This is a two-part series on “Where I Stand on Israel”. In this first part I want to lay it on the line what my understanding is and for that I offer, following this preamble, an extract from my forthcoming book: “It’s Not What We Were Told”.
I do so often feeling like the man walking down the middle of the road who is liable to be run down by traffic from either direction. But Israel is too important a subject to ignore and it is why I have returned to it many times in my twelve years as a regular blogger.
Even among sound, godly, thoughtful Christians I know and respect, many are very pro-Israel and can see no wrong in what Israel does. Others go the other way and see a great deal of wrong, preferring to champion “the Palestinian cause”. I have friends on both sides, and what follows may upset some of my pro-Israel friends as well as some of my pro-Palestine friends, yet I have to tell those on both sides that my main concern is truth and agreeing with God. I offer what follows as food for thought, not as the last word, because I do not know all the facts and I cannot endorse everything done – or not done, or hidden – in the name of Israel.
I find it hard to get unbiased truth at present. Mainstream media I can no longer fully trust, alternative/social media often paints Israel as the bad guys – even outlets I otherwise rate, like UK Column, are very down on Israel. On the other side, some pro-Israel sources report faithfully but can’t see anything wrong at anything Israel does. I have one friend who often quotes a particular pro-Israel commentator, who clearly never sees the bad side and another friend who regular shares reports that always show those who are calling the shots on Israel in a bad light. It is easy for all of us to gravitate to our favourite echo chambers and it is why I can refer to both as friends without having to feel I must agree with either.
Why do I keep coming back to Israel? Because I see, as I wrote toward the end of my book, that my own nation is under judgment. I give as one important reason – it turning its back on Israel. What is happening in Israel since the Hamas attacks in 2023, today’s Iran conflict and widespread antisemitism is not just news, it fits with end-time prophecy as I read Scripture. I have not doubt that Israel (the people and the land) have an important part in God’s plan.
The political scene nationally and locally is confused and it is no wonder most people who give the matter any thought are too and that perspectives sharply differ. Pro-Israel friends tell me that Labour have washed their hands of Israel. Anti-Zionist friends tell me Labour are still supplying weapons and supporting Israel. Both cannot be true! So where do the parties actually stand?
That is why I plan a blog to follow on from this first one, which is my personal foundation – what I believe about Israel and Jews. In the second, I intend to go into the Green Party motion that described Zionism as racism, the reaction from our local MP, David Burton-Sampson, and where different parties – Greens, Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, Reform, locally and nationally, actually stand and doing my best to define terms like “Zionism” and, just as importantly, differentiating facts from opinions.
Israel and Jews
Zionism (Good and Bad definitions) – according to AI:
Good: the Jewish nationalist movement supporting a homeland in Israel, rooted in historical and religious ties.
Bad: Zionism is a racist colonialist movement forcing Palestinians out of their land for Jewish supremacy.
Unlike many Christians, I believe that the Covenant God made with Abraham still stands, Israel has NOT been replaced by the Church and many Old Testament promises concerning a future restored kingdom under its Messiah are yet to be fulfilled. As I write, I see evidence of more anti-Israel sentiment, even among Christians who understand what is going on in the world. While I am of the school of thought that maintains God blesses those who bless Israel, I sometimes feel like the person walking in the middle of the road, liable of being run down by traffic coming from either direction and, while I love Israel, I cannot endorse everything that is done (or not done, or hidden) in the name of Israel, as I do not know all the facts.
Even sound, godly, thoughtful Christians gravitate toward their favourite echo chambers and often disagree. I offer the following as food for thought concerning this contentious subject:
- Ever since God called Abraham and made His Covenant with him 4000 years ago, Israel and Jews have occupied a central place on the world stage and in God’s plans.
- The Jewish people have prior claim to the land we nowadays refer to as Israel. They can look forward to the day when their coming king will reign in Zion.
- As part of the countdown to Jesus’ return, what is happening in Israel, e.g., following the Hamas attacks on Israel in 2023 and today’s Iran conflict, are very significant.
- The Jewish people have been persecuted from time immemorial and Anti-Semitism is on the rise today, fuelled in part by an anti-Israel narrative that does not recognise the wrongs of their enemies. Much of it is orchestrated by Satan, hating what God loves.
- Just as it is not unBritish to criticise my own (or any other) country for doing wrong, it is not Anti-Semitic if applied to Israel. Hating individuals for their ethnicity is evil.
- I cannot dismiss the argument that the dynasty represented by Lord Walter Rothchild (recipient of the 1917 Balfour declaration) along with other (bad) Zionist players may be members of the “cabal” running the world behind the scenes, with nefarious intent.
- Israel becoming a sovereign nation in 1948, for the first time after the Maccabees rule, was likely an act of God, but ungodly political posturing was also involved.
- Not all who identify as Jews are descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob and only a few who do so can be described as “God fearing”.
- While I accept Israel has a right to do what is needed to live in peace and security, I am not convinced that all their actions have been/are “righteous”. But also, an active pro-Palestinian lobby usually fails to recognise the wicked deeds of Israel’s enemies.
- I look forward to seeing many as yet unfulfilled prophecies concerning Israel fulfilled, and while Christian Gentiles will benefit these were primarily aimed at Jews.
