#yes this includes both the palestinian people and the israeli hostages

[whiskeysorrows]

I think something a lot of the internet is not processing about Israel-Palestine is that this is not a religious conflict. This is not a Jewish-Muslim war. This is an issue of Palestinians being ethnic cleansed and colonised for the past 70 years by the Israeli government.

I usually leave the political posts for other people but dear god show some critical thinking and an understanding of the history before you speak.

#stop dragging antisemitism and islamophobia into this #no you're not antisemitic if you support palestine because zionism is a political movement and belief not a representation of judaism #no you're not being islamophobic by also realising that hamas taking hostages is a fucked up thing to do #what's really islamophobic is the western media painting out palestinians to all be terrorists based on the actions of the few #and what's really antisemitic is for ppl outside of this conflict to start making conspiracy theories about jews #and start conflating them with zionism #literally the rule for every goddamn war and atrocity throughout history is that civilians are the people at risk #civilians have been harmed on both sides #and the israeli government is deliberately targeting palestinian civilians and using bullshit excuses about hamas to do it #did the 20th century teach you nothing? #this is not a new situation #colonialism always lead to violent ends and the civilians are always the first casualties #yes this includes both the palestinian people and the israeli hostages #rambles #free palestine

[moonlayl]

"According to the United Nations, roughly 6,400 Palestinians and 300 Israelis have been killed in the ongoing conflict since 2008, not counting the recent fatalities." - X

Palestinian deaths: 6,407

Israeli deaths: 308

Palestinian injuries: 152,560

Israeli injuries: 6307

Palestinian children's deaths: 1,437

Israeli children's deaths: 25

Palestinians children's injuries: 32,271

Israeli's children injuries: 524

Palestinian women's deaths: 626

Israeli women's deaths: 36

Palestinian women's injuries: 8,953

Israeli women's injuries: 218

(this is total, so not just civilians.)

168.6 times more Palestinians were killed than Israelis

24.2 times more Palestinians were injured than Israelis

57.5 times more Palestinian children were murdered than Israelis

61.6 times more Palestinian children were injured than Israelis

17.4 times more Palestinian women were murdered than Israelis

41 times more Palestinian women were injured than Israelis

source: UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

but yes "Israel is protecting itself and not at all carrying out genocide or hurting innocent Palestinians. Israel has never hurt Palestinian civilians and this is totally an equal fight where both Israelis and Palestinians are equally wrong, equally at fault, and Israelis deserve to defend themselves by wiping out an entire region of 2 million Palestinians (most who are children) but the barbaric Palestinians better not fight back, defend themselves or hurt their oppressors.

Israelis are justified in their slaughter and oppression of Palestinians for DECADES because of the action of Hamas 3 days ago, but Hamas’ actions 3 days ago are completely wrong in every way shape or form, no question, despite the war crimes Israel has committed towards the Palestinian people and the people of Gaza for decades. That makes perfect logical sense

Israel has only started harming Palestinians because of Hamas, despite the fact that Palestinians were being murdered and displaced for more than 40 years before Hamas was ever a thing. Again, Israelis are perfectly justified in any horror or warcrimes they've committed and the UN will never condemn them and will sweep their infinite war crimes under the rug, but Hamas needs to be stopped which includes trying to suspend humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinians (even though most Palestinians aren't part of Hamas and this will affect the innocent people in need of help) and also cutting off their medical and water supplies (even though it'll affect almost a million innocent children stuck in an illegal blockade) but billions of dollars, supplies, and military support needs to be sent to Israel immediately!!!

The world cannot remain silent and the Israelis deserve our support, but please do ignore how the world's been silent for Palestinians all these years!!

We will show you videos of horror from other countries taken years ago, or even crimes Israelis have committed but spread the news that it was Palestinians who did such things, but we will not show any of the evidence of Palestinians refusing to harm women and children and instead taking Israelis as hostages, majority of them soldiers.

We will show you Muslims across the world celebrating the death of innocent people (when in reality they're protesting in order to call out their hypocritical governments who support an apartheid state) but we'll conveniently ignore how the people of Sderot (the city nearest to Gaza that Palestinians were recently able to enter after 16 years of being caged in Gaza) used to watch rockets hit Gaza and cheer on, calling it " best reality show" and "better than the world cup" back in 2014 which is one of the deadliest years for Palestinians (more than 2000 massacred).

Israel will warn the people of Gaza to flee and then go right ahead and bomb the only route they could possibly use: the Rafah crossing to Egypt and it will also threaten to target any humanitarian aid trucks trying to enter into Gaza (X, X, X)

Israel will also murder journalists, including an American citizen which is a war crime and illegal, but will face no consequences and try to frame Palestinians instead.

but remember! Palestinians are all terrorist islamist barbarians and you MUST support Israel and its oppression of Palestinians, otherwise you are antisemitic. Every Palestinian deserves to die and Israel is justified in carrying out mass genocide (by taking away electricity, water, and food) with the support of foreign countries because of the actions of Hamas, but Palestinians will never be justified in attacking their oppressors or defending themselves from 70 years of oppression. Shut up, these things aren't meant to make sense, just support Israel.

#palestine #free palestine #israel #ani israel #anti idf #anti Israeli terrorism #free gaza #gaza #from the river to the sea palestine will be free #current events #united nations #important

[daphnasworld]

I have enough of those fucking racist "it's just anti-zionism, I'm not antisemitic or racist" assholes.

If you would only have a problem with Israels politics, that would be fine. Nothing wrong with that. But if people have to be afraid in fucking europe or america to openly show that they are jewish, to visit a Synagoge, to speak hebrew or to tell you that they or their parents were born in Israel, than that is not just because of critique of a countries political decisions - it's because of racism and antisemitism.

If you only had a problem with Israels politics you wouldn't get angry upon hearing someone speak hebrew. A moslem palestinian, born in the west bank now living in germany, wouldn't have to be afraid to speak hebrew on german streets. Yes, you heard that right. I know a moslem palestinian that now lives in germany. He and his siblings speak multiple languages, one of them being hebrew. The language they know who the least people here in germany understand is hebrew. So when he and his siblings are outside and want to talk about something without people understanding them, they talk to each other in hebrew. They can't talk to each other in hebrew anymore since october 7th, because so called pro-palestinians would start to harass and attack them on open street, calling them all sorts of names (zionist, nethanyahoe, bitch, murderer,...) and claim that they support genocide. Yes, they would literally attack actual palestinians, whose parents still live in the west bank, simply for speaking hebrew. (Btw they regularily visit their family there. They fly to Israel, rent a car and then drive to the westbank. They say they never had a problem with the idf, only the (illegal) settlers in the westbank were problematic. ).

If you are only against a countries politics than you won't feel the need to erase a whole religious group. If you feel the need to claim that Jesus was palestinian instead of saying that he had been a judean jew you are erasing jews. If you feel the need to put a palestinian sticker over the star of david that is seen on Amy Winehouse statue in camden market you are erasing jews (yes, if you haven't heard: Amy Winehouse, a JEWISH woman, has a statue of her on camden market. Her statue is wearing a necklace with a star of david. The star of david may be on the israeli flag, but it is also a kind of religious symbol for the jews. So she - as the statue - isn't wearing it as a symbol for Israel, but as a symbol for judaism. And someone put a palestine sticker over the star of david. Which makes it antisemitic, not anti-zionist).

If you feel the need to draw or repost pictures of superman or captain america ripping the israeli flag or wearing the palestinian flag while knowing that both characters had been created by jewish men and as symbols against the Nazis AND antisemitism, than that too is a form of erasure of jews (And also blatantly disrespectful. If you don't think that superman or captain america would have immediately tried to save the israeli hostages, than you really don't know these characters).

And how could you be anything but racist when you claim that black people can't be jewish or israeli just because of the color of their skin?!

And if you were for an actual ceasefire, than you would also be angry at hamas for repeatedly rejecting ceasefire deals made by Israel and egypt. You would be angry at hamas for breaking the ceasefire on october 7th. If you only ever look at israel while demanding a ceasefire, you are not actually demanding a ceasefire. A ceasefire would mean that everyone would have to stop shooting. What you are demanding is for Israel to cease fire, while Hamas is allowed to continue to shoot rockets. That is in fact racist and antisemitic (looking at you Mark Ruffalo). Also I don't think that demanding the release of hostages - including children! - is too much. If you believe that the demand of the release of an one year old or an 18 year old is too much, than I don't believe that you actually care for one single child in Gaza.

If you are saying that Hitler was right or are okay with your friends saying that, than how can you be anything else but a racist? Everyone knows that Hitler and the Nazis were huge racists. Those are facts. So by logic if you think they were right than you think that racism is right. Than you think that antisemitism is right.

And yes, claiming that all Israelis are settlers or colonizers or white is racist and antisemitic. Claiming that jews should "go back to europe" is racist and antisemitic. Claiming that Israel isn't a real country is just stupid. If you have to even change other nations or peoples history simply so that your arguments against Israel are "valid" than you are a racist and an antisemite and an idiot.

Yes, claiming you don't trust jews in general is antisemitic and racist.

Yes, claiming that there are no civilians in Israel is racist, antisemitic and stupid. What else can a fucking newborn be?!

If you are not a racist and not an antisemite, then people wouldn't have to be afraid to tell you that they are jews. People then wouldn't have to be afraid of wearing a kippah or a necklace with the star of david on it. They wouldn't have to be afraid of speaking hebrew. They wouldn't have to be afraid of booking a fucking hotel room when they have a jewish sounding name or an israeli passport.

Stop pretending to be against racism if you have no problem with jews being afraid simply because they are jewish.

Stop pretending to be a good person if you enjoy someone being afraid because they are jewish.

Stop pretending.

Finally start being the good person you claim to be.

#antisemitism #i/p #i stand with israel #racism #stop racism #amy winehouse #captain america #superman #stan lee #jerry siegel #joe shuster #joe simon #jack kirby

[aidenlydia]

Hey, just letting you know Jack Black isn't a Zionist, Zionism is the belief of Jewish self determination in a Jewish state. Unless he's said anything specifically about that, saying no civilians should be hurt and that Jewish people are afraid right now (true, antisemitic hate crimes have sharply risen) isn't Zionism, and equating that too Zionism is antisemitic and part of the justification for the harassment Jewish people are facing right now even if they aren't talking about what's going on.

