Revealed: the shrapnel evidence that points to Israel's guilt

By Donald Macintyre in Beit Lahiya, Gaza

Published: 14 June 2006

Israel has dismissed continuing calls for an independent international inquiry into the beachfront explosion which killed seven members of a Palestinian family in Gaza last Friday after its own internal military investigation decided it was not responsible for the blast.

As the military investigation team insisted that artillery fire had stopped by the time the explosion occurred and suggested it had been caused by a bomb planted in the sand, Amir Peretz, the Defence Minister, declared: " The accumulating evidence proves that this incident was not due to Israeli forces."

But the official interpretation was strongly challenged by a former Pentagon battle damage expert who has surveyed the scene of the beach explosion. He said yesterday that "all the evidence points" to a 155mm Israeli land-based artillery shell as its cause.

Marc Garlasco, who worked in war zones including Iraq and Kosovo during his seven-year stint in the US Department of Defence, called for an independent investigation into the killings after concluding that shell fragments and shrapnel from the site, the size and distribution of the craters on the beach, and the type of injuries sustained by the victims made Israeli shelling easily the likeliest cause.

His assessment came as at least another seven civilians, including two children, as well as two Islamic Jihad militants, were killed in a double Israeli missile strike on a VW van in the densely populated Zeitoun district of Gaza City yesterday. The two children were hit at a nearby house by flying shrapnel and the civilian dead included three medical workers from a nearby children's hospital who rushed to help after hearing the first explosion.

Israel said the militants had been on their way to launch Katyusha rockets which have a much longer range than the Qassam rockets normally fired from Gaza into Israel. One of the two dead Islamic Jihad militants was Hamoud Wadiya, described as the top rocket launcher in the faction. Mr Peretz said before the strike that Israel was resuming operations "to protect the citizens of Israel" after a pause caused by what he had acknowledged had been "the international storm" over the civilian deaths at the Beit Lahia beach last Friday.

The debate over the beach explosion is unlikely to die down however. Mr Garlasco who is now the senior military analyst for Human Rights Watch, said yesterday: "Of course I can't be completely conclusive but all the evidence points to its being a 155mm Israeli shell which killed the Palestinians on the beach."

Mr Garlasco said that most of the serious injuries of the victims in the Gaza hospitals that he had visited were to the torsos and heads, which were inconsistent with a land mine or of a bomb embedded in the sand. "If this had been a landmine I would have expected to see serious leg injuries," he said. Mr Garlasco said that while he could not rule out the theoretical possibility that Palestinian militants had rigged up an unexploded 155mm shell to make an explosive device of their own, that too would have normally produced many more severe leg injuries.

Mr Garlasco produced a four to five-inch, mainly blackened shell fragment which he collected about 100 yards from the scene of the explosion and in which the figures 55 and the letters "mm" are clearly discernible. While acknowledging that this was not itself definite proof that the shell had killed the Palestinians he said some fragments and shrapnel which the Palestinian police explosives department say they took from the scene where the victims were killed were definitely from a 155mm shell.

Mr Garlasco who accompanied a small group of journalists to the Beit Lahia beach, pointed to three separate craters, each covered in a whitish powder, which he said were fresh, one of which was at the spot where witnesses agree the fatal blast occurred, and the two others separated it from it by about 120 and 250 yards. Mr Garlasco added: "It would be a really ridiculous coincidence if there is active shelling and then suddenly an IED [improvised explosive device] goes off."

The military have admitted firing earlier in the area but now say that the explosion occurred between 4.47 and 5.10pm, when it says firing had stopped. An ambulance driver from the nearby al-Awda hospital, Khaled Abu Sada, said that he first took a call about the emergency at 4.50pm.

The military did not explicitly repeat claims in earlier leaks that Hamas had planted the device or say whether it was a dud shell. It says that shrapnel taken from the bodies of victims being treated in Israeli hospitals was not from a 150mm shell. But Mr Garlasco said that copper-lined shrapnel taken from two injured girls who had been in a car at the time of the blast and from the car itself were consistent with such a shell fired by a M109 howitzer.

Mr Garlasco ruled out the possibility that the shells were naval, as originally thought, on the grounds that they were too large to be fired from Israeli navy coastal vessels.

Israel has dismissed continuing calls for an independent international inquiry into the beachfront explosion which killed seven members of a Palestinian family in Gaza last Friday after its own internal military investigation decided it was not responsible for the blast.

As the military investigation team insisted that artillery fire had stopped by the time the explosion occurred and suggested it had been caused by a bomb planted in the sand, Amir Peretz, the Defence Minister, declared: " The accumulating evidence proves that this incident was not due to Israeli forces."

But the official interpretation was strongly challenged by a former Pentagon battle damage expert who has surveyed the scene of the beach explosion. He said yesterday that "all the evidence points" to a 155mm Israeli land-based artillery shell as its cause.

Marc Garlasco, who worked in war zones including Iraq and Kosovo during his seven-year stint in the US Department of Defence, called for an independent investigation into the killings after concluding that shell fragments and shrapnel from the site, the size and distribution of the craters on the beach, and the type of injuries sustained by the victims made Israeli shelling easily the likeliest cause.

His assessment came as at least another seven civilians, including two children, as well as two Islamic Jihad militants, were killed in a double Israeli missile strike on a VW van in the densely populated Zeitoun district of Gaza City yesterday. The two children were hit at a nearby house by flying shrapnel and the civilian dead included three medical workers from a nearby children's hospital who rushed to help after hearing the first explosion.

Israel said the militants had been on their way to launch Katyusha rockets which have a much longer range than the Qassam rockets normally fired from Gaza into Israel. One of the two dead Islamic Jihad militants was Hamoud Wadiya, described as the top rocket launcher in the faction. Mr Peretz said before the strike that Israel was resuming operations "to protect the citizens of Israel" after a pause caused by what he had acknowledged had been "the international storm" over the civilian deaths at the Beit Lahia beach last Friday.

The debate over the beach explosion is unlikely to die down however. Mr Garlasco who is now the senior military analyst for Human Rights Watch, said yesterday: "Of course I can't be completely conclusive but all the evidence points to its being a 155mm Israeli shell which killed the Palestinians on the beach."

Mr Garlasco said that most of the serious injuries of the victims in the Gaza hospitals that he had visited were to the torsos and heads, which were inconsistent with a land mine or of a bomb embedded in the sand. "If this had been a landmine I would have expected to see serious leg injuries," he said. Mr Garlasco said that while he could not rule out the theoretical possibility that Palestinian militants had rigged up an unexploded 155mm shell to make an explosive device of their own, that too would have normally produced many more severe leg injuries.

Mr Garlasco produced a four to five-inch, mainly blackened shell fragment which he collected about 100 yards from the scene of the explosion and in which the figures 55 and the letters "mm" are clearly discernible. While acknowledging that this was not itself definite proof that the shell had killed the Palestinians he said some fragments and shrapnel which the Palestinian police explosives department say they took from the scene where the victims were killed were definitely from a 155mm shell.

Mr Garlasco who accompanied a small group of journalists to the Beit Lahia beach, pointed to three separate craters, each covered in a whitish powder, which he said were fresh, one of which was at the spot where witnesses agree the fatal blast occurred, and the two others separated it from it by about 120 and 250 yards. Mr Garlasco added: "It would be a really ridiculous coincidence if there is active shelling and then suddenly an IED [improvised explosive device] goes off."

The military have admitted firing earlier in the area but now say that the explosion occurred between 4.47 and 5.10pm, when it says firing had stopped. An ambulance driver from the nearby al-Awda hospital, Khaled Abu Sada, said that he first took a call about the emergency at 4.50pm.

The military did not explicitly repeat claims in earlier leaks that Hamas had planted the device or say whether it was a dud shell. It says that shrapnel taken from the bodies of victims being treated in Israeli hospitals was not from a 150mm shell. But Mr Garlasco said that copper-lined shrapnel taken from two injured girls who had been in a car at the time of the blast and from the car itself were consistent with such a shell fired by a M109 howitzer.

Mr Garlasco ruled out the possibility that the shells were naval, as originally thought, on the grounds that they were too large to be fired from Israeli navy coastal vessels.

Israel has conceded that it may have been responsible for the Gaza beach deaths after all, having ruled out any hint of blame hours earlier.

The military said on Wednesday that old Israeli ordnance could have killed the eight Palestinians last Friday, after its previous denial of responsibility was received with scepticism by the United Nations and elsewhere.

General Meir Klifi, who is leading the Israeli military investigation, said an examination of shrapnel removed from one of the casualties proved that it did not come from a 155mm shell - the type his army was firing at the Gaza Strip last Friday.

But he told Israeli radio: "It could be from another kind of munition that we have used in the past."

He said, however, that his investigation was incomplete so his findings were not conclusive.

This was a retreat from his position on Tuesday night when he appeared at a news conference with General Dan Halutz, the chief of staff, who said "we do not bear responsibility" for the deaths.

Amir Peretz, the Israeli defence minister, also said: "We have enough evidence that back our big suspicions that the attempt to present this as an Israeli incident is simply untrue."

Palestinians have asked for a UN investigation into the incident.

Human Rights Watch, a US-based group, has already inspected the site of the explosion.

Marc Garlasco, a former Pentagon adviser who is now a military analyst with the group, said: "It is my contention that the most likely scenario is that Israeli shelling hit the area."

Of Israeli suggestions that the blast was caused by a Palestinian mine, he said: "This is patently not the case." He told AFP: "We are very certain that it is a 155mm shell."

'Nothing to hide'

Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, called Israel's claims "odd".

Asked whether an international inquiry was needed, he said: "We would need both the Israelis and Palestinian authorities to co-operate with such an investigation."

An Israeli foreign ministry official said no request had been received from the UN to conduct an inquiry, but said Israel would co-operate if one were received. "We have nothing to hide," he said.

"While acknowledging that this was not itself definite proof that the shell had killed the Palestinians he said some fragments and shrapnel which the Palestinian police explosives department say they took from the scene where the victims were killed were definitely from a 155mm shell."

Uh, I really trust that the Palestinian police actually gave him shrapnel foundat the scene. Oh come on, don't be a sap!

"It would be a really ridiculous coincidence if there is active shelling and then suddenly an IED [improvised explosive device] goes off."

It doesn't matter if an event is unlikely, it matters whther it occurred.



"Mr Garlasco ruled out the possibility that the shells were naval, as originally thought, on the grounds that they were too large to be fired from Israeli navy coastal vessels."

Which is where the shells were coming from.

All the Israeli expert conceeded was that it waspossible that it was old Israeli ordnance as opposed to a Hamas land mine, although this doesn't preclude an IED made from old ordinance either.

Who is more likely to be telling the truth about oppression, the oppressors or the oppressed?

I suggest that the people that brought us Pallywood are the most likely to be making stuff up yet again.

http://www.seconddraft.org/movies.php

One of the photos on that site is a grafitti in English sprayed in Hebron calling for the Arabs to be gassed. It's very likely black propaganda done by an educated Palestinian or anti-settler Westerner. But I digress.

But it couldn't have been a Zionist shell that killed those kids picnicking on the beach.

It just couldn't have!

Well, Zionist murders, what do you have to say for yourselves? Yes. We know already.

"Those kids were filthy Palestinian gutter-trash anyway."

"More future terrorists desposed of."

"Just a little 'collateral damage'. Nothing to worry about. Bring it to the shop on monday and we'll fix 'er right up for you."

etc.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God espies or discovers a land for a people, as in Ezek. 20:6: "He brought them into a land that He had espied for them." And, that is, when either He gives them to discover it themselves, or hears of it discovered by others, and fitting them. Second, after He hath espied it, when He carrieth them along to it, so that they plainly see a providence of God leading them from one country to another, as in Ex. 19.-4; "You have seen how I have borne you as on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself" So that though they met with many difficulties, yet He carried them high above them all, like an eagle, flying over seas and rocks, and all hindrances.

Third, when He makes room for a people to dwell there, as in Ps. 80:9: "Thou preparedst room for them. . ."

Now, God makes room for a people three ways: First, when He casts out the enemies of a people before them by lawful war with the inhabitants, which God calls them unto, as in Ps. 44:2- "Thou didst drive out the heathen before them." But this course of warring against others and driving them out without provocation depends upon special commission from God, or else it is not imitable.

Second, when He gives a foreign people favor in the eyes of any native people to come and sit down with them, either by way of purchase, as Abraham did obtain the field of Achpelah; or else when they give it in courtesy, as Pharaoh did the land of Goshen unto the sons of Jacob.

Third, when He makes a country, though not altogether void of inhabitants, yet void in that place where they reside. Where there is a vacant place, there is liberty for the sons of Adam or Noah to come and inhabit, though they neither buy it nor ask their leaves. . . . So that it is free from that common grant for any to take possession of vacant countries. Indeed, no nation is to drive out another without special commission from Heaven, such as the Israelites had, unless the natives do unjustly wrong them, and will not recompense the wrongs done in a peaceable fort [way]. And then they may right themselves by lawful war and subdue the country unto them- selves. . .

