Last week, the Israeli security agency Shin Bet accused a World Vision staffer of funneling millions to Hamas. Mohammad El Halabi, who ran World Vision’s Gaza branch, was arrested back in June. I used to work at World Vision. For the past eight years, my wife and I have sponsored a child in Gaza. Which means … Continue reading 5 Things You Need to Know About the Accusations Against World Vision’s Gaza Director
“God gave Israel the land. Unconditional. Everlasting. Period.” For some evangelicals, that’s the definitive answer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. End of discussion. This sentiment was echoed in some of the comments to my recent post on why we shouldn’t equate modern-day Israel with the ancient biblical kingdom. It’s what came to mind as I listened to the appointed readings … Continue reading The problem with using the Bible to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
His name is Bahaaldin. He’s 13, and he lives in Gaza. My wife and I have been sponsoring Bahaaldin for almost 6 years now. Or, as time seems to be measured in Gaza, through three wars and counting. Recently, the bombs began to fall on Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. Where Bahaaldin lives. A ceasefire that was supposed to last … Continue reading When I think about my sponsored child in Gaza…
The other day, I raised a question for evangelicals who think standing with Israel means supporting them no matter what. How do you reconcile a “never criticize Israel” mentality with the overwhelming witness of the biblical prophets? If you’ve been told that unconditional support for Israel is the only “biblical” position, that the modern-day state enjoys … Continue reading Why evangelicals should think twice about equating modern Israel with Israel of the Bible
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that from a biblical perspective the modern state of Israel and the Old Testament nation are one and the same. Let’s say the old covenant is still in force, that the founding of modern-day Israel in 1948 fulfilled biblical prophecy. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Paul’s assertion that “all Israel will … Continue reading If you think “standing with Israel” means never criticizing them, you’re going to have to get a new Bible
Earlier this week, the Israeli government bulldozed 1,500 fruit trees on a family farm near Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. The Tent of Nations farm has been owned by the Nassar family for nearly a century. But the military declared the trees were on “state land” and had to be uprooted. The Nassars appealed to … Continue reading If this had happened here, we would call it persecution…
By the time this gets posted, President Obama will have wrapped up his brief visit to the Palestinian West Bank on day two of his Middle Eastern tour. On which occasion, I’d like to ask: Where else in the world would we not just accept but actively promote the idea of two separate states formed along … Continue reading How President Obama’s trip to Israel makes me wonder . . .
This is part 2 of a series on rethinking the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a Christian, inspired by the most recent assault on Gaza. Part 1 can be read here. When I was a kid, I had a t-shirt with a picture of Snoopy carrying an Israeli flag, trailed by Woodstock marching with an American flag. … Continue reading A Palestinian Christian’s view of the occupation
Ben Irwin 