It's good to talk about what's going on, but a lot of stuff is drifting hard into antisemitic dogwhistles and conspiracies and Jack Black should definitely be called out for his support of Autism Speaks, but not for saying Jewish people don't deserve hate and expressing concerns about all the civilians and the hostages. It might be helpful to talk to some Jewish folks about it too, even if you don't agree with them.

Jack Black is using the language of Zionists and that is worth criticizing.

1. Calls a literal GENOCIDE “nuanced and hard to understand” which is used by Zionists across the world (including my own country, which supplies Israel with tank ammunition) as an excuse to not call for a ceasefire.

2. Only talks about the images of kidnapped Israelis and attacks by Hamas, not a peep about the *well documented genocide* (doesn’t even use the word).

3. Calls Hamas terrorists - completely ignoring the 75 year long occupation, displacement, imprisonment and murder of the Palestinian people. (It’s ok when white people fight back against oppressors, but not when it’s Arabs)

4. Talks about the rise in antisemitism, but not the continued unaddressed and actively deadly Islamophobia.

These type of posts never focus on the deaths of the Palestinians and heavily criticize Hamas instead of Israel, despite Israel being the aggressor for decades. Yes, rising antisemitism is absolutely a problem and yes it’s the Israeli government that is to blame, not Jewish people. We know that. However that’s no excuse to be this incredibly one-sided and tone-deaf. Not when the Palestinians have been facing ethnical cleansing by an apartheid regime and are now on the brink of obliteration by both starvation and unimaginable amounts of violence, all while the world watches and supports it. Jewish people and Israelis aren’t the only victims here. Ignoring that is simply unacceptable. Jack Black is downplaying Palestinian suffering.

And I know what Jewish people think about this "war". I know Jewish people see this and call it an inexcusable genocide - that Israel started this long before October 7. You know how I know? Because they come to protests and make their stances clear. They aren’t afraid to speak up. This isn’t a Jew vs Muslim war, it never was.

#free palestine

[stele3]

Criticism of Israel does not automatically equal antisemitism.

Attitudes toward Israel can absolutely be influenced by antisemitism.

Western and particularly US media is heavily biased toward Israel as they are a strategic partner in the region.

The US has some of the lowest rates of antisemitism in the world, at 9% of the population compared to 19% in Central and South America, 24% in Western Europe, 34% in Eastern Europe, and 74% in the Middle East and North Africa.

If the U.S. media is biased toward Israel, it’s just as possible that non-US sources are biased against Israel.

It is stunning how little people seem to care about the 1500 Israeli people who were killed, raped, and tortured by Hamas. How quickly people have rushed to excuse the actions of terrorists who have also brutalized and killed civilians, including children who, yes, were beheaded. There are still about 200 hostages.

Almost 10,000 Palestinians are dead. Both Israel and Hamas have rejected calls for a ceasefire. The ongoing conflict is a genocide against the Palestinian people being carried out by Israel.

#palestine #israel #Hamas

[bringmemyrocks]

"Why can't I just mourn the Israelis in peace (publicly and loudly and at the exclusion of the many dead Palestinians)?"

I wrote a more personal post about this already, but as a Jew in the USA with many friends in Gaza,

All of whom have lost at least one family member in the past week, including children and pregnant women,

Constantly being reminded that America, and American Jewish organizations are only mourning dead Israelis is an act of violence. It's erasing the people who are going to die in larger numbers, who are having all supplies cut off, whose UN schools are being bombed even as they were promised as safe houses.

"It's ok to mourn the Israelis" yes of course it is. But that's all anyone in the US is doing. We're lucky if the news even mentions that some people have died in Gaza. Most are written off as Hamas, and the number of dead Palestinians is hugely underreported because of the internet being down and journalists and medical professionals not being able to get in.

Please, any American Jews following me, know that Jews do not have a monopoly on trauma and experiencing genocide. Realize that right now, someone has it worse than you. And you don't have to say Free Palestine on facebook or whatever, but realize that you are not the only ones mourning.

Remember intergenerational trauma? Yeah, Palestinians have that too. 750,000 of them were driven from their homes in 1948. They live under an apartheid regime (source: Amnesty Intl) and are denied basic human rights, especially in Gaza where most water is undrinkable.

You are willing to talk about the history of antisemitism, about the history of anti-blackness in America, because you recognize that historical context is important. You cannot talk about anti-black racism in America without talking about slavery and Jim Crow. You cannot talk about the recent attacks without talking about the Nakba and ongoing Israeli apartheid and siege on Gaza.

If you need to hear from a more articulate Jew who's also Israeli (for credibility, you know,) check out Orly Noy, head of Btselem: https://www.facebook.com/orly.noy

You can condemn atrocities on both sides, but usually it's just Hamas that gets blamed. They shot first, so of course Israel should be raining down white phosphorus on 2 million Gazans, 1 million of whom are children, because we have to show Hamas who's boss (as if).

Do you remember the line "the cruelty is the point"? (And do you remember how Black men were lynched because of false allegations and vigilante mobs that accused them of raping white women with zero evidence? Remember how dehumanizing that is?)

When I saw Hamas had attacked, because I actually know Palestinians; they're not just numbers to me, my thought was that my friends in Gaza would be in danger. Because Israel would retaliate disproportionately. They would slaughter dozens of children for every hostage soldier. And they have, and they still are.

And they are. They might die and I wouldn't know for weeks. God forbid, but that's the truth.

And nobody is talking about them. It's deliberate. The only innocent, the only whose deaths matter in the USA, are Israelis. Everyone else is just rubble.

#i #h-c this is not abt you I've been thinking abt this a lot

[thethiefandtheairbender]

So, I feel hopeful for the PJO series (haven't the premiere yet, I'm waiting for my off day) but then as I was searching stuff about it, I ended up finding the whole debacle about Uncle Rick being a zionist? I couldn't find many sources that weren't a bunch of hearsay and calls for boycott of the series, do you happen to know what that's about? (Sorry if this is wierd, you don't have to answer if you don't want to)

So this is why it's good to go back to the original source to make up your own mind (I've linked it here for your convenience). For posterity's sake I've provided by own thoughts on it down below, as well as some additionally needed context:

Disney+ is one of many companies that people have called a boycott for (alongside ones like Starbucks) due to BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions is a Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel). Disney+'s status in the boycott exists separately from claims about Rick Riordan (I haven't seen much backlash about people watching "Wish" or any other disney project recently, by comparison.) I can't comment since I don't actually have Disney+ myself, but have access to it through my technical in-laws who I barely speak to, let alone am going to have honest political conversations with. (I have also, for comparison, gone to Starbucks perhaps 5 times in my 24 years of life out of preference, so like. yeah.)

As for Rick Riordan's statement: he's not a Zionist. The main point of his statement is to express sympathy for the violence affecting both sides of the conflict. Which is true! Civilian hostages were taken and have died, thousands of civilians on the Palestinian side have died, and I've also seen stories of pro-Palestinian Israeli people being harassed and beaten by the IDF. The Hamas have also inflicted harm on the people of Gaza for quite some time.

He also acknowledges that "the Israeli government’s brutal retaliation against the entire population of Gaza has reached genocidal proportions. This is not only an atrocity. It is folly" and how that kind of violence will only create more pain, unstability, and suffering.

He goes on to say "The only real solution is treating each other like equally worthy human beings, and negotiating a peace that allows all parties a chance to live in security and dignity, with hopes for a future that does not include bombs and rockets and gunfire. This means security and support for Israel, yes. It also means a secure Palestine which is allowed to get the international aid and recognition it needs to build a viable state."

So bare minimum, he's a two state solution person. Which isn't that crazy given the context; personally (in my white, previously Christian, Canadian perspective, so grain of salt) I think the easiest path to Progress is 1) defunding Israel's military to enforce 2) a more permanent ceasefire so that 3) a two state solution can be hammered out. That is not a perfect solution and while I hope that eventually Palestine would have total liberation, I'm also trying to look at the situation realistically as a series of steps (not ultimatum endgames) forward to minimize damage and death from getting any worse than it already has.

I also don't think focusing on the dangers of dehumanization is a 'Bad' stance either, given Riordan's context as a close to 60 year old white man American born and raised in Texas, or indeed within the general political climate in America. There are definitely people who are way too pro-Israel (often times because of being unable to see past their emotional trauma) and there are also, likewise, people who refuse to watch themselves for their Antisemitism or Islamophobia (the rise in hate crimes directed at particularly Jewish, but also Muslim, individuals in Canada and the USA). Neither people's lives, anywhere other than people enlisted in active military service, are worthy collateral damage, tbh, because nobody else signed up for this (and the IDF's conscription is an interesting grey room). You shouldn't be cheering over anyone dying, and that's exactly what some people are doing or are trying to inflict. If you're cheering for any and all Jewish civilian deaths in Israel or any other country, or you're cheering for the death of civilian Palestinian people, you are a shit head. Full stop

I think his statement is likely written to both 1) express how he personally feels and 2) written as a response to the deep polarization of the issue at hand. If you can get a wedge in and have people consider, briefly, the propaganda they may be taking without question (particularly for Americans, who are raised on a whole prominent host of pro-Israel sentiment), then it's worthwhile taking the 'neutral' road to me.

I've expressed it before in this post, but Neutral -- genuinely neutral, not "I don't have an opinion bc I'm not informed but my not informed opinion errs on the side of the oppressors because why would kids need to transition lolol?" -- opinions are not a bad thing. It means that, for an ultimately pro-Palestinian person like myself, he's not in my way. Neutral people are not in your way. And that means you can jump over them, and work on combatting the people who are actively hostile and opposed to you (supposedly 'neutral' people included) because that's where the work actually is.

Anyway, that's my two cents. Read the thing, take your time, draw from the people around you that you trust if that's an option for you, figure out how you feel, and make up your own mind about it and what to do about it. Applicability > emotionality and all that. Hope this helped

#rick riordan #thanks for asking #anonymous #politics #also the show is good

[hmsharmony]

Today was hard. Today was really, really hard.