This may teach us all, where we now dwell or where after we may dwell: Be sure you look at every place appointed to you from the hand of God. We may not rush into any place and never say to God, "By Your leave." But we must discern how God appoints us this place. There is poor comfort in sitting down in any place that you cannot say, "This place is appointed me of God." Canst thou say that God spied out this place for thee, and there hath settled thee above all hindrances? Didst thou find that God made room for the either by lawful descent, or purchase, or gift, or other warrantable right? Why, then, this is the place God hath appointed thee; here He hath made room for thee, He hath placed thee in Rehoboth, in a peaceable place. This we must discern or else we are but intruders upon God. And when we do withal discern that God giveth us these out- ward blessings from His love in Christ, and maketh comfortable provision as well for our soul as for our bodies by the means of grace, then do we enjoy our present possession as well by gracious promise as by the common, and just, and bountiful providence of the Lord. Or, if a man do remove, he must see that God hath espied out such a country for him. . .

Quest. But how shall I know whether God hath appointed me such a place, if I be well where I am, what may warrant my removal?

Answ. There be four or five good things, for procurement of any of which I may remove. Second, there be some evil things, for avoiding of any of which we may transplant ourselves. Third, if withal we find some special providence of God concurring in either of both concerning ourselves, and applying general grounds of removal to our personal estate.

First, we may remove for the gaining of knowledge. . .

Second, some remove and travail for merchandise and gainsake: "Daily bread may be sought from afar" (Prov. 31:14). . .

Third, to plant a colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their own country, and settle a city or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a colony, we read in Acts 16:12, which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious church. . .

Fourth, God alloweth a man to remove when he may employ his talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any special engagement. . .

Fifth, for the liberty of the ordinances. . . This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the days of Queen Mary, who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her reign, upon proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began. . . . There be evils to be avoided that may warrant removal: First, when some grievous sins overspread a country that threaten desolation. . . . Second, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries. . . Third, in case of persecution. . .As these general cases, where any of them do fall out, do warrant removal in general; so there be some special providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himself, and which apply the former general grounds to particular persons; hat threaten desolation. . . Second, if be overburdened with debts and misery . . .Third, in case of persecution . . .As these general cases, where any em do fall out, do warrant removal in ml; so there be some special provinces or particular cases which may give 'ant unto such or such a person to plant himself, and which apply the for general grounds to particular persons; first, if sovereign authority command and encourage such plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves and set up a new commonwealth. This is a lawful and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent; Matt. 8:9: "And for such as they who are sent have power to command." Second, when some special providence of God leads a man unto such a course.

The Divine Right to Occupy the Land

by John Cotton

London,1630

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more [11 Sam. 7:10]. . . .

The placing of a people in this or that country is from the appointment of the Lord. . . Quest. Wherein doth this work of God stand in appointing a place for a people? Answ. First, when God e

http://indymediawatch.blogspot.com/2006/06/blood-libel.html

There is absolutely no proof of such claims.

Incidentally, Lunchbox, why do you say "Zionist shell," not "Israeli shell?" And, "Zionist murders (sic)?" I get the feeling that you're not the innocent little neutral just concerned person you claimed to be

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exil

Toady's back.

@%

Same spammer

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June 12, 2006 by Lee Green, Ricki Hollander

Israel Should Not Be Presumed Guilty of Gaza Beach Deaths

Much has been reported about an explosion on a Gaza beach on June 9, 2006 which killed 7 people, including 3 children. There has been a video shown repeatedly of a young girl wailing with grief there, coming upon the dead body of her father. Palestinians and their supporters have responded by blaming Israel and insisting that it was a deliberate "massacre" of civilians by Israel.

Many in the press are presuming that Israel is responsible for the deaths, but there is no proof of this, and the media and the world community should not rush to judgment. According to Ha'aretz military correspondent Amos Harel, an Israeli investigation has determined that it is highly unlikely that an errant Israeli shell was fired at the time of the explosion on the beach.

Israel's initial response was to offer medical help, to offer condolences, and apologize should it turn out that they were responsible for a missile going astray, stressing that they work hard to minimize any harm to civilians. They said they were investigating because they were not aware of firing at that area at that time. Nonetheless, many reports about the incident have been saying that it is "presumed" that Israel is responsible. Why? Based on what proof?

The Israelis investigating the incident have narrowed it down to several possible scenarios, with an errant Israeli shell being fired at the time of the explosion the least likely, since the Israelis had stopped firing approximately 15 minutes before the Gaza beach explosion. More likely causes are, according to the June 12 Amos Harel article on the IDF investigation:

* Unexploded IDF ordnance: In the past months the IDF has fired hundreds of shells in the area of Friday's incident. In some instances, Palestinian civilians were killed when they touched the unexploded shells including youths who sought to dismantle the ordnance in order to sell the metal. Israel has no means of pinpointing the location of the unexploded ordnance from previous operations.

* Detonation of a Palestinian bomb: Less than two weeks ago Israeli naval commandos operated in the northern Gaza Strip and ambushed a team of Qassam rocket operators. The Palestinians reported that groups of divers had arrived by sea, and militant forces announced that they would find ways to prevent any similar operations in the future. The possibility does exist that areas near the beach were mined and that the family members accidentally set off an explosive device that was intended to destroy a team of Israeli special-forces troops. Possible evidence of this hypothesis are Palestinian eye-witnesses who said that Hamas militants rushed to the site of the blast on Friday evening to collect remnants of the explosives.

...The key to solving the mystery will be in the analysis of the remnants of the shell or bomb that killed and injured the civilians. Three of those injured are hospitalized in Israel. If they were hurt by shrapnel, its origins can be determined." (Ha'aretz article, "IDF Hard-pressed to Pinpoint Cause of Gaza Beach Deaths")

It should also be recalled that:

* The Palestinians have in the past blamed Israel for deaths that were caused by their own bombs or weapons going off by accident or landing in the wrong place.

For example, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl was killed in January of 2005 by celebratory gunfire as several Palestinians departed for their pilgrimage to Mecca. Her death was initially blamed on the Israelis by PA and UN officials.

In another case, in November of 2001, a Palestinian security official initially blamed the death of 5 Palestinian children on an Israeli tank shell hitting a school, but later recanted.

* Palestinian rocket fire aimed at Israeli civilians has at times fallen short or gone astray and damaged Palestinian homes and killed Palestinians. For example, according to http://www.albawaba.com :

"...on the afternoon of 8 February 2006, an armed Palestinian group launched a locally made rocket from the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip at an Israeli target across the border. The rocket went astray, hitting a house belonging to Saber Mohammed Abdul Dayem, nearly 300 meters from the launching site. The rocket hit the southern part of 3-storey house, where 10 people live, said the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR.). Fire broke out, terrifying the family-members. The rocket exploded in the family's living room and destroyed all their furniture. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

This incident was not the first of its kind. On 2 August 2005, Palestinian armed groups launched three locally made rockets at Israeli targets. One of them went astray and hit a house belonging to the family of Al Ashqar east of the town of Beit Hanoun, also in the northern Strip. Fifty-year old Al Ashqar and his 6-year old son, Yasser, were killed. Nine other civilians, including five children, were also wounded in the attack. " www.albawaba.com/en/news/197801

The press should be more clear in its reports that the cause of the deaths is unknown and that Palestinian allegations should not automatically be believed because:

* According to a June 11th AP article,

"Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant, the head of Israel's southern command, said Sunday the military had proof it wasn't responsible [for the Gaza beach deaths]. He said the [Israeli] military suspended artillery fire 15 minutes before the explosion at the beach, Army Radio reported" (AP article, "Israeli airstrike kills 2 Hamas militants" by Ibrahim Barzak, AP Writers).

* the Palestinians have not allowed any kind of professional independent investigation of the evidence to determine what actually caused the explosion.

The video taken by an Arab news agency (Ramattan) of an inconsolable young girl wailing as she discovers her dead father, has been played and replayed on Arab news stations several times an hour. Photos from the video as well as clips have appeared on TV stations and newspapers around the world, instantly becoming an iconic image similar to that of 12-year-old Mohammed Al Dura who was said to have been shot to death by an Israeli soldier in September 2000. As it turned out, however, Al Dura was almost certainly shot by Palestinians, if he was shot at all. (See BACKGROUNDER: Mohammed Al Dura, or Anatomy of a French Media Scandal )

While no one is questioning whether the young girl lost members of her family, many are now questioning how a video camera was at the scene within seconds to follow the daughter across the sand and capture her grief upon finding her dead father or how no one seems to console the child, including the photographer, how there is no evidence of a crater or blood near the bodies. Were the bodies moved, was the girl asked to reenact her discovery for the camera, was the video staged? Palestinian Media Watch has already demonstrated that the clips aired on official Palestinian Authority TV have been edited and falsified by including unrelated video of an Israeli missile boat firing at Gaza earlier in the day, creating the impression of Israeli responsibility. Al Jazeera similarly includes scenes of the supposed Israeli "strike". Yet some are accepting these inserted clips of an Israeli missile boat as the direct cause of the deaths.

Remarks by Prime Minister's media advisor Ra'anan Gissin are of interest. As noted in a June 11 Jerusalem Post article by Herb Keinon, entitled "Gissin: Don't blame Israel first":

Israelis are doing themselves a gross disservice, and playing into the hands of the Palestinians, by presuming that an Israeli shell caused the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians Friday in Gaza, Prime Minster Ehud Olmert's Foreign media advisor Ra'anan Gissin said Sunday.

"We are repeating the same mistakes of the past in taking responsibility when there are other possibilities about who is responsible," Gissin said.

He said that Friday's tragedy on the Gaza beach may indeed be similar to the shooting of Mohammed al-Dura in 2000, the "Jenin Massacre" in 2002, and the killing of 21 people at the Jabaliya refugee camp last September. While the Palestinians originally pinned the blame for all these incidents on Israel, it has since turned out that al-Dura may have been killed by Palestinians, that there was no "Jenin massacre," and that the deaths in Jabaliya were caused when Hamas activists "mishandled" explosives at a mass rally.

Gissin said that Israel should immediately have raised doubts after Friday's incident about the Palestinian version of events that placed the blame squarely on Israel.

"We jumped to conclusions before the evidence, and we immediately assumed that it was probably an Israeli shell," Gissin said. "But we don't know that for a fact. The Palestinians moved in and destroyed all the evidence. People should be asking themselves, 'why?' "

Just as Israel is conducting an investigation, Gissin said that the international community should also be demanding that the Palestinians conduct an investigation. But rather than doing that, he said, the Palestinians are removing evidence from the scene.

"We look at the area as a battle zone," Gissin said, "while the Palestinians view it as a crime scene, and are interested in making the evidence look like Israel carried out an atrocity," he said.

Gissin said that the evidence "didn't add up" in Jenin to equal a massacre because there were not enough bodies, and in Jabaliya there were too many witnesses to what happened to buy the Hamas line that the explosion in 2005 was the result of missiles fired by an IDF helicopter.

"But now we have a classic case where there is no real evidence, and all we have is a picture of a crying girl on the beach," Gissin said of Friday's incident in Gaza. "Nobody knows how the people there were killed. If it was an Israeli shell, why didn't the Palestinians invite the press to see the remnants of the shell, why have they been so quick to remove the evidence?"

Gissin bemoaned a situation where he said that instead of waiting for the investigation, the Israeli press jumped to the conclusion that it was an errant Israeli shell and reflexively began calling for an end to artillery fire on Gaza.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, meanwhile, said that considering the circumstances, Israel weathered this particular storm in the foreign media "fairly well."

Regev said that none of the serious international news outlets blamed Israel for intentionally targeting the civilians, and that most mentioned that Israel expressed regret and set up an investigation of the incident.

Regev said that the Foreign Ministry and IDF coordinated Israel's reaction after the incident and that there were two main messages:

*That Israel regretted the incident and expressed sorrow for it; that it deems the loss of innocent civilian life unacceptable; but that it was not taking responsibility because an investigation into exactly what happened was continuing.

*That the violence in Gaza is a result of Palestinian extremist groups continuing to launch rockets on Israel even though Israel pulled out of Gaza 10 months ago and has neither a single settler nor soldier there.

Regev said that this message did not emphasize the possibility that the Palestinians may have been responsible for the blast, because no one at this point knows exactly what happened. Israel, he said, did stress that it was investigating the incident, and that it was premature to draw conclusions.



UPDATE, July 12: The Jerusalem Post is now reporting that the IDF probe investigating the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians from an explosion on a beach in Gaza on Friday evening concluded that chances were slim that the accident was caused by IDF shelling, basing their findings on an inconsistency between the shrapnel found in the body of one of the wounded babies and the metal used in IDF artillery, and the absence of a crater at the site of the explosion, as would be expected if an IDF shell had landed there.

*********************************************************

The Western press, however, have misreported the story, presuming, based on zero evidence, it was an errant Israeli shell. For example:

BBC News reported on its Web site:

"Seven people, including three children, died on Friday when Israeli shells hit a beach in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials say."

