(Updated from a previous post) For over two centuries, America has been the staunchest ally of Israel and supporter of Jews around the world. For over seven decades, we have supported the fledgling, relatively new nation, often in the face of global opposition. It was largely the influence of the Untied States that secured the UN vote to recognize the nation of Israel in 1949 after their declaration of independence the year prior. Soon afterward, most Palestinians, who were scattered throughout the nation, congregated in what became the West Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians eventually claimed those territories as their sovereign land within the new boundaries of Israel. However, the war of 1967, initiated by Arab nations, resulted in Israel’s rightful annexation of those areas for self defense while allowing the Palestinians to remain there. A 1993 agreement brokered by Washington after multiple skirmishes between Israel and the Palestinians established a separate “state” for the Palestinians on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian Authority acting as a pseudo-governing body.

The Palestinians, still not satisfied with Israel’s existence, continued terrorist attacks, mostly by the militant groups, Hamas and Hezbollah, against the Israelis. In response, Israel rejected the separate state status and began settlements of Jewish families and businesses within the West Bank in the late 1990s. The Biden administration supports the reestablishment of the “two-state solution.” This is a wrongful position for America to pursue. Without control of the West Bank, Israel is indefensible. So far, the Palestinians, particularly Hamas and Hezbollah, have rejected anything short of total expulsion of the Jews from Israel.

First, the world needs to understand that the right of the Jewish people to the land of Israel goes back about 4,000 years according to a divine mandate that overrides any ethnic or political consideration. Around 1800 BC, God began the process of establishing His chosen people through Abraham, promising him a specifically defined region of land (now Israel) in the Middle East. The original boundaries of this “promised land” described in the Bible covered an area even larger than what is now recognized as Israel. Upon bestowing the land on Abraham and his future descendants forever, God included this statement, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you, I will curse.”

Jews do not occupy Palestinian land; Palestinians live in the land that has belonged to the Jews for almost four millennia. The Palestinians are not a nation. The history of many of them traces back to the Philistines of the Old Testament who were constant enemies of the Israelites. Other Palestinians are a hodgepodge of people from various Arab nations who have migrated over time to the land forcefully vacated by the Jews. Palestinians have never been recognized officially as a nation and have never had a legitimate government. There is no doubt that Israel has rightful claim to the territory within its borders and even more according to God’s promise. Therefore, since the Palestinians refuse to coexist peacefully within Israel, but rather repeatedly attack their host nation, Israel has every right to defend itself against their militant arm, Hamas. Israel’s defensive action is especially justified after the October savage attack by Hamas. They are right in pursuing final expulsion of Hamas from their land.

Iran’s horrendous and unprecedented attack on Israel with over 300 weapons cannot be considered reasonable retaliation for Israel’s precision strike on Iran’s three commanders in Syria. The attack by Iran was essentially a declaration of war on Israel by that nation. Yet, we now have an official warning from the White House that America will not condone any military response from Israel on Iran. Closely coordinated pro-Iranian “protests” by leftists across our nation are closing major bridges and highways endangering the lives of thousands of citizens and degrading our economy. The protesters are shouting, “death to Israel and death to America,” with many burning American flags. These illegal activities are not only placing our country in grave jeopardy, but are also inciting more worldwide anti-Semitic attacks. Our nation’s greatest threat from the Middle East crisis is not from Iran but from the misinformed and misdirected actions of our fellow Americans.

America has been blessed in wonderful and innumerable ways. I believe that one of the main reasons for our blessings is that we have always supported (blessed) Israel according to God’s Word. If we follow certain other nations, and even our internal antagonists, in criticizing this crucial ally, we place ourselves in grave danger. This geopolitical movement goes beyond politics, but it is almost completely led by the Socialist Left. And, it is virtually all under the umbrella of the Democratic Party. A recent Gallop poll indicated that American Democrats favored Palestinians over Israelis, 49% to 38%. The same poll showed Republicans favored Israelis over Palestinians, 78% to 11%.

President Biden and his administration are not the Democrats of the Kennedy and Clinton years. The Party has become radically Socialist, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and, in large measure, anti-American. America has been in decline for several years morally, spiritually, economically, militarily, and about every other way of measuring a nation’s status. Now, we are seemingly determined to weaken our bond with Israel and become even less influential on the world stage. As you watch the current crisis play out in the news media, stay centered on the truth. Pray that, through God’s mercy and grace, He will protect and sustain us despite ourselves.