"You who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as friends; they are allies only to each other. Anyone who takes them as an ally becomes one of them.” ~ Surat Al-Mā’idah Verse No. 51
People ask "What happened to you, Karen" as if I've turned into an alien or something. Nothing happened to me. This is who I am. I won't be responding to all the comments since I've already written quite a bit on this subject already, with facts. If you've read my writing and disagree, which I don't mind, you have every right and I respect that, I doubt that more writing on my part will do anything except take time away from me writing my next essay which will no doubt be on some other topic anyway. I will continue to write on various subjects as I always have. I will just reiterate, it's unfortunate so many people in the West don't see, or don't want to see because their antisemitism is greater than their reason, that Israel is fighting not just for itself but for all of our freedoms. Listen to moderate Muslims and former Muslims who lived in that world (and remember I lived there, too) and heed their warnings. I put this interview with Luai Ahmed here for anyone who wants to face reality. https://youtu.be/X33fTrJBBhE?si=2rr_u5LUBedfGmbA
Totally agree, Karen! No matter how many words you write, or facts you present, it will not change the minds of those staunchly against Israel. After living over a decade in Libya, I’ve seen it first hand, and I stand firmly on the side of the Israeli people.
It was. Completely shaped my world view. Traveled all over North Africa, extensively in Europe, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, northern South America as well as Central America. It taught me that so much of how we Americans view the rest of the world is lacking in perspective as well as history. Each place I lived and traveled had an impact and certainly Libya was highly impactful. It was both wonderful and horrible at times but I wouldn’t trade those years for anything!
Your own experiences in Egypt is one of the reasons so much of what you write speaks to me. We have a commonality of experience that not many have. (And, damn, you can sure write!)
I so relate to what you are saying. I have done the same. Traveling, living in other countries, from Bolivia to Turkey, to communist Yugoslavia in the 1980s; it really makes you realize how naive and insulated Americans are. My feelings about Luxor are similar to yours about Libya. Before Oct 7th, I would have considered going back to visit. But now, it would be very dangerous for me to return--I mean, it would have been dangerous before, but I could have handled it, now it would be foolish for me to return. Like you, it was both wonderful and horrible. Wouldn't change it for anything. I wrote about it on a much deeper level in an essay I really like called Neom's the Line: City of the Dead, comparing Luxor to Saudi Arabia's futuristic city. https://khmezek.substack.com/p/neoms-the-line. I hope to go to India this year!
I have read the Koran and see the same thing you see. Yet you ignore the old testament that has the same problems (Stoning adultresses for example) yet Christians have moved beyond this violence. There are some who use the Koran to commit crime but not all. There is a real threat to humanity under forced conversion. Not good. But this is not permission for slaughter. I am in no way antisemitic nor against the continuation of Israel so it is extremely annoying to be pigion-holed as being anti-Israel. That is false. I am against what Israel is doing. It violates everything decent in the world. I watched the videos of the killers slaughtering innocent Israelis and it is sickening and an outrage. The citizens in Gaza were not there, were they. Has anyone asked them if they wanted this to be done? Did they get a chance to participate in the decision? You know damn well they didn't. Yet they are being slaughtered. You follow Christ, right? Go right ahead and put Jesus into a tank facing Gaza. Does He shoot? Does He see them as people (imago Dei)? As Himself (Love thy neighbor)? Does He weep for them ("Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me") ? I looked at the images from Israel and wept. Now YOU look at the videos and the images of the dead in Gaza. Will you weep for 10,000 children? 10,000!!! Death knows no nationality. This carnage is not self defense and you know it. If it were a campaign to arrest and prosecute or one to destroy Hamas as a fighting force the world would understand. Final thought: Israel will probably perish for this. It is now a pariah in the world. This is sad. For those of us who held hope for Israel to live and prosper, this is tragic.
This is what the Lord GOD says: “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations, then they will live on their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. They will live on it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards, and live securely when I execute judgments upon all around them who despise them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
"If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, even with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and adulteress must be put to death...." Leviticus (20:10-12)
"And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place they ejected you; for civil discord is worse than carnage: yet attack them not at the sacred Mosque unless they attack you therin; but if they attack you, slay them. Such is the reward of infidels." pg.358 J. M. Rodwell translation of the Koran.
