Israel's establishment as an independent, sovereign state was officially declared in Tel-Aviv on Friday May 14, 1948, in accordance with UN Resolution 181 which called for the division of the land called Palestine which was governed by the British into a Jewish state and an Arab state.
Israel’s Declaration of Independence proclaiming the founding values of the new state said in part, ...The State of Israel will be open to the immigration of Jews from all countries of their dispersion; will promote development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants….
Despite the euphoria of the moment, Israel faced imminent disaster with an expected invasion by Arab nations who rejected the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. Outnumbered in soldiers and arms, the new Israeli army was attacked from all directions. In addition, the fledgling state had to deal with the huge challenge of absorbing shiploads of Jewish immigrants who arrived daily – many penniless Holocaust survivors and refugees from Arab states.
Israel won the 1948 war Arab and the wars to come including the 6-Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the First Intifada (1983) and the Second Intifada (1997).
As Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force.”
With Israeli ground troops and tanks ready to invade Gaza, to avenge the despicable and deadly October 7th rampage by Hamas. A conflict that could erupt into a wider Middle East war, I turn to scripture for comfort, perspective and understanding.
In Leviticus 19 Moses spoke to Israel telling the people to be holy for the Lord your God is holy. And in their holiness the Israelites were told not to render an unjust judgment and to love your neighbor as yourself.
I stand with Israel and its people. Supporting their right to invade Gaza with the intent to destroy the military capabilities of Hamas so that never again they can terrorize and kill Jews.
But I also stand with Palestine and its people. Supporting their right to self-determination including an independent state not in the distant future but now.
Yes, it’s complicated, Israel must be protected however, the Palestinians must be given the opportunity of life, liberty, and happiness.
I pray that God’s words from Leviticus 19 will be heeded today and that the holy people of Israel and Palestine will render a judgment that does not include war and that two peoples, neighbors destined for conflict will love their neighbors as they love themselves.
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