A Grain of Sand

"I will multiply you as the stars in heaven and as the sand upon the shore." - Genesis 22:17

"I can see the master's hand in every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand." - Dylan, Every Grain of Sand (on Shot of Love)

Thursday, December 3, 2009

UnSettling

This can't work. I just don't see how Israel can continue to conduct itself in this way and create any long term security for itself.

Netanyahu met with settlers in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and showed his true colors. To placate the United States, Israel has agreed to halt settlement. Netanyahu sends a signal of his contempt and his unseriousness about it though to the world during this meeting: "There are nine months and three weeks left," he tells them. In other words, we'll keep building as soon as possible; this whole thing is an illusion.

What is the play here? What is the long term goal of Netanyahu? He seems to be acting as though it is still 1989.

I can't read this without this week's Torah portion in mind. After years of bitterness and fear, Jacob and Esau see each other again. Jacob sends gifts in advance - yes, out of fear, as he seems to acknowledge - and they embrace, years of animosity dissolving in a moment.

No, I'm not arguing, as some simplistically do, that if Israel is just generous enough and warm-fuzzy enough, all will be good. That's foolish and disproven by history (Israel's history and diplomatic history in general). But what creates peace between Esau and Jacob is a genuine transformation and acts of self-sacrifice (not to mention inner transformation, at least on Jacob's part).

Diplomatic shell games are not going to do it.

2 comments:

  1. Howdy,

    Ever since I became interested in Zionism ten years ago, it has been obvious to me that a) either the Arabs will drive the Jews out of the Middle East, or b) the Israelis will drive the Arabs out of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Neither side has shown any interest in "genuine transformation or acts of self-sacrifice". This is a reality that nobody seems even willing to discuss. Moreover, every Israeli government seems to be heading down the track of getting rid of the Arabs since 1967.

    Cheers, Roger....

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  2. There is a conflict between the three main religions of the world (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) about the governing and control of the Mideast (Jerusalem being the Capital of the World and in particular, Israel).
    Judaism has the most correct theology. Christianity (the teachings of the Jewish Christian messiah) has the most philosophically correct understanding of the character of the Lord; that of being kind and merciful towards the humble and good. Islam has the most correct understanding of the strictness of Adonai, because of the necessity to maintain peace and justice.
    The patriarchs and prophets of the Torah and Tenackh reveal that Jerusalem will be the Capital of the world where the Lord God Almighty will soon manifest His control for all to see. The two messiahs of Christianity along with Christians, Jews and others who accept monotheism and reject the trinity will become part of the future government established by the God of Israel. Islam is revealing the knee-jerk oppressive policies of the present government of Israel and the supportive government of the United States of America.
    Thus we can thank Adonai for discriminating individually to bring the humble, peaceful, good souls to everlasting life in the land of Israel, which will extend from the Euphrates to the Red Sea. The God of Israel will remain sovereign and eternal and His mighty hand will become more obvious to the world. The messiahs of Christianity, in the flesh, will be revealed as the messiahs of Judaism, and Islam, and the good creatures of the world also. Islam has revealed the rebellious wicked and oppressive ways of the policies of Israel and the West.
    Roger is right when he says the government of Israel (run by the messiahs under the wing of Adonai) will govern greater Israel in the Middle East region of the world. But Roger is wrong when he says the Jewish state will rid all the Arabs from greater Israel. The Lord, Adonai, will rid the Arabs, Christians, and Jews who are wicked and unrighteous. To paint everything under the brush of Arab, Jew and Gentile as to who will inherit the land of Israel, and who will be thrown out is wrong. To paint those who inherit the land of Israel as being those who are good, righteous, and humble, no matter what other category of individual, is the correct way.

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