"If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife [c]of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not [d]consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you." Deuteronomy 13 Verses 6-11
This is the language of the 'holy books' filled with revenge and righteousness as excuses for murder and brutality. There is no one who is safe in this world. We are surely doomed.
God has the authority to say what is right and what is wrong and what the punishments for breaking His law are. Adultery is wrong. Murder is wrong. Stealing is wrong. Because God says so.
But God also provided a way for atonement for Israel through the sacrificial system where He showed mercy to the humans through their offering of animal sacrifices that took their place. The sacrificial system was only a temporary reprieve since the blood of bulls and goats and sheep could not permanently take away sin.
But the death of Messiah COULD and DID take the punishment for sin that all of us deserve, if we believe that Yeshua is the Messiah promised in Tanach and accept His sacrifice in our place, which satisfied God’s justice.
Thank you for your passionate outpourings, Karen. I also admire Ayaan Hirsi Ali - her courage and absolute clarity about the tension between the Western and non-western values is quite amazing considering her upbringing and her life trajectory. She is very inspiring.
As for some of your followers who refer to Finkelstein, who willfully misinterpret the meaning of history or even the very term of the Holocaust, and those who creatively link Israel to South Africa’s apartheid, I can only say that if they refuse to understand the concept of a Jewish homeland (Zionism) or don't believe that Jews deserve their own nation where they are the majority (Israel), which is no different than what the Christians, Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists have by the many dozens, then they are antisemites, plain and simple. Nobody seems to have a problem with 49 Muslim dominated nations, where Islamic law reigns, minority religions are persecuted and Jews are not welcome. But the only country owned by Jews, well that can't be allowed.
Yes, Ayaan is a light on a dark world. As for my followers, I am losing a lot which is okay. I am not sure how much I will respond to the comments, I've written enough on the topic, not sure what more I can do. I would rather people say what they think than to keep quiet. I want it all as a testimony for the future. I was well aware of some of the responses I would get. it will always be here, long after I am not! God bless you and thank you for your encouragement.
That is a very healthy approach - to let people express themselves and let it all out. Often not a very pleasant experience but a sobering one for sure.
Completely correct. I would perhaps add a touch of accuracy: not only do Jews *deserve* their own nation - they have always been a nation. Not a "race", not just a "religion". In the Bible they are referred to as "Am Israel" - עם ישראל "
We are most certainly entitled to our own state. To doubt that entitlement is anti-Semitic.
And to the cranks out there: don't quote violently anti Israel rabbis, members of the Neturei Karta sect, buddies with the ayatollahs, who despise Israel. 99% of Jews are Zionists. "The nation of Israel shall live" עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱
Yup, the Neturei Karta to Israel is like sayin' the KKK "represent" the "best" of America... their words of hate alienate most white folks just as NKs alienate most Jews (left & right). This whackdoodle fringe group sez that the only "real" Jews stand with Hamas! (Yay for self immolation?!) This group literally marches with Hamas an' holds up their flags an' did same with the PLO! As ya know, they wanna see Israel destroyed an' NEARLY all Jews know they are fringe nutbars BUT those (a majority in the USA an' beyond) who hate Israel an' ain't so keen on all Jews who want Israel to exist (even if we ain't so puhleased with NetAn'Yahoo))--"insist" that this group is "major" an' representative an' they state they ain't Anti-Semitic b/c there are "good Jews" in the world all represented by (fringe lunatics) Neturei Karta. Heck, EVEN the Satmar (as ya know) reject the "cray cray" NK folks--they feel that when Israel wuz founded it was not the right time--Satmar DO feel the Jews'll return ta Israel of course, but they publicly reject the NK loonies...
Folks who claim ta know "all about us Chews" don't know squat....it's kinda sad. Every prayer I larned growin' up started with (or ended with) Hear Oh Israel! -- the connection runs deeper than the cuttin' remarks folks make thinkin' they know "who" Jews really are--from yer wish (re the nation survivin') ta God's ears!
Iran has a very small Jewish minority which is guaranteed a member of Parliament. Israel prevents its occupied people (Gaza and the West Bank) from having any representation.
Gaza is controlled by Hamas- elected by the people of Gaza. The blockade to which I assume you are referring was only imposed after Hamas started firing rockets and is for the purpose of hampering the flow of weapons. As for residents of Gaza or the territories (ruled by the PA) serving in the Knesset- please name all the countries that have non-citizens serving in their government.
