USA and Israel

                    When I was a Seminary teacher, I often encouraged my teenage students to keep their eyes on Israel, meaning that they should stay aware of what was happening in Israel in order to understand how near we are to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  In following my own counsel, I am immediately interested in anything that mentions Israel.  I study the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets about the foretold gathering of the House of Israel and wrote about the gathering here.   I pay close attention to news items and current events about Israel and wrote about one such item of interest here.   

It was a natural thing for me to watch "Daylight:  The Story of Obama and Israel,"  a 30 minute-long video documenting how Obama has gone out of his way to impress Muslim nations while at the same time increasing the distance between the USA and Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East.  I encourage you to watch this video because it illustrates the whole story and shows our nation moving away from Israel.

The New York Times posted an excellent article, updated March 2, 2012, with an up-to-the-day summary of Israel's situation in the Middle East.  The article states that Israel has been "grappling with a radically transformed region" since the Arab Spring of early 2011.  It reminds us that Egypt ransacked Israel's embassy in Cairo, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador, and the Palestinians sought statehood recognition at the United Nations - all by the fall of 2011.  "Israel found itself increasingly isolated."  What will happen in the Middle East in 2012?

Anyone who studies the history of Israel knows that this is not the first time that Israel has stood alone against the nations surrounding it.  Fantastic Victory - Israel's Rendezvous with Destiny by W. Cleon Skousen recounts the history of Israel - particularly its Six Day War that took place from Monday, June 5, through Saturday, June 10, 1967.

In the foreword to the Second Edition [June 2011] Paul B. Skousen relates how Israel "clawed its way from near extinction to a position of strength and respect that today rivals the most established nations in the world….

"Beginning with independence on May 14, 1948, Israel has faced six wars [First Arab-Israeli War 1948; Suez War 1956; Six Day War 1967; War of Attrition 1967-1970; Yom Kippur War 1973; War with Lebanon 1982], two intifadas (Arabic for `uprising') [First Intifada, 1987-1993; Second or Al-Aqsa Intifada, 2000 to death of Yasser Arafat in 2004], an on-going threat from suicidal terrorists, various boycotts that continue to this day, and continued attacks against civilian populations across its borders….

"At the time this book was written, Israel was a small, poverty-stricken country of only 2,745,000 people.  It was over-shadowed by many of its Arab neighbors such as Syria and Saudi Arabia with more than five million people each, and Egypt with more than 33 million.  By 2011, the state of Israel had grown to 7,475,000, and ranks 96th out of 237 nations in terms of population."

The 1967 war set off a period of economical growth as well as growth in population.  The Israeli work ethic was instrumental in advancing the quality of life and the standard of living in the state of Israel.  Israelis place a high priority on education and had a literacy rate in 2004 of 97.1%, almost equal to America's rate of 99 percent and above that of its neighbors - Jordan at 89.9%, Saudi Arabia at 78%, Iran at 77%, Iraq at 74%, and Egypt at 71%.

Dr. W. Cleon Skousen wrote in detail about the miracle of the Six Day War as well as explaining the history of the ancient conflicts between Israel and its neighbors in the Middle East.  Based on prophecies, Dr. Skousen explains how "these descendants of Abraham - the Arabs and the Jews - will one day live together in a historic brotherhood of peace and prosperity that will last more than a thousand years."

I was an adult at the time of the Six Day War and vaguely remember hearing about a war in Israel; however, I don’t remember paying much attention to what was happening.  In my own defense, I should tell you that my wedding was scheduled for less than three weeks after this war started.  I think it is safe to say that I was distracted from worldly events during those weeks!  I wonder how many teen-agers and young adults are fully aware of what is happening in our world today.

I will admit that I was totally fascinated with the information in Fantastic Victory.  Syria, with backing from Egypt, was attacking inside Israel's borders, and Syrians were firing cannons from Golan Heights into Israel.  There were ten United Nation posts - fifty officials - along the Syria/Israel border, but the agents did nothing except keep an official list of border incidents - over 100,000 occurrences.  While Jordan was trying to calm everyone down, Egypt was experimenting with poison gas.  The Arab nations were calling for Israel to be destroyed and the Jews to be exterminated.  Israel wanted peace and was attempting to avoid all out war while at the same time doing all they could to secure their own people.

The U.S. State Department was counseling Israel to be patient; the United Nations was powerless; the Soviet Union was backing the Arabs.  Israel was alone and decided to fight for her very survival.  On the eve of the war, Israeli commandos destroyed most if not all of the Egyptian/Arab airplanes and patrol boats, forcing Egypt to fight on the ground with tanks and soldiers.

 Israel urged Jordan and Syria to stay out of the fight in order to contain the war, but they insisted on joining Egypt in the fighting.  Israel was fighting a war on three sides with most of their military power concentrating on Egypt first.  They destroyed the Egyptian tanks and killed 35,000 Egyptians; Israeli soldiers took control of Gaza and went all the way to the Suez Canal with the opportunity to take Cairo itself - but stopped.  After Egypt was vanquished, Israel turned its strength on Jordan and fought for control of Jerusalem.  When Jerusalem was back in Israeli control, Israel went after the Syrian soldiers in Golan Heights.  Israeli prevailed after struggling for several days.