The combination of the 23andme hack (I got confirmation I was one of them; knowing I was targeted as an ashkenazi Jew when antisemitism is skyrocketing has been horrifying, to say the least), and seeing rhetoric calling for the genocide of Palestinians, or the elimination of the state of Israel, resulted in me sobbing the second my therapist asked how I was, and I couldn’t stop for the rest of the hour. It was the same heaving sobs I experienced when I lost my pop pop. I cry a lot, anyone who knows me knows this, but rarely ever like that.

It’s the first time I’ve really cried since Saturday. I had been able to compartmentalize (a luxury in itself), but it clearly ended today. I continued crying on and off. I talked to my mother and started crying again, unable to stop, and it got so bad she told me to come home. I did (and then cried in my dad’s arms, after being so afraid of what he might say—he’s deeply anti-religious due to early religious trauma, and so I was terrified he’d say religion was to blame and justify the pogrom or the siege. He didn’t, and that’s so far from anything he’s ever said that I should’ve known he wouldn’t, but too many people had disappointed me and I was terrified my dad would be next). I’m still crying now.

I know now this is grief. I had convinced myself before that what I was experiencing wasn’t grief—second hand trauma, yes, but not grief. I’ve always been so good at knowing how I feel, my motivations. But something in me felt this grief had to be buried—so I could be strong enough to engage? Because it was just too much? (Again, a luxury that I was able to ignore it.)

I’m grieving for the lives lost in Israel and Gaza. I’m grieving for the lives that will be lost. I’m grieving for the dehumanization of Palestinians and Israelis. I’m grieving for actions by Hamas and a right-wing Israeli government that will make peace even harder to obtain, will make a Palestinian sovereign state that much more of a dream rather than reality. I’m grieving the spread of a false history that certainly makes taking sides easier but viciously distorts history so they can say only y he Jews or only the Palestinians are entitled to the land.

(The head of our office sent out an email with a link for a charity that supports both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, and I cried again. All I had seen before then was people listing charities for Israelis or for Palestinians. Never both. Never one for each.)

I’ve been fighting tooth and nail to engage, to educate, to dispel falsehoods that endanger Israelis, Palestinians, and Jews in the diaspora. I am taking it personally when I fail. I feel it’s my responsibility to speak up, to amplify what I’ve learned from those actually affected, because right now so many can’t. Everyone around me, my therapist included, has told me I’m not responsible for the world. Saying nothing feels like a betrayal. Particularly for the Jewish community, given our history, saying nothing when I see false narratives that actively endanger Jewish life makes me feel like I’ve failed my people. That I’ve failed my pop pop. And I need to accept I am not emotionally in a place to continue engaging right now. (Even as I type that my stomach turns. How nice it must be to just be able to disengage, to go to sleep without wondering if Hamas will fire rockets at my town, if hamas will murder my hostaged family, if the Israeli military will bomb my home, if settlers in the West Bank will take out their rage on me or those I loved.)

I am grieving, and I need to give myself time to do that. So if anyone wants sources or information, I’m happy to provide. But from now on I think I’m going to take a block approach. I can’t change the mind of every single person I encounter, and engaging with people who honest to god think Israel should not exist, that the home of half of all Jews should just disappear, has made it clear just how rampant antisemitism is (the anti-Palestinian discourse has not been on my tumblr feed, although I’ve seen it in other social media feeds). I knew it was bad. I just never realized it was this bad. I’d rather assume the person reblogging has never learned the real history and might recognize the antisemitism inherent in what they’ve been told if someone reached out, than reach out and learn the people I admire or thought of as friends truly believe this antisemitic distortion of history. Who truly believe I would deserve death if my pop pop hadn’t been so lucky as to get a coveted visa to the United States and had had to wait for Israel to escape the DP camps.

I’m gonna take a real break from social media this weekend, or at the very least try, to give myself space to grieve and come to terms with this past week. If you’re also struggling, please know you’re in my thoughts. To everyone who has engaged in good faith discussions, recognizing nuance and refusing to paint it as black and white, disagreeing on certain points but recognizing the inherent humanity in all involved, please know how grateful I am to you.

#israel hamas war

[lonelyvomit]

I'd much rather have 'did not participate as a stand against genocide' on our ESC track record than swipe this under the rug. yeah isreal shouldn't participate but both sides (isreal and palastine) are just as bad as eachother hamas is literally a terrorist organisation, so isn't yle threatning to pull out basically like genocide bad terrorism good.

it's easy for it to seem that way with the very pro-Israel coverage of the situation in the news, but no, the parties are in no way equal.

I'm gonna put a longer response under read more.

firstly it's worth noting that Hamas isn't just the military group, it's a political organization. an extremely nationalist one, yes, but a political organization none the less. meaning that fighting to eradicate Hamas isn't fighting to wipe out a specific, numbered army of people, it's an attempt to destroy a political opinion and point of view, which is basically impossible. the are nationalists in every country in the world, always has been, always will be, and in a colonized state like Palestine, that party having a large support should be no surprise to anybody. to truly destroy Hamas is impossible without wiping out the entire population. that is generally called genocide.

and being a political organization, Hamas also provides social services in Gaza, such as education and healthcare. not only is that a reason for Palestinians to support them, but this is what Israel is using to excuse killing Palestinian civilians. they've blown up schools and hospitals. they've cut off food, water, fuel, humanitarian aid sent to civilians. they've killed journalists. there are laws even to fighting a war, meant to protect innocent civilians, but fighting a political organization apparently means being allowed to break them and kill anybody who is benefiting from any services that party provides. including the children and the sick.

last but not least, Palestine is not a country at war - it's scattered land areas that have been under Israeli occupation and organized oppression for decades. Palestinians are separated, controlled, opressed groups of people without official armed forces of their own. yes, there's a militant group of Hamas, which has been branded as a terrorist organization for a lot of the same acts that Israel has been doing to Palestinians without any backlash at all. Hamas takes hostages. but Palestine having no justice system at all and being under Israeli military justice system, has allowed Israel to detain people for unlimited amounts of time with no hearing, lawyers, connections outside, or necessary even having been told what they're being detained for, and if they get a hearing, it's with Israeli soldiers. there are no unbiased judges present. the actions here are the same, the difference is that Israel has the overwhelming power to do it "legally", which is why the hostages they take are just called prisoners.

Palestinians are not a threat to Israel. there's no war. there's just ethnic cleansing by genocide, and people who are being called "just as bad" for not keeling over and letting themselves be slaughtered peacefully.

#asks

[missinconsistent]

The virality of the long-going and escalating tension between Palestine and Israel has really revealed some truly hypocrtical, ignorant, and down-right cruel mindsets.

How could anyone grieve the loss of those in the recent Hamas attack and pray for the hostages, then turn around and say the thousands of innocent Palestinians (many whom are children) are a necessary collateral damage for the purpose of vengeance? Why are Palestinians not worthy of the same empathy as other victims of terrorism? How do people say "Hamas started it" and not question why Israel already has the power to control Palestine's resources, as if they haven't been torturing and starving Palestinians for the past 17 years? How do people say Gazans "chose" the Hamas when Palestinians have been slaughtered by ethnic cleansing and the world did nothing to help them? How do people say "they should not have started a war they could not win" and not realize Israel is the one who holds the power to resort conflict peacefully (which includes saving the hostages), while Gazans can only succumb to their own genocide?

Yes, both Zionists and the Hamas are bad. Yes, we should feel bad for both the innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives ruined in this senseless war. But I can't help but feel like constantly needing to clarify this and that about BOTH sides can lose the message that there is an abundant power imbalance between the two nations in question. Especially when no one bothered to question it when Palestinians were/are the victims of mass murder.

#palestine #i understand the videos of the Hamas attacks is extremely tragic and makes pur blood boil but that should never be taken out on Palestinian #free palestine #gaza

[clarabosswald]

there’s still no excuse for israel not agreeing to calls for a ceasefire—yes, even if ceasefires are constantly being broken. they have no excuse because Israel has all the real power here. between 2008 and sept 2023 (so not including the events of this month), a total of 3,803 Palestinian civilians were killed in the conflict. in the same time period, 177 israeli civilians were killed in the conflict. (source is data from the united nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, OCHA). This means 20x more Palestinian civilians had been killed in this conflict before this month.

not anon hate just…anon conversation. I guess my point is just…if hamas is a toddler kicking Israel’s shins, then Israel is an adult backhanding that toddler across the room and the adult should know to agree to a ceasefire even if the toddler keeps kicking them in the shin after the adult says “ceasefire” (metaphor to show power difference, not to suggest hamas is not responsible for war crimes)

"if hamas is a toddler" - no. this is where the argument falls apart. hamas isn't a toddler, israel isn't an adult, this is a totalitarian far-right terrorist regime (backed and financed by an even larger totalitarian terrorist regime) vs a fascistic-wannabe far-right regime that's trying very hard to destroy the democratic processes that put it in place (led by a single person who has for the last 30 years or so done his very best to destroy every single chance for peace while fueling terrorism)

it is beyond fucking surreal how the international far left was tricked into supporting and parroting the propaganda of said totalitarian far-right terrorist regime (backed and financed by an even larger totalitarian terrorist regime)

"toddler..." people are acting as if hamas is helpless. it's the image hamas, pij and co WANT you to believe. IT'S LITERALLY THE GOVERNING BODY IN GAZA. IT HAS GOT AN ACTUAL MILITARY WITH STOCKS OF THOUSANDS OF ROCKETS WHICH ARE BEING LAUNCHED EACH DAY AT ISRAELI CIVILIANS. HOW IS THAT A "TODDLER"?

there should be a ceasefire. it should not be unilateral. both sides should be held accountable for all of their crimes at the same time. there will never be justice without that.

and the release of all the hostages should be part of it. that's non negotiable.

i am so fucking sick of all the double standards. NONE OF YOU ARE ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT THE CIVILIANS.

#asks #Anonymous

[xtruss]

Half of US Adults Say “Apartheid, Illegal and Terrorist Regime of Zionist Cunt 🐖 🐖 🐷 Isra-hell, The Bastard Child of the US, UK, France, Germany and the West,” Has 'Gone Too Far' in Its War on Gaza

Recent poll indicates a growing disapproval of Israel's 15-week brutal attack in Palestinian enclave, with half of US adults viewing it as excessive, while support for the Biden administration's approach also diminishes.