Israel withdrew their settlements from Gaza but never stopped exercising control over the population. Palestinians cannot even leave without permission from Israel nor can they fly from Tel Aviv.
There may be a few Arabs in the Israeli parliament yet there is not one from Gaza or the West Bank. Even Iran has a Jewish member of Parliament
I have traveled throughout Israel and Palestine and I have seen the living hell Palestinians face on a daily basis.
The people have suffered not because of Hamas but rather because Israel refuses to give them the same rights Israelis have.
Arab citizens have equal rights to vote and run for office. Gaza is ruled by Hamas (elected by the people of Gaza. )Non-Israeli citizens in the territories are governed by the PA. Their President Mahmoud Abbas was elected in 2008 for a 4-year term.
It is absurd to think that the Palestinians have any control over their own destiny. Israeli military can and does enter West Bank cities whenever they please. They have settlements throughout the West Bank which are illegal under intl law. Why do they not have Israeli citizenship after nearly 50 years of occupation? Have you been to any of these areas? I have been to Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, Nablas, etc and they are nothing but open air prisons. Its residents cannot even leave without Israeli permission.
If Palestinians have lost control over their own destiny they have no one but themselves to blame. They were offered their own state at least 5 times and refused it, always responding with terror and violence. If Israel is forced to send in soldiers to stop attacks or make arrests, that is the direct result of Palestinian violence. Just today a woman was murdered in Central Israel and scores others injured in a stabbing-car ramming attack. The terrorists were from Hebron. The only people whose freedom of movement is restricted are Jews who are prohibited from entering Arab cities so that they are not lynched.
So based on your logic if a Mexican commits a crime in the United States, then the US has the right to go into Mexico and make arrests. Given that this is does not happen, then you should understand how the areas under Palestinian control are not free in any way.
Jews can enter any of the Palestinian areas except that under Israeli law they are prohibited. I am white and I rented a car in East Jerusalem with yellow Israeli license plates and drove throughout areas where Jews were prohibited from entering. I never had a problem.
The Palestinians freedom of movement is extremely restricted. They are not permitted to even visit Israel proper without special permissions. And they cannot leave the West Bank to Jordan without Israeli permission. The situation is absurd but really only understood when you visit the region.
If terrorists from Mexico constantly staged murderous attacks in the US with the encouragement of the Mexican government, do you honestly think the US would refrain from going after them? I'm glad nothing happened to you when you drove through restricted areas. Plenty of others were not so lucky. As for not being able to enter Israel it is not unusual for any country to control who comes in.
Thank you Karen ...again I heard your dad speak many times to Calvary Chapel Philadelphia and yes I'm praying for Israel. This country is on a major downward spiral and everything is in fact happening according to, as you said, prophecy written thousands of years ago... That will come to pass 100% accurately as all scripture always does. God bless you and maranatha!!
Thank you for your work. I support Israel. As an American Conservative Christian, this is how I was raised. We pray for the world as often as I think of them which is everyday.
Thank you. I wanted to write something in defense of conservative Christians, to hopefully give people a bigger picture of what's going on, because the propaganda campaign against conservative Christians is so intense.
Can you imagine if Mexican drug cartels decided to make a violent attack on Texas or Arizona, say, and kill thousands ? Can you imagine the people here volunteering to go down and kill the cartels? I can picture Joey and his cia pals having a problem with it, but I don’t think those state governments would. And what would we do to them? We’d kill them back. It may come down to it one day if the progs steal another election, but for the world to condemn Israel for killing hamas, I gues if I were Israel I’d tell the world to fuck off.
I do not understand why people use foul sexual threats and language to express their feelings of anger. It degrades them and insults all who accidentally happen to read it. It is inconsiderate, shameful, and detestable.
That is your opinion. I am not alone in believing that being decent, considerate, and polite should be the norm. Crude, foul, dirty language is a sign of the depravity of this culture. I used to keep quiet and just avoid people who refused to use common courtesy. Some time ago, I decided that if they aren’t ashamed to use such language, I shouldn’t feel inhibited about saying what I think about it and I should at least give them a chance to mend/change their ways, so now I do. Quite a few people thank me for doing so. There are lots more people who find bad language appalling than those who will say something, because they are like I used to be. So I speak for a larger group than you realize. :)
Yes, I realize you are not alone in your desire to control speech.
