(Regina, Canada) — Last week, I discussed how those who hate the Jewish State consistently accuse Israel of actions they themselves commit or desire to commit. These anti-Israel claims line up precisely with what we read in Isaiah 5:20 when God says, “Woe unto those that call evil good and good evil.”
I’m amazed at how the world stands alongside Hamas instead of Israel. As I have said before, if the world can’t see the stark difference, they must have been handed over to a reprobate mind that is incapable of thinking clearly.
Such was the case last week when Palestine Solidarity in Regina organized a lecture at the city’s downtown public library film theater. As I previously reported, the event was canceled after Israel-loving individuals, myself included, voiced our concerns. Unfortunately, the Israel-bashing night was back on the schedule shortly after.
As I attended the event, the theater was packed, with only room for those standing. From the applause of the people there for Jeet Heer, the keynote speaker, it was evident that they were not there to support Israel.
Throughout Jeet’s almost hour-long lecture, Israel was referred to as colonizers committing genocide and ethnic cleansing of the land. He likened Israel to an old-fashioned colonial settlement similar to the old West, with Israeli forces everywhere holding guns. Well, I say, thank goodness for the Israeli forces keeping the peace. We need law and order in our countries.
Heer also insisted that Israel has become a selling and testing ground for US weapons.
Of course, throughout the entire evening, he received many rounds of applause with some laughter at his light humor. None of that surprised me. I was taken aback by the fact that the demographic majority was not Palestinians.
Jeer opened up the event at the end for a Q&A, which I was thankful for because I was able to make a few points followed by a question:
[You say Israel is] colonialist, they are committing genocide, but geopolitically, Israel has a right to the land because the Belford Declaration of 1917 became international law in 1920 in San Remo… Then, the UN, as you know, partitioned the land in 1947. So, internationally speaking, they have a right to the land—certainly historically.
Everywhere we look today, where they stick a shovel in the ground, you find archaeological evidence to support that the Jewish people were there. In fact, even though the diaspora happened in 70 through 135 AD there was always a Jewish presence there in Hebron, Jerusalem, Safed, and Tiberias… Also, Biblically—of course, I’m a Christian here—but biblically, God said He would scatter them, and that’s why we see the Jewish people scattered today. But He also said He would regather them in the latter days, and that’s what we see today, and He would rebuild their waste cities.
My question is very simply: what do you make of the mantra “From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free”? Because that means no Jews allowed in that land. Do you acknowledge a Jewish presence?
It’s pretty sad that the majority of the people could care less about what I said. When the point about the Bible was brought up, it was mocked with ease. Again, I wasn’t surprised, but I was saddened by such ignorance.
He never really answered my main question. Do the Jewish people not have a right to the land of Israel? The mantra “From The River To The Sea” says no Israel, and, therefore, no Jew allowed. People chimed in with their displeasure to my question. But what else could that mantra mean? Show me anywhere on an Arab map where Israel and so-called Palestine are shown together. You won’t find it. This mantra calls for Israel’s destruction, and ultimately, that means the destruction of the Jewish people—plain and simple.
On May 14th of this year, I joined the Jewish Community for a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, where they raised the Israeli flag in honor of Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948. It was wonderful to be there with my Jewish friends. We sang Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, together as the flag was raised on high.
It was not long, however, before protesters came by with their Palestinian flags, demanding that the city take down Israel’s flag. This small group of people rallied their troops to challenge the city about raising the flag of a country they falsely claim is “committing genocide.” That small voice resonated loud enough to have the city debate whether they should continue to raise the Israel flag every year. While I haven’t heard the outcome of that debate, I hope that the city doesn’t fall into the pure nonsense that Israel is “committing genocide.”
What can we take away from all this? We need to be involved, especially those of us who love Israel and the Jewish people. We must stand up, put our beliefs into action, and speak out every opportunity we get against anti-zionism—which is anti-Semitism. If we don’t, we are no better than those in Nazi Germany who remained silent.
You’re wrong if you think your voice can’t make a difference. Together, we can get the word out to more people. I believe that one of the greatest ways that we can get involved is by reaching out to those in authority—our city counselors, our mayor, our MLAs, our premiere.
Attend Israel rallies. Show the Jewish people you care. Reach out to them. Go to the synagogue and say, “We’re here as Bible Believers to stand alongside Israel and the Jewish people. In us, you have a true friend.”
Don’t be on the sidelines because your silence is deafening!
Erwin Lutzer told an impactful story in his book “Hitler’s Cross” about a Christian man living in Nazi Germany:
I lived in Germany during the Nazi Holocaust. I considered myself a Christian. We heard stories of what was happening to the Jews, but we tried to distance ourselves from it. Because what could anyone do to stop it?
A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each Sunday morning we could hear the whistle in the distance and then the wheels coming over the tracks. We became disturbed when we heard the cries coming from the train as it passed by. We realized that it was carrying Jews like cattle in the cars. Week after week, the whistle would blow. We dreaded to hear the sound of those wheels because we knew that when we would hear the cries of the Jews en route to a death camp, their screams tormented us.
We knew the time the train was coming, and when we heard the whistle blower, we began singing hymns. By the time the train came past our church, we were singing at the top of our voices. If we heard the screams, we sang more loudly. And soon we heard them no more. Years have passed and no one talks about it anymore. But I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. God forgive me. Forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians yet did nothing to intervene.
Get involved, friends. Let’s stand, love, and support Israel and the Jewish people.