— TRT World | February 02, 2024

Photo: Associated Press

The poll also shows about half of US adults are extremely or very concerned that Israel's war on Gaza will lead to a broader conflict in the Middle East. / Photo: AP

Half of US adults say Israel's 15-week-old aggression in Gaza has “gone too far,” a finding driven mainly by growing disapproval among Republicans and political independents, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Broadly, the poll shows support for Israel and the Biden administration's handling of the situation ebbing slightly further across the board. The poll shows 31% of US adults approve of Biden's handling of the conflict, including just 46% of Democrats. That's as an earlier spike in support for Israel following the resistance group Hamas attacks on October 7.

Melissa Morales, a 36-year-old political independent in Runnemede, New Jersey, says she finds herself watching videos and news from Gaza daily. Images of Palestinian children wounded, orphaned or unhoused by the fighting in Gaza make her mind go to her own 3-year-old boy.

“I just can't even imagine, like, my son roaming the streets, wanting to be safe. Wanting his mom. Or just wanting someone to get him,” she said.

Israel’s offensive has gone too far, Morales says, and so has the Biden administration’s support for it.

Criticism Mounts Over Apartheid Illegal Isra-hell's Onslaught

The US has become increasingly isolated in its support of Israel as the Palestinian death toll rises past 27,000, with two-thirds of the victims women and children. Yet the Biden administration says it is pressing Israel to reduce its killing of civilians and allow in more humanitarian aid.

John Milor, a cybersecurity expert in Clovis, California, who describes himself as a Republican-voting independent, says he remains “100%” behind Israel.

But Milor notices more young people in his circle speaking out against Israel. A visit to a family friend led to Milor being aghast when the man's stepson denounced Israelis as “warmongers.”

‘’It's not like they asked to be attacked, you know," Milor said by phone this week. "And they still have hostages over there."

In all, 50% of US adults now believe Israel's aggression has gone beyond what it should have, the poll found. That ’s up from 40% in an AP-NORC poll conducted in November.

The new poll was conducted from Jan. 25 to 28. The new findings include more worrying news for President Joe Biden when it comes to support from his own political party.

Fracture lines are growing in his Democratic base, with some key Democratic blocs that Biden will likely need if he's going to win a second term unhappy with his handling of the conflict.

About 6 in 10 non-white Democrats disapprove of how Biden is approaching the war, while about half of white Democrats approve.

Sarah Jackson, a 31-year-old professional closet designer in Chicago, is a Democrat. She says Biden has been about right in his level of support for both Israel and the Palestinians.

But as Israel's air and ground offensive goes on, Jackson's thoughts turn to finding the best way to phase down US support for it, she says.

“But yes, as it goes on, I do become more worried," she said. That includes worrying a new leader will take office here, and phase down support for Israel too abruptly, she says.

'Palestinians Should Have a Safe State'

The poll also shows about half of US adults are extremely or very concerned that the Israel's war on Gaza may cause broader conflict in the Middle East.

The poll shows 35% of US adults now describe Israel as an ally that shares US interests and values. And thirty-six percent of US adults say the US is not supportive enough of the Palestinians, up slightly from 31% December.

A similar share of US adults say that about negotiating the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Morales, the woman from northwest New Jersey, said Palestinians should have a safe state, or at least a safe community.

“Everyone deserves a safe space where they can just be. Without interference because of who they are,” she said.

#Youtube #Associated Press #War in Gaza #Gaza Genocide #Destruction in Gaza #Forever Palestine 🇵🇸 #Crimes of the Terrorist Zionist 🐖 🐖 🐷 Cunts #Middle East

[elendsessor]

hey so due to the recent house resolution, i would like to again ask anyone who believes that critiquing israel is the same as antisemitism and just any zionist in general to unfollow me and to please remember the following:

-israel is a state, not a religion. israel’s government is a government, not a religion. critiquing israel is critiquing the government, and critiquing the government is not critiquing a religion.

-this still gives no excuse to discriminate against jewish people, and not every jewish person is from israel, so critiquing israel is not critiquing jewish culture and beliefs. looping jewish people in with israel and deeming all jewish people to be genocidal or support israel is wrong and discriminatory. this is not about religion, it’s about genocidal actions.

-israel has compared october 7th to 9/11 and is constantly bringing up the holocaust when defending themselves during this conflict. this is purposeful, manipulative wording.

-most of the things hostages in gaza bring up are a result of what israel is doing. israel is hurting their own people.

-the attack on october 7th was horrible, yes, but not unforeseen. it was a result of years upon years of mistreatment. ignoring the context behind what lead up to the attack is another tactic used to demonize palestine.

-hamas is a blanket term at this point. anyone in palestine who isn’t a hostage/prisoner, even if they’re fighting on their own terms in self defense, is considered a part of hamas by israel, including innocent civilians.

-the people suffering the most are civilians on both sides but palestinians in particular are getting no chance to actually escape what has become an open air prison. israel’s attacks have affected any israeli individuals in gaza, too. there needs to be a permanent ceasefire. israel is just if not more guilty than the group they condemn so heavily.

-if israel’s government is virtually untouchable because of religious roots, this goes for every state, country, government, just about every facet of society. if criticism of israel’s actions is deemed antisemetic, by that logic, america’s government can’t criticize anyone since they’re being discriminatory against [insert religious group].

regardless of how you look at it, what israel is doing is genocide. what israel is doing to those in gaza is horrific and disgusting and anyone turning a blind eye to the atrocities being committed is guilty in their own right. the state of israel is being built off murder, not off the right to exist. if the right to exist means making it so others can’t coexist, then that’s not a right. i don’t think condemning the genocide of innocent people is antisemetic—i think it’s the most humane thing you can condemn.

#shantien rambles

[biblenewsprophecy]

Death toll rising in Israel-Hamas war–Protestant brings up five points relating to the end times

COGwriter

Over 6,400 are now reportedly dead from the war that Hamas initiated:

October 23, 2023

Health authorities in Gaza said over 5,000 people were killed since the Oct. 7 start of the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel. More than 15,000 have been injured, the authorities said.

It is over two weeks since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing at least 1,400 people and taking over 200 hostage.

CNBC could not independently verify these numbers.

A full surrender of Hamas and the return of Israeli hostages could end Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“The aim here is to totally dismantle Hamas from its military capabilities. If that can be done from the air, and with standoff measures, with very limited exposure to our troops and less damage on the ground, that would be great,” he added.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell on Monday called for a pause in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/23/israel-hamas-war-updates-and-latest-news-on-gaza-conflict.html

Can this have end time prophetic ramifications?

Yes.

Related to Israel and Hamas, we put together the following related video:

14:33

Gaza and Bible Prophecy

Israeli officials such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have claimed that all those in Hamas will be killed or eliminated. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen added that the plan is to make Gaza shrink. Where do those of Gaza and other Palestinians come from? Does the Bible show historical animosities between the descendants of Israel and those of the Gazans and the Palestinians? What does the Bible show that Gaza and Hamas mean? Do biblical prophecies in Amos and Jeremiah point to Gaza ending up with territories that Israel now controls? Can Israel lose territory? Will Hamas achieve some of its objectives? What does the 83rd Psalm prophesy? Might terrorism be involved? Steve Dupuie and Dr. Thiel address these issues.

Here is a link to our video: Gaza and Bible Prophecy.

Despite how things may look now, Israel will lose territory to the Palestinians, including the Gazans.

Consistent with Isaiah 22:6-9, we may see Iran get more involved as the following suggests:

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned Israel that the Middle East could spiral out of control if it does not stop strikes on Gaza.

He said the US was also “to blame” for providing military support to Israel.

Hours later, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned troops his people were in a battle for their lives and said the war against Hamas was “do or die”.

Iran supports both Hamas, which attacked Israel two weeks ago killing 1,400 people, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

More than 4,600 Palestinians have been killed in the last two weeks in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and Israel announced on Saturday that it was intensifying air strikes.

“I warn the US and its proxy Israel that if they do not immediately stop the crime against humanity and genocide in Gaza, anything is possible at any moment and the region will go out of control,” Mr Amir-Abdollahian said at a news conference in Tehran.

He said that the results could be “severe, bitter” and “have far-reaching repercussions”, both regionally and for those advocating for war.

The foreign minister added that US military support for Israel was evidence that the ongoing conflict in Gaza was “a proxy war carried out by Israel on behalf of the United States”.

Top US officials are also warning the conflict could spread. 10/22/23 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67188346

I believe that this war is setting up for Iran to get more involved and ultimately lead to the fulfillment of prophecies such as Isaiah 22:6-9 which tells of a confederation involving Iranians and Syrians causing “great damage” to Jerusalem.

As far as Iran goes, several months ago, we put out the following video:

15:03

Iran and Israel Conflict

European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrel, has been brokering the nuclear negotiations involving Iran and said that he thinks the deal is “in danger.” Iran blames the United States, whereas the USA says they are not delaying it. Israeli sources stated that Israel will stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. Joe Biden says the USA would use its own military power to prevent Iran from getting such a bomb if need be. In 2021, Iranian lawmakers have submitted a bill seeking the government by law to commit to Israel’s destruction by the year 2040. Does the 22nd chapter of Isaiah point to damage coming to Israel from Iran and possibly Syria? Might Iran be concerned enough about limited progress with the USA to launch some type of attack? Is Iran the prophesied ‘King of the South’? Is it reasonable to think that the prophesied peace deal of Daniel 9:27 will not happen until after a military conflict. like a regional war? Should Christians watch the Middle East? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie discuss these matters.

Here is a link to our video: Iran and Israel Conflict.

Though they tend to overlook Isaiah 22:6-9, many Protestants suspect this current conflict between Hamas and Israel has end time implications. Notice the following:

Our culture has become increasingly captivated by apocalyptic themes … And with Hamas’ horrific terror attack against Israel making headlines this month, it’s no surprise prophecy discussions are ramping up in some circles.