I see this "be decent, considerate, and polite" and eschew "crude, foul, dirty language" as an attack on free speech. It's not about who's being impolite!
I love that part about giving them a chance to mend/change their ways. Such hubris.
I won't call it racist but I see an intellectual elitism in this position. Ppl are ANGRY and they should be allowed to express their opinions in whatever way they are capable. They don't need to be shamed by ppl who want "polite" 24/7, even in writing on free speech, "altern media" substak.
Where's the line between "impolite, crude" and "hate speech"? WHO DECIDES??? This is a very slippery slope!
Back to the comment in question and your response:
you wrote-
"foul sexual threats and language" I don't see any foul sexual threats in there. There's one "fuck" The comment was certainly graphic in its comparison of the border situations between Israel and US. I support the commenter's rights, on the alt media here substack, to express her/is anger in whatever way possible.
Maybe there was something more going on for you? Something about Israel killing hamas or US citizens killing Mex cartels via state's rights and militias bc the Dems have continued on the path of supporting the invasion with their open border absurdity? Just saying.
Christians and Jews are not on the same side. (Talmudic) Jews are instructed to destroy anything Christian. Please research the Talmud to find out what lies in there, you will be shocked. The tunnels under New York Synagogue are related to this. They see you (goy) as an underclass, and will destroy you if they feel it necessary, and the Talmud will absolve them from this.
The Zionists need a world war to allow their Messiah to come, and they will even kill Israelis to get this. Have you not seen the reports of how hostages were killed by IDF?
By the way have you research how Israel created and funded Hamas in the 80s?
This is not a religious crises, its a humanitarian one. Regardless of ones religious beliefs, we are all human and deserve to be treated with dignity and equal respect. If one side does horrific things, doesn't mean you have the right to do the same (or worse).
“It was the best of religions; it was the worst of religions. It brought life, love, and compassion to a dark and cruel world. It also brought torture, repression, ignorance, slavery, and death to an innocent world. It burned with Light and Truth. It also burned the Bible and those who believed it.
Those who adhered to it built universities, hospitals, and orphanages. They also justified poverty, exploitation, war, and conquest. They brought food to the hungry, medicine to the sick, work to the destitute, and hope to the hopeless. They filled the earth with contempt for man, contempt for God's creation, and contempt for God.
What is this thing called ’Christianity’? The Bible does not tell us. The Bible talks about something else.“ The Separation of Church and Faith: Copernicus and the Jews, page 186
He has a very selective memory of the history of Islam and Muslims. Islam started and grew through violence. Mohamed was not a peaceful or righteous man. There were some times of peace between Muslims and others, yes, when muslim people did not follow Mohamed’s example, but there were also times of extreme violence.
Isn’t if funny how the God we serve, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob told us to love one another, regardless of who we are what colour skin we have and what God we make our choose to worship. He was gracious and kind that He sent His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ to die for us and have victory over death and sin so that when we die we can have eternal life with Him. What a sacrifice, all because of His great mercy and love. Jesus warned us deception would be rife in the last days, there is a roaring Lion on the rampage, knowing his time is running out, Satan the Father of lies and murder from the beginning, the great deceiver. Jesus also told us that they hated Him first and they will hate us too, but told us to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. The world can take on Jesus but they will come out sore losers in the end. What else I find unusual is the good news that Jesus and His disciples proclaimed was good news indeed, but people are so blind to it, just like they were blind to the thing introduced in 2021 to kill, rob and destroy people and their lives and health. Karen don’t despair, your Dad was spot on. We will be out of here soon and all the others will be left behind to deal with the evil. We just need to pray for them all. Sorry such a long message
People ask "What happened to you, Karen" as if I've turned into an alien or something. Nothing happened to me. This is who I am. I won't be responding to all the comments since I've already written quite a bit on this subject already, with facts. If you've read my writing and disagree, which I don't mind, you have every right and I respect that, I doubt that more writing on my part will do anything except take time away from me writing my next essay which will no doubt be on some other topic anyway. I will continue to write on various subjects as I always have. I will just reiterate, it's unfortunate so many people in the West don't see, or don't want to see because their antisemitism is greater than their reason, that Israel is fighting not just for itself but for all of our freedoms. Listen to moderate Muslims and former Muslims who lived in that world (and remember I lived there, too) and heed their warnings. I put this interview with Luai Ahmed here for anyone who wants to face reality. https://youtu.be/X33fTrJBBhE?si=2rr_u5LUBedfGmbA
Totally agree, Karen! No matter how many words you write, or facts you present, it will not change the minds of those staunchly against Israel. After living over a decade in Libya, I’ve seen it first hand, and I stand firmly on the side of the Israeli people.
