In recent weeks, terrorism has grown exponentially. Since the beginning of the year, close to 20 people have been murdered in attacks in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the media does not always report the situation as it is and through selection and bias, will often highlight one story at the expense of another.
On 26th February, two brothers were murdered in Hawara, a Palestinian Arab village which straddles Route 60, a major north-south artery in Samaria. That same evening, in response to the horrific terrorist attack, a group of Jewish protesters, many of them residents of Samaria who had suffered from terrorist attacks in Hawara for months, entered Hawara. While most of the protesters remained peaceful, a small number crossed the lines. They set fire to a few homes and to a car junkyard. Thank G-d, no one was hurt in these fires, but the image of blazing fires in Hawara, set by Jews, went viral. All over the world, governments condemned Israel for these attacks. But so did Jews. All over Israel, including in Judea and Samaria, these senseless acts of violence were condemned and the police launched an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Unfortunately, what was forgotten amongst the fires was the tragedy of two brothers murdered in Israel. The following day, a young man was murdered as he drove through the Jordan Valley, on his way to a wedding. Just a few weeks earlier, terrorists drove into a crowd waiting at a bus stop in Jerusalem, murdering two brothers. While so many national leaders are expressing their opposition to Prime Minister Netanyahu, too many of them have conveniently forgotten the terrorist attacks we face each and every day.
Just a few weeks ago, my colleague, Shmuel Junger, CFOIC Heartland’s Development Director, came to Australia for the first time to address audiences and bring them up to date on what is happening in Israel. He told these stories. He explained the realities of life in Judea and Samaria, when so many families face constant danger even as they carry out the most mundane tasks in life.
The Biblical Heartland is being attacked again and again by people whose sole purpose is to drive the Jewish people from their land. From Tasmania to Victoria to Queensland, Shmuel was honored and cheered for his passionate messages—for bringing the truth to Australia.
After one such meeting, a Christian leader had this to say:
“As an ex-infantry officer I can understand the circumstances in which this brave Orthodox Jewish man, his wife and their four children, live day by day. I felt to go straight to him to thank him and to tell him briefly of my military service, and our spiritual ANZAC task to pray for Israel. I gave him a big hug and said I would be praying for him and his family.”
And isn’t that the point of it all?
At CFOIC Heartland, we are working tirelessly to ensure that you, our dear Christian friends in Australia and around the world, understand our lives and our vision. We have settled the land, living out a Biblical vision, trusting that we are taking part in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. We came in peace and reached out our hands in peace to the Arab residents of the land. All too often, our outstretched hand was met with violence.
Thank you, dear Australian friends of Israel, for your support and your encouragement. On behalf of Shmuel and myself, I want to ask you to be our ambassadors and help us get the word out—the right word, the truth. Together, we can truly make a difference!
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