The reporter qualifies the remark by adding "Palestinian officials say", but they include several more quotations from Palestinians blaming Israel who use words such as "massacre." The article has only one sentence from the Israelis saying they are "investigating," making it sound like Israel is investigating how it happened, not if it happened as a result of their actions. The article makes no mention that the Israelis were not even sure if the explosions were from Israel's weapons at all. No doubt at all is cast on the Palestinian claims that Israel is responsible. (For full article, click here.)

And a BBC radio broadcast, "World: Have Your Say" accepts that the videos shown in the Arab world that include the "Israeli strike" are real and asks whether the Western media is sanitizing the truth when showing clips that omit the strike.

The New York Times, for its part, has been placing disproportionate emphasis on the incident, with several articles over the past three days, including a human interest story about the girl (June 12, 2006), and a huge above-fold color photo from the video that spread across four columns. (June 10, 2006).

In another article "Hamas Fires Rockets Into Israel Ending 16-Month Truce" (June 11, 2006), bureau chief Steven Erlanger writes that six members of the Ghaliya family "were killed when the Israeli shell struck the beach where they were having a picnic." And in "Errant Shell Turns Girl Into Palestinian Icon" (June 12, 2006), reporter George Azar writes:

Eleven-year-old Huda unwittingly became a symbol of Palestinian pain and loss during an afternoon picnic with her family on a hot day when a cameraman captured her shrieking "Father, Father, Father!" as she hovered over the bloody bodies of 13 dead or wounded members of her family, hit by what was apparently an errant Israeli artillery shell...

Nowhere in these articles is any doubt raised as to who fired the deadly weapons. It is presumed that Israel is at fault. And there is no curiosity about how a camera got to the scene before the girl discovered her father's dead body or if indeed the cameraman asked the girl to reenact her discovery.

The press and the public should reserve judgment and not make hasty assumptions.

And if Israel is indeed responsible for the deaths, it should be noted that Israel in no way intended to harm civilians and is sorry if it did cause the deaths. In contrast, the goal of the Palestinian terrorists (including the current Palestinian legislative leaders) is to intentionally harm Israeli civilians, and they celebrate and gloat when Israeli or Jewish children are injured, maimed or murdered.

The explosion on the Gaza beach may have been an accident involving either Israeli or Palestinian weaponry, yet it garnered huge press coverage. The frequent Palestinian rocket attacks against the Israeli civilians living in Sderot, however, is entirely intentional and barely reported upon. The attacks are nothing short of attempted serial murder and it is interesting that there is so little outrage from the world community.

Stay tuned for updates!

when discussion of Zionist war crimes is drowned out by noise?

when anti-zionists are caught lying or promoting some Pallywood scam, suddenly the spam starts up again. Coincidence?

they start disrupting the thread immediately, by a variety of means, including disinformation, giggerish and just plain noise.

They really, really, really don;t want us ti talk about Zionist lies and atrocities.

Just contentless Nessie droppings. If you have nothing intelligent to say, SF Indymedia is the place to post.

And why is there no mention of this massacre of civilians and Israel’s terrorism on the front web page of any of the Indy media websites? Why is LA Indy more concerned with the destruction of a farm than the genocide of Palestinians who have preserved the three religions in the Holy land for the past millenniums? That is an important question that needs to be answered by those who work or volunteer here and Indy media in general.

You must be a shill, because regular contributors don't use terms like "anti-Palestine monsters" and expect anyone to take them serously.

There's neither a massacre nor Israeli terrorism. But didn't you make them up anyway? How cute it is of you to feign victimhood, sir/madam.

"genocide of Palestinians who have preserved the three religions in the Holy land for the past millenniums yadda yadda"

You're a clown. Go find somew frinds to play with. Do your parents know you're usinig their computer?

Lets go lie by lie;

1. "And why is there no mention of this massacre of civilians"

Because all credible evidence points to no Israeli invovlement

2. "and Israel’s terrorism"

Because Jews defending themselves is not "terrorism".

3. " the genocide of Palestinians"

Because there is no such thing.

4. " who have preserved the three religions in the Holy land for the past millenniums?"

Because thats two lies, there have not been "Palestinians" or Arabs there for thousands of years and because the Moslems of the region treated the Jews and Christians as Dhimmi and did not "preserve" them.

Theres your answer.

>all credible evidence points to no Israeli invovlement

The first two posts in the thread disproved this already.



>Because Jews defending themselves is not "terrorism".

They weren't "defending themselves." They were murdering civilians in cold blood.



>Because there is no such thing.

Tell that to to their victims.



>there have not been "Palestinians" or Arabs there for thousands of years



By definition, anyone who lives in Palestine is a Palestinian. That some of them call themselves "Israelis" and pretend they are not living in Palestine changes this not one iota.

>all credible evidence points to no Israeli invovlement

The first two posts in the thread do not disprove this.



>Because Jews defending themselves is not "terrorism".

They defend themselves. The Palestinian terrorists murder civilians in cold blood.



>Because there is no such thing.

Tell that to to the Jewish victims.



>there have not been "Palestinians" or Arabs there for thousands of years



By definition, anyone Jewish who lived in Palestine was a Palestinian. That many anti-Zionists call them "Israelis" and pretend they are not living in Palestine changes this not one iota.

"Incidentally, Lunchbox, why do you say "Zionist shell," not "Israeli shell?" And, "Zionist murders (sic)?" I get the feeling that you're not the innocent little neutral just concerned person you claimed to be"

I fail to make any distinction between the Zionists and the Israelis. As far as I can tell they are the same entity. Am I wrong?

Some Israelis are non-Zionist, like various ultra-Orthodox Jewish factions, such as some of the suppporters of Shas.

Other ultra-Orthodox factions are explicitly anti-Zionist, such as Agudat Yisrael, Satmer, Neturei Qarta.

There exist also secular Jewish anti-Zionists like the communists and those who are known better as "post-Zionists" such as Uri Avneri's Gush Shalom and the revisionist historians like Tom Segev and Ilan Pappe.

Most Israeli Muslim Arabs are anti-Zionist, too.

This brief overview proves that the names "Israeli" and "Zionist" aren't interchangeable.

Before I see any scoffing at what I've written, it'd be prudent to bear in mind that I live there. I'm not some Bible thumping redneck posting from Kentucky.

nessie: "... giggerish and just plain noise. ... They really, really, really don;t want us ti talk about Zionist lies and atrocities."

Don't drink and post, nessie.

@%

"Before I see any scoffing at what I've written, it'd be prudent to bear in mind that I live there. I'm not some Bible thumping redneck posting from Kentucky."

SJ, I've decided to change my tactics in debating you. From this point forward I am going to treat you with respect and kindness, because you're a human being and deserve as much. And you obviously know more about the ways of Israel than I do.

But I don't necessarily agree with your logic and reasoning and presentations of Israel from the perspective of my limited knowledge of your country. So I am going to address those things, and I am certain you will clarify for this ignorant redneck.

What you've stated that there are anti-Zionist Israelis is interesting and informative. However, would you not consider those factions to be only tiny sects of fanatic ultra-orthodox anti-Zionist Jews? Are not the overwhelming majority of Israelis Zionist Jews? Do those Zionist Jews not hold all of the power in Israel?

It seems intellectually dishonest to claim that Israeli Arabs and tiny factions of anti-Zionist Israeli Jews have any political voice at all in Israel, or any say in the aggressive methods Israeli uses to sustain its existence.

And for my own edification, are non-Jewish Israeli Arabs allowed to join the IDF? I really don't know the answer to that am politely inquiring.

"What you've stated that there are anti-Zionist Israelis is interesting and informative. However, would you not consider those factions to be only tiny sects of fanatic ultra-orthodox anti-Zionist Jews?"

Excluding the secular anti-Zionist Jews, that's be quite correct.



"Are not the overwhelming majority of Israelis Zionist Jews?"

That's pretty close to the truth, assuming this includes the non-Jews.



"Do those Zionist Jews not hold all of the power in Israel?

I'm not convinced. Both the Arab anti-Zionists and the religious Jewish anti-Zionists hold a little sway through their Knesset members. One example of their influence was in the way they made then PM Ehud Barak accede to their demand to form a state-run commission of inquiry to investigate the police conduct during the Oct 2000 riots in the Arab sector. Their KMs can also spell the difference between the passage/non-passage of a given law or the success of a no-confidence motion (a parliamentary mechanism conceived for the purpose of bringing down a government).

I also believe the secular Jewish anti-Zionist have some power in ultra-leftist Ha'aretz newspaper. They certainly have considerable power in the cultural arena -- theatre, films, sculpture, painting, etc.





"It seems intellectually dishonest to claim that Israeli Arabs and tiny factions of anti-Zionist Israeli Jews have... any say in the aggressive methods Israeli uses to sustain its existence."

See above. I'd add that Arab factions such as the Islamic Movement have resorted to threats of violence on many occasions and these have some effect on the Israeli authorities every now and then.



"And for my own edification, are non-Jewish Israeli Arabs allowed to join the IDF? I really don't know the answer to that am politely inquiring"

1. The Druze perform the compulsory military service that most Jews are subject to. They consented to this arrangement in the early 1950's.

2. Some Arab Christians and Muslims volunteer to IDF service. Notable are the Bedouin soldiers.



As for the redneck thing, I surmise from your words that you're actually a white man rather than a Native American. If this is so, I've got no hard feelings about your having lies on that.

That being said, I'd like to underline that I'm a real Jew. (In fact, I from my end don't cast doubts on the Jewishness of despicable Jewish antisemites like Gilad Atzmon, one of the idols of 'nessie'.)

If per chance you'll wish to regret having declared me a non-Jew, feel free to do so. But I'm not demanding this; I'm a realist after all.

BTW, a few thousand Pravoslav Christians have arrived in Israel from the former USSR. These are the "Russians" who have no interest whatsoever in converting to Judaism. These are the "Jews" that should be mocked to scorn.

"And for my own edification, are non-Jewish Israeli Arabs allowed to join the IDF? I really don't know the answer to that am politely inquiring"

"1. The Druze perform the compulsory military service that most Jews are subject to. They consented to this arrangement in the early 1950's."

"2. Some Arab Christians and Muslims volunteer to IDF service. Notable are the Bedouin soldiers."

I don't think you are being honest here. As far as I can determine, it is a requirement to be Jewish to join the IDF.

http://www.mahal2000.com/about/join.htm

So if that is true, then how can you logically claim the IDF to be the defacto defense forces for Israel, and specifically, non-Jewish Arab 'citizens' who are not even allowed to serve in the Israeli military?

All of this amounts to little more than obfuscation. The question was whether it is appropriate to claim that the Zionists killed these picnicking children, or whether it was the Israelis. I opined that I don't see any distinction between Zionists and the Israelis because the IDF is comprised overwhelmingly of Zionist Jews. The response was that there are Arab Israelis and small sects of anti-Zionist individuals with little or no say in Israeli politics, and the implication is that somehow these "Israelis" condone the killing of these Palestinian picnickers. That's pretty fallacious logic at best.

My conclusion is that the Zionist armed forces killed these picnickers. Further I can only conclude that there is little to distinguish the Zionist -- who almost exclusively hold power over small anti-Zionist sects -- from the conceptualiztion of Israel.

And certainly we can not conclude that non-Jewish Arab 'citizens' of Israel had any part in this tragedy.



"As for the redneck thing, I surmise from your words that you're actually a white man rather than a Native American. If this is so, I've got no hard feelings about your having lies on that."

I am overwhelmingly American Indian. My grandfather and grandmother on my mother's side are full-blooded Cherokee. My grandmother on my father's side is Creek. The rest of my bloodline is Scandinavian. So believe me, my neck is very, very red.

"If per chance you'll wish to regret having declared me a non-Jew, feel free to do so. But I'm not demanding this; I'm a realist after all."

You're falsely accusing me here. I've never done this. But I forgive you for this wrongful accusation.

"I am overwhelmingly American Indian. My grandfather and grandmother on my mother's side are full-blooded Cherokee. My grandmother on my father's side is Creek. The rest of my bloodline is Scandinavian. So believe me, my neck is very, very red"

I was under the impression that "redneck" labels only Southern White US Americans. You alluded to yourself as "this redneck". That's why I surmised you're a White.

Me:

If per chance you'll wish to regret having declared me a non-Jew, feel free to do so. But I'm not demanding this; I'm a realist after all.

"You're falsely accusing me here. I've never done this. But I forgive you for this wrongful accusation."

Maybe you never did say exactly that. However you sure did say this:

I don't think Scapegoated is a Jew either.

by Lunchbox Monday, Jun. 12, 2006 at 1:03 PM

which is quite close and equally ridiculous.



As for the impersonal stuff:

1. The Druze perform the compulsory military service that most Jews are subject to. They consented to this arrangement in the early 1950's.

2. Some Arab Christians and Muslims volunteer to IDF service. Notable are the Bedouin soldiers.

"I don't think you are being honest here. As far as I can determine, it is a requirement to be Jewish to join the IDF.

http://www.mahal2000.com/about/join.htm "

You're culled your info from an organization dedicated to enlisting Jewish volunteers *from outside of Israel* in the IDF. "mahal" is the Hebrew acronym for "volunteers from abroad". I was referring to Arabs living in Israel. Get it?

