#7 Patterns of Prophecy-Making of Modern Israel

Patterns of Prophecy The Supernatural History of Israel Session 7 The Making of Modern Israel The Making of Modern Israel 1. Yom Kippur War (1973) 1. Background 2. Southern Front 3. Northern Front 4. Results 2. Aftermath of the War (1973-present) 1. Increased Antisemitism 2. Increased Terrorism 3. The Failed “Peace Process” 4. Increased Israeli Isolation & Self-Reliance Background for the War of 73 Berel Wien writes, “Many of the countries founded after the Second World War had already sunk into dictatorship, oppression, stagnation- and even extinction- by the mid-1950s. However, in spite of two wars, a flood of impoverished immigrants, unceasing terrorist activity, diplomatic isolation and superpower confrontations, Israel had survived and, in a sense, prospered. ‘One to whom a miracle occurs, never recognizes the miracle.’ However, the exclusively secular nature of both the government and the majority of Israelis led them to attribute success solely to their own efforts. This bred hubris and arrogance in the Israeli political establishment, traits which would cost Israel dearly in the future.” Background for the War of 73 Egyptian President Nasser died in September of 1970 and was succeeded by Anwar Sadat, who resolved to win back the territory lost to Israel. Sadat promised to enter into peace talks with Israel if Israel would agree to withdraw from the Sinai and Gaza. The Syrian dictator on the other hand refused to negotiate with Israel, intending to retake the Golan Heights by force. Syria was in an arms race with Egypt hoping to become the dominant Arab power in the Middle East. In addition to territory gains, Sadat had other reasons for wanting war. In the years following the Six Day War the Egyptians were utterly demoralized. Nasser’s expansionist aspirations had ruined the Egyptian economy, and Sadat wanted to introduce reforms. Yet only a military victory would give him the popularity to make the necessary changes. Anwar Sadat Background for the War of 73 So Sadat set about to plan the perfect invasion of Israel, and he nearly succeeded. Egyptian forces conducted large scale exercises in the Sinai several times in early 1973, putting Israel on high alert and costing it’s economy millions. These large scale exercises were intended to lull Israel to sleep. It worked. The real reason for Egypt initial military success is that Israeli leaders did not think the Arab world really wanted to go to war. Prime minister Golda Meir confided in the opinion of Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, who believed that after the Six Day War, no Arab army in it’s right mind would invade Israel. They were wrong. Even King Hussein of Jordan tried to warn Meir, but she failed to believe him. Israeli hubris was going to come back to bite them. The timing of the Egyptian attack was meticulously planned. Egypt struck on the Day of Atonement, the most solemn of all Jewish festivals, when the country comes to a complete standstill. Even secular Jews fast and soldiers go home, leaving Israel vulnerable. Golda Meir Background for the War of 73 The other “Arab success” in this conflict was a well timed dual invasion of both Egypt and Syria. The Yom Kippur war was truly a shock to the Israelis who were unprepared for it despite intelligence warnings. The Arab offensive, launched on October 6, 1973, gave little time for the Israeli army to mobilize. This war ended up being one of the most devastating to the little nation of Israel. In a sense the Yom Kippur War was round two of the Six Day War, after which the Israelis had captured the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt all the way up to the Suez Canal, as well as capturing about half of the Golan Heights previously owned by Syria. In 1971 Israel spent $5 million fortifying its positions along the Suez Canal. As is so often the case, fortifications provided a false sense of security and yet were totally useless when tested. War on the Southern Front Israel vs. Egypt War on the Southern Front The Egyptian army included 800,000 battle ready troops, 2,200 tanks, 2,300 artillery pieces, 150 anti-aircraft missile batteries, and 550 modern war planes. It was a strong and well prepared army that had conducted maneuvers dozens of times to rehearse it’s well planned attack against Israel. The Syrian army was also well trained and superbly equipped, it’s armament consisting of over 1,500 tanks, 1,000 artillery pieces, and 50,000 infantrymen. When the warnings of war were finally heeded, it was almost too late. Only hours before the attack began orders went out for a partial call of the Israeli reserves. Ironically, calling up the reserves proved to be easier than usual, as almost all the reserves were attending synagogue or at home for Yom Kippur. The Israelis were forced by the United States not to launch the sort of preemptive strike that had proved so successful at the start of the Six Day War. A message had arrived from U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stating flatly, “Don’t preempt.” When later asked for help, Henry Kissinger, who himself was Jewish, coldly stated, “let them bleed a little.” Henry Kissinger War on the Southern Front The initial attack from Egypt was a stunning success. They crossed the Suez Canal and advanced approximately 10 miles into the Sinai