Whose Fault Is It?

We are now in the second week of this conflict between Hamas in Gaza and Israel with no end in sight. Hundreds of rockets from Hamas have been fired into Southern Israel but also toward Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israeli Defense Forces have responded by targeting Hamas leader's homes and rocket launch sites. All of this raises the following question - whose fault is it?

We need to go back a number of weeks looking at an incident when three Jewish teenagers hiking in Judea/Samaria were mudered by Hamas terrorists. Unfortunately, an Israeli Jew responded by killing a Palestinian youth. Hamas used this incident to dramatically increase the number and distance of rockets fired into Israel. As a result, we could say both sides are at fault. However, the conflict was dramatically escalated by Hamas.

I feel it is also important to examine the motives and techniques of warfare used by both sides. The motive of Hamas is and has always been to destroy Israel. Israel's motive in this conflict is simply to defend and protect its citizens.

The warfare techniques of Hamas are to shoot rockets into Israeli cities and towns with the goal of killing as many civilians as possible and to tunnel into Israeli towns to conduct terror raids. In contrast, Israeli Defense Forces prior to bombing a location to destroy Hamas operatives notify the citizens at that location to leave the area before the attack. Hamas responds by telling these same citizens to remain using its own citizens as hostages. An Israeli Air Force pilot noticed the citizens had not left and flew away without completing his bombing mission.

A heartwarming report out of Israel showed Messianic Jewish citizens praying together with Palestinian Christians. Hallelujah! We need to do likewise! Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." In these days and times in which we live, we need to be BOLD in our prayer times of holding up Israel continually before The Lord especially for His hand of protection. Israeli leaders acknowledge their best friends are Christians praying and supporting them.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Each Day,

Frank