I've served with both Druze and other Arabs. Recently the IDF even drafted an Arab Christian female who had come to IDF's Reception and Classification Base close to Tel-Aviv and requested to be drafted (this was a first for an Arab female for all I know). So if you desire to be consistent with your stated willingness from before to actually learn the real facts of Israeli life, your orientation in the debate should be not of disputing my assertions but that of trying to verify whether what I've said is true.



"All of this amounts to little more than obfuscation. The question was whether it is appropriate to claim that the Zionists killed these picnicking children, or whether it was the Israelis."

You then are responsible for the "obfuscation" as you initiated it.



"I opined that I don't see any distinction between Zionists and the Israelis because the IDF is comprised overwhelmingly of Zionist Jews. The response was that there are Arab Israelis and small sects of anti-Zionist individuals with little or no say in Israeli politics, and the implication is that somehow these "Israelis" condone the killing of these Palestinian picnickers."

It's hard to escape the conclusion that you're trying to throw me into confusion by shuffling the topics being discussed on this thread in your passage. In any rate you're misrepresenting what I've said. Regardless, if you don't accept the fact that anti-Zionist Israeli Arabs and Jews are Israeli, that only says something about you, not me.



"My conclusion is that the Zionist armed forces killed these picnickers. Further I can only conclude that there is little to distinguish the Zionist -- who almost exclusively hold power over small anti-Zionist sects -- from the conceptualiztion of Israel. "

You're a grownup living in a free society, so you're free to draw the conclusions that suit you.



"And certainly we can not conclude that non-Jewish Arab 'citizens' of Israel had any part in this tragedy.

Have you gone through the list of IDF soldiers involved in Gaza related combat? I think not... So your claim can't be taken seriously.

Mind you, it was a Bedouin soldier thay killed ISM's Tom Hundall.

In most ways, Amir Halabi's story rings with familiarity.

Like the hundreds of other post-army shlichim placed by the Jewish Agency for Israel each summer at American Jewish camps, the 22-year-old Israeli left the harshness of Israel Defense Force drills for something more serene - a summer at Camp Tawonga in the forest near Yosemite, Calif.

Even at Tawonga, Halabi is only one of five shlichim, or Israel emissaries. He is overseeing a cabin of a dozen campers, aged 12 and 13. And like other shlichim, he provides them with a taste of Israel.

But in one way Halabi is entirely unique.

Halabi, a Druze from the northern village of Daltat el Carmel near Haifa, is the first-ever non-Jewish shaliach (delegate) sent to an American Jewish summer camp by the Jewish Agency.

"I am 100 percent Israeli and very patriotic," says Halabi, who finished his army service just four days before the start of camp. "I wanted the campers to see there are other cultures in Israel and that we are all friends with each other. For sure Israel is not only for Jews - even though it is definitely a Jewish country."

Halabi's presence reflects a greater mission of the camp to address the impact of the intifada on Bay Area teens, many of whom were unable to travel to Israel this summer due to the continued violence. The Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco last year convened a meeting of camp officials and others to brainstorm ways that Jewish camps could respond to this issue.

Out of the effort came the idea to "more accurately reflect the interesting and diverse nature of the Israeli people and bring new understandings to kids," explained Ken Kramarz, executive director of Camp Tawonga.

"Since Israel is about 20 percent non-Jewish, the shlichim delegation to Tawonga ought to be 20 percent non-Jewish."

But not only is Halabi not Jewish, he is Druze - a religion and culture not widely understood, although there is a small community of Druze in the United States. Since the start of camp, Halabi has been finding himself explaining what it means to be Druze to many people, including campers and staff.

The most common misperception, he says, is that the Druze in Israel are Arab and Muslim, when actually they are not at all.

Halabi explained that the reason for this misperception is that since the number of Druze in the world is so small, only about 1.5 million, the group has adapted and somewhat assimilated to whatever culture is around them.

That's why the Druze in Israel support Israel - Druze in Syria, meanwhile, support Syria and Druze in Lebanon support Lebanon.

Halabi says it "is not strange" for him to want to protect Israel, even though he's not Jewish. "I don't have any country other than Israel. It was my duty to go into the army and something I wanted to do."

Since his arrival, he has found himself checking the Internet "all the time, to know what's going on in Israel." Every terrorist attack and suicide bombing "is hard for me," says Halabi, noting that he fears he will see the name of a friend among the casualties.

"It's a small country and even if you don't know the person you probably know a friend of theirs."

While he tries not to "hang around in fear," somewhere in his mind "I'm thinking about it all the time."

The Druze religion, says Halabi, is an entirely different matter from nationality. Those on the outside "can't know anything about it" and even those who are Druze "don't know much." Only those who choose to become religious Druze learn the religion's secrets. In the past, this was done to avoid religious persecution, and now it is tradition, he says.

Still, most of Halabi's friends in Israel are Jewish. He attended Jewish schools, learned all about Judaism and often celebrates the Jewish holidays with his friends.

"When I meet with Jewish guys they don't seem different. We have tight relationships."

Halabi feels the same way about the people at Camp Tawonga. He described the campers and staff as "very positive about life" and accepting of "people who are different."

"They make you feel exactly like at home.''

LUNCHBOX WRITES: "My conclusion is that the Zionist armed forces killed these picnickers."

BECKY: Interesting discussion on Zionism within modern Israel. Thanks to SJ for such detailed information. The only thing I would add is that Arab Israelis can join the IDF but its not compulsory. They do have to apply and pass a security check first though. Some do volunteer and serve in this capacity.

the Israeli govt.'s reasoning is that the Arab Israelis shouldn't be forced to fire upon their Muslim "brothers."

However, poor Lunchbox STILL thinks that the IDF killed that family on the beach, when the evidence has piled up quite high against this.

Are you aware that Israel has airborne drones which videotape what is happening on the ground? those tapes clearly show when the IDF was firing and when the explosion occurred (15 minutes AFTER the last IDF shell was fired.) Also the missing IDF shell was the first one fired of the six, not the last one.

Why no crater? Why did Hamas rush the scene and remove evidence? Why didn't the Palestinians cooperate with the Israeli investigation? Why has the PA put on a loop a video of the girl crying over her dead father spliced in with shots of an IDF gunboat firing on the shore? This can ONLY be for propaganda purposes---and tends to show the PA is falsely accusing the Israelis ---for if it were true, they wouldn't need to splice in the misleading footage.

And we haven't even seen the aerial photos yet!!!

Lunchbox is so convinced the Zionists are evil, and wantonly kill civilians, that he will deny any evidence to the contrary.

ON ANOTHER TOPIC: Can Ryan accept that I am a human being too and treat me with the same respect human beings deserve?

Once again they have dragged a thread off topic. They really, really really don't want us to think or talk about thier murder of this innocent family. And who can blame them. If as much blood drippied from your fangs, you'd hide your face, too.

"The most common misperception, he says, is that the Druze in Israel are Arab and Muslim, when actually they are not at all. "

Surely they're not Muslim. However, I recall the Druze uproar from a decade and a half ago in reaction to the position of some Israeli officials that intoned that the Druze weren't Arab. The angry Druze insisted that the Israeli Druze are Arab.

"I was under the impression that "redneck" labels only Southern White US Americans. You alluded to yourself as "this redneck". That's why I surmised you're a White."

In general you are correct, it is a disparaging term for poor southern whites. But actually, you alluded to me as a redneck first, and I merely embraced the term in my response to you, because my neck really ~is~ red.

Semantics anyway. And outside the topic of our discussion. Let's move on.

"Maybe you never did say exactly that."

Then maybe you owe me an apology?

"However you sure did say this:"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I don't think Scapegoated is a Jew either.

by Lunchbox Monday, Jun. 12, 2006 at 1:03 PM

Now that you mention it, Sheepdog, he's doing far more damage to his Jewish "bretheren" than he is doing good.

The only explanation is that he is a cloaked white nationalist or some other sort of racist attempting to impune the name of good Jewish people in general.

Makes sense too because he has repeatedly attacked my American Indian heritage which would be in keeping with the agendas of a white nationalist.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yes. And I stand by the conclusions that I had drawn at the time, based on the information that I had been given to that point. Namely, your behavior was bringing Jew into discredit, and it only makes sense that a non-Jew such ~ such as a white nationalist ~ would want to do such a thing.

But if you say you're a Jew, then I'll take it FWIW. It really makes no difference.

"You're culled your info from an organization dedicated to enlisting Jewish volunteers *from outside of Israel* in the IDF. "mahal" is the Hebrew acronym for "volunteers from abroad". I was referring to Arabs living in Israel. Get it?"

That does not answer my question. My question is very specific. Are non-Jews allowed to join the IDF? It's a simple yes or no question, which begs at this point.

"I've served with both Druze and other Arabs."

Again, that doesn't answer the question. I am not addressing ethnicity. Are non-Jews allowed to join the IDF? For instance, can Israel's Arab muslim population join?

"So if you desire to be consistent with your stated willingness from before to actually learn the real facts of Israeli life, your orientation in the debate should be not of disputing my assertions but that of trying to verify whether what I've said is true."

I'll absolutely be fair with you when you come clean are totally honest. What you cited about the "Arab Christian female" is, by even your own admission, an anamoly. The truth is that the IDF is overwhelmingly comprised of Zionist Jews. Is that, or is than not, true?

"It's hard to escape the conclusion that you're trying to throw me into confusion by shuffling the topics being discussed on this thread in your passage."

I think you confuse yourself, as we all most often do when we weave a tangled web of lies. In any event, the topic of this thread is quite clear, and apparently you are having trouble keeping on track because you are too busy trying to figure out how to change the subject. I'm sure I would be, too, if it was being pointed out quite clearly and apparently that I were advocating and heralding murderous thuggery.

"In any rate you're misrepresenting what I've said."

I don't think so. I didn't misrepresent anything you said. I re-posted it word for word as you wrote it. Then I asked you questions about what you wrote. Your lack of honesty and forthcomingness, and obvious attempts at obfuscation lead me to find your position exceptionally flawed. But there was no "misrepresentation".

"Regardless, if you don't accept the fact that anti-Zionist Israeli Arabs and Jews are Israeli, that only says something about you, not me."

More obfuscation. I never made that claim, you are putting words in my mouth that I did not say. I said that ~those~ Israelis are an insignificant, marginalized, powerless minority in Israel. Further I stated that there is no evidence that ~those~ Israelis condone the murdering of Palestinian beach picnickers. Finally, I implied that even those ~those~ marginalized sects happen to be Israeli citizens, they were powerless to do anything about these murders carried out by the IDF, an organization to which few of these people (if any at all) belong.

If you want any credibility SJ, you are going to really have to stop lying. It is as if it's and uncontrollable reflex with you. Sort of like a gagging reflex, evertime you see something damaging to your position you begin to lie, lie, lie. It appears to be the Zionist calling card.

"Have you gone through the list of IDF soldiers involved in Gaza related combat? I think not... So your claim can't be taken seriously."

And yet even more obfuscation. If you can find me the name of even one self-pronounced muslim soldier currently serving on active duty in the IDF, I will concede.

Christian and Muslim Chaplains in the IDF?:

IRAC works for equality of religious services

By David Segal, IRAC Intern and Rebecca Cariati, Overseas Relations



Salim, a Muslim soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was killed several years ago in Akko. The IDF was required to provide a kadi, a Muslim religious leader, to conduct his burial service. Sparked by the unnecessarily complicated process involved in providing Salim a proper burial, MK Ran Cohen of Meretz stood before the Knesset in 2002 to argue in favor of instating chaplains for religious minorities in the IDF.



Jewish soldiers’ religious needs are fulfilled by IDF chaplains. The IDF Rabbinate’s Office is the religious services provider in the IDF—overseeing all IDF soldiers. This being the case, the religious needs of several thousand Druze, Bedouin, Arab, and Christian soldiers in the IDF are wholly ignored. These soldiers must leave the ‘four walls’ of the IDF to receive religious services.



As Adam Shinar, IRAC Attorney explains, “When a Druze, Muslim or Christian soldier expresses a need for religious services, the IDF either attempts to handle the situation ‘in-house’ or they refer the soldier to a civilian authority. Effectively, the IDF is discriminating against non-Jewish soldiers.”



Efforts have been made in the past to integrate Muslim, Druze, and Christian religious service providers into the IDF. Shinar elaborates, “A few years ago, there was a legislative push across the political spectrum in the Knesset that attempted to establish a chaplaincy program for Druze, Muslim and Christian soldiers. However, the Knesset was unsuccessful in soliciting support from the Minister of Defense—he rejected the proposal outright. Hence, it failed to pass the Knesset vote.”



In March 2006, IRAC took its own steps to rectify the discriminatory status of non-Jewish soldiers in the IDF. The letter of protest to the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff demands the integration of minority religious services into the IDF. “IRAC’s approach is unique,” says Shinar, “Unlike previous attempts; we argue that there is no need for Knesset legislation. The decision to allocate funds for a priest or a kadi is an internal IDF decision.”



As Shinar expressed, it comes down to a basic issue of equality. “The IDF, as an organ in Israeli society should provide all its services in an equal manner to all its soldiers.”