Israel - with its 3 million citizens - thoroughly trounced Egypt, Jordan, and Syria with their backing of other Arab states and the Soviet Union.   Over a period of six days, Israel "doubled her population and quadrupled her territory.  The borders of Israel had been expanded south, east and southwest until they had reached natural boundaries, which would be much more easy to defend.  The famous temple-city of Jerusalem was back in Jewish hands for the first time since the days of Rome.  In fact, by acquiring all of the territory west of the Jordan River, the Israeli government had not only come into possession of the sacred shrines of three world religions, but one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world as well" (141-142).

The war caught the attention of the world, and leaders were calling for a ceasefire.  The longer the war went on, the more territory Israel was claiming.  "Cairo, Damascus and Amman lay literally naked, defenseless and trembling before her" (87).

Israel was ready for a ceasefire after the second day of war, but Abba Eban, Foreign Minister, wanted to review some issues and to set forth some "ugly, incriminating facts" (87).  "Tens of millions" were watching on television or listening over radio as Eban presented his eloquent speech "in excellent Cambridge English" (87).  In his speech he made ten basic points.

First, "Israel had consummated her rendezvous with destiny" and would have a glorious victory.

Second, Israel was compelled to defend herself.

Third, Israel was forced to take action because "Egypt committed a deliberate act of war by forcibly blockading the Aqaba Gulf and leaving Israel economically gasping" for survival (87).

Fourth, Israel struck only when her "margin of security had been reduced to zero," and she had tried to "keep the war from spreading beyond Sinai" (88).

Fifth, Israel was disappointed when Jordan and Syria decided to join the war.

Sixth, Israel was disappointed in the United Nations for not doing their job to keep the peace.

Seventh, Israel hoped that the "Arabs would now sit down with the Israelis and work out their mutual problems face to face" rather than going to the United Nations (88).

Eighth, Israel would welcome the cease fire if "certain conditions were met."  1) "The Arabs must recognize Israel as a sovereign political entity."  2) "The Arabs must agree that all existing or future problems will be solved by peaceful means and not by constantly resorting to big or little wars."

Ninth, Israel wanted the "big powers" to support principles rather than one nation against another nation - to be for peace, free commerce, "to exercise an even-handed support for the integrity and independence of States and for the rights of States" (89).

Tenth, Eban suggested that the United Nations could solve the question of who caused the war by answering some other questions:  Was it Israel or its neighbors who started the 1948 war?  Was it Israel or the United Arab Republic that closed an international waterway?  Is it Israel or the Arab States who refuses to negotiate for peace?  Was it Israel or Egypt who broke the 1957 pattern of stability?  Did Israel surround the area between Morocco and Kuwait or did troops from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait and Algeria join in confronting Israel?

Eban closed his talk by stating that Israel had shown its ability to fight a war and was now willing to show its ability to make peace.  The ball was then in the court of the Arabs.  They gave speeches and debated, but they were not willing to support the cease-fire resolution.  The Arab leaders accused the United States and Great Britain of supporting Israel.  The US Ambassador Arthur J. Goldberg told them to show their proof.  They couldn't - and the war went on until the Arab nations were forced to admit defeat after six days of war.  As we know, the Arab nations do not yet consider that Israel has a right to exist.

Israel could have taken more land, but it was interested in self-protection, not colonialism.  It wanted enough land in order to protect itself, and the Arab hatred for Jews provided them the opportunity to get that land.  The United Nations, the United States, and Great Britain stood aside.  The Soviet Union was supporting the Arab states with Russian personnel, tanks, etc. Israel acted alone - and won the war!  As for the war refugees:  Israel encouraged all Arabs to stay within the new boundaries of Israel; Arab nations encouraged the "refugees" to move out of the area in order that the territory could be retaken because Israel was there "temporarily."  The "refugees" are still living in camps because the Arab nations will not let them assimilate into their countries - get jobs, buy property, etc.  The Arab nations do not want to be responsible for them and have them compete with their own people for jobs.

Today the Arabs are still shouting their desire to drive all Jews into the sea and to wipe the nation of Israel off the map.  While reading Fantastic Victory I could not help but think of the situation that Israel faces today.  Palestinians are sending mortars into Jerusalem and other parts of Israel.  Some Israeli schools have closed in order to keep the children safe.  Israel and its citizens are constantly on alert for attacks.  How long will it be before Israel strikes again?  Will the United States stand with Israel or not?  Will it be just another Arab/Israeli war or will it be Armageddon?

I highly recommend Fantastic Victory for a historical view of Israel.  This book clearly shows why Israel has earned the right to all the territory it holds and why it cannot return to its 1967 borders and still defend itself.   I believe that the United States must stand with Israel, and most conservative Republicans seem to agree with me.  Do all Israeli supporters believe the prophecies about Israel as I do?  I believe that God is with Israel and no country that fights against Israel will win.  I hope and pray that the United States stands with Israel!