1/27/24
Published: Thursday, January 25, 2024
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Make no mistake about it: Israel is not fighting a war of self-defense in Gaza; it is waging a war of ethnic cleansing, extermination and genocide.
Chris Hedges makes a strong case that Israel is indeed committing genocide in Gaza:
The exhaustive 84-page brief submitted by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) charging Israel with genocide is hard to refute. Israel’s campaign of indiscriminate killing, wholesale destruction of infrastructure, including housing, hospitals and water treatment plants, along with its use of starvation as a weapon, accompanied by genocidal rhetoric from its political and military leaders who speak of destroying Gaza and ethnically cleansing the 2.3 million Palestinians, makes a strong case against Israel for genocide.
A ruling of genocide is a stain that Israel – which weaponizes the Holocaust to justify its brutalization of the Palestinians – would find hard to remove. It would undercut Israel’s insistence that Jews are eternal victims. It would shatter the justification for Israel’s indiscriminate killing of unarmed Palestinians and construction of the world’s largest open air prison in Gaza, along with the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It would sweep away the immunity to criticism enjoyed by the Israel lobby and its Zionist supporters in the U.S., who have successfully equated criticisms of the “Jewish State” and support for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism.
Over 23,700 {25,000 now} Palestinians, including over 10,000 children, have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, when Hamas and other resistance fighters breached the security barriers around Gaza. Some 1,200 people were killed – there is strong evidence that some of the victims were killed by Israeli tank crews and helicopter pilots that intentionally targeted the some 200 hostages along with their captors. Thousands more Palestinians are missing, presumed buried under the rubble. Israeli attacks have left over 60,000 Palestinians wounded and maimed, the majority of them women and children.
Thousands more Palestinian civilians, including children, have been arrested, blindfolded, numbered, beaten, forced to strip to their underwear, loaded onto trucks and transported to unknown locations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [Netanyahu is NOT Moses] equated Gaza with Amalek, a nation hostile to the Israelites in the Bible, and cited the Biblical injunction to kill every Amalek man, woman, child or animal. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called Palestinians “human animals.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated, as the South African lawyers told the court, that everybody in Gaza is responsible for what happened on Oct. 7 because they voted for Hamas, although half the population in Gaza are children who are too young to vote. But even if the entire population of Gaza did vote for Hamas this does not make them a legitimate military target. They are still, under the rules of war, civilians, and entitled to protection. They are also entitled under international law to resist their occupation via armed struggle.
The Biden administration is playing a very cynical game. It insists it is trying to halt what, by its own admission, is Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Palestinians, while bypassing Congress to speed up the supply of weapons to Israel, including “dumb” bombs. It insists it wants the fighting in Gaza to end while it vetoes ceasefire resolutions at the U.N. It insists it upholds the rule of law while it subverts the legal mechanism that can halt the genocide.
Cynicism pervades every word Biden and Blinken utter. This cynicism extends to us. Our revulsion for Donald Trump, the Biden White House believes, will impel us to keep Biden in office. On any other issue this might be the case. But it cannot be the case with genocide.
Genocide is not a political problem. It is a moral one. We cannot, no matter what the cost, support those who commit or are accomplices to genocide. Genocide is the crime of all crimes. It is the purest expression of evil. We must stand unequivocally with Palestinians and the jurists from South Africa. We must demand justice. We must hold Biden accountable for the genocide in Gaza.
The sheer amount of death and carnage Israel has inflicted upon Gaza (with Biden’s blessings) dwarfs any and all military conflicts during the 21st century.
The killing of civilians in Gaza is at a scale unprecedented in recent history, monitoring groups have said, as Israel continues to pound the besieged coastal enclave more than three months into the war.
Britain-based charity Oxfam said on Thursday that the daily death toll of Palestinians in Israel’s war on Gaza surpasses that of any other major conflict in the 21st century, while survivors remain at high risk due to hunger, diseases and cold, as well as ongoing Israeli bombardments.
“Israel’s military is killing Palestinians at an average rate of 250 people a day, which massively exceeds the daily death toll of any other major conflict of recent years,” Oxfam said in a statement.
For comparison, the charity provided a list of average deaths per day in other conflicts since the turn of the century: 96.5 in Syria, 51.6 in Sudan, 50.8 in Iraq, 43.9 in Ukraine, 23.8 in Afghanistan, and 15.8 in Yemen.
