The heinous festivities in Lebanon were held in tribute of the murders of 26 people at an airport near Tel Aviv 50 years ago, featuring the sole surviving terrorist of the Japanese Red Army (JRA) who carried out the attack.

74-year-old Kōzō Okamoto made a rare appearance at the ceremony to lay a wreath at the gravesite of his fellow terrorists at a cemetery at the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp. He was decked out in “keffiyeh” scarves, the hallmark Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and flashed a “Victory” sign with his fingers.

17 United States Christian pilgrims from Puerto Rico, eight Israelis and one Canadian were murdered, and 71 other travelers injured in the machine gun shooting and grenade attack at the Lod Airport by the 3-man JRA cell, who had been recruited by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror group. The PFLP is designated as a terror organization by Israel, the US, European Union and Japan. The other two JRA terrorists, Yasuyuki Yasuda was apparently shot and killed by a fellow assailant, while Tsuyoshi Okudaira was killed by one of his own grenades – either in an act of suicide or premature detonation.

Okamoto was captured and sentenced to a life term in Israel but was released after 13 years as part of the 1985 Jibril Agreement with Palestinian terror factions in exchange for captive IDF soldiers. After living in Libya and Syria, he ultimately settled in Lebanon – where he became the first person ever granted political asylum – to rejoin other JRA members, protected by the PFLP.

“This valiant hero suffered in the enemy’s prisons… but today his heart beats with Palestine,” said Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group official Abdullah Hamoud told the AFP news agency during the celebration. A senior PFLP leader who identified himself as Abu Yusef commented that Okamoto “came to defend the freedom of people [Palestinians] who had their lands stolen. He believes in their rights, he believes in justice and human freedom.”

The Japanese terrorist and other JRA members are still wanted by authorities in their home nation for suspected perpetration of several attacks in the 1970s and 1980, including the crimes at Lod.

Japanese Red Army co-founder Fusako Shigenobu, known as the “Empress of Terror, was freed from a Tokyo prison this past Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence.

The 76-year-old former terrorist as greeted by her daughter Mei Shigenobu, whose father remains unnamed but is believed to be a PFLP member. Both women also donned keffiyehs for the occasion, greeted by a crowd of supporters waving Palestinian flags.

Shigenobu was captured and arrested in Japan in 2000 and convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy at The Hague in the Netherlands.

In addition to the 30 May 1972 Lod massacre, the JRA also claimed responsibility for addition terror attacks. They include the hijacking of Japan Airlines Flights #351 in 1970, #404 with the PFLP in 1973, and #472 in 1977. The group also hijacked Malaysian Airline System Flight 653, which was the company’s first fatal air crash – killing all 93 passengers and 7 crew members; and perpetrated the 1975 takeover of the US Consulate in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The Palestinian-linked Japanese Red Army was formed in 1971 with the aim of launching a global socialist revolution. Shigenobu disbanded the group one year after her arrest. Upon her exit from prison, the Associated Press reported that she apologized “deeply” for hurting “innocent people I did not know by putting our struggles first.”

So-called Palestinian human rights organizations celebrated Shigenobu ‘s release, which was livestreamed by the international Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. The NGO said in a press release that it saluted her, describing her as a “revolutionary” and “political prisoner” who had been unjustly imprisoned.

“FUSAKO SHIGENOBU IS FINALLY FREE!” proclaimed the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), adding in a statement that, “Palestinians everywhere salute and celebrate Fusako Shigenobu for her extraordinary dedication to our national struggle, and her friendship with our people. On this glorious occasion for Shigenobu and her loved ones, we uplift her as a shining example of the power of international solidarity and anti-imperialism to unite our struggles and defeat our oppressors, no matter where in the world they may be. LONG LIVE FUSAKO SHIGENOBU! LONG LIVE PALESTINE!”

HD Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?

The Palestinians are often framed as downtrodden and oppressed by the nation of Israel and its military. However, stories like the one reported above, and countless others, demonstrate the reality that Palestinian objectives are far more sinister than gaining peace and land. Terrorism and the eradication of Israel is their stated goal.