Thank you. But even the firsthand experiences like you've had, won't convince people. It's very concerning.
Also, WOW! Living in Libya for over a decade must have been fascinating.
It was. Completely shaped my world view. Traveled all over North Africa, extensively in Europe, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, northern South America as well as Central America. It taught me that so much of how we Americans view the rest of the world is lacking in perspective as well as history. Each place I lived and traveled had an impact and certainly Libya was highly impactful. It was both wonderful and horrible at times but I wouldn’t trade those years for anything!
Your own experiences in Egypt is one of the reasons so much of what you write speaks to me. We have a commonality of experience that not many have. (And, damn, you can sure write!)
I so relate to what you are saying. I have done the same. Traveling, living in other countries, from Bolivia to Turkey, to communist Yugoslavia in the 1980s; it really makes you realize how naive and insulated Americans are. My feelings about Luxor are similar to yours about Libya. Before Oct 7th, I would have considered going back to visit. But now, it would be very dangerous for me to return--I mean, it would have been dangerous before, but I could have handled it, now it would be foolish for me to return. Like you, it was both wonderful and horrible. Wouldn't change it for anything. I wrote about it on a much deeper level in an essay I really like called Neom's the Line: City of the Dead, comparing Luxor to Saudi Arabia's futuristic city. https://khmezek.substack.com/p/neoms-the-line. I hope to go to India this year!
I have read the Koran and see the same thing you see. Yet you ignore the old testament that has the same problems (Stoning adultresses for example) yet Christians have moved beyond this violence. There are some who use the Koran to commit crime but not all. There is a real threat to humanity under forced conversion. Not good. But this is not permission for slaughter. I am in no way antisemitic nor against the continuation of Israel so it is extremely annoying to be pigion-holed as being anti-Israel. That is false. I am against what Israel is doing. It violates everything decent in the world. I watched the videos of the killers slaughtering innocent Israelis and it is sickening and an outrage. The citizens in Gaza were not there, were they. Has anyone asked them if they wanted this to be done? Did they get a chance to participate in the decision? You know damn well they didn't. Yet they are being slaughtered. You follow Christ, right? Go right ahead and put Jesus into a tank facing Gaza. Does He shoot? Does He see them as people (imago Dei)? As Himself (Love thy neighbor)? Does He weep for them ("Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me") ? I looked at the images from Israel and wept. Now YOU look at the videos and the images of the dead in Gaza. Will you weep for 10,000 children? 10,000!!! Death knows no nationality. This carnage is not self defense and you know it. If it were a campaign to arrest and prosecute or one to destroy Hamas as a fighting force the world would understand. Final thought: Israel will probably perish for this. It is now a pariah in the world. This is sad. For those of us who held hope for Israel to live and prosper, this is tragic.
This is what the Lord GOD says: “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations, then they will live on their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. They will live on it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards, and live securely when I execute judgments upon all around them who despise them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”
Ezekiel 28:25-26
"If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, even with the wife of his neighbour, both the adulterer and adulteress must be put to death...." Leviticus (20:10-12)
"And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place they ejected you; for civil discord is worse than carnage: yet attack them not at the sacred Mosque unless they attack you therin; but if they attack you, slay them. Such is the reward of infidels." pg.358 J. M. Rodwell translation of the Koran.
"If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife [c]of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not [d]consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you." Deuteronomy 13 Verses 6-11
This is the language of the 'holy books' filled with revenge and righteousness as excuses for murder and brutality. There is no one who is safe in this world. We are surely doomed.
God has the authority to say what is right and what is wrong and what the punishments for breaking His law are. Adultery is wrong. Murder is wrong. Stealing is wrong. Because God says so.
But God also provided a way for atonement for Israel through the sacrificial system where He showed mercy to the humans through their offering of animal sacrifices that took their place. The sacrificial system was only a temporary reprieve since the blood of bulls and goats and sheep could not permanently take away sin.
But the death of Messiah COULD and DID take the punishment for sin that all of us deserve, if we believe that Yeshua is the Messiah promised in Tanach and accept His sacrifice in our place, which satisfied God’s justice.