Oxfam said the crisis is further compounded by Israel’s restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, where only 10 percent of weekly food aid that is needed gets in. This poses a serious risk of starvation for those who survive the relentless bombardment, it said.
Beyond that, hundreds of Palestinians who have been murdered by Israel are American citizens. Can you imagine any other country on earth murdering hundreds of American citizens within a three-month span and the U.S. president and Congress sitting back with absolute indifference?
The thing that makes this unimaginable horror so horrible is that it could end overnight—if America’s evangelical pastors and churches would stand up with a loud, united voice and say, “STOP THE SLAUGHTER!”
Gideon Levy is a Haaretz columnist and a member of the newspaper’s editorial board. Levy joined Haaretz in 1982 and spent four years as the newspaper’s deputy editor. He has won many prestigious awards, including Israel’s top prize of journalism, the Sokolow Prize in 2021, and the Olof Palme Prize of International Human Rights in 2016; the Peace Through Media Award in 2012; the Euro-Med Journalist Prize for Cultural Dialogue in 2008; the Leipzig Freedom Prize in 2001; the Israeli Journalists’ Union Prize in 1997; and the Association of Human Rights in Israel Award for 1996.
Here is what Levy said on April 10, 2015, in a speech entitled The Israeli Lobby: Is It Good For the US, Is It Good For Israel?
When I got first the invitation to come here, the first words were, “Israel lobby.” I said, “Wow, they invite me; AIPAC is inviting me.” And then I said, “That’s the chance of my life. That I’m going to come there to Washington and to tell them, ‘Listen, with friends like yours, Israel does not need enemies.’”
I think that if it wouldn’t be [for] the Israel Lobby, Israel would have been today a better place to live in. Israel would have been a more just place. And I think that if it wouldn’t be [for] the Israel Lobby, the United States would have been a better place and a more democratic place.
And still, by the end of the day, we are dealing with an enigma, because nothing can really explain it. Nothing can explain how administration after administration, legislators after legislators are going in the very same way which contradicts American interest in so many cases, which contradicts international law, human rights, moral values, you name it.
Can it be only this small group [of Israeli lobbyists], as powerful as it is, is it the full explanation?
You really need to watch Levy’s complete address.
Levy’s question is answered with “No, it is NOT merely AIPAC and the J Street Israeli lobbyists that are influencing Washington’s politicians to blindly and robotically support the Zionist agenda in Israel; it is the massive numbers of America’s evangelicals who are the most powerful and influential force for Zionism in the world.”
The callousness of the Israelis for human life—especially the lives of the Palestinians—described by Levy in his speech is replicated by evangelicals in the U.S.—their professed belief in the teachings of Christ notwithstanding.
This means that the more than 25,000 Palestinian deaths—many of them Christian Palestinians—lie directly on the doorsteps of America’s evangelical pastors, preachers and churches.
Thus far, only the Houthis have come to Gaza’s defense. And, of course, the U.S. and Great Britain are running interference for Israel against the Yemenis with missile attacks—all under the cover of deceit and deception. The rest of the Arab world has thus far sat back on their indolent backsides and watched their fellow Arabs be incinerated, content to rake in the blood money from Washington, D.C.
Again, all of this torture, starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide are the result of the enthusiastic complicity of America’s evangelicals. And all of the enthusiastic complicity of the evangelicals comes from the false prophecy doctrines invented by John Darby and Cyrus Scofield known as Prophetic Dispensationalism, aka Christian Zionism.
For those newer to this column, I again provide the links to the Israel and Prophecy packages I have delivered that expose the devilish doctrines of Christian Zionism and that exalt the truth of Christ’s New Covenant, which includes understanding the truth about Biblical Israel and the truth about Biblical eschatology.
Here are Israel Packages One, Two and Three.
Here are Prophecy Packages One, Two and Three.
© Chuck Baldwin
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CLICK THIS LINK TO WATCH
THE ISRAEL PACKAGES ONLINE
Stand With Israel? Not On Your Life!
Chuck Baldwin: Thursday, May 20, 2021
With Israel’s current acts of terrorism against the Palestinians in Gaza escalating into war, the usual Zionist propagandists in the Western media, political and evangelical establishments have launched their latest “stand with Israel” blitz. These pathetic propagandists constantly portray the State of Israel as the poor, weak, innocent victim that is under siege from strong, bullying aggressor-neighbors. Actually, just the opposite is true.