Despite this, activists, media, college campuses, companies, congress members, and the current US Administration glorify the “plight” of the Palestinians and effectively help to drive the Palestinian propaganda machine.

Hal Lindsey, in an article discussing Palestinian terrorist organizations, like Hamas, stated that although many anti-Israel politicians in the United States “almost always say they are standing with Palestinians,” and not their terror groups, making such a statement, he insisted, is “like coming out against the United States in World War II, claiming you only support Germans, not Nazis.”

A poll released last September revealed that the vast majority of Palestinians are supporters of the terrorist organization Hamas and the PLO.

The stated goal of these anti-semitic terror organizations, Lindsey explained, is the “eradication” of Israel and Jews.

“The Hamas charter depicts Jews using old stereotypes,” Lindsey described. “Article 22 blames the Jews for World Wars I and II, as well as the French and communist revolutions. This illustrates yet again that their hatred is not for Israel alone, but for Jews generally. Article 7 says, ‘The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’”

The irrationality with which many have despised the Jews is often puzzling to those who may be unfamiliar with God’s Word. Why has antisemitism flourished throughout history? Why are unsubstantiated and wicked accusations about Israel and the Jewish people often quickly accepted?

This madness can only be understood through the lens of Scripture.

Through the Jewish people, God brought the law, giving His creation an understanding of sin, and subsequently, through the Jewish people, God provided humanity a Savior from that sin, Jesus Christ (Romans 9:4-5, 7:7, 10:4, 3:1-2, Matt. 5:17).

The Jewish people and the nation of Israel are interwoven within God’s plan for all mankind, beginning to end. They are, by God’s mercy, the chosen people used to bring about His perfect will and salvation (Luke 2:25-32). It is for this reason that a battle, which is spiritual in nature, is constantly being waged against Israel and the Jews (Eph. 6:12). Satan detests the people through whom God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who will ultimately defeat him and his followers (Revelation 20:10).

The heinous festivities in Lebanon were held in tribute of the murders of 26 people at an airport near Tel Aviv 50 years ago, featuring the sole surviving terrorist of the Japanese Red Army (JRA) who carried out the attack.

74-year-old Kōzō Okamoto made a rare appearance at the ceremony to lay a wreath at the gravesite of his fellow terrorists at a cemetery at the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp. He was decked out in “keffiyeh” scarves, the hallmark Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and flashed a “Victory” sign with his fingers.

17 United States Christian pilgrims from Puerto Rico, eight Israelis and one Canadian were murdered, and 71 other travelers injured in the machine gun shooting and grenade attack at the Lod Airport by the 3-man JRA cell, who had been recruited by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terror group. The PFLP is designated as a terror organization by Israel, the US, European Union and Japan. The other two JRA terrorists, Yasuyuki Yasuda was apparently shot and killed by a fellow assailant, while Tsuyoshi Okudaira was killed by one of his own grenades – either in an act of suicide or premature detonation.

Okamoto was captured and sentenced to a life term in Israel but was released after 13 years as part of the 1985 Jibril Agreement with Palestinian terror factions in exchange for captive IDF soldiers. After living in Libya and Syria, he ultimately settled in Lebanon – where he became the first person ever granted political asylum – to rejoin other JRA members, protected by the PFLP.

“This valiant hero suffered in the enemy’s prisons… but today his heart beats with Palestine,” said Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group official Abdullah Hamoud told the AFP news agency during the celebration. A senior PFLP leader who identified himself as Abu Yusef commented that Okamoto “came to defend the freedom of people [Palestinians] who had their lands stolen. He believes in their rights, he believes in justice and human freedom.”

The Japanese terrorist and other JRA members are still wanted by authorities in their home nation for suspected perpetration of several attacks in the 1970s and 1980, including the crimes at Lod.

Japanese Red Army co-founder Fusako Shigenobu, known as the “Empress of Terror, was freed from a Tokyo prison this past Saturday after serving a 20-year sentence.

