Good morning on this Saturday, June 13th. Last week we wrote about the changing dynamic of Israeli - American relationships and the push for Israel to accept the creation of a Palestinian state. Usually associated with such discussions is the push for Israel to give up some of the land they took during the six day war of 1967. There are two primary issues which are germane to this discussion. (1) some of these territories are now essential to Israel's protection of its citizens because of threats of rocket attacks and incursion by its enemies. These territories provide an important buffer to prevent considerable risk of death and destruction. Because of the increasing availability, sophistication, and accuracy of modern weapons these existing borders have become paramount in importance to Israel's security. (2) When God promised the land to Israel in the covenant He made with Abraham in Genesis chapters 12, 13, 15, and 17, He outlined its broad scope in Genesis 15:18-21 as extending from the river of Egypt in the west to the Euphrates River in the east to the land including the lands of the many "ites" and of the Hittites in the north. These general boundaries include the territories in question.
When you have people near your house who refuse your very right to exist and are determined to destroy you, it makes sense to keep them off your doorstep. Until Israel's enemies accept their right to exist, the Jerusalem Post article cited in last week's blog is correct when it stated that seeing Israel's Arab neighbors "accept the legitimacy of the Jewish state" should be the objective of all American governments. This is a first and incontrovertible basis of any Israeli - Arab agreement and should be the foundation of any Middle East policy.
Tomorrow's message is entitled. Resolving Conflicts. I hope you'll be there.
Mel Brown