If you take in all of your information from mainstream media sources, you likely think that the Palestinians are a terrorist organization who carry out acts of unprovoked violence against the innocent state of Israel. But to those who think for themselves and seek out objective information on the Israeli and Palestinian relations, it is far more complex. It is also heavily one-sided.
It is no secret that the United States government is in bed with the Israeli government. In foreign “aid” alone, $10.5 million of your tax dollars flow to Israel every single day of the year. Some states have even passed laws that define the criticism of Israel as “anti-Semitism.”
Calling out the crimes of the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic, it is pro free speech. Criticizing the Israeli government as well as any other government is the right and duty of all free humanity. Just as TFTP advocates for the freedom of Americans, we advocate for the freedom of Israelis and the Palestinians. Only through discussion and peaceful criticism will peace ever be achieved.
Nevertheless, the US mainstream media has made it their mission to whitewash, downplay, distort, and completely lie about the crimes perpetuated on the Palestinian people by Israel.
Despite what the blowhards in the mainstream media say, the atrocities carried out by Israeli authorities amount to crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution. In fact, Human Rights Watch released a report last month, saying exactly that.
The Zionist State of Israel is indeed a genocidal apartheid state that is as evil and murderous as any fascist or communist state in history. In truth, Israel was constructed on the principles of fascism. This fact was acknowledged by Albert Einstein back when Israel was first coming into existence—which Einstein much opposed.
In 1948, Einstein sent a letter to the New York Times warning,
Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the “Freedom Party” (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.
The current visit of Menachem Begin [who became the sixth Prime Minister of Israel], leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughout the world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin’s political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.
Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin’s behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement. The public avowals of Begin’s party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.
The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.
Einstein’s letter was signed by 28 notables, including a Jewish Rabbi.
The fascist, blood-thirsty predilections of the Zionist state observed by Einstein in 1948 have manifested themselves to greater and greater degrees ever since.
Over 5 million Palestinians have been murdered by the State of Israel since 1948. By any honest, objective analysis, the mass slaughter of innocents, the utter annihilation of hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages, the forced displacement of millions of people, the unconscionable crimes against humanity committed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the total subjugation of millions of indigenous individuals that has turned both Gaza and the West Bank into the world’s largest open air prison would be regarded as a holocaust as horrific as any that came before it.
Before you watch another propagandist newscaster or listen to another brainwashed evangelical pastor or politician telling you how we must “stand with Israel,” I urge you to read renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappe’s blockbuster book The Ethnic Cleansing Of Palestine.
The State of Israel loves to play the role of victim on the world stage, but the truth is, since WWII, Israel is one of the most murderous aggressor/terror states in the world. Had any other nation on earth committed the atrocities you will find documented in this book, the entire world—especially the United States—would hold it up to global condemnation. But you have likely read or heard absolutely nothing about it. The truth of Israel’s bloody conquest of Palestine has even been hidden from the people of Israel themselves.
Evangelical Christians who are enamored with the modern State of Israel, believing it to be a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, need to take a close, hard look at the brutal history of the Zionist state. Reading Pappe’s book is the best place to begin.
If any of us were forced to live under the oppressive military state that the Palestinian people are forced to endure, we would do everything we could to liberate ourselves from the brutal, barbaric bondage being inflicted upon us—just as they are doing.
The Palestinian people are NOT the aggressors—and they haven’t been since Great Britain’s Palestine Mandate began being implemented in the 1930’s and the Zionist’s brutal blitzkrieg invasion of Palestine began in December of 1947. (READ PAPPE’S BOOK.) The Palestinian people are the victims.
The Palestinians are reacting to an intensified illegal and immoral theft of their homes and lands by an ever-burgeoning expansionist policy by the Israelis. It is the Israelis that are targeting innocent civilians and children in their military attacks against the Palestinians—not the other way around. This the IDF has been doing since 1948—and especially since 1967.
The destruction of two important Gaza buildings housing 20 media outlets was both shocking and predictable. History shows that if the media aren’t around to document Israel’s war crimes, it’s a lot easier for it to commit them.
On Tuesday, Israel bombed the 10-storey Al-Jawhara Tower, causing it to collapse. Before doing so, it had ‘benevolently’ warned that the airstrikes were coming. The following day, it bombed the 14-storey Al-Shorouk Tower, also giving warning it was going to do so.
