This conflict will go

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth” (Proverbs 24:17).

At the end of January, the news media reported that an Arab Palestinian terrorist had shot and killed seven Jews leaving their synagogue. The tragedy was one of the worst in recent years, dating back to 2008. It was evening when the terrorist waited in his car until Jews would exit their synagogue after prayer. None of the known Palestinian militant groups claimed responsibility. But as expected, the Palestinian Authority blamed Israel for their “dangerous escalations,” pointing to the raid by Israeli Defense Forces in the city of Jenin, which resulted in 10 people killed.

The distinct difference must be mentioned: the Israeli Defense Forces were in search of known, documented terrorists planning attacks in Israel. Yet Arab-Palestinian terrorists, whether from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, or Gaza, have one thing in mind: kill Jews.

Doubtless, virtually all of the perpetrators are the exception and not the rule. Arabs who reside in Israel enjoy a significantly higher standard of living than in neighboring Arab countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

A recent story by Israel Today highlights an Arab paramedic who rushed to save the lives of Jews.

The story of Fadi Dekidek, an Arab paramedic from a Palestinian neighborhood in conflict-ridden eastern Jerusalem who rushed to save lives in the two recent terror attacks in Jerusalem, proves that tragedies can bring us up to a better place.

“I’m a professional who is entrusted with saving lives,” he told Ynet. “I ignore all the background noise. Saving people is all that matters.”

While Dekidek was working to save Jewish lives, he heard shouts condemning Arabs and calling for “Death to Arabs.”

“I can hear it,” Dekidek says of all the “noise,” “but I ignore it and do my job. I’m a professional who is entrusted with taking care of the wounded. The only thing that matters is saving lives.”

-www.israeltoday.co.il, 31 January 2023

Another source, the Times of Israel, headlines their article, “Settler to be charged with hate crime for torching Palestinian car.” 

While … soldiers were trying to locate the Palestinians, an Israeli man from the settlement of Ma’ale Efraim arrived in the Palestinian town and set fire to a vehicle, the Shin Bet charged.

“This is an act that harms the military force’s ability to carry out its mission and may even endanger it,” the agency said.

The Shin Bet said the 22-year-old was previously known to security forces, and an indictment charging him with a racially motivated hate crime would be filed in the coming days.

Incidents of vandalism against Palestinians and Israeli security forces are commonly referred to as “price tag” attacks, with perpetrators claiming they are retaliation for Palestinian violence or government policies seen as hostile to the settler movement.

In other violence, Palestinians said settlers attacked cars and property in a number of locations across the West Bank, including in Huwara, where they reportedly smashed shop windows. Local Palestinians reportedly hurled stones at the settlers to drive them off.

The vandalism came in the wake of several Palestinian terror attacks that killed seven Israelis and seriously injured five others.

-www.timesofisrael.com, 31 January 2023

Obviously, both sides attempt to practice “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.” But that, as we all know, does not solve the conflict; rather, accelerates it.

In view of these horrible actions, the introductory Scripture serves as fresh, cool water to a thirsty soul: “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.” Proverbs 25:25 adds: “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”

While we realize that this conflict will go on for some time, we know from the Word of God that one day there will be peace—not based on political negotiations, but because the Prince of Peace has arrived. It is the time when the prophetic Word will be fulfilled: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).

Midnight Call - 04/2023