The conversation comes as many contemporary theologians and pastors believe the world is currently observing numerous signs that mirror the supposedly prophetic contents of verses in Old and New Testament books like Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation. Some of these apparent signs, of course, involve Israel, which is why news about the nation sparks so much intrigue. …

So, let’s dive in and explore in detail the purported signs that some theologians cite:

1) Chaos in the Middle East …

2) Hamas, the Islamic State, and Other Bad Actors: From Hamas’ barbaric attack that killed at least 1,400 Israelis to the Islamic State’s murderous and bloodthirsty quest for power that has plagued nations across the globe, there’s no shortage of chaos. Taking those events into account, many Bible experts will point out that some of the battles described in scripture — clashes that they believe are still unfulfilled — are slated to take place in the Middle East.

3) Israel’s Re-Emergence …

4) Shifts in Morality: The fourth issue that is sparking intrigue about the world’s proximity to the end times is the fact that American culture is changing at a rapid rate, with traditional understandings of marriage and gender transforming, as a more progressive view on sexuality takes root.

There’s a sense among many that immorality is intensifying, which seems to be one of the biblical signs we’re told to look for as love waxes cold and people become lovers of themselves.

5) The Spread of the Gospel: Last but not least is the idea that the Christian Gospel continues to be preached in even the most remote and hard-to-reach geographic areas throughout the world. This matters to many Bible experts due to the fact that Christ, after his resurrection, gave the disciples the commandment in Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus also mentioned this preaching of Scripture throughout the world earlier in the Book of Matthew as a sign of the end times.

“This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come,” Christ said in Matthew 24:14. https://www.faithwire.com/2023/10/19/5-reasons-many-christians-believe-end-times-are-upon-us-and-israel-plays-major-role/?utm_source=wnd&utm_medium=wnd&utm_campaign=syndicated

Yes, there is chaos in the Middle East and there are brutal terrorist groups like Hamas. In times of chaos, many people long for a strong leader to arise.

The Bible tells of one who will control territories in the Middle East and North Africa called the King of the South in Daniel 11:40-43. While he has not arisen yet, the current situation looks to be a factor that will propel his rise.

Israel’s existence as the nation that dominates Jerusalem is consistent with prophecies such as Daniel 9:27, 11:31-41, etc.

As far as shifts in morality goes, the Apostle Paul wrote:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Terrorists and actions of Hamas this month are consistent with being without “self-control, brutal, despisers of good” as also are abortionists. The above also is pointing a rise in those promoting sexual immorality which has worsened around the world, especially in Western cultures.

Regarding Matthew 28:19, let’s look at it and the next verse:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

In the Continuing Church of God we visited all the inhabited continents to teach and have performed baptisms in all but one of them. We have also uploaded sermons that cover every verse that the New Testament states that Jesus taught.

Here are links to sermons that show that we have done the latter:

MATTHEW Here are links to twelve sermons covering the 28 chapters of Matthew: Matthew 1-2: Greek or Aramaic, Jesus, and the Star?, Matthew 3-5: John the Baptist, Temptations, and the Beatitudes, Matthew 6-7: Charitable Deeds, the Rosary, Prayer, the Golden Rule, and Faith, Matthew 8-10: Married Clergy, Faith, Coming Persecution, and the Ecumenical Agenda, Matthew 11-12: John the Elijah, Sodom, Unpardonable Sin, & 3 Days and 3 Nights, -14: Parables, Mustard Seeds, Birthdays, and Faith, Matthew 15-16: Tradition, Signs of the Times, and The Rock & Peter, Matthew 17-18: Transfiguration, Elijah to Come, Taxes, and Forgiveness, Matthew 19-20: Transgender? Divorce? Purgatory? The first shall be last?, Matthew 21-23: ‘Palm Sunday,’ Come as You Are?, and the Greatest Commandments, Matthew 24: Temple Destruction, Sorrows, Tribulation, and the Return of Jesus, and Matthew 25-28: Midnight Cry, False Christians, Resurrection, & Teaching what Jesus Taught. MARK Here is a link to a sermon covering all of Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Mark: What did Jesus teach in the Book of Mark? Here is a link to six sermons covering all the verses in the Gospel of Mark: Mark 1-2: Author, Prophecy, & Miracles, Mark 3-5: Healing, Demons, and Parables, Mark 6-9: Tradition, John’s beheading, Elijah, and Restoration, Mark 10-12: Marriage, Divorce, Needle Eye, Greatest Command, & Taxes, Mark 13: Temple, Four Horsemen, Troubles, Great Tribulation, and Gospel Proclamation, and Mark 14-16: Jesus’ Priorities & Betrayal, the Resurrection, Signs, and Reaching the World. LUKE Here are links to eight sermons covering the entire ‘Gospel of Luke’: Luke 1-2: John the Baptist, Mary, and the Census, Luke 3-6: John the Baptist, Jesus’ genealogy, Satan’s Influence, and the Sermon on the Mount, Luke 7-9: Miracles, Purpose of Parables, Kingdom of God, and Women Supporting the Ministry, Luke 10-11: The 70, Doing the Work, the Good Samaritan, Prayer, and Signs, Luke 12-13: Priorities, Delayed Fruit Bearing, Little Flock, Prophecy, and the Narrow Way, Luke 14-16: The Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 17-20: Faith, the Kingdom, Gathering, Prayer, & Rewards, and Luke 21-22: Giving, Sorrows, Persecution, Tribulation, Fig Tree, and Violence. The last sermon also covers Jesus’ words in the Book of Acts. JOHN Here are links to a seven-part sermon series covering the entire ‘Gospel of John’: John 1-3: Anti-unitarian, Wine, Being Born Again, & Heaven, John 4-6: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, Miracles and the Bread of Life, John 10-12: Sheep, Hirelings, Lazarus/Soul Sleep and ‘Palm Day’, John 13-15: Footwashing and the Words of Jesus, John 16-18: Truth, Trinity, and Pontius Pilate, and John 19-21: Do not only try, do what God wants. ACTS Here is an article: The Book of Acts. Here is a link to related sermons: Book of Acts 1-2: Jesus Left, New Testament Church Began, Acts 3-5: Miracles, Trials, Proclamation, and Persecution, Acts 6-9: Widows, Stephen, Saul, and Simon Magus, Acts 10-12: Visions, Dreams, and Gentiles, Acts 13-16: Prophets, Poisoning, and Proclamation,Acts 17-19: Travels, Anointed Cloths, & the Gospel of the Kingdom, Acts 20-22: James, Sunday, and Prejudice, and Acts 23-25: Vows, Secrets, Cults, & Criticisms, and Acts 26-28: Shipwreck, the Kingdom of God, & Amen. ROMANS Comments on the Book of Romans. Here are links to six related sermons: Romans 1-2: Believe the Truth of God, Romans 3:-6: Sin, Law, Grace, Salvation, Romans 7-8: God’s Spirit and Guarantee, Romans 9-10: Grace, Mercy, Salvation, Romans 11-12: Gentiles, Jews, and the Fulness, and Romans 13-16: Obedience, Gentiles, Love, and Women. 1 CORINTHIANS Comments on the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians. Here are links to  related sermons: 1 Corinthians 1-2: God’s Spirit & the Ways of the World, 1 Corinthians 3-4: Christianity Requires Repentance, 1 Corinthians 5-6: The Church and Bad Apples, 1 Corinthians 7-8: Sex, Remarriage, and Christian Love, 1 Corinthians 9-10: Authority, Idols, and Love, 1 Corinthians 11-12: Hair, Veils, & Spiritual Gifts, 1 Corinthians 13-14: Love, Prophecy, and Tongues, and 1 Corinthians 15-16: Resurrection Hope, Collections, and Love. 2 CORINTHIANS Comments on the 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians. Here is a links to related sermons: 2 Corinthians 1-2: Church of God Suffering and Open Door; 2 Corinthians 3: The New Covenant, Jews, & Gentiles; 2 Corinthians 4-5: Guaranteed Immortality; 2 Corinthians 6: Salvation and Persecutions; 2 Corinthians 2:7-9: Be a Philadelphian Giver; 2 Corinthians 10-11: Faithfulness, Speaking, and Fables; and 2 Corinthians 12-13: Problems and Philadelphian Proofs. GALATIANS Comments on Galatians Did the Apostle Paul do away with God’s law as some claim the Book of Galatians teaches? What is the false gospel? Related sermon videos related to Galatians are available: Galatians 1 and the False Gospel and Galatians 2 & 3: What Law was Added? What was Abolished? and Galatians 4 & 5: Who Does Not Inherit the Kingdom? and Galatians 5 & 6: The Gifts of the Spirit. EPHESIANS Comments on Ephesians. Here is a link three related sermons: Ephesians 1-2: Predestination, Mysteries, & Grace. Ephesians 3 -4: Godhead, Immortality, Your Purpose, and Ephesians 5-6: Put on the Whole Armor of God, Marriage, Child Rearing. 1 PETER Here is a link to an article: 1 Peter: Scriptures and Commentary. Here is a link to a related sermon covering 1 Peter: 1 Peter: Humbly love, God’s plan is eternal. 2 PETER & JUDE Here is a link to an article: Second Peter & Jude: Scriptures and Commentary. Here is a link to a related sermon covering those books: 2 Peter & Jude: Lusts, Prophecy, & 144,000? JAMES Here are links to sermons covering James: Strong Meat: James 1-2 and Strong Meat: James 3-5. REVELATION This is a link to a sermon covering words Jesus spoke as recorded in the Book of Revelation and in first and second Corinthians: Revelation: Jesus’ Final Words.

What about Matthew 24:14?

Well, in addition to proclaiming that on radio around the world (watch Behind the Work 2023: Using Radio) as well as the internet and in person, we now have had our English language booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, translated into over 800 languages, with more being uploaded as we continue to work towards Matthew 24:14 and help set the stage for the fulfillment of Revelation 7:9. Notice the following:

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9-15)

For people of “all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” to respond, there needs to be materials that they can understand about the gospel.

Never before in the history of the Christian church has the gospel of the kingdom message been made available in as many languages as we in the Continuing Church of God have been involved with.

As we see many events aligning with properly understood biblical prophecies, make sure that YOU heed Jesus’ warnings about not supporting a lukewarm Laodicean work (Revelation 3:14-18)–support the work that best represents the Philadelphian remnant (cf. Revelation 3:7-13) and holds the Mantle.