Most reports have the buildings as evacuated before being levelled. But without these media offices, reporting on Israel’s other war crimes will be left largely to what little media remain and citizen journalists.
To get a true perspective of what’s really going on in Palestine and how Israeli power dominates both the news media and political establishment in the U.S., I strongly urge you to read this important strategic analysis.
And for evangelical Christians who have been duped by the fallacious prophecy doctrines of Cyrus Scofield, I urge readers to watch my 3-set DVD series of 31 messages entitled The Israel Package.
One of the messages in Set One is entitled I Will Curse Them That Bless Thee. In this message, I show how instead of blessing America for blessing the modern State of Israel, Genesis 12:3 actually teaches that God is obligated to curse America for blessing the State of Israel.
To “stand with” the Zionist State of Israel occupying Palestine today is to stand with an antichrist apartheid state that is persecuting and murdering innocent people of all faiths—including Christians.
My pulpit ministry at Liberty Fellowship is reaching hundreds of people in Palestine. One of them is an Israeli-born Jewish man who came to Christ through watching my messages. Since converting to Christ, this man has been persecuted, beaten and incarcerated by the Israeli authorities.
This man recently wrote me (I’ll not reveal his name as it could further endanger his life) and said:
We are in a middle of war in Israel. As a Jewish follower of Jesus Christ, I must spread the Gospel and The Word among the Israelis. The Jewish nation must change from the way of the Zionists. Zionism is part of the beastly antichrist system.
This young Jewish convert to Christ has a better understanding of the scriptural truth regarding Israel than the vast majority of America’s pastors, evangelists and TV and radio preachers.
Stand with Israel? Not on your life!
P.S. I am excited to announce the introduction of our two newest DVD message series.
The first is entitled Christian Essentials. This is a 6-message series on ONE DVD. These are the FIRST Christian doctrines that Christians need to learn. The 6 messages are:
The Cults Are Wrong: Jesus IS God
What Is A Christian?
God Hath Given To Us Eternal Life
New Testament Baptism
The Five-Fold Work Of The Holy Spirit In The Life Of A Believer
Why Christians Are Right To Worship On Sunday.
The second series is a 6-DVD package entitled Aggression, Revolution, Anarchy And Gun Control. You won’t find a package of messages like this anywhere else. The 6 messages are:
The Crime Of Aggression: Condemned By The Laws Of Nature And Nature’s God
The Right Of Revolution As Justified In Natural And Revealed Law
The Fate Of Blood Thirsty Oppressors
I Am A Constitutionalist Not An Anarchist
A Biblical Portrait Of The Righteousness And Requirement Of Bearing Arms
The Attack Against Our Guns And The Christian Duty To Repel The Attack
Both of these brand new DVD sermon series are available NOW.
© Chuck Baldwin
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:
Chuck Baldwin Live Donate Form
I also have many books and DVDs available for purchase online. Go here:
To subscribe to my weekly columns, click here:
This is an in-depth investigative study of the subject outlined in the message title. Pastor Baldwin digs deep into the Book of Romans and provides copious supporting Scriptures to show the true meaning of Romans chapter 11.
This message identifies with great clarity God’s Chosen People, the Children of Promise and the true Israel of God.
This message is a thorough refutation of the false prophecy doctrines of Scofield Futurism and a staunch defense of historic Bible eschatology.
It is no hyperbole to say that this will be a life-changing message for many people. Anyone who has a truth-seeker’s heart will be moved by this scholarly and passionate presentation.
This is truly one of Pastor Baldwin’s seminal sermons.
A fellow minister who watched the message said,
Pastor Baldwin prepared the message with the skill of a master chef and delivered it with the creativity of the mind of an artist, the steadiness of the hand of a surgeon and the precision of the eye of a marksman.
Pastor Baldwin left no stone un-turned on this one. An EPOCH message!
Questions For Pastors When Searching For A Church
20. Please interpret Genesis 12:3 and Galatians 3:16.
21. Is the modern State of Israel a fulfillment of Bible prophecy and do Christians have a Biblical responsibility to support it?
22. Was the Old (Mosaic) Covenant abolished with the advent of the New Covenant?
23. Please describe the “land covenant” God gave to Abraham. Has it been fulfilled?
24. Do you believe the Bible teaches a “pre-tribulation Rapture?”
25. Is Daniel’s 70th week yet future?
This is one of Pastor Baldwin’s most enlightening and helpful series of messages.
