“I cannot entertain the notion that any Israeli would tell the Hamas that they basically won. If someone does this, I will face off against him with full force.” - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, January 18, 2009.
Are there any Israelis committed enough to the truth, and sufficiently in touch with reality to face the “full force”of Olmert’s ire? I am sure there are.
That the outgoing prime minister even needed to voice this threat tells the story.
It must be said loud and clear. And if it is not said, time will shout it out:
Hamas did win.
Hamas won this round as surely as their brothers in Lebanon – the Hizb’allah – won the Second Lebanon War.
Olmert’s declared goals for that war in the summer of 2006 – the release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev – and the driving back of the Hizb’allah from Israel’s northern border, were not met. Hizb’allah celebrated its victory as the the IDF left Lebanon, rearmed with rockets that can reach Tel Aviv and even further from the north, and staged a massive victory parade in Beirut after using the mutilated bodies of Regev and Goldwasser to secure the release of the infamous Arab child murderer, Samir Kuntar.
And in Gaza, after the ceasefire, Hamas still holds Gilad Schalit. It has celebrated its victory, parading through the streets of Gaza City, and it’s chief sponsor, Iran, is already working on ways to arm the group with longer range rockets that can reach Tel Aviv from the south.
Rightist Israeli Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman warned Tuesday that within a year Hamas will have stocked its arsenal with missiles capable of reaching the Mediterranean metropolis.
This very night the Egyptian and US navies are reportedly scouring the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea for a ship carrying 60 tons of arms destined for Hamas.
“The cargo consists of 50 Fajr rockets whose range is 50-75 km, scores of heavy Grad rockets, new, improved launchers whose angle of fire can be precisely adjusted, tons of high-quality explosives, submachine guns, rifles and pistols and armor-piercing missiles and shells (of types used successfully by Hizb’allah against Israeli tanks in 2006). - DEBKAfile, January 20, 2009.
If that shipment does not get through, the next will. As reported in the Israeli press Wednesday, smuggling tunnels between the Sinai and Gaza are already back in operation.
It was not that long ago that warnings were aired about Hamas extending its rocket range to Ashdod and Beer Sheva. Lieberman’s words about the threat to Tel Aviv will, likewise, come to pass.
A Hamas victory was never going to be the defeat of the IDF and the driving of Israel to surrender. Islamist groups like Hamas grow stronger by demonstrating a willingness to take on and fight the “Goliath” and by then being able to still hit Israel after Israel’s army has ceased firing.
The Israeli lives that were lost in Gaza these past two weeks, like the Israeli lives lost in Lebanon in 2006, could put the violence on hold for a little while. But if the job is not completed; if Hamas and Hizb’allah are not crushed, what will the sacrifice of these lives then mean?
Hamas won Operation Cast Lead, just as it won Operation Summer Rain in 2006, the same year in which Hizb’allah won what Israel called the Second Lebanon War.
The Arabs won. And Israel lost. And no amount of blustering or threatening by the prime minister can change this or conceal it.
Just wait and see.
I hear President Obama is already on the case in the middle east. It seems there is talk of change….but what change? Every time the gentile nations try to make peace between Israel and her neighbors, it seems to make things worse. I thank Almighty God that He is in control, and Israel will not be destroyed. He has promised the Jews the land and this promise is not contigent upon what any powerful leader or nation can do. It is contingent upon God’s promise to the ancestors of the Jews and their generations that follow, come what may in the years between then and the future.
Gen. 17 :4-8; ‘As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
The Almighty God is God, not allah, or any other god man has made up to satisfy his own desires. Jesus is the Son of God, and Israel will recognize Him as such and turn to Him in the future.
Romans 11:26: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”
Jeremiah prophesies in chapter 12 of the siege of Jerusalem by the Beast and his armies. Judah will be strengthened; the LORD will deliver her. Verse 8 says: “In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.” Verse 9, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”Verse 10: “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Chapter 13 explains that there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness….”and the LORD of hosts will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.” Verse 9, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I WILL HEAR THEM: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.:
Olmert is far too deep in denial to be able to start admitting to error, so deep that denial becomes delusion. A timely withdrawl from Gaza so as not to rain on Obama’s parade, I believe? Words fail me. The US decided a long time age to choose oil over Israel; they and other world bodies behave as though the territory of Israel is negotiable. It is not. It is extremely painful to watch the Israeli leadership weaken Israel from within by stubbornly clinging to this foreign policy of appeasement that only empowers Israel’s enemies. The God of Israel is the only true ally Israel has.
As much as I hate to admit it, you are right! this government never seems to get it into their thick heads that you have to FINISH what you start when you go against Islam. Other wise they will always try to prove that their god is best. Olmert was scared of what Obama would do if they carried on after his ordanation. And, that is why I am sure they pulled the plug on their three weks war. The problem is, Bibi is really no better, words are cheap. He also is bowing down already to Him. When is Israel going to bow down to their TRUE G-d ? The G-d of Abraham, Isacc and Joseph??