desert. A major factor in Egyptian success was their SAM missiles, which effectively neutralized Israeli air support. Not until Israel countered with an infantry attack to sabotage the SAM and antitank batteries was Israel able to rely on tank and air support. The initial Egyptian advance was finally stopped, and a stalemate ensued in the Sinai over the next couple weeks. This stalemate was finally broke on October 15 in a brilliant military maneuver led by General Ariel Sharon. A strong Israeli force broke through the Egyptian lines, and split the seam between the Egyptian second and third armies, and reached the Suez. Once west of the Suez the Israeli army and Air Force begin to pound the Egyptians mercilessly in retaliation for their earlier heavy losses. War on the Northern Front Israel vs. Syria War on the Northern Front The stunning organizational success for the Arabs was not only seen in the Egyptian invasion from the south, but it was also coordinated with a Syrian invasion in the Golan Heights. The Israelis were outnumbered in the Golan, having 180 tanks against about 1,400 Syrian tanks. Fighting in the Golan Heights was given priority by the Israeli high command, since it was so much closer to the Israeli population centers. Reservists were called up and sent immediately to the front. The Syrians had expected it would take at least 24 hours for Israeli reserves to reach the front lines, but it took them only 15. Men in their prayer shawls left their synagogues, mounted their tanks, and went to the front lines. By the end of the first day the Syrians had achieved moderate success. Syrian tanks were also equipped with newly acquired infrared targeting systems which allowed them to fight through the night, and continue to destroy Israeli tanks. Israeli losses were heavy. During four days of fighting in the Golan, Israel lost many tanks and men, but were somehow able to contain the Syrian advance. War on the Northern Front Some amazing stories exist on how very few defenders were able to stem the tide of the Syrian advance. One particular young Israeli tanker, Lt. Tzvi’ka Greengold, incredibly attacked and defeated an entire Syrian tank battalion all by himself ! After initially hearing of the Syrian attack, he hitchhiked to the Golan, requested to be put in charge of two severely damaged tanks, and fought almost non-stop for the next few days. He referred to himself over radio as the “Tzvi’ka Force,” which led the Syrians into thinking he commanded a whole battalion. He changed tanks nearly a halfdozen times, whenever his tank became disabled. He is credited with single-handedly destroying 20-40 Syrian tanks. So many accounts like this occurred that even hardened secularists spoke of “miracles” as the only explanation for the ability of the outnumbered, unprepared Israeli forces to blunt the Syrian assault. Lt. Tzvi’ka Greengold War on the Northern Front Lt. Col. Kahalani barely survived the 6 Day War, after his tank was destroyed. By his own testimony he survived because he prayed to God. After being in the hospital over a year, suffering burns over 60% of his body, undergoing 16 operations, and forging medical documents to gain entrance back into the IDF, he became the hero of the Yom Kippur War. In a location in the Golan, later known as the Valley of Tears, Kahalani led his battalion from October 6-9th. On the first night of battle, Kahalani asked for air support, but it didn’t come. The Syrians had infrared night vision and so attacked accurately throughout the night. Kahalani lined up his tanks and began firing into the dark. The Syrians thought a vast Israeli armada was facing them. Kahalani stated over the radio that he had 41 tanks though he had far less, but he wasn’t sure if the enemy was listening in. Kahalani described how his normal battle range of 3 kilometers was different that day. The battle was in close quarters. He hit 3 tanks, directly in front of him at 25 meters away, firing and hitting all 3 tanks before they could return fire. Lt. Col. Avigdor Kahalani War on the Northern Front The battle ultimately came down to the conflict at a hill called “Little Hermon,” later known as the “Valley of Tears.” Kahalani ordered his remaining 7 tanks to charge, but no one moved. He screamed at his comrades, then charged the Syrian tanks himself. He fully believed he was about to die… but he hoped to stall the Syrians long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Yet without any explanation, the few hundred remaining Syrian tanks retreated, just when the Israeli force was on the verge of collapse! It has been theorized that the Syrians didn’t know the tanks were out of shells and seeing only a few tanks changing positions, they may have believed that Israel had more tanks than they actually did. However, a Syrian soldier later swore that he saw an army of Angels surrounding the few tanks Israel had left. This courageous charge, and the retreat of the Syrian tank armada gave Golda Meir just enough time to convince President Nixon for the airlift of arms that would save Israel. Lt. Col. Avigdor Kahalani War on the Northern Front U.S. Secretary of State Kissenger had already denied aid to Israel, but now Golda Meir pleaded with President Nixon, who was considered by many to be an avowed antiSemite. Nixon would later recount that as he listened to Meir, he could hear