Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. I learned this fact on the news this morning, but I had also seen the memorial posted on Benjamin Netanyahu’s Facebook page. He states:
"Benjamin Netanyahu [bows] in memory of six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust." Also posted, is a beautiful address that had been given to the citizens of Lithuania by Vice Prime Minister of Strategic Affairs, Moshe Ya'alon. Though I am sure there are some grammar issues that have occurred in translation, the letter says in part:
"
It's a terrible place, where memories like ghosts floating around us restless, Tropical fate of history that few - if any - experienced; in this place where cut down centuries-old life strange and cruel deaths; here I stand before you, a representative of the Israeli government's former chief of staff Defense of the Jewish state, in the name of the Jewish people, to honor our brothers and sisters, men and women, fathers and mothers, boys and girls, tortured, strangled, slaughtered, shot and buried alive, because the only offense - they were Jewish. …
The attack on Israel is not only expressed in the military or security level, but is primarily an attack on the national identity of Israel as the state of the Jewish people. Israel is a distinct nation-state because the Jewish people have always been religious and also a single national unit simultaneously. Attempt to [deny] Israel's legitimacy is also related to Holocaust denial. [N]ot for nothing that the Iranian president wraps its attacks against Israel with Holocaust denial - things are designed to train a future attack on Israel. [T]o direct the efforts of Iran's nuclear program....
Today, 67 years after the liquidation of the ghetto, I stand before you as a representative of the Government of Israel, to remember and remind you what happened here and the terrible ending. But also to tell our brothers and sisters the Jews who had been killed here - the spirit is still hovering in the trees and ashes of this land is involved - there is hope Lahritm, and wages to their action, their heritage alive and independent Jewish state - is the State of Israel - Order ordered us to death is constantly before our eyes: no more!”
Heartbreaking, isn’t it? Ok, while I am not a politician, a theologian, or any type of statesman, I am seeing some really troubling things taking place regarding the State of Israel and her people.
I have always tried to pay attention to what is happening in Israel, but I have been absolutely amazed about all that has been in the news regarding Israel since President Obama took office. Let me start with Vice President Biden’s trip to Israel this spring. Biden was immediately offended because Israel had announced the building of a 1,600 unit condominium complex in East Jerusalem at the same time as his visit. So? It’s only Israel’s capitol! Do you think they should be able to do what they want in their own country? To express his disapproval, Biden arrived 90 minutes late for dinner and things went downhill from there. After Biden returned home, Mr. Obama had Secretary of State Hilary Clinton make a 45 minute phone call to Prime Minister Netanyahu to blast him for the Israeli announcement while Biden was there to “promote the peace process”. These actions brought not only national attention to the discourse, but world wide attention as well. It escalated into something that should have been a non-issue and made matters appear much worse than they really were. Some have commented that it almost seems as though it was an Obama administration controlled fiasco…intended to create a riff that really was not there until all this took place. I would have to agree with that assessment. I believe it was Hal Lindsey that said, “Did anyone stop to wonder that the only ones complaining about the so-called “settlement” was the Obama administration?” We did not hear a peep out of the Palestinians until this administration forced itself into the middle of Israel’s business. Makes one wonder why, doesn’t it?
That was not the end of it, however. Upon PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to America, Netanyahu was treated the worst that I believe I have ever seen a White House guest ever treated in my life time. While PM Netanyahu was not treated well during his visit when Clinton was in office, Mr. Obama’s deliberate rudeness even topped that. Obama and PM Netanyahu spoke for about 45 minutes, and when Obama decided PM Netanyahu was not going to align himself to Obama’s demands, Obama told Netanyahu to contact (Obama) when he (Netanyahu) changed his mind. Obama went off to dinner and left PM Netanyahu on his own. Obama also refused to have his picture taken with the Prime Minister of one of our greatest allies. Dare I say, “For the first time in my life I was [ashamed] of my country.”?