Thank you for your passionate outpourings, Karen. I also admire Ayaan Hirsi Ali - her courage and absolute clarity about the tension between the Western and non-western values is quite amazing considering her upbringing and her life trajectory. She is very inspiring.
As for some of your followers who refer to Finkelstein, who willfully misinterpret the meaning of history or even the very term of the Holocaust, and those who creatively link Israel to South Africa’s apartheid, I can only say that if they refuse to understand the concept of a Jewish homeland (Zionism) or don't believe that Jews deserve their own nation where they are the majority (Israel), which is no different than what the Christians, Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists have by the many dozens, then they are antisemites, plain and simple. Nobody seems to have a problem with 49 Muslim dominated nations, where Islamic law reigns, minority religions are persecuted and Jews are not welcome. But the only country owned by Jews, well that can't be allowed.
Yes, Ayaan is a light on a dark world. As for my followers, I am losing a lot which is okay. I am not sure how much I will respond to the comments, I've written enough on the topic, not sure what more I can do. I would rather people say what they think than to keep quiet. I want it all as a testimony for the future. I was well aware of some of the responses I would get. it will always be here, long after I am not! God bless you and thank you for your encouragement.
That is a very healthy approach - to let people express themselves and let it all out. Often not a very pleasant experience but a sobering one for sure.
Exactly.
Responding to cranks only invites more conspiratorial nitwits to comment. Ignore - and keep writing
Completely correct. I would perhaps add a touch of accuracy: not only do Jews *deserve* their own nation - they have always been a nation. Not a "race", not just a "religion". In the Bible they are referred to as "Am Israel" - עם ישראל "
We are most certainly entitled to our own state. To doubt that entitlement is anti-Semitic.
And to the cranks out there: don't quote violently anti Israel rabbis, members of the Neturei Karta sect, buddies with the ayatollahs, who despise Israel. 99% of Jews are Zionists. "The nation of Israel shall live" עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱
Yup, the Neturei Karta to Israel is like sayin' the KKK "represent" the "best" of America... their words of hate alienate most white folks just as NKs alienate most Jews (left & right). This whackdoodle fringe group sez that the only "real" Jews stand with Hamas! (Yay for self immolation?!) This group literally marches with Hamas an' holds up their flags an' did same with the PLO! As ya know, they wanna see Israel destroyed an' NEARLY all Jews know they are fringe nutbars BUT those (a majority in the USA an' beyond) who hate Israel an' ain't so keen on all Jews who want Israel to exist (even if we ain't so puhleased with NetAn'Yahoo))--"insist" that this group is "major" an' representative an' they state they ain't Anti-Semitic b/c there are "good Jews" in the world all represented by (fringe lunatics) Neturei Karta. Heck, EVEN the Satmar (as ya know) reject the "cray cray" NK folks--they feel that when Israel wuz founded it was not the right time--Satmar DO feel the Jews'll return ta Israel of course, but they publicly reject the NK loonies...
Folks who claim ta know "all about us Chews" don't know squat....it's kinda sad. Every prayer I larned growin' up started with (or ended with) Hear Oh Israel! -- the connection runs deeper than the cuttin' remarks folks make thinkin' they know "who" Jews really are--from yer wish (re the nation survivin') ta God's ears!
Iran has a very small Jewish minority which is guaranteed a member of Parliament. Israel prevents its occupied people (Gaza and the West Bank) from having any representation.
Israel withdrew from Gaza almost 20 years ago. Hamas was elected and the people have suffered.
There are Arabs in the Israeli parliament. It’s better not to talk about things you don’t know about.
Gaza is controlled by Hamas- elected by the people of Gaza. The blockade to which I assume you are referring was only imposed after Hamas started firing rockets and is for the purpose of hampering the flow of weapons. As for residents of Gaza or the territories (ruled by the PA) serving in the Knesset- please name all the countries that have non-citizens serving in their government.
Israel withdrew their settlements from Gaza but never stopped exercising control over the population. Palestinians cannot even leave without permission from Israel nor can they fly from Tel Aviv.
There may be a few Arabs in the Israeli parliament yet there is not one from Gaza or the West Bank. Even Iran has a Jewish member of Parliament
I have traveled throughout Israel and Palestine and I have seen the living hell Palestinians face on a daily basis.