his mother’s voice, who used to read to him stories from the O.T. His mother once told him as a young boy that one day he would be in a position to save the Jewish people. That years old conversation with his mother flashed into Nixon’s mind as he listened to Golda Meir plead with him. Nixon would later say that at that moment he realized perhaps for the first time, why he had become president of the U.S. Although he was in the middle of the Watergate scandal, Nixon decided to give Golda anything she wanted. An arsenal was lifted to Israel overnight, and thus became the largest arms airlift since WW2. The Airlift consisted of 22,359 tons of weaponry including tanks, artillery, and ammunition. Results As long as the Arabs were winning the war, the Super Powers and the U.N. were silent, but as soon as Israel turned the tide, Russia and the United States forced a cease-fire resolution through the U.N. Security Council and the fighting stopped. This ceasefire saved the Egyptian third army from the humiliation of defeat and surrender. However, Egypt’s initial success had given the country back some of its pride and contributed to the eventual peace deal between Egypt and Israel. Yom Kippur War is considered by many historians to be one of the greatest turn around victories in history. Israel was near annihilation, yet survived. They ended the war by pushing the Syrian to the gates of Damascus, and stopping only a few kilometers from Cairo. Results Israel lost 2,800 soldiers who were killed in action. Another 8,000 were wounded, and 293 captured. Israel lost 400 tanks & 102 planes. Arab losses are hard to determine. Egypt and Syria never disclosed official figures. Yet estimates range from 5-15,000 Egyptians, & 3,500 Syrian losses. Arabs lost a combined 2,300 tanks, over 500 aircraft, and had a few hundred tanks captured by Israel after Syrians fled the battlefield. Sadat came to Israel in 1977, addressing the Knesset. He was one of the first to attempt peace with Israel. He was later assassinated in Egypt for this desire. Post 1973 The Yom Kippur War was devastating not only in lives and resources, but also in world opinion. Both Golda Meir & Moshe Dayan resigned after the war, due to public pressure. Berel Wein in his book, Triumph of Survival describes how Israel as a result of the Six Day & Yom Kippur Wars, shed its image of the perpetually threatened underdog. Israel began to be called a “mini superpower,” and viewed as the neighborhood bully. The Arab oil producing countries used the Yom Kippur war to triple the price of their oil on the world market. In solidarity with their demand for Israeli concessions and withdrawals, an Arab oil boycott of the United States and other Western countries was implemented. The Arabs blamed Israel, and the world believed them. Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish slogans appeared publicly and anti-Semitism took a strong hold around the world. Israeli Seclusion Israeli Seclusion A global philosophy began to be developed and applied in the late 1970s. Many modern world leaders began to believe that the creation of the modern state of Israel has been the largest roadblock to peace in the Middle East. They further believe that muslim countries around Israel would be appeased if Israel were to give up some of their land. U.S. Policy in particular since 1979 conspicuously evidences this philosophy. But is this true? The so-called “peace process” has been totally unsuccessful. The main result of this process has actually been further Israeli isolation in the U.N. and on the world scene. Israeli Seclusion Between the creation of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006, and 2013 Israel has been condemned in 45 separate resolutions. The Council has issued more resolutions condemning Israel than nearly the rest of the world combined. The 45 resolutions comprised almost half (45.9%) of all country-specific resolutions passed by the Council. From 1967 to 1989 the UN Security Council adopted 131 resolutions directly addressing the Arab–Israeli conflict. Though an incomplete list of only the top few hundred resolutions against Israel, go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_United_Nations_resolutions_conc erning_Israel UN Security Council Chamber in New York. Israeli Seclusion Another way to detect the seclusion of Israel on the world scene would be to quickly peruse various political cartoons. Though obviously not the opinion of everyone, these cartoons from various sources well illustrate a swing in world opinion against Israel. Israel is no longer seen as the victim, but the perpetrator. Failed “Peace Process” 1. Israeli Claim to the Land 2. Arab Claim to the Land 3. Pro-Arab U.S. “Peace” Policies Pattern of Judges 11 Read Judges 11:1-28. Recall the context; note the major players; see the pattern repeated throughout history. Pattern: 1. False propaganda that twists, or rewrites history. 2. Unjustified claim to the land. 3. Provoking a war to “win back” the land being claimed. Read Joel 3:1-8; & Amos 1:3-5 Israeli “Claim” to the Land Here is a summary of a statement given by United States Senator of Oklahoma, James Inhofe on March 4, 2002. In this statement, Senator Inhofe defends Israel’s right to the Land of Israel with 7 reasons. 1. Archeological evidence demonstrates a Jewish presence in the land for over 3,000 years. 