Points to Ponder:   No 32   9th October, 2015

 Is the latest “wave of violence” in Israel and the West Bank because of Israeli non-adherence to the “status quo” on the Temple Mount as some would have us believe? Absolutely not!

The “Status quo” between 1967 and 2000 was that anyone, modestly dressed, could go onto the Temple Mount and visit the mosques (except during Moslem prayer times). Not only that! Christian groups could read from the New Testament and pray; guides could show depictions of the Jewish Temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.

The Palestinians unilaterally changed the status quo in 2000. Christians are not even allowed to carry a Bible in their bags; Jews are not allowed to move their lips in case they are praying silently. (This I know personally, working as a guide for more than three decades). In the last few weeks there has been a further erosion of the status quo.

Young Palestinians have brought rocks, pipe bombs and other incendiary material onto the Temple Mount to be used against Jewish visitors on the Temple Mount and to be thrown down on visitors to the Western Wall below. They have barricaded themselves in the El Aqsa Mosques, a desecration of a holy place if ever there was one.

This “change of status” is billed as the “Jewish attempt to take over the Temple Mount”, another fabrication at which the Palestinians excel.

The real reason for the “wave of violence” is Palestinian lies and incitement. There is no “politically correct” way to put it.

By paying a monthly salary, using donations from the US, the UK, the EU, the Scandinavia’s and wherever not, to those serving prison sentences for murdering Jews, the more dead the higher the salary, the Palestinian Authorities have shown that killing Jews/Israelis is worthwhile.

By presenting pictures of the bodies of Israelis slaughtered by Palestinian “loners” as a cause for rejoicing, the Palestinian Authorities have shown that cold-blooded murder is nothing of which to be ashamed. (http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=15818)

 By claiming that the killing of a young Israeli couple in front of their young children is a “national duty” the Palestinian Authorities have shown they are giving full support to those who do the same. (http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=15830)

 By not only refusing to assist a young woman, stabbed in the neck, whose husband was stabbed to death in front of her, who was desperately trying to protect her children, but spitting at her and cursing her and wishing her to die, the Palestinian in the street has shown that he/she has heard the Palestinian message loud and clear and is acting upon it.

This is not a “wave of violence”. It may seem trite to write it, but this is chillingly reminiscent of Europe from the late 1930’s and through WWII, where Jews were fair game.

But this is not Europe from the late 1930’s and through WWII. This is the State of Israel.

This is where the Jewish people and religion began over three thousand years ago.

This is where the Jewish people have returned after centuries of dispersion and persecution.

This is where Israelis have made the desert bloom and freely share that know how with others.

This is where Israeli start-ups have developed innovations in medicine and every technological field which are used by people throughout the world, including BDS supporters.

This is where the IDF, the Israeli Defense Force, is the most humane army in the world despite those who seek our demise, whether on our borders; further away (Iran comes to mind) or living amongst us.

This is where the prophecy “I will take the children of Israel from among the nations … and bring them into their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel”. (Ezekiel 37:21-2) is being fulfilled.