In his inaugeral speech OBAMA said: “we will shake your hand if you unclinch your fist”
I wonder whom he had in mind. Lets pray that the Lord will give us a time of PEACE, however short it will be. Do not forget to pray for JERUSALEM and all of ISRAEL. SHALOM to all of you. May the Lord answer all your prayers and lets give Him Praise Glory. AMEN.
Hanna, well my prayer is that God will show the Christian Zionist who really are His people. It is my earnest prayer.
Shalom Stan,
Yes, right again you are Stan, Hamas wins another round. As I said before, Isreal should thumb its nose to anyone, (and especially Obama). who impedes their right to defend themselves agaist these terrorists. Congratulations on your cute little boy !
Shalom Jeremy
Israel Wins the Battles, Hamas Wins the War
Israeli Officials , “ We Have Taught the Hamas, a lesson, we have reduced rocket fire into our communities, “.
Israel expended some billion dollars, in military and economic resources. The Hamas, a few million dollars , but now the Hamas instead of obtaining a 100 million dollars or so a year, Hamas will now receive several billion. Saudi Arabia has already pledged one billion. . Hamas will rebuild , rearm, and become more powerful than ever.
Hamas with its state actors such as Iran , Syria and etc. has successfully inflamed an international global pandemic of distain and hatred for Israel , and Jewish People everywhere.
Israel will not only have to endure more terrorists attacks, more rocket fire, but under International pressure be required to show even more restraint, endure more losses.
As Rocket fire begins again, Hamas will say, It’s not us, its them, we are doing everything we can, Israel must show more restrain, etc. . sound familiar ??
If Israel had removed Hamas, it would have sent a clear message , to Iran, to Syria, to Hezbollah, and Global Terrorism.
But now they only message Israel has sent is , “ Ever Again”
Praying for Israel and America……..God help us all—————
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129565
I am more and more perplex how easy it is, to bring Europe back to it’s Anti-Semitism. Two years ago when my family and I came back from Amerika we got not a real warm welcome in Germany since Bush is not well-liked here.
Kids have been harassed and people don’t want to have much contact with us…strange feeling though.
There was also the strong urge that we should preach the Gospel much much more but the Christians are mostly silent and occupied with other, more pressing matters…
Now, with the well deserved strike from Israel against those murderers it is mindboggling how Anti Israel this Nation/Europe has become and how blind they are to the coming threat of Islamization of Europe.
Man, I would rather be in Israel right now and live and support her from within.
Maybe I shall…
Ralf
Doran consider your “earnest prayer” answered mate. G-d has already revealed to “the Christian Zionist” and many other lovers of Israel who His real people are.
Keep up the good work Zion Warrior. Our prayers are with you and your family, as well as Israel and her beloved people.
to jeannette - posted 1/22/09:
well said. keep focusing on scripture and not the imaginings of men.
to stan and everyone that responded so far:
the “man of violence” has never won nor can he every win. the haters of the g-d of israel and the israel of g-d are blind, deaf and dumb to g-ds truth. even though many in the middle east are being saved, g-d is also slowly but surely hardening many hearts (remember pharoah?). the demons driving these people are only fallen created beings with no hope of salvation. their teeth and claws were pulled by messiah at the cross. i encourage everyone to focus their hearts and minds on messiah, his final triumph and the new jerusalem. rejoice, pesach is just around the corner. see you there?
The more the world governments shun and isolate Israel - the more GOD will reveal himself to the Israeli people, What more can you who are in Israel want …. You are guarantied by GOD to stand the test of time…..The creator of all things seen and unseen is on your side ….FOREVER…..
Stand tall all who are in Israel for GOD is for you …and who is man to challenge Him?
For He is El Elyon
He is El Shaddai
Just thought you needed some double comfort as I said before and I will say it again and agian …………………………………………………………….
There is nothing more refreshing and joyful than the truth!
I know Israel is the apple of Gods eye and he is ever watching over the land and its people that he has chosen to bring in as a righteous holy nation
Israel should just say to hell with everyone and fight fire with fire. If Hamas and Hizbollah and Iran and Syria and Lebenon all want to destroy Israel, then maybe Israel should destroy all of them first. If all this crap is because one god is better than another god then let all hell break loose and then see whose god is better. The way I understand this jihad thing is that everyone of them is willing to die for their cause. Well let it be so. Cause they don’t have a lick of sense.
I was 7 years old when we here in the U.S.A. went to war against Italy, Germany and Japan. During that war many “innocent civilians” were killed. Thank GOD that it did not happen here! That is and has always been the unintended consequences of all wars.
I served in the United States military for ten years, 1954 to1964. I was lucky to not be in warms way. I still know that I would have fought and if need be died for my country.
I agree the war is madness and should be the last resort. Knowing what or when is the “last resort” is the rub.
I know that I will use deadly force to protect my life and the life of my loved ones. I do not yet know that I would do this for a stranger – I hope that I would.
I probable would kill a person who was shielding another person who was trying to kill me or mine. I have thought about this and prayed to GOD about it. I have decided that I will survive even though another my have to die.
To me self-defense on an individual level or for a nation protecting itself is equal - there is no difference.