2. Historically the Jewish people possessed the land until the Roman period, were dispossessed, but were restored to the land in the wake of WW1 by the authority of the Balfour Declaration (1917), which was formalized by the international community (1947), and validated by the Israeli War for Independence (1948). Israeli “Claim” to the Land 3. Practically, Israel has been good for the land. The land of Palestine was a total wasteland until Jews came and reclaimed it. The modern agricultural achievements of Israel are astounding. 4. Jews should live in the land for the purely humanitarian reason of giving them a place of refuge. Jews were never welcomed in the countries of the world throughout history. 6 million Jews were slaughtered in the Holocaust. They need somewhere to go. 5. Israel is a strategic ally of the United States. They are the only democracy in the Middle East, while other countries of the Middle East are hostile to democracy. Israeli “Claim” to the Land 6. Israel is a roadblock to terrorism. A strong Israel keeps terrorists in check in the Middle East. Terrorism would exclusively focus on western democracies if Israel did not exist. 7. Because the Bible says God gave them that land. Israeli “Claim” to the Land I would add one more reason to this, namely, the right of conquest. Since it’s inception, Israel has been in four major defensive wars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973). Not only have they won each war, they have gained and maintained more territory in each successive conflict. The simple right of conquest is as old as time itself, and the only right Arab countries have ever had to the land since the mid-600s. Yet these Arab countries have been displaced in modern times, while Israel both occupies and defends its land. Arab “Claim” to the Land 1. Arabs claim an ancestry with Abraham and a promise of the Land through his son Ishmael (Sura 3:60; 2:110). This claim blatantly contradicts the Bible, and originated over 2,500 years after the time of Abraham. The Bible has a much stronger claim to antiquity. 2. Arabs claim a long and continuous residency in the Land, and claim further that there has never been a significant Jewish presence in the Land. This clearly revises history and denies strong evidence from archeology. Jews had already existed in the Land for over 2,000 years before the Islam even came into existence in the 600s AD. Arab Revisionist History “Jerusalem was invaded by Christian Arabs in the year 90 B.C. and remained under their domination until it was occupied by the Romans in the first century A.D.” –Quoted from an Egyptian state information booklet, which claimed Jerusalem was “an Arab City.” [quoted from “Cursed” page 33]. Read this quote carefully… This “historic document” is claiming Christians existed 90 years before the birth of Christ in 90 B.C. Arab “Claim” to the Land 3. The British MacMahon-Hussein Agreement promised land & autonomy to Arab tribes. During WW1 the British made an offer of land and independence to the Arabs if they would rebel against their Ottoman overlords and join the British cause. A letter on October 24, 1915 from the British High Commissioner for Egypt, Sir Henry MacMahon outlined the terms for Arab participation. This BritishArab agreement was similar to the BritishJewish Balfour declaration. Though the British obviously made some sort of deal with the Arabs, the letter is very obscure, and never mentions the land of Palestine in particular. The irony is that this letter is claimed by the Arabs to be authoritative, while they view the Balfour Declaration, which is much more clear, as having no authority whatsoever. Land for Peace? The British Mandate (1920-1948) gave the British empire internationally recognized authority to determine the fate of the land of Palestine. When the Ottoman Empire collapsed following WW1, the British Mandate for Palestine set aside an area of 45,000 square miles for a Jewish national homeland. From the designated area, the British took 35,000 square miles of the land in 1921 to create the Trans-Jordan (later Jordan). Jews were not allowed to live or own property in the area east of the Jordan River. Later Britain also ceded 454 square miles of the Golan Heights to Syria. About 10,000 square miles of the original grant were left to the Jews. The largest portion of this was the inhospitable Negev. Land for Peace? In 1947 the UN General Assembly enacted Resolution 181, a partition plan that outlined borders for a Jewish Palestine. As has often been the case with treaties and resolutions, the Arabs rejected the plan, and obstructed its passage. The Jews, on the other hand, welcomed it. Land for Peace? Upon the authority of the United Nations Partition Plan, Israel declared her independence when the British Mandate expired in May of 1948. Though they were immediately attacked on multiple fronts, by multiple Arab nations, Israel was able to defend itself, and maintain its existence. When a cease-fire was finally declared, Israel was able to exist on whatever land they possessed at that time. Land for Peace? The Six-Day-War is another piece of the background to the “Land for Peace Process.” Tiny Israel was attacked again by five surrounding nations in 1967. Yet Israel not only miraculously survived, but gained significant territory as a result of this defensive war. The territory