The government has yet to respond to IRAC’s original letter. Shinar speculated that IRAC will take the issue to the Supreme Court if IRAC’s demands go unmet. That said, “Before any further action is taken,” Shinar added, “we will conduct further deliberation and research and gather testimony by individuals affected by the lack of religious services provided for minorities by the IDF.”



Though skeptical about whether the government will respond adequately to IRAC, Shinar is cautiously optimistic about the long-term fight and remains committed to pursuing equality and justice in Israeli society.

The Arab volunteers

Amos Harel reports that the IDF is experiencing a rise in Arab enlistments over the past two years:

While Bedouin have been volunteering for the IDF, primarily as trackers, for dozens of years, Muslim and Christian Arabs have been doing so, on a very small scale, only since the 1990s. The numbers increased slightly prior to 2000, but then fell significantly with the outbreak of the intifada in September of that year and Israel Police's killing of 13 Arab citizens in the October riots.

Nevertheless, partial figures given to Haaretz by the IDF indicate a renewed increase in the enlistment of Muslim and Christian youth over the past two years. The number of Muslim volunteers in 2003 was 64.5 percent higher than in 2000, while the enlistment of Christians increased by 16 percent over the same period. A senior source at the IDF's Personnel Directorate notes that incomplete figures for 2004 show a further increase, at a rate of some 20 percent, in the enlistment of youth from both sectors.



This increase is a relative figure; the total number of enlistments per year is probably no more than 150. Christian and Muslim Arabs, who are far more likely than Bedouins to self-identify as Palestinian, face considerable social pressure not to enlist, and many refuse on principle to do so while the intifada is in progress. Also, while the IDF has begun to actively recruit in Arab towns, it "tries not to 'push its way into' these communities, and focuses only on those to which it is invited."

"Evidence clears Israel of wrong-doing"

On the contrary, Becky. Israel has already apologized to the world for killing those beach picnickers. That's admission of guilt. Sorry, but Israel has not been cleared at all. Instead they have been caught, measured, and found wanting.

"And we haven't even seen the aerial photos yet!!!"

And you won't see them because there is a coverup underway. At best you may seem some photoshopped ones down the line somewhere. But if Israel had evidential photos that would exonerate them, they'd have released it by now. After all, it has been a week. And they are taking lots of heat over this issue.

Of course if the evidence shows they were responsible, as it clearly does, you will likely ~never~ see those photos.

"Lunchbox is so convinced the Zionists are evil, and wantonly kill civilians, that he will deny any evidence to the contrary."

Evil? Yes. Wantonly kill civilians? Well, they definitely do kill civilians. Whether they do it wantonly or not, only god knows for sure. But I suspect that in some cases they do.

"Can Ryan accept that I am a human being too and treat me with the same respect human beings deserve?"

Yes Becky, sweetie. Anything you say, dear. Please do not tear up. I realize that women are emotional creatures, but we men do so have a hard time dealing with tears. Dry your eyes and I promise not to mean to you anymore, lovie.

1. On the personal crap:

"But if you say you're a Jew, then I'll take it FWIW."

This is the only sensible thing except for agreeing that "redneck" is a label for poor southern white Americans that you said in your last post regarding the personal stuff. It's also the only true statement you were willing to make about my Jewishness. The remainder is lies (like insisting I called you a redneck first and attacked your/the Native American heritage. The closest I ever came to that was claiming you're not the Native-American heritage.), racist drivel and excuses for why you won't apologize for having cast my Jewishness in question.



2. On other topics:

you're simply trolling, lying and wasting bandwidth here.

Now, turning to the those of your claims even worth responding to:

Me:

Regardless, if you don't accept the fact that anti-Zionist Israeli Arabs and Jews are Israeli, that only says something about you, not me.

"More obfuscation. I never made that claim, you are putting words in my mouth that I did not say. I said that ~those~ Israelis are an insignificant, marginalized, powerless minority in Israel. "

Every reader can see that you surrounded the name Israeli with single quotation marks when you referred to them. Your determination to hound and harangue me causes you to throw caution to the wind and your lies are consequently exposed very plainly.



"Further I stated that there is no evidence that ~those~ Israelis condone the murdering of Palestinian beach picnickers."

There was no murder of Palestinian picnickers even you insist on it to your last breath. This is hysterically laughable -- your adamant insistence on lying and being positive that I'm somehow getting unnerved on this account.



"Finally, I implied that even those ~those~ marginalized sects happen to be Israeli citizens, they were powerless to do anything about these murders carried out by the IDF, an organization to which few of these people (if any at all) belong. "

I don't follow.



"If you want any credibility SJ, you are going to really have to stop lying. It is as if it's and uncontrollable reflex with you. Sort of like a gagging reflex, evertime you see something damaging to your position you begin to lie, lie, lie. It appears to be the Zionist calling card. "

You can kiss my lovely ass if you don't like what I tell you and say. You're a proven liar who began lying non-stop virtually since he made his debut on this site. To say nothing of your mysoginy and Jew hating records.

It's fun having you on board though. I've already become bored of the tripe spewed by 'nessie' and idol Sheepdog. You're a fresh breath in that department.

An appology is NOT an admission . Of course with the anti-Israel crowd, if Israel doesn't appologise, then they're callous. If they do, they're guilty.

And wheres the fantasy about a cover up from? Perhaps from the Palestinians cleaning the beach of fragments etc etc?

Investigations by the IDF and others over the past few days have revealed new evidence that a Hamas mine was most likely the cause of the beach blast:

1) Shrapnel removed from two of the wounded Palestinians evacuated to Israeli hospitals was not from Israeli-made ordnance.

2) No large crater was evident on the beach as would be expected from the impact of an artillery shell landing from above. The blast site would suggest the likelihood of a mine exploding from below the sand rather than above.

3) The IDF fired six shells towards the Gaza area, one of which remained unaccounted for. All of the shells were fired, however, more than 10 minutes before the blast that killed the Palestinians.

It is now increasingly likely, that in true "Pallywood" fashion, as seen in the Mohammed Al-Dura case and the Jenin "massacre" libel, the Palestinians have attempted another cover-up in order to smear Israel:

1) Palestinian Television broadcast doctored scenes showing file footage of Israeli naval vessels shelling Gaza, interspersed with video of the beach victims, despite the fact that the Israeli Navy was not responsible for any shelling at the time.

See the footage courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch.

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the positio

Note how the spam began as soon as the vile resident buffoon, Ryan, was squarely debunked by several posters.

Spammer is back

"The remainder is lies (like insisting I called you a redneck first

You implied that anyone who takes an adverse postition with your opinions are ignorant rednecks.:

"Before I see any scoffing at what I've written, it'd be prudent to bear in mind that I live there. I'm not some Bible thumping redneck posting from Kentucky."

And you made that statement before I ever used the word.

"and attacked your/the Native American heritage. The closest I ever came to that was claiming you're not the Native-American heritage.),"

A self-debunking sentence here.

"racist drivel"

More self-debunking. I'm not a racist in any way, shape, form, or fashion. Further, even if I openly despised Jews (which I don't), I couldn't be racist, by your own definition, because Jews are not a race.

"and excuses for why you won't apologize"

My excuse is that I haven't written anything I feel the need to apologize to you for. It is you that should apologize. Not to me, but to the families of those Palestinian beach picnickers that your beloved Israel murdered last week. You should fall to your knees and beg their forgivness.

"for having cast my Jewishness in question."

Who cares if you are a Jew? I know I don't. Your Jewishness isn't relevant. It's about as relevant as whether or not you are circumsized. It's off the topic, and it has nothing to do with why your Zionist brothers murdered those picnickers in Gaza last Friday. Please try to stay on topic.

"you're simply trolling, lying and wasting bandwidth here."

Self-debunking. No evidence given.

"Every reader can see that you surrounded the name Israeli with single quotation marks when you referred to them."

And? Are you trying to say that I had something to do with the bloddy massacring of the Palestinian children? I think not. That was your ilk that carried out those killings last Friday. It has nothing to do with me.

"Your determination to hound and harangue me causes you to throw caution to the wind and your lies are consequently exposed very plainly."

Self-debunking. No evidence given. Unsubstantiated drivel.

"There was no murder of Palestinian picnickers even you insist on it to your last breath."

You can't wish it away, not even as much as you'd like to. It really happened. The world didn't just imagine it. If you don't believe those children were murdered, then you are delusional. They were murdered by the IDF, and Israel has acknowledged this. Israel even issued an apology for it.

Guilty.

"This is hysterically laughable"

It's interesting to note that Zionists find the murder of Palestinian women and children funny.

"-- your adamant insistence on lying and being positive that I'm somehow getting unnerved on this account."

Self-debunking. Unsubstantiated claim.

"I don't follow."

Obfuscation. The statement is crystal clear.

"You can kiss my lovely ass if you don't like what I tell you and say."

Now, now, SJ. Your credibility is waning. Don't allow your emotions to get the better of you like that.

"You're a proven liar who began lying non-stop virtually since he made his debut on this site."

Self-debunking. Unsubstantiated.

"To say nothing of your mysoginy"

I've already stated that I don't hate women. On the contrary, I love them. I am a very heterosexual male who sincerely appreciates the beauty of a woman.

"and Jew hating records."

Self-debunking. Unsubstantiated.

"t's fun having you on board though. I've already become bored of the tripe spewed by 'nessie' and idol Sheepdog. You're a fresh breath in that department."

Well, I wish I could return the favor. But you're lack of intellect hardly challenges me. You type far more drivel, obfuscations, and prevarications than you type facts. Most of what you write is self-debunking.

And you're obviously quite delusional. I fail to understand why you persist. You're apparently just obstinate and refuse to stay down after repeatedly being clobbered. Perhaps nessie and sheepdog have already learned this about you? You ar recalcitrant and need to be calibrated. Your vehement defense of murderers and thugs is appalling.

THE SEIZURE OF THE SAUDI ARABIAN EMBASSY IN KHARTOUM

Summary

In the early evening hours of 1 March 1973, eight Black September

Organization (BSO) terrorists seized the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Khartoum

as a diplomatic reception honoring the departing United States Deputy Chief

of Mission (DCM) was ending. After slightly wounding the United States

Ambassador and the Belgian Charge d'Affaires, the terrorists took these

officials plus the United States DCM, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador and the

Jordanian Charge d'Affaires hostage. In return for the freedom of the

hostages, the captors demanded the release of various individuals, mostly

Palestinian guerrillas, imprisoned in Jordan, Israel and the United States.

The Khartoum operation was planned and carried out with the full knowledge

and personal approval of Yasir Arafat, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation

Organization (PLO), and the head of Fatah. Fatah representatives based in

Khartoum participated in the attack, using a Fatah vehicle to transport the

terrorists to the Saudi Arabian Embassy.

Initially, the main objective of the attack appeared to be to secure the

release of Fatah/BSO leader Muhammed Awadh (Abu Da'ud) from Jordanian

captivity. Information acquired subsequently reveals that the Fatah/BSO

leaders did not expect Awadh to be freed, and indicates that one of the

primary goals of the operation was to strike at the United States because of

its efforts to achieve a Middle East peace settlement which many Arabs

believe would be inimical to Palestinian interests.

Negotiations with the BSO terrorist team were conducted primarily by the

Sudanese Ministers of Interior and of Health. No effort was spared, within

the capabilities of the Sudanese Government, to secure the freedom of the

hostages. The terrorists extended their deadlines three times, but when they

became convinced that their demands would not be met and after they

reportedly had received orders from Fatah headquarters in Beirut, they

killed the two United States officials and the Belgian Charge. Thirty-four

hours later, upon receipt of orders from Yasir Arafat in Beirut to

surrender, the terrorists released their other hostages unharmed and

surrendered to Sudanese authorities.

The Khartoum operation again demonstrated the ability of the BSO to strike

where least expected. The open participation of Fatah representatives in

Khartoum in the attack provides further evidence of the Fatah/BSO

relationship. The emergence of the United States as a primary fedayeen

target indicates a serious threat of further incidents similar to that which

occurred in Khartoum.

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the positio

Now, what's worth reacting on in your newest mendacious spiel?

"even if I openly despised Jews (which I don't), I couldn't be racist, by your own definition, because Jews are not a race. "

I never told you my own definition, so you don't know my definition.



"It's interesting to note that Zionists find the murder of Palestinian women and children funny. "

No. What's interesting is that you deliberately misread what I wrote and took it out of context. In that respect you're a standard-issue rabid anti-Zionist.



"Obfuscation. The statement is crystal clear. "

Your crystal is covered in muck.



-You can kiss my lovely ass if you don't like what I tell you and say.

"Don't allow your emotions to get the better of you like that. "

If you're referring to the calm jolly state in which I invited you to kiss my rear, then I was emotional.

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the position. But when that foundation is lacking, we have difficulty refuting the gentiles' claim: "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the... nations."

After thousands of years of exile, our people have returned to our land. Every portion of the land over which Jewish authority is exercised was won in defensive wars in which Gd showed overt miracles. Now when Gd grants His people land in such ways, should it be returned? Is it proper to spurn a Divine gift?

