Blaming Israel: Has the World Gone Mad?
Has the world gone mad, or is this what we should expect?
In a speech to a parliamentary session of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the capital of Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denounced Israel’s ground campaign in Rafah, while also attacking the United Nations.
“The world is watching the barbarism of a sick man, a maniac, a psychopath and a blood-feeding vampire called Netanyahu, and they are watching it on live broadcasts,” Erdoğan stated.
“Israel is not just a threat to Gaza, but to all of humanity,” Erdoğan insisted.
“O, leaders of the American state, this blood is on your hands also,” he added.
“You are responsible for this genocide at least as much as Israel.”
“O, the heads of state and governments of Europe, you are also a party to Israel’s genocide, this barbarism, this vampire-like act of Israel, because you remained silent.”
Ergodan is facing many challenges at home. He recently suffered a major setback in local elections, losing power even in his hometown of Istanbul. In addition, inflation is running at about 67% per annum.
When faced with credible opposition, a dictator like Ergodan takes the well-worn route of diverting attention from his shortcomings and redirecting everyone’s focus on an external enemy. Israel is his scapegoat.
The hypocrisy of this leader is palpable. Turkey, as the occupying force in Northern Syria, is responsible for ongoing human rights abuses.
“Ongoing abuses, including torture and enforced disappearances of those who live under Turkish authority in northern Syria, will continue unless Türkiye itself takes responsibility and acts to stop them,” said Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
“Turkish officials are not merely bystanders to abuses, but bear responsibility as the occupying power, and in some cases have been directly involved in apparent war crimes.”
Response at Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast
Reporting at the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, held from 29-30 May in Jerusalem, Ohal Tal, a member of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, urged evangelical leaders to stand faithfully with their Jewish brothers and sisters, particularly in the face of this insidious verbal attack from Turkey.
The Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast (JPB) is a prayer movement initiated and chaired by Knesset Member Robert Ilatov, and co-chaired by U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Each year, the JPB brings together government leaders and influential Christian leaders from all walks of society for a gathering in Israel’s capital city to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
This year, more than ever, evangelical Christians were urged to join together in prayer, and to visit Israel, as they face this existential threat.
Fulfilment of Prophecy
While the Arab nations, including Turkey, never accepted the establishment of Israel as a sovereign state in 1948, MK Tal suggested they are now afraid of Israel’s success.
The real reason is we are witnessing the fulfilment of prophecy, which in our time seems to be accelerating. As evils mounts across the globe, with incomprehensible violent demonstrations in support of the terrorist organisation Hamas, those supporting and those against Israel are becoming more clearly defined.
Australian Theologians Call for an Immediate Ceasefire
In a widely circulated open letter, 108 leading theologians in Australia called for a complete ceasefire in Gaza. They claim their demand “is informed by a number of realities”.
Their erroneous statements include quoting Hamas’ unsubstantiated casualty figures, which make no differentiation between military and civilian deaths.
The bias against Israel is evident as they downplay the Hamas attack and major on Israel’s response. I wonder if they would be equally strident if the terror attack happened on Australian shores, threatening our very existence.
They also claim not to be speaking for their institutions or positions, but rather in their private capacity as individuals. However their signatures all include their titles, positions and the organization to which they belong. A clear bet both ways!
In response, Rev Mark Leach (organiser of the Never Again Is Now rallies around Australia) called the letter “anti-Semitic”. He notes there is no such open letter for all the other atrocities happening around the world; only Israel is singled out.
I have just published an open response to an open letter a large group of Christian leaders in Australia wrote about the war in Gaza. Please read my response and share it to those who might find it helpful https://t.co/xaSf1MCdmr
— mark leach (@markleach) May 29, 2024
Sadly, this contentious letter, purporting to come from “Australian Christians”, raises the ugly spectre of replacement theology.
The majority of signatories identify as either Anglican, Baptist or Uniting, which means the erroneous teaching — that the church has replaced Israel — is rampant in these institutions.