gained by Israel has been labeled as “the occupied territories” by the world community. This description is a misnomer because it implies Israeli aggression and conquest. Israel won this territory defensively, nonetheless, they have been pressured to return the land ever since 1967. American presidents since Jimmy Carter have taken a lead role in brokering this return of the land in order to establish their legacies for peace… The “Refugee” Problem… The “refugees” are persons displaced by the Israeli War for Independence & the 6 Day War. After the dust settled, Israel controlled vast amounts of new territory, but also now “governed” over a few million people, who were formerly under other governments. What to do with these refugees has been a major source of international debate and contention. The number of refugees housed in camps is somewhere around 650,000, yet numbers are often inflated to include those Arabs living in the West Bank & Gaza, bringing the number to just over 3 million, yet the Palestinian Authority claims the number is nearly 8 million… The “Refugee” Problem… Ironically, the world ignores the fact that just as many Jews were displaced from Muslim countries as a result of these same conflicts. The little country of Israel, with a population of a few million, successfully absorbed over 800,000 Jewish refugees in the years after independence. Yet the surrounding muslim countries with a total population of over 30 million could not absorb 650,000 refugees. The question must be asked, do they want to absorb the refugees? No! The hottest political issues and the highest recruitment for terrorist organizations come from these refugee camps. The muslim world wants the camps to remain in place. Plus, the U.N. pays the Palestinian Authority for each person in the camps. Settlements in “Occupied Territories” Israel has been criticized and pressured by the international community, especially the U.N. and the U.S., for building Jewish settlements inside the “occupied territories.” Yet the fact remains, Israel has a growing Jewish population, and a shrinking amount of land to settle them on. Current prim minister Netanyahu has taken a firm stance in settling in these territories and has ignored the international criticism. Land for Peace? The land of Israel contains just over 6 million Jews on 10,762 square miles of land. The Arab countries surrounding Israel have over 300 million inhabitants on 5,207,306 square miles of land. That is over 483x the amount of land possessed by Israel. Yet the Arab countries are calling for the tiny country of Israel to cede more land for an ever elusive peace… From 1947 to the present, the Arabs, i.e. “Palestinians” have rejected legitimate offers for land numerous times. Do they really want the land???? “The Arab people will not be embarrassed to declare: We shall not be satisfied except by the final obliteration of Israel from the map of the Middle East.” Muhammad Sala al-Din, Egyptian foreign minister (1954). “We aim at the destruction of the State of Israel. The immediate aim: perfection of Arab military might. The national aim: the eradication of Israel.” Egyptian president Nasser (1965) “The existence of Israel is an error which must be rectified. This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy, which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear-to wipe Israel off the map.” Iraqi president Abdur Rahman Aref (June 4, 1967) “We shall never stop until we can go back home and Israel is destroyed… The goal of our struggle is the end of Israel, and there can be no compromises or mediations… the goal of this violence is the elimination of Zionism from Palestine in all its political, economic and military aspects… We don’t want peace, we want victory. Peace for us means Israel’s destruction and nothing else.” –Yasser Arafat (Head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization from 1969-2004) quoted in the Washington Post 29 March 1970. “I want to tell Carter and Begin that when the Arabs set off their volcano there will be only Arabs in this part of the world… Our people will continue to fuel the torch of the revolution with rivers of blood until the whole of the occupied homeland is liberated, the whole of the homeland is liberated, not just a part of it.” –Yasser Arafat (Head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization from 1969-2004) quoted in the Associated Press 12 March 1979. “Peace for us means the destruction of Israel. We are preparing for an all-out war, a war which will last for generations… We shall not rest until the day when we return to our home, and until we destroy Israel.” –Yasser Arafat (Head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization from 1969-2004) quoted in The Times, UK (5 August 1980). The “barbaric” Jewish state “has no cure but to be annihilated.” Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Quoted from Times of Israel June 4, 2014 The Real Issue The real issue is NOT land, but the fact that the mere existence of Israel is an offense to the religion of Islam. Not only does Israel exist, but they have fought four wars against Islamic countries and won every time. This is such a dramatic humiliation to Islam, the only way to gain back their honor is to annihilate Israel. Read Psalm 83… God told us in advance that this would happen! Coincidence or Providence?