Our Right to the Land of Israel

There is a fundamental argument that must be dealt with. At the bottom of all the Arab rhetoric lies one basic claim: "You are intruders. This is our land. We had been living here for centuries and then you decided to take it from us."

Once it is established that the Jews have a valid right to the Land of Israel, then the violence, hatred, and disregard for life that has characterized the Arab position can be judged for what it is. Unless that right is established, the Arabs will always claim that they have a valid goal: reclaiming a land that is rightfully theirs. And once validity is granted to their goal, the debate whether all means are acceptable to attain it or not is one of philosophy.

What is our claim to the land? -Gd's promise in the Torah. Gd told Abraham: "I have given this land to your descendants." For one-and-a- half thousand years the Land of Israel was our home, and ever since then, Jews everywhere have longed to come home to their eternal heritage - to Jerusalem, the site of the Holy Temple; to Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and to Bethlehem, where Rachel weeps for her dispersed children and awaits their return. Even throughout the two thousand years during which our people wandered from country to country, Israel has remained the national home of every Jew. From the beginning of the exile until this day, no matter how farflung his current host country might be, every Jew has turned to face the Holy Land in his thrice-daily prayers.

So central is this principle to our faith, that Rashi, the foremost of the traditional commentators on the Torah, begins his commentary by stating:

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The Torah should have begun with the verse, "This month shall be for you the first of the months...," for this introduces the first commandment given to Israel.

Why then does it begin with the narrative of creation?...

So that if the nations of the world say to Israel, "You are robbers, because you took by force the lands of the seven nations [of Canaan]," Israel will reply to them: "The entire world belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it and gave it to whomever He pleased. Of His own will He gave it to them, and of His own will He took it from them and gave it to us."

From this perspective the entire Land of Israel - not only the coastal region, Jerusalem, and the Galilee, but also Judea, Samaria, and indeed every tiny portion of the land - is part of an organic whole, an indivisible and sanctified unity. In this spirit, the Kneisiyah HaGedolah of Agudas Yisrael, an assembly of Jewry's foremost sages in the pre-Holocaust era, declared in 1937:

The Holy Land, whose boundaries were prescribed by the Holy One, blessed be He, in His holy Torah, was granted to the nation of Israel, the eternal people. Any sacrifice of the Holy Land that was granted to us by G-d is of absolutely no validity.

This explanation is, moreover, the only rationale that cannot be refuted by the Arabs or the Americans. They also accept the Bible and believe in the truth of its prophecies. The Koran does not dispute the Jews' right to the Land of Israel. And can you conceive of an American president telling his people that Gd's promise to Abraham is not relevant? Indeed, the connection between the land and our people is so well established that everywhere it is referred to as "the Land of Israel."

For this reason, it is important to emphasize that this connection is rooted in the Bible's prophecies. It would not be desirable to base our claim to the Land of Israel on the Balfour Declaration or international agreements of the present century, for these agreements could be countermanded by other ones. After all, how favorable is the United Nations to Israel today?

Nor is the fact that our people once lived in the land sufficient in and of itself to establish our claim to it today. If the American Indians would lodge a claim to all of America, would it be granted them?

When the Bible's prophecies serve as the basis for our claim, then many other arguments are effective in reinforcing the positio

Are you done spamming now kid? Study hall over?

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Do not believe the lies that God is not the God of the Jewish people or it is okay to hate them because "they killed Jesus." We as the Christian church must repent of the evil deeds committed against the Jewish people, for they too are our brethren.

Israel: God's Chosen People







The Jewish people are God's chosen people. In a world where there is increasing anti-Semitism, God is still in control. There is absolutely no evidence in the Bible where God rejects the Jewish people as His chosen people. There is no evidence where God is for anti-Semitism. In fact, the roots of Christianity is in Judaism. In the Book of Exodus, the same God that Christians worshipped the last 2000 years is the exact same God as the "Lord God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18). The Bible was written by men and inspired by God thousands of years before Christianity. The Jews were held in captivity by the Egyptians for over 400 years.

God constantly reminded the Jewish people, who were called Israelites in the Old Testament of their freedom from slavery. He was the same God that commanded the people to worship Him and obey all of His commandments and walk in His judgements. Even though God's people has disobeyed the Lord, they have been forgiven by Him after they repented and returned to Him. They are God's people by covenant. To Abram (Abraham), He said that He will make of him a great nation. (Genesis 12:2) He has also said that He will bless those who bless them and curse those that curse Israel. (Gen. 12:3) Throughout history, every nation that has oppressed or cursed the Jewish people are either no longer in existence or have had to suffer various consequences as a result. Two examples that come to mind are Germany and ancient Egypt.

While it is true that many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, there is never any excuse for bigotry and anti-Semitism. Many of the first Christian believers, all 12 disciples, the writers of the Bible, and Jesus Himself are all Jews. Paul, a Jew, wrote most of the entire New Testament or some of the books were based on His letters. "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Jesus came to save the Jewish people. He is still the Messiah of the Jewish people. Romans 1:16 says that "It is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, then to the Gentile."

The birth and ministry of the Messiah has been prophesied in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. Isaiah 45:17 says, " [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Israel will always be God's chosen people. In Revelation 7:4-8, 144,000 Jewish will have the seals of God written on their foreheads. God will not break His covenant with the Jewish people, nor will He. In Isaiah 46: 13, Israel is "my glory". In Israel 49:3, Israel is God's servant, in whom they will be glorified. Isaiah 49:6 also says, "And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel:

Are you done spamming now kid?

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen people?

God does not play favorites among His people, however, the Bible does tell us that God's chosen people are the Jewish race because they were the ONLY ones to obey Him in lieu of other gods.

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." This does not mean they are automatically "saved" and will go to Heaven. In order to assurance of eternal life in heaven, one must believe in God's Son, Jesus. Because of God's Promise to redeem the Jews in the end times, Israel will turn to her Messiah and be saved. So, in the meantime, any believers in Jesus are "grafted in" and may partake of the Tree of Life.

What are the factors that were involved in God's selection of Israel?



His instructions to mankind, as a whole, had been challenged by a united rebellion of the people against Him at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), and He then forcibly confounded their languages and divided them into distinct nations.



His promise of a coming Redeemer to reconcile a lost world to Himself required that God should become man some day and He would thus have to be born into a particular nation and people.

Such a nation would have to be prepared, both by divine revelation and national experience, to be the nation through which the Savior would come.



All of the nations formed as a result of the judgment at Babel were already in rebellion against God and unsuitable for this purpose.



God, therefore, chose one man, Abraham, to establish a new nation through which "all families of the earth would be blessed."

Not only are the people of Israel special and God's chosen people, but the land is also special. In Deuteronomy 11:12, we read, "It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end." God is working out Israel's salvation from the time of the Old Testament. He desired the Messiah to appear there, and that the church would be formed there.

He has a sound plan for His people and His land. In the next few years, most of the Jewish people in the world will actually live in the land of Israel, and today, we have seen much of that happening. Over a million new immigrants have returned home, and they have come from the north (former USSR) and south (Ethiopia) just as Isaiah from the Bible said they would. God is bringing about a profound spiritual change to the people, so God's eternal plan will then be worked out for Israel, for the Church, and for the world. It will be worked out in the physical land of Israel and with the people who have returned from all the nations of the earth. The end results will be an eternal age of peace and blessing for all mankind.

Learn More about the History of Israel!

Why are the Israelites God's chosen peopl

Are you done spamming now kid?

SJ: "To say nothing of your mysoginy"

LB: I've already stated that I don't hate women. On the contrary, I love them. I am a very heterosexual male who sincerely appreciates the beauty of a woman.

Tia: Hmmm. So its just their intelligence and outspokeness that you hate, huh?

Following Palestinian claims and the media reports of Israeli culpability in deaths on a Gaza beach, the real story emerges...

It is now becoming clear that, despite the claims of the Palestinians and the international media's rush to blame Israel, the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians on a beach in Gaza on 9 June were not caused by the IDF. Investigations by the IDF and others over the past few days have revealed new evidence that a Hamas mine was in fact the cause of the beach blast:

1) Shrapnel removed from two of the wounded Palestinians evacuated to Israeli hospitals was not from Israeli-made ordinance.

2) No large crater was evident on the beach as would be expected from the impact of an artillery shell landing from above. The blast site would suggest the likelihood of a mine exploding from below the sand rather than above.

3) The IDF fired six shells towards the Gaza area, one of which remained unaccounted for. All of the shells were fired, however, more than 10 minutes before the blast that killed the Palestinians.

It is now increasingly likely, that in true "Pallywood" fashion, as seen in the Mohammed Al-Dura case and the Jenin "massacre" libel, the Palestinians have attempted another cover-up in order to smear Israel:

1) Palestinian Television broadcast doctored scenes showing file footage of Israeli naval vessels shelling Gaza, interspersed with video of the beach victims, despite the fact that the Israeli Navy was not responsible for any shelling at the time. Click here to see the footage courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch.

2) Suspicions were initially raised by the Palestinian refusal to cooperate with Israeli investigators and the remarkably swift cleansing of evidence from the blast scene by Hamas gunmen who arrived shortly after the incident. Palestinian spokespeople usually display parts of Israeli shells to the international media - but not this time.

3) Israeli intelligence suggests that Hamas had mined the beach area in order to prevent Israeli naval commandos from landing there as part of anti-terror operations to prevent Qassam missile launches.

THE MEDIA'S PREMATURE RESPONSE

Even though there was no evidence as to who was responsible, other than Palestinian claims of Israeli culpability for a "massacre," the international media immediately bought into the Palestinian storyline. This, despite the continuing barrage of Qassam missiles, some of which had fallen on Gaza, and the "work accidents" caused by Palestinian explosives detonating prematurely, which should have made journalists think twice. Here are some examples of those who did not:

The Washington Post's headline: Israeli Fire Kills 7 Beachgoers in Gaza

Excerpt: Israeli artillery fire targeting the northern Gaza Strip on Friday killed at least seven Palestinian civilians and wounded 30 others, Palestinian hospital officials and witnesses said.

Contact: letters@washpost.com and ombudsman@washpost.com

The New York Times' headline: Errant Shell Turns Girl Into Palestinian Icon

Excerpt: Eleven-year-old Huda unwittingly became a symbol of Palestinian pain and loss during an afternoon picnic with her family on a hot day when a cameraman captured her shrieking "Father, Father, Father!" as she hovered over the bloody bodies of 13 dead or wounded members of her family, hit by what was apparently an errant Israeli artillery shell.

Contact: letters@nytimes.com and public@nyt.com

Australia Broadcasting Corporation's headline: Israel faces criticism over Gaza beach shelling

Excerpt: Seven Palestinians died on Friday, when the Israeli military shelled the beach where they were enjoying the Muslim day of rest, an eighth victim died in hospital on Saturday.

Contact: http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactnews.htm

CNN's headline: Beach strike shakes Hamas cease-fire

Excerpt: An Israeli navy gunboat fired shells onto a northern Gaza beach Friday, killing at least seven people and prompting the military wing of Hamas to call off a 16-month-old cease-fire with Israel.

Contact: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/

The Guardian's headline: Death on the beach: seven Palestinians killed as Israeli shells hit family picnic

Excerpt: A barrage of Israeli artillery shells rained down on a busy Gaza beach yesterday, killing seven Palestinians, three of them children.

Contact: letters@guardian.co.uk

The Independent's headline: Palestinians killed on Gaza beach by Israeli gunboats

Excerpt: Israeli naval gunboats killed at least seven Palestinian civilians and wounded about 40 others as they relaxed in the summer heat on a beach in northern Gaza yesterday.

Contact: letters@independent.co.uk

The Times of London's headline: Girl who saw family die on beach becomes icon and media celebrity

Excerpt: In the days since a wild-haired Huda Ghalia was filmed howling with anguish amid a family picnic blown apart by shellfire, she has become an instant symbol of suffering across the Arab world.

CONSEQUENCES FOR ISRAELI DIPLOMACY

Aside from the very real damage caused to Israel's public image, the images and headlines transmitted around the world also demonstrated the sometimes insidious influence of the media on Israel's diplomatic standing. Coming at the same time as Israeli PM Ehud Olmert's visit to the UK, it was therefore damaging that the British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett launched a scathing attack on Israel following the incident, which the British press interpreted as casting a shadow over the trip. In addition, the French also rushed to issue condemnation of Israel, deploring "Israel's bombardments on a beach in the Gaza Strip, whose disproportionate character has cost the lives of several civilians and injured many others."

HonestReporting is aware of the political and diplomatic damage that biased or inaccurate reporting causes for Israel within international governmental circles. Contact details for elected representatives from a number of countries can be found on HonestReporting's website along with those of many national and international media outlets.

While the media may choose not to believe the results of the IDF inquiry, it has a duty to report on the developing story and the new evidence that has emerged. HonestReporting calls on its subscribers to hold the media to account for its initial premature judgments and to also ensure that the real story is published.

