As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased the strength of their attack, it appeared that Hamas might be ready to negotiate a deal for hostages. Israel demanded the return of 10 hostages, knowing that their time might not be long with the terrorists. But just when it seemed like a possibility, Hamas shut it down on Tuesday.
Why, when they see so many of their leaders and fellow terrorists being killed, are they so stubborn? Maybe it’s because they continue to get foreign support. President Macron of France said that his country may be ready to recognize a Palestinian state in June.
As for media, the BBC carried out an especially egregious case of trash journalism when they posted a headline stating, “On Palm Sunday, Israel bombed the lone Christian hospital in Gaza”. You can imagine all their brainwashed sycophants reading those words and thinking, “Just what you’d expect from those nasty Jews.” What the BBC intentionally kept from their story was the fact that the IDF had issued an evacuation order before the attack and no civilians were harmed in the action. The only ones who were killed were the large number of terrorists who had appropriated the hospital to use as a base of operations. This hospital is just one of numerous others that have been forced to cease operations because of the terrorist takeover.
Star-Bellied Palestinians
In an arbitrary caste system reminiscent of an old Dr. Seuss book, there appears to be two types of Palestinians. There are the angry, hate-filled Palestinians, mostly found in Gaza. And there are the much happier, working-for-a-living Palestinians, primarily located in Judea and Samaria, or the West Bank. While the angry Palestinians have had their cities leveled, the happier ones just opened the largest and most luxurious mall in the region. Located in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Icon Mall put on a great debut celebration with dancing and other festivities. All this reveling didn’t sit well with the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in Judea and Samaria. They said it’s not respectful of the struggles going on in Gaza. The celebrators pushed back saying that this is indicative of the culture of life found in Judea and Samaria, as opposed to the culture of death imposed by Hamas. Well said!
Palestinian Plot in Jordan
Jordanian authorities announced Tuesday that they had thwarted a plan by Hamas to “undermin[e] national security and creat[e] chaos within the country.” Sixteen people were taken into custody, accused of hatching a plot that involved rockets, explosives, and a factory for making drones. Jordan has already enough trouble with radical Palestinians, including losing a king back in the 1950s to assassination. These in-custody terrorists are about to find out just how done the Jordanians are with their kind.
Israel Deep State
The middle of last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had lost confidence in the director of Shin Bet, Ronen Bar. There were a number of reasons, but the most glaring of them was his absolute failure to see the signs leading up to the October 7 attack. Two days after the PM’s statement, the Knesset voted to remove Bar from office. “Not so fast,” said the Israeli High Court. “We think he needs to stay.” This is the latest instance of judicial overreach by a court system that seems to have designated itself as the sole rulers of the nation. After first resisting his firing, Bar now says he is considering resigning – an act that could avert a constitutional crisis.
Both Israel and the United States are dealing with similar issues. The judiciary is finding and exploiting loopholes that allow the courts to stay or completely nullify decisions made by both the executive and legislative branches. When that happens, checks and balances go out the window. Israel’s prime minister and the Knesset, and President Trump and the congress, had better find a remedy quickly before they become as inconsequential in government affairs as the British royal family.
Yemen Burns while the Houthis Fiddle
The USS Carl Vinson carrier group has joined the USS Harry S. Truman carrier group near Yemen in order to bolster America’s attack capabilities against the Houthis. Regular bombing runs are taking place, destroying port areas, warehouse locations, and any other place that might house offensive military equipment used to attack shipping or to strike Israel. Because of the obstinacy of the militant Houthi rebels, the people of Yemen are paying a very heavy price. But, despite the intense suffering of their nation, the Houthis refuse to back down.
USA & Iran Talk Nukes
Iran will not attain nuclear weapons. The United States has said it. Israel has said it. Many other nations have agreed, although quite a few are only doing so under their breath. The one sure way to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions is to obliterate the centrifuges. But President Trump is the Art of the Deal guy and still holds out hope for negotiation. When Netanyahu went to Washington last month, the president explained this to him, and the prime minister agreed to hold off on an attack planned for May. He knows that no Israeli attack can be pulled off without U.S. help. Yesterday, the New York Times used its platform to try to drive a wedge between Trump and Netanyahu by reporting that the president had essentially pulled his support for an attack out from under the legs of the prime minister.
While I’m not a huge fan of the decision made by President Trump, I understand it. Amongst those close to him, you have doves like Pete Hegseth and J.D. Vance who are saying, “Yeah, we’re all for flattening Iran, but let’s make sure we’ve done our due diligence when it comes to talk.” Then there are the hawks like Mike Waltz and Marco Rubio who are ready to pull the pin against Iran tomorrow. Trump weighed the options and decided to talk now and bomb later, because he knows very well that the chances of Iran agreeing to get rid of all their nuclear material is slim. Already, he has sent unprecedented military power into the area to aid Israel in carrying out an all-out destruction of the nuclear program.
How can anyone be so sure that Iran will reject abandoning their nuclear plans? Just yesterday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that Tehran’s right to enrich uranium is not subject to negotiations with the US. Any proposal offered to them right now will be rejected. The only time they might agree is when the bombers are in the air heading across their borders.
A Union of Oil and Water
A truly remarkable event took place on Sunday. The new president of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, met with an Israeli delegation while in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This unheard-of meeting was to discuss the possibility of normalizing relations between the two nations. I’m still flabbergasted as I think about this. All my life, Syria has been one of our cross-border mortal enemies. I don’t think there is a chance that we’ll ever become friends, but if it means stopping the war then I’m fully behind it.
God at Work in South Africa
During a church service at the Fellowship Baptist Church in an Eastern Cape township last Thursday, four armed men stormed in and forced the pastor out of the building at gunpoint. Josh Sullivan, a 45-year-old missionary from Tennessee, was then taken to his own truck, pushed inside, and driven off. Yesterday, after an intense shoot-out during which three of his abductors were killed, Sullivan was rescued. Given the current racial situation in South Africa, this was not the marvelous result that many were expecting. Let’s give praise to the God who watches over His people for His safe return of this righteous servant.
A Celebration Weekend
This weekend, we remember the sacrifice Yeshua our Messiah made on the cross for our sins. It was a terrible, torturous time for Him, culminating in an agonizing death that resides in the realm of nightmares. But our Savior did not remain in the grave. As He promised, He rose from the dead, the Firstfruits of the resurrection. Even today, Yeshua is alive and is waiting for the time when the Father gives Him the okay to draw His children to Him in the clouds.
Our celebration this weekend doesn’t end with the crucifixion and its forgiveness of our sins. Nor is it complete with the resurrection and its promise of eternal life for all who believe in Jesus Christ. It continues as we anticipate the day when we will see our Savior face-to-face, go with Him to the place He has prepared for us, and remain with Him for all eternity. This is truly a celebration weekend.