Much is happening.

As Jesus stated:

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)

To be counted worthy, you need to not just keep the commandments and believe in Jesus–but be part of the most faithful remnant of the true church (cf. Revelation 12:14-17). 

Some items of related interest may include the following:

Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to two related videos: Gaza and Bible Prophecy and Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy. Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There are also two related videos: Iran In Prophecy and Iran and Israel Conflict. Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video. When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2023, 2024, or 2025? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede la Gran Tribulación comenzar en el 2020 o 2021? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? A related video is: Great Tribulation: 2026 or 2027? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation start in 2022 or 2023? Notice also: Can Jesus return in 2023 or 2024? Here is a video in the Spanish language: Es El 2021 el año  de La Gran Tribulación o el Grande Reseteo Financiero. Could God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or ? There is also a video titled: When Does the 6000 Years End? 2031? 2035? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años? Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle. There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Near Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety,’ Zephaniah 2 to ‘gather together,’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on fleeing to a place–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. Two sermon-length videos of related interest are available Physical Protection During the Great Tribulation and Might Petra be the Place of Safety?  Here are two related items in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra? and Existe un Lugar de Seguridad. Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? Two related sermons are available The Work per HWA and the Bible and Priority of the Philadelphia Work. Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Will Philadelphian Christians instruct many in the end times? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work. Here is a link to another: Preparing to Instruct Many. The Final Phase of the Work What is the final phase of the work? Who will lead it? Do you have the courage to support it? Here are two related YouTube videos titled Final Phase of the Work: Need and Background and The Final Phase of the Work. The written article has been translated into Spanish La Fase Final de la Obra. And here is a link to a related Spanish language sermon: La obra corta y el Hambre de la Palabra de Dios. 5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses some early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, CG7-Salem, Jerusalem 7DCG, and COG-7th Day-Denver. Here are two historical sermons: Sardis Church Era: Beginnings, Doctrines, and Leaders and Sardis: SDBs, SDAs, & CG7s. 6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God. 7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots.  They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 50+ Laodicean Prophetic Errors. See also Do You Hold to Any of These Laodicean Prophetic Errors?

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US Embassy in Jerusalem Opening Tomorrow: Regional Unrest Ahead

The Iran-Palestine Peace Circus: Two Non-Deal-Deals in Likud Clown World

Deals! They come in three forms: Good deals, bad deals, and forced deals; the first two depend on whether you correctly assess your risks, but they’re agreed upon by both parties; the last depends on whether you’re being conquered or not. If you’re being conquered your only real choice is to fight, rather than accept a deal probably not offered in good faith to begin with. If you trust the word of a person who knows they have the ability to force you into an unfavorable compromise, they’ll probably, eventually, take to themselves even that which you have been offered.

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This was the sentiment held by my best friend when growing up; a young Palestinian named Peter with a few Lebanese roots, exiled in an Australian capital city with his Christian family, separated from other family members exiled in Lebanon. They were some of the most welcoming, truly conservative people I have ever met, the strength of their family bond being an amazement to behold. Perhaps a strong family bond is easier when your birthright is stolen by a new nation which ejects you from the land of your nativity, finally your family being forced to settle halfway across the planet in a foreign country. Tough times make tough people.

Palestinians, as Christians, had been thriving in Palestine for almost two thousand years until 1947 when the government of Great Britain created a power vacuum, announcing it would remove its mandatory administration. In swept tens of thousands claiming a birthright lost to them in 70AD; though from a Christian perspective this birthright was rejected on Passover 33AD during a Messianic Regicide. Perhaps this is why the Palestinian Christians were the recipients of especially egregious disdain. Today, less than 30% of these Palestinian Christians worldwide still reside in their homeland.

Christian Zionism: Likud Christmas gift that keeps on giving

As a result of this exodus, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ which was 86% Christian in 1950, was by 2012 only 12% Christian; the rest of the town being Muslim. This de-Christianization of the birthplace of Christ is a direct result of the formation of Israel in 1948 – not the result of Muslims driving out Christians – though if you were to ask a Christian Zionist living in America what they thought of the situation, you’d think modern Palestinians were worshipping Molech, sacrificing babies on altars, Joshua having returned in a secular reappearance.

Pope Francis visited Israel/Palestine back in 2014 during the 50th anniversary of the first Papal visit to Jerusalem (1964 Pope Paul VI visit). During this 2014 visit Haaretz reported an inconvenient truth which might come as a surprise to some western Christians, but not Christian Zionists as it will go through one ear and out the other: The Palestinian Authority is far more accommodating towards Palestinian Christians than the administration in Israel;

... the PA’s record is far better than Israel’s. The president's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, is a Christian. So are two cabinet members, for Finance and Tourism, and two members of the PLO's executive committee. The deputy speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Qonstantin Qurmush, is a priest. Christians abound on boards of banks and chambers of commerce, and head its largest company, CCC. By contrast, in its 66 years, Israel has had no Christian presidential spokesman, government minister, or bank chairman. Where Palestine has eight Christians in its parliament, Israel has two. Where Palestine has at least five ambassadors, including to London and Berlin, Israel has none. … Israel’s prime minister [Netanyahu] ... in his first term in the late 1990s aroused Christian ire by backing construction of a mosque next to Nazareth’s Basilica of Annunciation, while his Palestinian counterpart, Yasser Arafat opposed it. [!!] ... Israel does give its Christians native citizenship, but when its leaders endlessly trumpet their status as a Jewish state, many feel they have second class status. They are not spared strip-searches at Israel’s airports. Exacerbating Christian anxieties, hate-graffiti – such as "Mary is a prostitute" – is daubed on church doors, and increasingly rife. Priests in Jerusalem say spitting on their habits has become well - a habit.

Despite this reality, adherents of the relatively new phenomenon known as Christian Zionism - with their ironic blindness to the implications of Messianic Regicide as applies to the land deed of Mosaic covenant - cheer on the consummation of the remaining land by an ethnic in-group so detached from the Old or New Testaments, it leaves a person actually familiar with that sacred text scratching their head in bewilderment.

This travesty bears heavy irony: Christians thus cheer the historical displacement of fellow Christians by a nation which despises the person of Christ, most of whom, as secular, regard not even the person of Moses; two men respected by almost all Muslims as two of six sacred prophets. Of course, secular leaders like Netanyahu will never miss an opportunity to wheel out the proverbial corpse of Moses endowed with everlasting political capital, citing the land deed promised by (to?) this titan of history as part of a conditional covenant.

It might sound like a generalization, but let’s face it: Christian Zionists actually believe themselves to epitomize the purity of right-wing conservative doctrine in the United States. They consider fellow Christians who hold a position of empathy towards Palestinians to be either ‘liberals’ or anathema to true Christianity. Accordingly, denouncing the false image of largely secular lebensraumist Zionism is a heresy too upsetting to Cyrus Scofield’s ghost. As a result, most Christians who don’t overtly agree with Scofield’s gibberish simply hold their silence. The Christian Zionist cannot but judge, though they should remember, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

Well, I’m sorry to be the messenger carrying the uncomfortable flame of truth, but holding your silence is just as bad. It’s time to speak up; something early Church fathers were also persecuted for. It is our duty. It is what qualifies our Christianity. Never shrink from controversy because Jesus Christ died for this very same reason; testifying against this same ethnic group the Palestinians are now also confronted with, I might add. All Christians need to realize that ethnic Palestinians worldwide are over three times as likely per capita to accept the blessing of Jesus Christ than Jews; they also have a much higher conversion rate.

From the same Haaretz article quoted above :

The Knesset bans Christmas trees which sprout all over Palestine from public display on its premises.

The above should be read in context of the National Menorah being erected annually next to the National Christmas Tree directly south of the White House, which if not attended by US officials yearly to celebrate Hanukkah would be shouted from the rooftops as a sign of disrespect, anti-Semitism, probably even garnering hyperbolic insinuations that gas chambers were nigh. Oh, how accommodating we are in the west, regardless of the treatment of Christians by that nation claiming the name of Israel in the east. The Smithsonian magazine gives a little history of how the National Menorah was lawyered into the national capital highlighting the coincidental relevance of Iran ever since its inception in 1979 :

Every year, the White House has two holiday symbols on the Ellipse: the White House Christmas tree and the National Menorah. The tradition of the National Menorah dates back to 1979, and to an Orthodox Jewish leader in Washington named Abraham Shemtov, who thought the nation’s capital needed a menorah as well as a Christmas tree. Then, the secretary of the interior initially denied him a permit to put a menorah on government property, on the grounds that it would violate the First Amendment … Shemtov … “called his friend Stu Eizenstat, an adviser to President Jimmy Carter. Eizenstat gave the secretary a choice: Either approve the permit or deny the National Christmas Tree’s permit too. If he disobeyed, Eizenstat would take the matter straight to Carter, who would side with Eizenstat—a major embarrassment for the secretary.” Shemtov got the permit, and a tradition was born. That year, President Jimmy Carter participated in the lighting of the menorah, mentioning the Iran hostage crisis in his speech.

70 Years: Reversing the symbolism of Cyrus the Great

Cyrus Scofield wasn’t just the author of the most influential pro-Zionist commentary on the Bible, but his parents happened to name him after a man of completely opposite purpose; liberator of those who deserve covenant clemency. Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia is commemorated in Judaism and Christianity, for freeing the People of the Covenant in 539BC from a 70 year captivity in Babylon; the number 70 being of further importance in Christianity as Jerusalem was obliterated by Rome in the 70th year (70AD) since the birth of Christ. Cyrus also lived to 70 years of age and Trump was 70 years old when elected. Haaretz reported the religious buzz in December 2017 :

Christians and Jews Now Compare Trump to Persian King Cyrus – Will He Build the Third Temple? Like Cyrus 2,500 years ago, Trump is seen as an instrument of God. And the plan: to build the Third Temple on the Temple Mount – where the Al-Aqsa Mosque currently stands

Currently, in 2018, during the 70th anniversary of the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence, the opportunity to invoke this important number and its relation to Cyrus the Great has not been missed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; leader of the Likud coalition in the Knesset. US President Donald Trump has been happy to indulge Netanyahu’s semiotic fancies for this anniversary by declaring Jerusalem to be the official capital city of Israel – a ‘holy’ grail endorsement justifying the 1967 border violations by Israel.