QASSAM BLITZKRIEG ON ISRAEL

Palestinian terrorists continue to launch Qassam missiles from Gaza, subjecting Israel to an intolerable blitzkrieg of over 100 missiles launched since the weekend, wounding at least two Israelis in Sderot and causing damage to a number of buildings in Sderot and the western Negev. No country, including Israel can be expected not to take action under these circumstances.

While attempting to escalate the situation further, Islamic Jihad terrorists were prevented from launching even more deadly Katyusha missiles by an Israeli air strike on Tuesday. Unfortunately, due to Palestinian terrorists operating from within densely populated areas, a number of civilians also died when the terrorists' vehicle was hit by an Israeli missile. Due to the continuous barrage of Palestinian missiles, Israel has been left with little choice but to take action to defend its citizens.

As seen by this and recent events, Palestinian terrorists show scant disregard for the lives of their own people as well as Israelis, continuing to cause suffering in the region.

HonestReporting. com

What is this crap doing on Indymedia? It's like republishing FrontPage or Newsmax. It does *not* belong on Indymedia. Editors, please, stop embarassing the Indymedia network.

An ad hominem is not a rebuttal. Itsa a way to change the subject.

It doesn't matter if you don't like the source. Address the content

They're lying, as usual.

"They're lying, as usual."

UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATION

For more on logic at YOUR level, try reading "Logic for Jew Haters."

Thank you.

For instance:

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/163282_comment.php#164857

The only "point" you have is the one atop your dunce cap, nessie.

Oh yeah, your unsubstantiated allegation.

Have at it, genius.

(1.) It's not mine.

(2.) It's not an "allegation."

(3.) It was substantiated at the begining of the thread. Yes, it really was an Israel shell. Case closed.

"Address the content"

by more Zionist bullsh*t Thursday, Jun. 15, 2006 at 8:59 PM



They're lying, as usual.



So you did not, in fact, submit that post? You obviously don't know alot about the concept of IP addresses and how to track them. Actually, that doesn't surprise me. You're too occupied hating Jews to learn anything. What has made you so full of hate? Did a Jew urinate in your Fruit Loops? What is it, nessie?

Which post? What is he talking about? That an Israeli shell killed that family is no "allegation." Its's the fact of the matter as clearly stated at the beginning of the thread. The Israelis denied it, of course, but had to back peddle.

And what's this about tracking IPs? Is he trying to say I'm being stalked? Is that what he's trying to say? Why would he say something like that? Could he honestly believe I'd be intimidated by a spineless blowhard like him? Puh-leeeze.

>>And what's this about tracking IPs? Is he trying to say I'm being stalked? Is that what he's trying to say? Why would he say something like that?

You sound too paranoid.

The fact of the matter is that Palestinian ordnance or weaponry killed those Palestinian picknickers.

There's no curses without blessings though. One positive byproduct of the spam is that Ryan refrains from his Israel bashing screeds. Amen to that!

> You sound too paranoid.

By definition, it's only paranoia if it turns out later that I was wrong. Speculation beforehand is premature.

In the meantime, Google "nessie Indymedia," and see what comes up.

Here's the one I laugh at the hardest, still, even after all this time:

http://maineindymedia.org/mod/comments/display/1629/index.php

(snip)

by Critical Thinker

22 Jul 2004

(snip)

I for one hope nessie will perform harakiri in such time the harrassment campaign being waged against him forces him to a nervous breakdown.

(snip)

* * * * *

No such luck, chump. Hahahahahahaha





>The fact of the matter is that Palestinian ordnance or weaponry killed those Palestinian picknickers.

That's not a fact. That's just another Zionist lie.

Zionists, you may have heard of them. They're the people who forge my name to anti-Semitic propaganda, lies and slander, and keep threatening to kill me, in hopes I'll be deterred. Haha. Joke's on them.

* * * * *

If it's any consolation, the anti-Semites seem to think I'm a Zionist:

http://sf.indymedia.org/news/hidden.php?id=1648960#1729793

Racists, they're all alike, lying, thieving, murdering scumbags.

"There's no curses without blessings though. One positive byproduct of the spam is that Ryan refrains from his Israel bashing screeds. Amen to that!"

It's pretty funny that I'm getting the blame for the spam, considering the fact that all I've done is try to engage you Zionists in dialogue since I've been here, and I am met with little more than obfuscations, accusations, and outright lies.

It's become pretty obvious to me that the spamming must be coming from your camp, because you are the only ones feeding the troll when he gears up his spambot/macro.

Sit here and hurl spam at each other, see if anyone cares. What are you accomplishing? The world knows that Israel is a sham controlled by murderous thugs. The more you rale against the notion the truer it becomes. It's like quicksand and you're sinking deep.

As for what killed those Palestinian picknickers, your (plural) accusation of the IDF is a blatant anti-Zionist lie, not a fact even remotely.

I don't threaten to murder you. I wish you a premature death. Amen.

How supposedly cute you come across when you argue that you've only been trying to engage Zionists in dialogue since you came to the site. Funny indeed. Considering all the lies, unfounded accusations, mental abuse, mysoginy and Jew hating you've uttered.

I wouldn't be astounded to find out that the spammer/s is/are your friend/s. You appear to be sincerely embarrassed that an anti-Zionist spammer can show that much disrespect for this forum, so you try to make it sound like it's the doing of Zionists. You're really delusional if you entertain a belief that anyone sane is actually believing the spammer is a Zionist.

Gullable folks may buy into the outrageous and frankly hilarious allegation that Israel is acontrolled by "murderous thugs". But you're only detracting from your credibility in everyone else's eyes. No sane informed observer would try claiming with a straight face that Ehud Olmert, Amir Peretz and Tzipi Livni are even remotely murderous thugs as if their records were something close to A. Sharon's. At the same time you ignore or whitewash the actions of real murderous thugs like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, Hizballah and Iran's prez, or even try to blame their deeds on Israel. You rabid anti-Zionists give yourselves away and make yourselves easy targets for derision when you utter such hilarious drivel.

Not only do these proven anti-Zionist liars still expect you to take them at their word, but they repeat themselve like characters in a Monty Python sketch when you don't.

Just like Monty Python.

High school idiot?

An expert at a local chapter of a human rights group disputes the Israeli claims. Okay. Let’s concede for the sake of argument that the question of whether it was an errant Israeli shell remains unresolved. But the obvious question not being asked is this: Who is to blame if Palestinians are setting up rocket launchers to attack Israel — and placing them 400 yards from a beach crowded with Palestinian families on the Muslim Sabbath?

Answer: This is another example of the Palestinians’ classic and cowardly human-shield tactic — attacking innocent Israeli civilians while hiding behind innocent Palestinian civilians. For Palestinian terrorists — and the Palestinian governments (both Fatah and Hamas) that allow them to operate unmolested — it’s a win-win: If their rockets aimed into Israeli towns kill innocent Jews, no one abroad notices and it’s another success in the terrorist war against Israel. And if Israel’s preventive and deterrent attacks on those rocket bases inadvertently kill Palestinian civilians, the iconic “Israeli massacre” picture makes the front page of the New York Times, and the Palestinians win the propaganda war.

But there is an even larger question not asked. Whether the rocket bases are near civilian beaches or in remote areas, why are the Gazans launching any rockets at Israel in the first place — about 1,000 in the past year?

To get Israel to remove its settlers, end the occupation and let the Palestinians achieve dignity and independence? But Israel did exactly that in Gaza last year. It completely evacuated Gaza, dismantled all its military installations, removed its soldiers, destroyed all Israeli settlements and expelled all 7,000 Israeli settlers. Israel then declared the line that separates Israel from Gaza to be an international frontier. Gaza became the first independent Palestinian territory ever.

And what have the Palestinians done with this independence, this judenrein territory under the Palestinians’ control? They have used their freedom to launch rockets at civilians in nearby Israeli towns.

Why? Because the Palestinians prefer victimhood to statehood. They have demonstrated that for 60 years, beginning with their rejection of the United Nations decision to establish a Palestinian state in 1947 because it would have also created a small Jewish state next door. They declared war instead.

There would be no rocket attacks if Palestine were a single, secular, egalitarian socirty in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity.

Come on, say what you are really thinking," There would be no Arab rocket attacks if the Jews reverted to their place in Islamic society as second class Dhimmi and quit this fuss about having rights."

I said *exactly* what I am thinking. The reason this racist responded with an ad hominem is because there is no honest rebuttal to any proposal for a single, secular, egalitarian society in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity.

If there was, we'd have heard it.

Here, I'll make it simple. All he has to do is to complete this sentence:

A single, secular, egalitarian society in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity, is a bad idea because _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

He did not say *exactly* what he was thinking. The reason this racist responded with an obfuscation is because there is no honest anti-Zionist rebuttal to the Palestinian rejection of a single, secular, egalitarian society in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity.

If there was, we'd have heard it.

Here, I'll make it simple. All he has to do is to complete this sentence:

The Palestinians accepted a single, secular, egalitarian society in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity, at the date of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

To the dear people of S'derot,

HaShalom v’habracha!

Although it is no simple matter for me in my current circumstances, I feel compelled to get a message of encouragement and support out to you.

Five years ago, I concluded a letter to former Prime Minster Ariel Sharon with the following statement:

Recent events in Israel demonstrate that you have an uncanny ability to tolerate the agony of our people at this excruciating time in our history. Be aware that this ability to block out their cries and ignore their suffering is no more than an extension of your ability to tolerate the agony of one Israeli agent. After all, 5 million is just 5 million multiplied by one.

In truth, when I wrote these words, I would never have imagined how absolutely accurate they would be today. At that time, absolutely no one ever imagined, even in their worst nightmares, that the situation of Am Yisrael would degenerate to the extent that it has.

Please know, dear people of S'derot, that in your determination to put an end to the abandonment of your city to terror, you are fighting not only for the people of S'derot, but also for the State and for the Nation at large. A government that allows your lives to be jeopardized daily by on-going missile attacks is a government that is capable of abandoning every single citizen, without exception. If at one time there were those who believed that the victims of government abandonment were limited to certain select individuals or groups that could be ignored - such as the MIAs, Madhat Yusuf, the South Lebanese Army, the Palestinian Authority "collaborators", or old folks and sick people - today it is clear that the policy of government abandonment puts every Israeli citizen at risk.

We must restore the ideal of arevut hadadit (mutual responsibility) to our national consciousness. All for one and one for all!

I wish I could be with you in person at this time, to demonstrate with you in S'derot. Since I am prevented from doing so, I am sending my dear wife, Esther, to you to bring you this letter and this message.

I call upon all the people of Israel: stand up for your bothers, the people of S'derot. If not for their sake, then for your own. In much the same way that no one could imagine just a few short years ago that cities in Israel would be blowing up and the world would not come to a stand-still over it, today no one can imagine just how bad things may get if we do not wake up and do what needs to be done now.

I pray for your success and for a speedy recovery for those who have been injured. I urge you not to despair, for ultimately justice and truth must prevail.

With love of Israel,

Jonathan Pollard

FCI Butner

North Carolina, USA

Just like Monty Python.

Oh yeah, I'll be SURE to do that, since you are SUCH an important person, nessie. You have absolutely NO delusions of grandeur. None whatsoever.

Zero. They would rather sit in the dark and blame Israel.

Here, I'll make it simple. All he has to do is to complete this sentence:

A single, secular, egalitarian society in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity, is a bad idea because _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Here, I'll make it simple. All he has to do is to complete this sentence:

The Palestinians accepted a single, secular, egalitarian society in which it didn't matter who your mother was or what name, if any, you use for deity at the date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

Apparently the above poster is unaware that in 2003, the Palestinian Authority passed its constitution. In it, they declared that "Palestine" was an Islamic nation and that the law of the land would be Sharia or Islamic law.

A "singular, secular nation" would not be "secular" if the Palestinians had anything to say about it. Nor would the Palestinians choose to live in a Jewish state.

The Israelis are concerned (rightfully so) that if the Palestinians got the majority vote in Israel, it would take only ONE VOTE to end Israel as a national homeland for the Jewish people.

Not to mention, flooding Israel with Palestinians bent on killing Jews would hardly create a peaceful nation or the end of war.

There are a few million flaws in your plan.

Why not make JORDAN, LEBANON, EGYPT, SYRIA, SAUDIA ARABIA, LIBYA, MORROCCO, SUDAN, CHAD, UAE, QATAR, ETHIOPIA, MAURITANIA, or any other Islamic nation a "single, secular nation where anyone , regardless of whether they had a Jewish mother or not, can be a full citizen?

Oh, thats right. THAT would be TOO HARD!!!!

Explosion on Gaza Beach Not From Israeli Shell, Israel Reiterates

By Julie Stahl

CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief

June 21, 2006

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Nearly two weeks after a Palestinian family was killed in an explosion while picnicking on a Gaza Beach, Israel said it has further proof that it was not responsible for the incident.

The June 9 explosion killed seven members of the Ghalia family, shortly after Israel fired six shells at Palestinian targets in response to rockets fired at Israel.

Palestinian leaders and many media outlets were quick to blame Israel for blowing up the family, and within hours, Palestinian terrorists unleashed a "retaliatory" barrage of rockets on the southern Israeli town of Sderot.

