Israel and the land

The Book of Revelation, like the rest of the New Testament, was originally written in Greek so sometimes we must go to the Greek language to have a more precise understanding of certain words.

The modern state of Israel, now that it has been established, has every right to exist, but Israel should also be made to uphold the UN resolutions concerning Palestinian inalienable rights. Most Palestinians now will agree to Israel’s right to exist. What they do not agree with is Israel’s continued occupation of the West Bank and Israel’s continued building of settlements there.

Most Palestinians will stop resistance if Israel simply gets out of the West Bank. This is the best way for Israel to stop the resistance and preserve security and peace - not to mention the security and peace of others.

It is important, however, to have some basic background knowledge of how the modern state of Israel was founded.

As one writer points out: "Israel was created (in the beginning) not by force of arms or military invasion, but terrorist activity advocated by Jewish immigrants, in an effort to get rid of the British Administration (the lawful government of the day, as sanctioned by the predecessor to the UN). Britain abandoned its mandate and Israel was created by the UN."

Any solution to the present crisis must also involve monetary or financial compensation being made by Israel to Palestinian families who have had their homes and lands seized and taken away during the formation of the modern state of Israel in the 1940's. (According to the UN resolution 194, Palestinian refugees have the right for compensation and repatriation.)

During that time Palestinian families suffered huge atrocities at the hands of Jewish immigrants, including many pregnant Palestinian Arab women having their wombs ripped open alive and their babies slaughtered before their very eyes. This was one of the many horrible crimes committed against Palestinians by such notable political figures as former Prime Minister of Israel, Menachem Begin.

The Palestinians should be compensated by the modern state of Israel for these crimes. That is only right. The terrorism committed by Jewish immigrants against Palestinian Arabs in the late 1940's is a major reason why many Palestinian Arabs fled their homes and land and became refugees.

However, as long as most evangelical Christians in America believe modern Zionism is biblical they will continue to exert one-sided pressure in Washington DC supporting Israel's status quo in the region and preventing any pressure being put on Israel to pull back to its pre-1967 borders and to discontinue building settlements on Arab land.

That is why it is very important so that others, especially evangelical Christians, may realise there is no biblical basis for modern Zionism.

If America does the right thing and insists Israel is fair to Palestinians it will not only help towards peace in the Middle East but will also reduce Muslim extremism, and even terrorism, against the United States.