On March 1st – Purim (!) – Netanyahu made a speech at the United Nations HQ in NYC where he, characteristically, held up a Persian rug made in Iran in what the Jerusalem Post called a ‘Purim Parody’. He declared the rug a weapon of subversive warfare and a vector for money laundering by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Four days later, on March 5th, he met Trump and wife Melania in the White House for a presser ;

It’s always a pleasure to see you, both but this is the first time we meet in Washington – America’s capital – after you declared, Mr. President, Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. And this was a historic proclamation followed by your bold decision to move the embassy by our upcoming National Independence Day. I want to tell you that the Jewish people have a long memory. So we remember the proclamation of the great King Cyrus the Great — Persian King. Twenty-five hundred years ago, he proclaimed that the Jewish exiles in Babylon can come back and rebuild our temple in Jerusalem. We remember, 100 years ago, Lord Balfour, who issued the Balfour Proclamation that recognized the rights of the Jewish people in our ancestral homeland. We remember seven[ty] years ago, President Harry S. Truman was the first leader to recognize the Jewish state. And we remember how a few weeks ago, President Donald J. Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Mr. President, this will be remembered by our people throughout the ages. And as you just said, others talked about it. You did it. So I want to thank you on behalf of the people of Israel. And I also want to — I look forward to our discussions on both challenges and opportunities. If I had to say what is our greatest challenge in the Middle East to both our countries, to our Arab neighbors, it’s encapsulated in one word: Iran. Iran has not given up its nuclear ambitions. It came out of this nuclear deal emboldened, enriched. It’s practicing aggression everywhere, including on our own borders. And I think we have to stop this country — the chants, “Death to Israel,” “Death to America.” Iran must be stopped. That is our common challenge.

Thus, Palestinian Christian and Muslim captivity by Israel, is portrayed as a period of Israeli captivity, Trump is likened to Cyrus the Great, the rebuilt Temple is invoked (!), and the actual Persians are portrayed as if they are Babylonians who need to be thrown off by the might of King Trump at the 70 year mark. Reversals! This is Likud Clown World!

#Netanyahu thinks he can complain about #Iran's nuclear program to the international atomic agency, Is he going to tell them about #Israel's illegal nuclear weapons program too?

— Partisangirl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) April 30, 2018

Trump’s actions to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem during this 70th year, in spite of Palestinian protestations, is not exactly the sort of conciliatory stance a person makes when apparently just about to offer the Palestinians a deal for statehood – in good faith we are told. This deal which will be publicly tabled by the end of May 2018 is not a good deal. It’s not even a bad deal. It’s the third option; the forced deal. This is conquest in continuation. There is no good faith here towards the Palestinians.

A cadre of four comprising of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and wife, together with Jared Kushner and wife Ivanka Trump, are to open the US Embassy on the 70th anniversary; May 14th. I have a hunch that Kushner is Donald Trump’s chosen peace ambassador to present the deal shortly thereafter. Jared, the geopolitically inexperienced heir of a billionaire Orthodox Jewish New Jersey felon’s real-estate empire headquartered at the Kushner Companies building at 666 Fifth Avenue – who married the non-Jewish daughter of the first billionaire POTUS, shunning Rabbinical marriage custom – will perhaps be ‘offering’ a ‘peace deal’ in Jerusalem to the Palestinians and Israelis (which the Likud totally engineered). Could this get any more clown world?

Early reports are suggesting that this deal is for the Gaza Strip and half of the current West Bank excluding the Jordan Valley; including four peripheral and rather marginal neighborhoods in East Jerusalem as a capital. If true, this new West Bank would be a concentration camp for 3.3 million Palestinians forever placing Israel in charge of Palestinian water supplies, their contact with fellow Arabs in Jordan being cut off. Israel would have a complete choke-hold over this mini-state. If the Palestinians accept or are forced to accept this deal, the new nation could expect to be sanctioned and/or continue to be assaulted by a hostile Israel perpetually citing ‘self defense’; just like Syria and Lebanon, sovereignty would mean nothing.

If one checks the rising war barometer since the Iraq War – especially lately – one gets the impression this symbolic 70th year was singled out so that tensions around Iran and Palestine would climax simultaneously :

Sunni Saddam overthrown. Democracy brought to majority Shiite Iraq.

Shiites inevitably become the dominant force in Iraqi politics.

Shiite ascendancy allows a greater rift to open up between Baghdad and Erbil, fueling the Sunni Kurdish independence movement while Israel digs into the KRG oil and gas industry (previous article) readying it for integration into Israeli water and energy security agendas.

Shiite Iran becomes major power broker in Baghdad and Shiite Southern Iraq.

Sunni ISIS/Syrian Rebel/Al-Qaeda/Al-Nusra NATO-Saudi proxies break out like a virus in order to clear the required pipeline corridors and justify balkanization of Syria (previous article).

Iranian proxy Hezbollah drawn deeper into Lebanon, Syria, Iraq.

Hezbollah strengthened immensely in the Shiite public imagination for preventing the fall of Assad. This is great news for the Likud.

Israel now can claim Hezbollah/Iran have encircled them so that annexation of more Syrian and perhaps Lebanese territory can be claimed as ‘self-defense’ against Iran (actually happening as I type, as I predicted a week ago). This is simply more land theft or theft by proxy. As explained in a previous article, this is to assist Israel and the Saudis to carve out two pipeline corridors, 1) to bring oil and gas from a newly balkanized north-east Syrian puppet state and the KRG in northern Iraq, into Haifa via the Golan Heights, including water from the Euphrates, and 2) to tap the Gazprom Killer in Qatar, linking it with the EU, preventing Iran from tapping this same shared super-field and gaining access to either the EU or Chinese energy markets.

Iran non-deal-deal (explained below) for a nuclear program offered then revoked by successive administrations as if this wasn’t planned all along to provoke predictable reactions in Tehran; for example, the burning of the US flag in their parliament by government officials. Netanyahu, Likud & Co., sit back in glee at this wonderful public relations gift for the Zionist cause. Mission accomplished. Chaos can now resume as desired.

Jerusalem declared the official capital of Israel by the US President and the official location of a newly relocated US Embassy to be opened on May 14th, 2018; the Roman calendar date of the 70th anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence.

Palestine offered a “deal of the century” on statehood by President Trump, almost instantly endorsed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman – even though it isn’t public yet – who then threatened Mahmoud Abbas, telling him he has to accept the deal or resign (Isn’t it funny how this happens right after the recent major purge of royal rivals in Saudi Arabia?). It’s as if Salman were the inaugural recipient of the Zionist award for Wahhabist of the Year. I can imagine the award now; it would be a golden clown waiving the black flag of Jihad wearing a suicide vest of peace.

The billionaire Jewish Zionist Sheldon Adelson – the largest political donor in the US and Trumps biggest donor, who openly supports illegal settlements in the West Bank – waits until Trump revokes the Iran nuclear deal including a fresh slew of sanctions on Iran, before donating $30 million to save the House GOP majority. You’ve got to be good boys and girls before you get your pocket money!

Dear reader: None of this is deliberately synchronized.

These are all ‘coincidences’ following foreign policy ‘mistakes’ in Iraq.

Nothing to see here . . . move along now!

Likud Clown World: Come to the big top, to see the show!

The ‘liberal’ Brookings Institution in Washington DC – which is one of many fronts for tabling Zionist geopolitical agendas and presenting them as productions in the best interests of the United States – released a 156-page report in 2009 entitled “Which Path To Persia?” (PDF).

This report is basically a handbook for regime change, such as those which have occurred or been attempted during the Arab Spring (which began two years after the report was released). As I mentioned in a previous article, JINSA and Netanyahu’s Likud coalition have a fixation on Iran which is the crux of this very influential report I would advise serious students of geopolitics to read in full. On page 39 (pg.52 in PDF), the report states the following regarding Sanctions :

For those who favor regime change or a military attack on Iran (either by the United States or Israel), there is a strong argument to be made for trying this option [sanctions] first. Inciting regime change in Iran would be greatly assisted by convincing the Iranian people that their government is so ideologically blinkered that it refuses to do what is best for the people and instead clings to a policy that could only bring ruin on the country. The ideal scenario in this case would be that the United States and the international community present a package of positive inducements so enticing that the Iranian citizenry would support the deal, only to have the regime reject it. In a similar vein, any military operation against Iran will likely be very unpopular around the world and require the proper international context—both to ensure the logistical support the operation would require and to minimize the blowback from it. The best way to minimize international opprobrium and maximize support (however, grudging or covert) is to strike only when there is a widespread conviction that the Iranians were given but then rejected a superb offer—one so good that only a regime determined to acquire nuclear weapons and acquire them for the wrong reasons would turn it down. Under those circumstances, the United States (or Israel) could portray its operations as taken in sorrow, not anger, and at least some in the international community would conclude that the Iranians ‘brought it on themselves’ by refusing a very good deal.

Notice the inclusion of Israel side-by-side with the United States as dual antagonists attempting to convince every other world player of the need to take down Iran.

What actually happened when this planned Iranian nuclear deal was offered up by Obama in 2015? Rather than decline it, Iran accepted the terms. We can see in the report that the intent was for the deal to be rejected so the US and Israel could use the rejection to 1) prove to the world that the Iranian regime cared more about nuclear arms than peace, and 2) use the rejection to stir resentment internally in Iran, turning the Iranian people against the regime. This deal acceptance delayed Zionist plans to overthrow the regime using this initial approach, though in the section on Invasion, on page 65 (pg.78 in PDF), the report continues :

If the United States were to decide that to garner greater international support, galvanize U.S. domestic support, and/or provide a legal justification for an invasion, it would be best to wait for an Iranian provocation, then the time frame for an invasion might stretch out indefinitely. With only one real exception, since the 1978 revolution, the Islamic Republic has never willingly provoked an American military response, although it certainly has taken actions that could have done so if Washington had been looking for a fight. Thus it is not impossible that Tehran might take some action that would justify an American invasion and it is certainly the case that if Washington sought such a provocation, it could take actions that might make it more likely that Tehran would do so (although being too obvious about this could nullify the provocation). However, since it would be up to Iran to make the provocative move, which Iran has been wary of doing most times in the past, the United States would never know for sure when it would get the requisite Iranian provocation. In fact, it might never come at all.