Maj. Gen. Meir Kalifi, who is heading the ongoing Israeli investigation into the explosion, said on Wednesday that a second fragment of shrapnel removed from a Ghalia family member definitely did not come from an Israeli artillery shell.

Last week, Kalifi released the initial findings of the army's investigation. He ruled out Israeli Air Force and Navy fire as possible causes. Even though one of the six Israeli artillery shells fired in the area was not located, Kalifi ruled out artillery fire, given the range, which had been adjusted to keep shells away from civilian areas.

Some observers have suggested that the blast was caused by a mine planted by Hamas on the beach to prevent Israeli commandos from entering Gaza by sea.

At least one human rights organization cast doubts on the Israeli investigation. Human Rights Watch is calling for an international inquiry.

Four Palestinians wounded in the blast have been transferred to Israeli hospitals. One of them, Rania Niham, has now regained consciousness, Tel Aviv's Sourasky Medical Center said on Tuesday.

Niham had cuts all over her body, some definitely from shrapnel, the hospital said, but only one fragment was lodged in her body.

The combination of cuts and no fragments "is not routine and does not correspond to our accumulated medical experience as a result of having treated hundreds of patients who

were wounded in terrorist attacks and by bombs and who usually arrive with

fragments in various places throughout their bodies," the hospital said in a statement.

Other aspects cast doubt on the Palestinian version of events suspect. Shortly after the explosion, Palestinians were filmed picking up all the pieces of shrapnel from the beach.

A Palestinian television clip of the incident shortly after it happened showed file footage of an Israeli naval vessel firing on the beach and then cut to scenes of the dead and wounded in the current incident.

Israel has complained in the past that the international media often jumps on the Palestinian bandwagon before the facts are clear. By the time the truth comes out, the public relations damage to Israel is already done.

Jun. 21, 2006 0:51 | Updated Jun. 21, 2006 2:06



'PA doctors cut victim needlessly'

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH



Representatives of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) said on Tuesday that Ralia Niham, a 21-year-old woman who was seriously wounded in the Gaza beach explosion on June 9 that is at the center of a continuing controversy over who is to blame, suffered unnecessary cuts at the hands of the Palestinian doctors who treated her initially.

Niham, who regained consciousness at the hospital on Tuesday but remains in serious condition, suffered serious damage to her abdomen and upper limbs, with cuts all over her body, as a result of the surgical intervention performed on her at Shifa Hospital in Gaza, the hospital said.

The Tel Aviv hospital added that no shrapnel was found in the woman's body except for one piece that is not reachable by surgery and will have to be left there. The damage to her body was "without doubt" caused by shrapnel; Israeli authorities say the chances are "one in a billion" that she was hurt by an Israeli missile.

In most cases, some shrapnel remains in the victim's body and stays there for the rest of his or her life, the hospital said.

The hospital stopped short of accusing Shifa's doctors directly of removing shrapnel for no medical reason, but it did say that it had never received such a patient with all the reachable shrapnel removed.

"This is surprising and raises questions" about the care that Niham received in Shifa, the Sourasky spokeswoman said. Asked whether Sourasky surgeons had contacted Shifa doctors who treated the patient to ask the reason for the incisions to remove shrapnel, the spokeswoman said: "We are not in such close contact with Shifa. We received the medical report on the patient, and that's all."

On Monday night, Human Rights Watch conceded that it could not contradict the IDF's exonerating findings regarding the explosion that wounded Niham and killed several members of a single family. HRW, along with the Palestinians, claimed the explosion was caused by Israeli shelling.

Maj.-Gen. Meir Klifi, head of the IDF inquiry commission that cleared the IDF of responsibility for the blast, met with Marc Garlasco, a military expert from HRW who had claimed that the blast was caused by an IDF artillery shell. Garlasco agreed the explosion was most likely caused by unexploded Israeli ordnance left lying on the beach, a possibility also raised by the IDF.

Yaakov Katz contributed to this report.

Representatives of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) said on Tuesday that Ralia Niham, a 21-year-old woman who was seriously wounded in the Gaza beach explosion on June 9 that is at the center of a continuing controversy over who is to blame, suffered unnecessary cuts at the hands of the Palestinian doctors who treated her initially.

Niham, who regained consciousness at the hospital on Tuesday but remains in serious condition, suffered serious damage to her abdomen and upper limbs, with cuts all over her body, as a result of the surgical intervention performed on her at Shifa Hospital in Gaza, the hospital said.

The Tel Aviv hospital added that no shrapnel was found in the woman’s body except for one piece that is not reachable by surgery and will have to be left there. The damage to her body was “without doubt” caused by shrapnel; Israeli authorities say the chances are “one in a billion” that she was hurt by an Israeli missile.

In most cases, some shrapnel remains in the victim’s body and stays there for the rest of his or her life, the hospital said.

The hospital stopped short of accusing Shifa’s doctors directly of removing shrapnel for no medical reason, but it did say that it had never received such a patient with all the reachable shrapnel removed.

“This is surprising and raises questions” about the care that Niham received in Shifa, the Sourasky spokeswoman said. Asked whether Sourasky surgeons had contacted Shifa doctors who treated the patient to ask the reason for the incisions to remove shrapnel, the spokeswoman said: “We are not in such close contact with Shifa. We received the medical report on the patient, and that’s all.”

>Israeli authorities say the chances are “one in a billion” that she was hurt by an Israeli missile.

(1.) It wasn't a missile. It was a shell. So saying it wasn't a missile is a straw man.

(2.) These are the perps talking. Of course the'd deny it.

'nessie' is lying yet again. Quelle surprise.

>Israeli authorities say the chances are “one in a billion” that she was hurt by an Israeli missile.

"(1.) It wasn't a missile. It was a shell. So saying it wasn't a missile is a straw man. "

'nessie' knows full well that a "missile" has at least two meanings in English, including a term denoting any kind of projectile, including a stone thrown by an attacker. That was the meaning employed in the report above.

"(2.) These are the perps talking. Of course the'd deny it. "

'nessie' and his ilk have never proven the Israelis to be the perps. So his arguments are the epitome of bunk logic.

If somebody blew up a bunch of Israelis, would Zionists trust the PA to do the investigation?

Physical proof exists that the seven members of the Rhalia family who died on a Gaza beach 12 days ago were not killed by an Israeli shell.

by Hana Levi Julian, Arutrz Sheva, Israel National News

Maj.-Gen. Meir Kalifi, chief of the Israel Defense Forces inquiry commission, told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday that shrapnel taken from the body of a boy wounded in the incident did not match Israeli ammunition. The boy, 12-year-old Adham, is hospitalized in Soroka Hospital in Beersheva in serious but stable condition.

“The examination of a second piece of shrapnel retrieved from the body of a boy who was wounded in the blast unequivocally shows that the explosion was not caused by a 155-mm artillery shell,” announced Kalifi. The IDF was using 155-mm artillery shells in their bombardment of Gaza’s rocket launching sites that day.

The investigation into what did cause the explosion is continuing, according to Kalifi, and there were several explanations that are being looked into. “There is a possibility that the explosion was caused by an unexploded IDF artillery shell that landed on the beach weeks or months ago,” he said. “It is also possible that the blast was caused by an explosive device planted by a Palestinian terrorist group.”

Officials at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, meanwhile, released a statement on Tuesday that the body of a 21-year-old woman injured in the explosion seemed to have been tampered with. When Ayham Rhalia was brought to the hospital with multi-system failure, she was seen immediately, according to Professor Gabi Barbush, who was interviewed on IDF Radio. Barbush who is the manager of the medical center, said, “I saw her in the trauma section of the emergency room, “It was clear that she had undergone several superficial operations. It seemed strange.”

Barbush said that when doctors performed a CT scan on the young woman, “it emerged that she had almost no shrapnel inside her.” He added that there was no medical reason for PA doctors to remove shrapnel from her body. Rhalia was admitted in very serious condition, with injuries to her stomach, hands and legs, and was sedated and put on a respirator to help her breathe. She has since regained consciousness, but remains in serious condition.

Kalifi added that intelligence gathering would continue to play a major part in the investigation. “We have in our possession [intelligence] information that supports our claim that the explosion was not caused by an Israeli artillery shell,” he said.

The commander of the IDF technological division explained further. “We carried out a check of the metal and found the explosives that were on it,” said Lt. Col. Eran Toval. “In total, we carried out three independent analyses. The result was that the explosive was standard, but not characteristic of Israeli or American explosives in IDF service, and was not an IDF shell.”

This is the perps talking. Of course they deny it. If somebody blew up a bunch of Israelis would the "Israel National News" expect you tt take the PS's word on who did it?

Not to mention the fact that an Israeli 155mm howitzer shell would leave a hellaciously large crater in the sand....a crater which was conspicuously absent after this explosion

Not if it had a proximity fuse that caused it to airburst.

Don't speculate, prove something. Otherwise its just more hot air on a hot day.

Revealed: the shrapnel evidence that points to Israel's guilt:

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/164379_comment.php

No, its over . It simply wasn't an Israeli shell. The Israeli's have a policy of admtting when they do shell something, and appologising for unintended casualties.

This episiode just proves that the "mainstream media" will jump on any story the demonizes Israel and will swallow any bit of Pallywood whole without thinking. Thats the real lesson.

Just because they repeat themselves like a character in a Monty Python sketch does not make what they say any more true. Remember, these are the perps talking. Of course they deny their guilt.

When an artillery battery is trying to destroy a fixed target in a small area...such as the Palestinian rocket launcher that was only 400 yards down the beach from this explosion....the fuses are set for a contact burst...not an air burst.....that way the damage is confined to a fixed area with minimal damage to adjacent areas...which would explain why the Palestinians tried to dig the shrapnel out of the victims before handing them over to Israeli doctors...to hide their own foulup..

"Nyah nyah Remember, these are the perps talking. Of course they deny their guilt."

You know, even if 'nessie' is wrong like hell -- which he surely is also this time round -- you've got to admire his tenacity and steadfastness in adhering to his convictions, pernicious as they certainly are.

So Nessie, then how do you dispense with conservative columnist, Charles Krauthammer's unrefuted allegation that the Palestinian militias from both Hamas and Fatah have been firing qassam rockets over the international border into pre-1967 Israel from POPULATED Palestinian areas, e.g. a beach during the Muslim Sabbath?

Didn't those FIRING the rockets over the fence into Jewish communities, with schools, homes, businesses and families with children CONSIDER that they were putting their own familes in harm's way?

Nessie---is it OKAY with you for Hamas and Islamic Jihad to fire rockets into Israeli civilian areas FROM populated Palestinian areas?

"you've got to admire his tenacity and steadfastness"

Nah. He's tied himself to his own mast, so I don't give him any credit for staying there. He honestly can't help it. It's not tenacity, it's insanity. He has no choice.

@%

What about the nukes, the helicopter gunships, the F-16s, the artillery batteries, and the navy? Do they make the Zionists be "victims" or "underdogs"?

New thread:

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/165883.php

Yea,right...in INTERNAL UN report...like the internal report regarding UN institutional corruption and bribery in the so -called "Oil for Food" program.....this bureaucratic hilarity was never meant to see the light of day..it was only prepared to mollify the Jew-haters on the UN staff which are legion....if this report had any legitimacy it would have been released to the media with bells ringing and flags flying

Posing another question about the opposite party's weaponry is no answer. Ergo,

>Do they make the Zionists be "victims" or "underdogs"?

is a non-sequitor.

SELF DEFENSE WRITES: "What about the nukes, the helicopter gunships, the F-16s, the artillery batteries, and the navy? Do they make the Zionists be "victims" or "underdogs?"

BECKY: Are you saying the qassam rocket attacks, averaging 3 per day ever since the Israeli pullout last August-Sept.2005, aimed at schools, homes, businesses, playgrounds, hospitals....i.e. the INTENDED victims are random civilians is SELF DEFENSE??

What do you think would happen if the PA STOPPED the rocket attacks? Do you think the IDF would fire MORE missiles or LESS missiles into Gaza if the rocket attacks stopped?

Helicopters with gunships, allow the IDF to do pinpoint attacks to take out the actual terrorists with as little loss of life possible to the civilian population. This is what they do, too. I have collected dozens of articles to that effect.

As for the nukes.....when was the last time Israel threatened anyone with them? Can you provide a quote? A Knessett resolution? A statement from an Israeli leader?

As for who the victims are in this conflict, there are many

--- Jews killed by suicide bombers, Palestinian kids whose parents encourage them to throw rocks or grow up to become dead suicide martyrs, anyone who tries to work with the Israelis and ends up lynched as collaborator, anyone who wants the business climate to improve in the PA, Jewish mothers who are afraid to put their kids on a schoolbus to go school, Palestinian girls who fear honor killings, Christian Palestinians, soldiers who must spend time away from their families, and the economies of both the PA and Israel are harmed.

Why don't those Palestinians stop the conflict?

Barak offered peace. Arafat chose war.

The Devil (George Warmonger Bush): "Sorry to Oil the Arming of Likud Extremist in IsraOil and the Preemptive Attacks on the Gaza Strip but Oil comes First. Fill her Up ??????"