is being investigated.

According to the Jerusalem Post:

“Shortly after his death, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terror group claimed Abu Teen as a commander in the group and the Secretary of the Fatah Movement of Jenin Province, Atta Abu Armila, told the Palestinian Quds news agency that al Teen was killed while ‘fighting side by side with the resistance.’

“The IDF said that during the operation, explosives were thrown and Palestinian gunmen opened heavy fire toward the forces who returned “accurate shots toward armed men identified in the area.”

Ah, so. Notice that this claim doesn’t come from Israeli sources, but the Palestinians themselves. A murky report so far, but it is instructive that the “good” doctor was fighting alongside the “resistance.” This is a strong indication that every strata of Arab society has been indoctrinated and subjected to the worst propaganda, in order to incite hate against Jews. Abu Teen would have been a young teenager when the Oslo Accords were signed decades ago and no doubt he was fed a steady diet of hate by Arafat’s PA/PLO.

A Hamas operative was also arrested during the exchange in Jenin, showing the coordination between Palestinian terror groups. They were armed with M-16 rifles.

Hamas issued an insane statement:

“We affirm that the policy of criminality and trespassing on the blood of our people, pursued by the occupation, will not bring its alleged security to its entity, nor will it achieve stability or survival for its settlers on our land.”

This is the same lunatic rhetoric that has been coming from Palestinian leadership for many decades. This kind of talk was going on in Egypt under Nasser, in Syria under the Assads, and even (especially?) Jordan. In my view, King Abdullah of Jordan is no friend of peace, and the rhetoric aimed at Israel has been allowed to fester for a long time. Think of the string of useless secretaries of state trotted out by the Americans, that tolerated the hate.

“The clashes come amid rising tensions in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in recent weeks, including a series of shooting attacks carried out against Israelis in the West Bank.

“Hundreds of reserve Border Police officers were deployed to Jerusalem and its perimeter on Friday after they were called up to help with the tensions.

“’The reserve companies that were deployed this morning and other companies that are on standby reinforce the increased activity that the Border Police units carry out in the centers of disturbances and riots,’ said Border Police chief Deputy Commissioner Amir Cohen. ‘The soldiers of the Border Police will continue to act with a heavy hand and use all advanced means against those who violate public order.’”

So very tragic that Israel is burdened with this violence. I’m afraid it will remain so until the Great Physician returns. Let us look forward to that day, when we pray that redemption will take place. Let us pray that no more Palestinian doctors participate in terror.

Pray especially for the Palestinian youth, that they will no longer be swayed by the propaganda, but they will respond to the calls to repentance from Gospel-proclaiming groups in the region.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com

Yair, Yair, Yair

I guess I just wanted Yair Lapid to play against type.

Shouldn’t have let my heart rule my head.

Nearly 10 years ago, a gargantuan natural gas field was discovered in the eastern Mediterranean. Disputed ownership of course emerged, but among non-crazy governments: Israel, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus. These fields and others had the potential to make Israel energy independent for the foreseeable future.

It also sparked among Bible prophecy students visions of the fulfillment of the Gog-Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39. As usual, I urge caution when fitting current events onto the grid of prophecy in Scripture, but still, many of these occurrences are plausible when considering the timing of Gog and the hook in his jaw.

In a piece titled “Israel’s Devastating Capitulation to Hezbollah,” Caroline Glick outlines her expert analysis of Lapid’s bizarre decision to aid terrorists.

Here’s how her piece begins:

“It is almost impossible to grasp the danger of Israel’s present moment. A month before the Knesset elections, the caretaker government led by Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz is moving full speed ahead with a maritime agreement with an enemy state that it insists will obligate Israel in perpetuity. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) agreement Israel is concluding with Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon will fundamentally alter Israel’s maritime borders, deny the Jewish state tens of billions of dollars, which will go instead to a government controlled by Iran’s Lebanese foreign legion, Hezbollah, and transform Hezbollah and Iran into actors in the eastern Mediterranean.”

The problem is that initially, Israel did not negotiate a deal with Lebanon because the latter is a terrorist state. However…Cyprus did negotiate with Lebanon (controlled of course by Hezbollah). In the end, Lebanon demanded part of Israel’s territorial waters, including much of the Qana natural gas field. It was never resolved and so it stood until recently.

In the meantime, as Israel developed the Karish gas field, Hezbollah threatened to attack it unless the previous issue was resolved. In fact, Hezbollah’s Sheik Nasrallah, one of the most evil men in the world, did attack Karish with drones (Israel intercepted them). This was really an act of war, but Bibi Netanyahu is no longer in charge. Lapid is.

Sadly, the Lapid government has been fearful of further terrorist activity and so has done nothing to protect its interests. Here’s where things get really weird.

The Biden Regime, following the lead of (who I think is really in charge, Obama) others, is bent on giving money and support to Lebanon, thus strengthening Hezbollah, thus strengthening…Iran! This was Obama’s grand scheme.

(If you want to run a really wild conspiracy theory, notice that Obama’s moves in the Middle East the last 13 years have been to bolster Iran. This would provide evidence—to people that believe Obama is a closet Muslim—that he is Shi’ite. US foreign policy in those years was always to deconstruct Sunni Muslim states.)

Biden—I do not believe he is impaired, as most think—on his Middle East visit weeks ago pushed deals with Lebanon. His “dementia” allows him to continue carrying water for Obama. This menacing individual is doing great harm to our traditional ally, Israel. Obama loathes Jews and especially the Jewish state.

Sadly, the Lapid government has bent to US pressure. Glick understands:

“Lapid, Gantz and their allies portray the deal as a diplomatic and strategic masterstroke. By surrendering to all of Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon’s 12-year-old demands, they brag that Israel has secured its ability to develop Karish. In other words, they’re bragging that they’re signing a protection deal with Hezbollah. In exchange for 854 square kilometers of sovereign Israeli waters, they believe that Hezbollah will permit us to exploit our natural resources—at least until Nasrallah decides to renew his threats and demands.”

This is a situation to continue to monitor. We are living in desperately evil times, and this situation involving Israel’s sea sovereignty is critically important going forward. Remember—Russia has its long-wanted warm weather port in Syria, and is watching closely…

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com