In Defense: Israel and the Jews

Ever since the October 7th massacre that killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, there has been a marked increase in online anti-Israel rhetoric. No longer is such rhetoric relegated to the left, but it has infected the right side of the isle as well. It has now become fashionable to hate Israel. But who is really pulling the anti-Israel strings? As it turns out, all roads lead back to Qatar. There are those who love to focus on and criticize the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) for their influence on U.S. policy, yet are oblivious and turn a blind eye when it comes to all the other foreign lobbies. Out of the top ten foreign lobbies, Israel doesn't even rank number one, that's reserved for China, but tenth. Above Israel ranks three Muslim countries, one of which is Qatar. *Source: https://www.opensecrets.org/fara Qatar is an extremely wealthy Islamic country. GDP-wise, they are the wealthiest in terms of average citizen affluence. And ...

Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment is on the rise. This blog will serve to address and refute those accusations, criticisms, and conspiracies leveled at Israel and the Jewish people. While you're here, check out my other blogs: The Soapbox: Political Discourse Without Excuse: Apologetics Blog First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me -Pastor Martin Niemöller

Anyone who has spent a fair amount of time on the internet has invariably encountered some form of anti-Jewish rhetoric.  In many ways, it has become fashionable to hate on the Jews again.  It’s a phenomenon that isn’t just on the right or the left, contrary to popular belief, but reaches across the entire political spectrum.  The difference now is that it’s no longer relegated to the fringes, but has gone mainstream. Anti-Semitism is certainly nothing new.  In Europe’s Middle Ages, Jews were blamed for everything from the crucifixion of Christ to spreading diseases by poisoning wells.  Blood libel accusations asserted that Jews routinely kidnapped children and murdered them to use in their blood religious rituals. According to historian Walter Laqueur, “Altogether, there have been about 150 recorded cases of blood libel (not to mention thousands of rumors) that resulted in the arrest and killing of Jews throughout history, most of them in the Middle Ages. ...

Does the modern state of Israel matter? There are a lot of opinions out there about Israel that are shaped by one's political or  eschatological beliefs. My experience is that those Christians they do not have an eschatological framework or reject it, or less inclined to support Israel. However, I want to give my eschatological perspective why I think Israel is important and provide theological reasons for supporting it. To address this properly, we need to go back in time. Ancient Israel was often compared in the Bible to the unfaithful wife who cheated on her husband, in their case, Yahweh. Time and time again, God (Yahweh) called on Israel to repent and promised that if they do, they will be forgiven: Zec 1:3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you , says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.’ Other scriptural support: Jer 3:12-14, Jer 31:34, Eze 18:21-22, Isa 43:25, Isaiah 44:22, Joel 2:12-13,...