Monday, 11 August 2014

A PIECE OF LAND OR A LAND OF PEACE

(The religious under pin)

JUGES 17-21 AND JOSHUA 1-12 this bible passages provide a historical background or historical under pin to the Israel- Hamas conflict. During the biblical era in the days of old The Bible says that God chose a special people to be His witness to the world:

"You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen" ... And what nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land ...' (Isa 43.10)(2 Sam 7.23). Although the nation of Israel was scattered some 2500 years ago, the Bible says that it will be re-gathered in the last days of this age:
'"I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone ... and bring them into their own land ..."' (Ezek 37.21)

This re-gathering is now well underway and Israel is taking prominence on the world stage. According to prophecy, the God of the Bible will make a name for Himself through Israel in the last days. The world will no longer be able to ignore Him.

Gaza Strip: A territory on the shore of the Mediterranean. This territory was originally designated to become part of a new Palestinian state under the 1947 United Nations partition plan for the former British-held mandate of Palestine. Egypt occupied Gaza from 1949 through the 1967 "Six Day War". As of 1967, Israel officially occupied the area, until it withdrew its troops and settlements in 2005. Though Israel still controls some aspects of Gaza, it is officially still presided over by the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya): Originally is a religious group which later turned to a Palestinian resistance movement, as of early 2006 Hamas has been the ruling party in the Palestinian parliament. Hamas is officially considered a terrorist organization by Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel, and the United States. Jerusalem: The city of Jerusalem is considered to be holy ground by three of the world's major religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. It is currently the capital of the nation of Israel, though the eastern part of the city is in Palestinian territory, and has been claimed by the Palestinian Authority as the capital of the proposed Palestinian state.

West Bank: A territory on the west bank of the Jordan River, formerly part of Jordan, but captured by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967. Forty percent of the territory is currently presided over by the Palestinian Authority, though it is officially under Israeli rule.

Zionism: A political movement (from the Hebrew word "Zion," meaning "Jerusalem") started by European secular Jews in the late nineteenth century. Zionism's goal was to establish a Jewish state in the "Land of Israel". The Zionist political movement was based on ancient Jewish traditions underscoring the importance of the Land of Israel, and fueled by the growing anti-Semitism throughout the world. Zionists also believed that Judaism transcended religious belief, and that all Jews constituted a single nation. Today, the term is often used to denote support for the modern state of Israel.

Since Israel's 2005 disengagement, Israel and Hamas have fought three separate wars: in 2006, in 2008-2009, and in 2012; Israel invaded Gaza in the first two but only bombed in the third. The 2006 war was triggered by Hamas kidnapping a young Israeli soldier, much as the current crisis was triggered by the kidnapping and murder in the West Bank of three Israeli students. They were killed by men who Israel believes were Hamas operatives.

Israel's stated goal in the 2008-2009 and 2012 war, which Israel respectively calls Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense, was to destroy Hamas' ability to launch rockets into Israel. The strategy was to destroy Hamas' rocket stock and supply lines as well as to deter future Hamas rocket attacks.

However, the fight for Gaza has recently been reactivated as Israel constantly bombarding Hamas territory vowing not to stop until all underground tunnels leading into Israel are destroyed

Tensions were ignited in June when three Israeli teenagers, one with American citizenship and all seminary students, were kidnapped while hitchhiking in the West Bank and killed. They were kidnapped on June 12 and their bodies were discovered June 30. Israel accused Hamas of kidnapping the three teens, which the militant group denied. Within days, the conflict broke out on July 8, and Israel launched "Operation Protective Edge" in response to Hamas launching rockets toward Israel. Since the conflict began, 1,423 Gazans have died and 8,265 have been injured while 59 Israelis have died, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and IDF, respectively.

However, the prospect of a lasting cessation of hostilities between a Hamas-controlled Gaza and Israel will only be achieved if root causes of the conflict are fully addressed.
                                                                                                          -to be continued-

By Ekobay Benard

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