“This letter makes no mention of the fact that Hamas started this war with an invasion, that Israel has a right to self-defence, and that the Hamas terrorists proudly live-streamed their horrific war crimes for all to see.”
He further states:
“Rendering Israel defenceless in the face of an unrepentant, merciless, jihadist, existential threat is an extraordinary position for Christian leaders to take.”
In conclusion, Mark Leach points out:
“The letter does nothing to advance the cause of peace in Israel. It is a one-sided piece of propaganda which contains factual errors.”
“The letter is deeply offensive to our Jewish community, who already are experiencing unprecedented antisemitic attacks in our country, compounding centuries of political, often bloody antisemitism vainly in the Name of Christ and His Holy Church, and doing great harm to the Gospel amongst the same people the Apostle Paul said he would gladly become accursed for that they might be saved.”
The Cup of Trembling
In a recent webinar, Dr David Parsons, international spokesperson for ICEJ, made a well-researched analysis of the spiritual implications of the rise worldwide of antisemitism. He referred to Psalm 2, Isaiah 2, Micah 4, Joel 3: 1-3, and particularly Zechariah 12 and 14.
He described the antisemitism around the world as “abnormal”. It is not support for Palestine as much as unbridled hatred for the Jews. Once you drink from this cup, you become intoxicated by it and cannot stop.
Demonstrators in our universities and on our streets, chanting “From the River to the Sea” or “Whatever it takes”, are demanding the complete destruction of the Jews. They are drunk with hatred. It will not end well for them.
Hitler drank from this same cup and became completely irrational, perpetrating the mass murder of six million Jews and many millions of others as well, causing untold misery to his country.
Yasser Arafat, founder of Hamas, and the recently deceased President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi and all who irrationally blame Jews for all the ills of society have drained the cup of hatred and it has blinded them to truth.
We Have a Choice
As Dr Parsons rightly points out, we each have a choice. Either we accept what God has plainly told us in His Word that He is coming to judge the nations, or we ignore it at our peril.
God alone knows why He chose the Jewish people and the land of Israel to be his ‘treasured possession’. But that He did, is beyond dispute.
If we don’t believe His Holy Word, and learn the lessons of history, we may find ourselves on the wrong side of God’s judgement.
Anyone who tries to veil their antisemitism with concern for civilians in a just war, begins to sip the cup of God’s wrath.
May God guide each of us to the right choice.
___
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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The International Council of Journalists has just reported that bank Standard Chartered in London has ignored sanctions against the terrorist State of Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, ie the West is aiding and abetting their aim of the destruction of the State of Israel. Am I surprised ? Of course not ! Because the UK bankers have never had any morals. Those big high-rises in London have been built with drug money, laundering by terrorists, prostitution money , etc.
There are NO proper statistics of civilian deaths in Gaza caused by the Israelis. In my opinion, inflated figures plucked out of the air (excuse my pun !)
In my opinion, those Christian leaders who signed this statement are dangerous fools. How would they like to be stabbed just as the Syrian bishop was in Sydney or the hundreds of attacks on churches in Europe? I remember the case a few years ago in which a Moslem beheaded an elderly French priest who was saying Mass . Here is their big chance — these Christian leaders should ” go the whole hog “—become imans ! I will not miss them !
Years ago I Iearnt my cousin Norma lived somewhere in Libya , friends of Gaddafi .Her Italian husband who was involved in the oil industry deserted her; one son died falling off a house he was working on; her daughter became a lesbian; another son became a Moslem inman. I have often wondered if my inman relative is still alive after the killing of Gaddafi and what he calls himself ? In despair, poor cousin Norma committed suicide .
I truly hope and pray there will be a positive and contrite response from those who, perhaps not fully understanding the ramifications, signed that offensive letter! Will we get to hear about the impact of this rebuttal by Rev Mark Leach – I sure hope so.
Thank you Teri for such a clear presentation of the facts.
Prayer for Israel and the Peace of Jerusalem is their only hope at this point in history.