The people have suffered not because of Hamas but rather because Israel refuses to give them the same rights Israelis have.
You may find this interesting: https://hope4israel.org/myth-fact-tashpad/
Arab citizens have equal rights to vote and run for office. Gaza is ruled by Hamas (elected by the people of Gaza. )Non-Israeli citizens in the territories are governed by the PA. Their President Mahmoud Abbas was elected in 2008 for a 4-year term.
It is absurd to think that the Palestinians have any control over their own destiny. Israeli military can and does enter West Bank cities whenever they please. They have settlements throughout the West Bank which are illegal under intl law. Why do they not have Israeli citizenship after nearly 50 years of occupation? Have you been to any of these areas? I have been to Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, Nablas, etc and they are nothing but open air prisons. Its residents cannot even leave without Israeli permission.
If Palestinians have lost control over their own destiny they have no one but themselves to blame. They were offered their own state at least 5 times and refused it, always responding with terror and violence. If Israel is forced to send in soldiers to stop attacks or make arrests, that is the direct result of Palestinian violence. Just today a woman was murdered in Central Israel and scores others injured in a stabbing-car ramming attack. The terrorists were from Hebron. The only people whose freedom of movement is restricted are Jews who are prohibited from entering Arab cities so that they are not lynched.
So based on your logic if a Mexican commits a crime in the United States, then the US has the right to go into Mexico and make arrests. Given that this is does not happen, then you should understand how the areas under Palestinian control are not free in any way.
Jews can enter any of the Palestinian areas except that under Israeli law they are prohibited. I am white and I rented a car in East Jerusalem with yellow Israeli license plates and drove throughout areas where Jews were prohibited from entering. I never had a problem.
The Palestinians freedom of movement is extremely restricted. They are not permitted to even visit Israel proper without special permissions. And they cannot leave the West Bank to Jordan without Israeli permission. The situation is absurd but really only understood when you visit the region.
If terrorists from Mexico constantly staged murderous attacks in the US with the encouragement of the Mexican government, do you honestly think the US would refrain from going after them? I'm glad nothing happened to you when you drove through restricted areas. Plenty of others were not so lucky. As for not being able to enter Israel it is not unusual for any country to control who comes in.
Karen, what on earth has happened to you? Your writing keeps getting better and better. 😁👍
😂🙏
Indeed. Karen is only concerned with the truth and has the courage to face her detractors.
Thank you Karen ...again I heard your dad speak many times to Calvary Chapel Philadelphia and yes I'm praying for Israel. This country is on a major downward spiral and everything is in fact happening according to, as you said, prophecy written thousands of years ago... That will come to pass 100% accurately as all scripture always does. God bless you and maranatha!!
God bless!
So powerful and clear and specific and good examples to drive in the point. Praying for her.
Praying for our world!
You can't reach those people who vehemently hate the Jews and Israel by extension. Their ears are plugged, eyes blinded, mind veiled with hatred.
Brilliant!
Thank you.
Thank you for your work. I support Israel. As an American Conservative Christian, this is how I was raised. We pray for the world as often as I think of them which is everyday.
Thank you. I wanted to write something in defense of conservative Christians, to hopefully give people a bigger picture of what's going on, because the propaganda campaign against conservative Christians is so intense.
Can you imagine if Mexican drug cartels decided to make a violent attack on Texas or Arizona, say, and kill thousands ? Can you imagine the people here volunteering to go down and kill the cartels? I can picture Joey and his cia pals having a problem with it, but I don’t think those state governments would. And what would we do to them? We’d kill them back. It may come down to it one day if the progs steal another election, but for the world to condemn Israel for killing hamas, I gues if I were Israel I’d tell the world to fuck off.
Straight forward and to the point.
DUDE! Where are you? I'm over here defending your free speech rights.
Help me out here!
I do not understand why people use foul sexual threats and language to express their feelings of anger. It degrades them and insults all who accidentally happen to read it. It is inconsiderate, shameful, and detestable.
That's too bad you have this problem with how some ppl express themselves.
That's YOUR problem not theirs.
No one has to write according to your style sheet.
Get over it.