This report is entirely candid that the desired outcome for the US and Israel is a full scale invasion of Iran!

As I hinted earlier, the foreign policy ‘mistakes’ made after the Iraq War which have led to an Iranian influenced Shiite regime talking over in Baghdad, were completely deliberate. The breakout of NATO asymmetric warfare proxies known as ISIS & Co., in Iraq and Syria, were also deliberate (Wikileaks). Hezbollah which is virtually a direct militia arm of the Iranian regime has been drawn down into Syria and they’re even more entrenched in Lebanon as the recent election has proven. Now Israel and Hezbollah are exchanging fire between the Golan Heights and the Syrian ‘buffer zone’ which I predicted in a previous article.

The truth is, the Iran nuclear deal was always going to be revoked in the event that Iran did not decline the offer. This is because it is a non-deal-deal; it was simply a circus apparatus in the world-class Iran Palestine Peace Circus brought to you by Likud Clown World.

The forced deal in Palestine is also none other than a non-deal-deal, being synchronized with the collapse of the Iran non-deal-nuclear-deal during Israel’s 70th year. This is being done so that a Palestinian rejection or acceptance can be tied into a greater conflict where asymmetric warfare techniques (such as false-flag military or terror attacks) can be used to create the PR necessary to sell Israel as the victim and the United States as the savior; rather than both being seen as aggressors having planned this in advance. Thankfully far more people are waking up to the reality of this circus.

What do the true aggressor’s desire? As I explained in my last two Balkanizing Syria articles (here and here), they desire the final rewiring of mid-east geopolitics: Pipeline corridors; Israeli lebensraum annexations; balkanization; death; misery; flag draped coffins; not to forget massive military industrial complex profits and war debts for the bonds salesmen – Americans can pay the bills and provide the bodies, as usual. US neocons and Zionist JINSA aligned apparatchiks in Washington designed all of this. It is a masterpiece of Hegelian dialectic.

I’ll leave you with one final ominous statement from this Brookings report reminiscent of the chilling “New Pearl Harbor” comment in the 1997 PNAC Rebuilding America’s Defenses report. This excerpt comes from page 66 (pg.79 in PDF), mentioning a “Tehran-sponsored 9/11” :

Most European, Asian, and Middle Eastern publics are dead set against any American military action against Iran derived from the current differences between Iran and the international community—let alone Iran and the United States. Other than a Tehran-sponsored 9/11, it is hard to imagine what would change their minds. For many democracies and some fragile autocracies to which Washington would be looking for support, this public antipathy is likely to prove decisive. For instance, Saudi Arabia is positively apoplectic about the Iranians’ nuclear program, as well as about their mischief making in Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories. Yet, so far, Riyadh has made clear that it will not support military operations of any kind against Iran. Certainly that could change, but it is hard to imagine what it would take.

NOTE: Public antipathy can only be manipulated using massive events like the September 11th, 2001, terror attacks in the US, which can be organized as false-flag operations if/when necessary.

I have a good idea exactly what and where such an event may occur, though I’ll save that for a future article. To be clear, I am not against Jews having a sovereign state of their own, but I question the wisdom of them having been given this particular land of all lands; including their M.O. towards their neighbors since their ascension. What is the statute of limitations on a particular land covenant granted by divine right in a largely secular state? 1900 years?

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I urge the reader to take the time to read the “Which Path To Persia?” report. It’s quite obvious from the bold language and tone, the authors consider Iran to be a frustratingly peaceful nation actively attempting not to trigger a conflict, yet the authors are clearly attempting to work out schemes to implode Iran or to justify a military invasion – shades of Iraq WMD’s propaganda. These people are insane. People with psychological profiles like this, could either deliberately, or accidentally, trigger WWIII if public awareness of their intentions does not increase rapidly. It almost might be too late though, based on events taking place on the Syria-Israel border at this very moment.

I don’t know about you, but this Peace Circus is starting to insult my intelligence. Is Netanyahu Pennywise the Clown from Stephen King’s I.T., or am I just having a bad dream? At least a rogue intern got the best of this dangerous clown villain recently during a PowerPoint presentation :

A disgruntled intern slipped this slide into #bibi's speech about #Iran's nukes, it reminds people that #Israel tried to sell nukes to South Africa. Embarrassing! #Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/KdYAhdQA86

— Partisangirl 🇸🇾 (@Partisangirl) April 30, 2018

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NOSHITSUM 3 October, 2017

Houthi Rebels (Shia) and Yemen (Sunni) +Coalition Forces

The Yemeni civil war has left large swaths of the country in ruin since it really kicked off in 2015, though the sentiments that fuel the conflict have roots several decades deep. The typical news cast regarding the conflict will be about Saudi bombers indiscriminately causing civilian casualties. While the Saudis are conducting most of the kinetic operations on behalf of the halfway toppled official Yemeni government, the coalition is comprised of several gulf and African nations with US support in intelligence and special forces. Operating in the area you’ll find elements of ISIS and Al Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula taking advantage of the lack of a governing presence. Based out of the more rural areas, they have conducted several bombings targeting Pro-Hadi government forces.

Houthis: Shia who claim to be fighting against Salafist presence and unfair politics.

The Government of Yemen: Led by President in Exile Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, originally acquiesced the Houthi demands and resigned under duress after several military defeats. After fleeing to safety, he claimed the Houthis had committed a coup d’état.

One of the biggest effects is the level of security in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, which is likely why the US has a stake in this war at all, besides the terrorism nexus. Though piracy in the area has been hammered by multinational efforts and private security on ships.

 Biggest Winners: TBD

Biggest Losers: the people of Yemen

  Israel and Palastine

I’m going to go ahead and wash this of political nuance, I do not back, support, etc either side. Go back far enough you’ll find there are plenty of terrible actions to smear both sides without even getting into the who was where first. What you need to know is the conflict has spawned some of the most professional terrorists to walk this earth. What keeps it going is nationalist rhetoric on both sides that will accept no compromise.

Confrontations between both sides range from conventional engagements between organized forces and lobbing artillery at each other to your typical terrorist attacks. Bombings, car ramming, and shootings have claimed several American lives since the birth of Israel’s current reincarnation.

Most recently, a Palestinian individual opened fire on an Israeli check point near Jerusalem, killing three. In this instance, the targets were soldiers, but that is not always or even mostly the case. There are many attacks where Americans and others are collateral, which also plays into the hands of terrorist by increasing the amount of publicity drawn by the attack.

 Biggest Winners: TBD

Biggest Losers: Palestinians

  Al Shabaab and Somalia

Al Shabaab has plagued Somalia and its neighbors for years. Though the organization peaked in 2014 and is currently relegated to the countryside, it is still actively combating Somali security forces and their allies. The militant Islamic group aims to establish an Islamic theocracy in Somalia. Despite sounding similar to ISIS ideology, the group rebuffed a call for allegiance from the Islamic State and killed off several of its members who defected. Al Shabaab has been an affiliate of Al Qa’ida since shortly after its founding.

 Biggest Winners: The Somalian Government

Biggest Losers: Persons living in areas under Al Shabaab control

  Boko Haraam and Nigeria

Similar to al Shabaab, Boko Haram also seeks to establish an Islamic government in its respective location. Originally a problem in Northern Nigeria, the salfi/wahabi organization also operates in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Unlike al Shabaab, Boko Haram has declared for the Islamic State, though not without some internal friction.

Most famous in recent years for the capture and hostage taking of the Chibok School Girls, the group has killed thousands and displaced millions since its inception in the early 2000’s. Though several politicians have claimed Boko Haram to be defeated, continual skirmishes with militaries from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger would indicate otherwise.

 Biggest Winners: Nigerian Government

Biggest losers: Persons living in areas still controlled by Boko Haram

  Kenya

Kenya has had its own run ins with Al Shabaab, but the most concerning security matter would be the results of its elections. The previous vote for the presidential office was held on 8 August 2017 and subsequently annulled by the Supreme Court, which labeled the vote “neither transparent or verifiable.” The incumbent, Kenyatta, won the majority and regarded the annulment as a judicial coup.

The Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions has requested an investigation of the electoral commission. In the meanwhile, there have been several protests regarding the results, the commission, and the President and there will be several more before the vote is held again on 26 October 2017. There is international concern about possible political violence, especially since over a thousand people died in the violence surrounding the 2007 elections.

 Biggest Winners: Opposition leader Odinga

Biggest Losers: Kenyans

  Cameroon independence

A product of colonization, Cameroon is a country with extremely separate English and French speaking people. So much so that the English portions believe they are being forced out of policy making positions and being treated like second-class citizens. The English speakers have long called for equality, but recently the tone has changed to that of independence. Cameroon’s Government has not taken kindly to this development and have cracked down on the seperatists.

The leader of the English opposition has claimed that at least 30 people have died in clashes. On 1 October 2017, Cameroon’s security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing 8 and wounding several more. In the wake of the incident, the government has shut down the internet in the English speaking areas of the nation.

 Biggest Winners: TBD

Biggest Losers: The English speaking Minority

Update to Kurdish Independence

A resounding “Yes” vote has drawn rebukes from the Iraqi, Turkish, and Iranian governments- strange bedfellows united by their troubles with Kurds within their borders. Kurdish leadership has stipulated that the vote signals that they could start negotiations, though it is unlikely anyone in the Iraqi government would be willing to negotiate with them.

Update to Catalan Independence

Of those who were able to vote, the majority voted in favour of independence. Spanish national police shut down several voting sites, clashing with voters and protesters. By the end, several hundred people were injured, though the number also includes those who suffer non-violent injuries such as anxiety attacks. The Catalonian leadership have made clear they do not want a violent or sudden separation from Spain and want to begin meaningful dialogue. The Spanish Government continues to regard the vote as illegal and may take away Catalonia’s autonomy.

 Update to DPRK

The POTUS made light of The Secretary of State’s attempts to reach a diplomatic solution with the DPRK.