The 76-year-old former terrorist as greeted by her daughter Mei Shigenobu, whose father remains unnamed but is believed to be a PFLP member. Both women also donned keffiyehs for the occasion, greeted by a crowd of supporters waving Palestinian flags.

Shigenobu was captured and arrested in Japan in 2000 and convicted of masterminding the 1974 siege of the French Embassy at The Hague in the Netherlands.

In addition to the 30 May 1972 Lod massacre, the JRA also claimed responsibility for addition terror attacks. They include the hijacking of Japan Airlines Flights #351 in 1970, #404 with the PFLP in 1973, and #472 in 1977. The group also hijacked Malaysian Airline System Flight 653, which was the company’s first fatal air crash – killing all 93 passengers and 7 crew members; and perpetrated the 1975 takeover of the US Consulate in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The Palestinian-linked Japanese Red Army was formed in 1971 with the aim of launching a global socialist revolution. Shigenobu disbanded the group one year after her arrest. Upon her exit from prison, the Associated Press reported that she apologized “deeply” for hurting “innocent people I did not know by putting our struggles first.”

So-called Palestinian human rights organizations celebrated Shigenobu ‘s release, which was livestreamed by the international Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network. The NGO said in a press release that it saluted her, describing her as a “revolutionary” and “political prisoner” who had been unjustly imprisoned.

“FUSAKO SHIGENOBU IS FINALLY FREE!” proclaimed the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), adding in a statement that, “Palestinians everywhere salute and celebrate Fusako Shigenobu for her extraordinary dedication to our national struggle, and her friendship with our people. On this glorious occasion for Shigenobu and her loved ones, we uplift her as a shining example of the power of international solidarity and anti-imperialism to unite our struggles and defeat our oppressors, no matter where in the world they may be. LONG LIVE FUSAKO SHIGENOBU! LONG LIVE PALESTINE!”

HD Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?

The Palestinians are often framed as downtrodden and oppressed by the nation of Israel and its military. However, stories like the one reported above, and countless others, demonstrate the reality that Palestinian objectives are far more sinister than gaining peace and land. Terrorism and the eradication of Israel is their stated goal.

Despite this, activists, media, college campuses, companies, congress members, and the current US Administration glorify the “plight” of the Palestinians and effectively help to drive the Palestinian propaganda machine.

Hal Lindsey, in an article discussing Palestinian terrorist organizations, like Hamas, stated that although many anti-Israel politicians in the United States “almost always say they are standing with Palestinians,” and not their terror groups, making such a statement, he insisted, is “like coming out against the United States in World War II, claiming you only support Germans, not Nazis.”

A poll released last September revealed that the vast majority of Palestinians are supporters of the terrorist organization Hamas and the PLO.

The stated goal of these anti-semitic terror organizations, Lindsey explained, is the “eradication” of Israel and Jews.

“The Hamas charter depicts Jews using old stereotypes,” Lindsey described. “Article 22 blames the Jews for World Wars I and II, as well as the French and communist revolutions. This illustrates yet again that their hatred is not for Israel alone, but for Jews generally. Article 7 says, ‘The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’”

The irrationality with which many have despised the Jews is often puzzling to those who may be unfamiliar with God’s Word. Why has antisemitism flourished throughout history? Why are unsubstantiated and wicked accusations about Israel and the Jewish people often quickly accepted?

This madness can only be understood through the lens of Scripture.

Through the Jewish people, God brought the law, giving His creation an understanding of sin, and subsequently, through the Jewish people, God provided humanity a Savior from that sin, Jesus Christ (Romans 9:4-5, 7:7, 10:4, 3:1-2, Matt. 5:17).

The Jewish people and the nation of Israel are interwoven within God’s plan for all mankind, beginning to end. They are, by God’s mercy, the chosen people used to bring about His perfect will and salvation (Luke 2:25-32). It is for this reason that a battle, which is spiritual in nature, is constantly being waged against Israel and the Jews (Eph. 6:12). Satan detests the people through whom God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who will ultimately defeat him and his followers (Revelation 20:10).