That is your opinion. I am not alone in believing that being decent, considerate, and polite should be the norm. Crude, foul, dirty language is a sign of the depravity of this culture. I used to keep quiet and just avoid people who refused to use common courtesy. Some time ago, I decided that if they aren’t ashamed to use such language, I shouldn’t feel inhibited about saying what I think about it and I should at least give them a chance to mend/change their ways, so now I do. Quite a few people thank me for doing so. There are lots more people who find bad language appalling than those who will say something, because they are like I used to be. So I speak for a larger group than you realize. :)
Yes, I realize you are not alone in your desire to control speech.
I see this "be decent, considerate, and polite" and eschew "crude, foul, dirty language" as an attack on free speech. It's not about who's being impolite!
I love that part about giving them a chance to mend/change their ways. Such hubris.
I won't call it racist but I see an intellectual elitism in this position. Ppl are ANGRY and they should be allowed to express their opinions in whatever way they are capable. They don't need to be shamed by ppl who want "polite" 24/7, even in writing on free speech, "altern media" substak.
Where's the line between "impolite, crude" and "hate speech"? WHO DECIDES??? This is a very slippery slope!
Back to the comment in question and your response:
you wrote-
"foul sexual threats and language" I don't see any foul sexual threats in there. There's one "fuck" The comment was certainly graphic in its comparison of the border situations between Israel and US. I support the commenter's rights, on the alt media here substack, to express her/is anger in whatever way possible.
Maybe there was something more going on for you? Something about Israel killing hamas or US citizens killing Mex cartels via state's rights and militias bc the Dems have continued on the path of supporting the invasion with their open border absurdity? Just saying.
Christians and Jews are not on the same side. (Talmudic) Jews are instructed to destroy anything Christian. Please research the Talmud to find out what lies in there, you will be shocked. The tunnels under New York Synagogue are related to this. They see you (goy) as an underclass, and will destroy you if they feel it necessary, and the Talmud will absolve them from this.
The Zionists need a world war to allow their Messiah to come, and they will even kill Israelis to get this. Have you not seen the reports of how hostages were killed by IDF?
By the way have you research how Israel created and funded Hamas in the 80s?
This is not a religious crises, its a humanitarian one. Regardless of ones religious beliefs, we are all human and deserve to be treated with dignity and equal respect. If one side does horrific things, doesn't mean you have the right to do the same (or worse).
“It was the best of religions; it was the worst of religions. It brought life, love, and compassion to a dark and cruel world. It also brought torture, repression, ignorance, slavery, and death to an innocent world. It burned with Light and Truth. It also burned the Bible and those who believed it.
Those who adhered to it built universities, hospitals, and orphanages. They also justified poverty, exploitation, war, and conquest. They brought food to the hungry, medicine to the sick, work to the destitute, and hope to the hopeless. They filled the earth with contempt for man, contempt for God's creation, and contempt for God.
What is this thing called ’Christianity’? The Bible does not tell us. The Bible talks about something else.“ The Separation of Church and Faith: Copernicus and the Jews, page 186
https://theparalleluniverse.substack.com/p/a-jewish-leader-speaks-out-hear-him
He has a very selective memory of the history of Islam and Muslims. Islam started and grew through violence. Mohamed was not a peaceful or righteous man. There were some times of peace between Muslims and others, yes, when muslim people did not follow Mohamed’s example, but there were also times of extreme violence.
Thank you for this well thought out article, Karen!!
🙏
Hang together or get hung separately.
My heart is so heavy, Karen. My prayer is for this to happen and be fulfilled soon.
Amen.
Isn’t if funny how the God we serve, the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob told us to love one another, regardless of who we are what colour skin we have and what God we make our choose to worship. He was gracious and kind that He sent His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ to die for us and have victory over death and sin so that when we die we can have eternal life with Him. What a sacrifice, all because of His great mercy and love. Jesus warned us deception would be rife in the last days, there is a roaring Lion on the rampage, knowing his time is running out, Satan the Father of lies and murder from the beginning, the great deceiver. Jesus also told us that they hated Him first and they will hate us too, but told us to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. The world can take on Jesus but they will come out sore losers in the end. What else I find unusual is the good news that Jesus and His disciples proclaimed was good news indeed, but people are so blind to it, just like they were blind to the thing introduced in 2021 to kill, rob and destroy people and their lives and health. Karen don’t despair, your Dad was spot on. We will be out of here soon and all the others will be left behind to deal with the evil. We just need to pray for them all. Sorry such a long message
No, not too long. Just lovely. Thank you for the encouragement. God bless 🙏
““God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”
Matthew 5:11 NLT