These were created events; contrived disagreements. It appears that Obama is indeed trying to create a chasm between Israel and America as Sarah Palin recently stated. I, too, believe Obama is intentionally trying to distance America from Israel. There can be no other explanation. Hal Lindsey states in his most recent newsletter:
“A recent poll shows that 90% of Israelis believe that the Obama Administration is more pro-Arab than pro- Israel. Israeli - American relations are now at their lowest ebb since the presidency of Jimmy Carter.”
In Mr. Obama’s book,
The Audacity of Hope, he states that he will always defend the Muslims in their time of trouble.
The Audacity of Hope - page 261:
"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." Guess that means he has to distance himself from Israel.
Let’s take a look at another piece of important information that I received from one of Hal Lindsey’s newsletters:
“Since it took power in 2009, the Obama Administration has been stonewalling Israel over its requests for critical advanced weapons systems and munitions. These requests were approved in 2008 by the Bush Administration, but President Obama has forbidden their delivery to Israel. In fact, he recently diverted a shipment of bunker-buster bombs. They're sitting in a warehouse on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. No one is admitting it, but the shipment was diverted right around the time that Israel outrageously insulted Vice President Joe Biden and, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Obama and the entire United States.”
Now to me that’s outrageous. This administration is purposefully messing with the safety of a nation; a nation that is one of the only democracies in the Middle East. On a side note: Kudos to President Bush for trying to do the right thing in regard to our ally, Israel. President Bush was unfairly maligned in the press far too often.
Now we come to today’s events. This is a day where Israel annually remembers and memorializes the victims of the Holocaust. This is a nation in mourning because of their past.
Also In the news headlines today we see that Obama will be the one officiating “the first ever Nuclear Security Summit”. This announcement comes just after Obama’s controversial statement that America, under his watch, would not respond to a nuclear attack. This, as Iran becomes even more threatening and with Ahmadinejad’s admission that Iran does indeed have nuclear weapons. At least they would have us and Israel, believe they do. Can you see where we are headed with this?
Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced that he would not be attending the Nuclear Security Summit. Can you blame him? I certainly don’t. Even the name is an oxymoron.
Hmmmm….So let’s look at this a little closer. America will now host the first ever Nuclear Security Summit….This at a time in history when Iran most likely finally has nuclear weapons? This; at a time when the President of Iran is denying that the Holocaust ever took place? And all of this comes to fruition when Iran continues to state their desire to annihilate Israel from the face of the earth. Does anyone else find it a bit of a coincidence (or maybe just plain flat out disparagement of Israel) to host this summit at this special time in Israel’s calendar year? Way to go Mr. President! You’re audacity is showing!
Do you see the importance of denying the danger of placating Iran? Do you see the danger of denying that Iran wants to wipe Israel off the map? Do you see the danger in denying that Iran might have nuclear weapons and be more than willing to use such weaponry? Israel sees it; they have already lived it. They live it throughout their history and in their daily lives. It’s pretty easy to see why the Vice Prime Minister of Strategic Affairs, Moshe Ya'alon said what he said and why Israeli’s fear:
“Attempt to [deny] Israel's legitimacy is also related to Holocaust denial. [N]ot for nothing that the Iranian president wraps its attacks against Israel with Holocaust denial - things are designed to train a future attack on Israel. [T]o direct the efforts of Iran's nuclear program....”
God bless Israel at this solemn time of remembrance. May God give strength to her leaders and her people! As instructed in God’s Holy Word, I am praying for the peace of Jerusalem, which will usher in the return of their/our Messiah.
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Please click here to read Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's heartbreaking, yet encouraging speech at the Remembrance Day Ceremony:
http://en.netanyahu.org.il/news/304/243/Prime-Minister-Benjamin-Netanyahu-�s-Speech-at-the-Holocaust-Martyrs-�-and-Heroes-�-Remembrance-Day-Ceremony/
"My friends, where does our strength come from? From our unity, from our heritage, from our common past and future. We treasure our past and forge the path to our future."
~PM Benjamin Netanyahu
"We have a right to exist."
PM Benjamin Netanyahu
