A recently posted video from the Rachel Maddow show featured some comments made by Rachel pertaining to a recent speech made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I documented some thoughts on my Facebook page and a friend of mine responded with some opinions of his own.

His response challenged me on several levels and I determined to respond with what I believed to be a sound rebuttal.

These kind of exchanges are exasperating on one hand, in that you wind up spending a lot of time researching and documenting things. But it’s a healthy exercise as well in that it compels you to articulate not just what you believe, but why you believe it.

So, this first part is my initial post. After than you can read the exchange between myself and my friend…

Buckle up!

I remember talking with a young lady who was Israeli and currently living in Nashville. I asked her if she had served in the Israeli army and she looked at me for a moment as though I was kidding. She replied “Of course.”

The climate in Israel has always been one of “alert.” Rachel Maddow has probably never slept in a war zone, much less served in the military. I’m not saying you have to be a combat veteran in order to be critical, but when your commentary borders on condescending and sarcastic, your resume and your background better include something that gives some serious credence to your rhetoric. Otherwise, any attempt to add to the conversation is squandered due to an unconscionable lack of perspective and respect.

Here’s the response to my post and my rebuttal…

Rob: Well written BG…so very interesting learning other people’s perspective on things…your comments touch on a few different Israeli issues…for one I don’t think the veteran you met would ever presume, because she served, that she would be an authority on anything except an M-16…a soldier does not a diplomat make…

Bruce: Perhaps not, but given his having studied Political Science at Harvard University, his four years as the Israeli Ambassador to the UN and his general experience in Israeli politics, I think he’s more than qualified. But you’re missing the point…

Rob: Israel is on “alert” because they invaded and conquered a territory in dispute and with the unconditional support of the US have been fighting ever since (and that’s why some Arabs hate us).

Bruce: The “territory in dispute” is an interesting perspective. The history of the Jewish people being persecuted and relocated goes back to the Assyrian Empire in 722 BC. Things reached a zenith in 634 AD when the Muslims conquered Jerusalem and built their “Dome of the Rock” on the site where the Temple that Solomon built once stood. For centuries, Jews have watched their homeland be conquered and redistributed, all the while having to endure the persecution that seemed to follow them wherever they attempted to flee.

At the conclusion of WWI, England, who was now in charge of what used to be the Ottoman Empire, provided a legislative accommodation for the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine. While some might see that as forcing a compromise on the Palestinians, it really isn’t when you consider that the Jews were being given back something that had been taken from them centuries ago, number one. And number two, the Palestinians at that point were in no position to balk having taken up arms against England and been defeated.

In 1939, Arabs, agitated by the insurgency of Jewish immigrants and British rule revolted. In November of 1947, in the aftermath of a UN resolution giving Israel a status of statehood, irritated Arabs once again attacked – a conflict that would evolve into the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. At every turn, in every century, Israel has been attacked and persecuted. He’s not a Hawk, Rob, he simply recognizes that you don’t reason with terrorists. At no time have the Palestinians ever honored their agreement with Israel. Since England’s decision to set aside territory for displaced Hebrews in the aftermath of WWI, Arabs have always responded violently. Even going back to the Six Day War in 1967 where Israel was accused of initiating hostilities. They attacked preemptively in response to Egypt setting up weapons on their border – a move that signaled an Egyptian attack was forthcoming (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/six_day_war_1967.htm). Their resulting victory gave them control over the West Bank, which has been in “dispute” since then. But the “dispute” is coming from a people group that has no respect for the law and a religiously based resolve to destroy Israel. They have no point, they have no right to do what they’ve done for centuries. Even with the Gaza Strip, you have the same kind of situation where an Islamic entity refuses to acknowledge Israel. Never mind Israel’s legal right to the land, never mind the fact that the Hamas’ tunnels into Israel were one of the reasons Israel took military action (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/world/middleeast/israel-gaza.html?_r=0) – the bottom line is you have a persecuted nation, surrounded by terrorists who have no regard for any law or resolution save those they author themselves.

But you’re missing the point…

Rob: I liken it to a Seneca Indian knocking on my door tonight and forcing me to leave my home because a few hundred years ago my government made a treaty with them for that land…could they expect some “kick-back” on that?

Bruce: Your “Seneca Indian” illustration falls short on multiple levels. It wasn’t a few hundred years ago, it was 1917. The Jews didn’t initiate or force the Balfour Declaration, it was administered by Britain. And Israel doesn’t want “kick-back” as much as they want to continue breathing.

Rob: You talk of respect…I voted McCain, but since have endeavored to consume as much information on issues as possible for a layperson…I listen to the individuals themselves and not the commentary that often follows and I will vote and comment accordingly. From the moment Rep Joe Wilson call the President of the United States a “liar” from the floor of Congress, the republicans have changed “RESPECT”.

Bruce:I don’t agree with Representative Wilson’s outburst on the floor of Congress. You respect the office, even if you don’t respect the man. But however President Obama wants to insist that his reforms will not accommodate illegal immigrants being given healthcare, it is happening nevertheless due to a very loose verification process (http://www.newsmax.com/US/Obamacare-healthcare-Affordable-Care-Act-illegal-immigrants/2014/09/23/id/596383/). And while those who are securing coverage are doing so illicitly, the administration is moving at a very casual pace to correct let alone admit a problem, given the fact that taxpayer dollars are at stake. Wilson may have been out of line, but he does have a point when illegals are securing coverage.

On another note, Obamacare was supposedly never going to cover abortions. Isn’t it strange that some Democrats are fussing over a recent piece of legislation that passed last month that prohibits federal funding of abortions (https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/7). Written in 2014, it passed last month after a memo from the White House threatened to veto it (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/22/republicans-tax-abortion_n_6523714.html?1421942308). You reference “new lows” in journalism. I think it’s kind of intriguing that the article that talks about the recent bill being approved by the Senate is entitled “Republicans Include Tax Hike in Latest Abortion Bill.” No mention of how abortion wasn’t supposed to be covered to begin with…

Still, you’re missing the point…

Rob: The racism that has surfaced in this country is frightening. FOX NEWS and other conservative media have set new lows in journalism. Fanatic militia men are coming out of the “woodwork”. You, as a man of peace, should realize that Bibi is a HAWK, Rachel points out that no matter the situation, Mr. Netanyahu solution is WAR.

Bruce: Peace has a chance only if the parties involved desire it. The PLO, Al-Qaeda, ISIS – their idea of peace is predicated on the destruction of Israel and all those who align themselves with her. Read the Fatwa published in 1998 (http://www.heritage.org/research/projects/enemy-detention/al-qaeda-declarations), consider the actions of ISIS and Hamas. These people aren’t interested in negotiations and while you and I can discuss it on Facebook, Israel has to contend with the close proximity of their tunnels, their weapons, their suicide bombers, the beheadings, the burnings and everything else that is condoned and encouraged by their creed.

Rob: Mr. Obama also agrees that Iran should not have nukes, but Bibi goes on to explain Iran should not get nukes, umm ok thanks we got that far too…I do understand Israel’s strategic position, but I also believe if the multiple nations involved in this crisis detect even the smallest of nuclear weapons, it will be destroyed at all costs. With that said OUR PRESIDENT wants to “give peace a chance”, he’s not an idiot and he’s not alone in the process. As for respect, you and I were both taught in the military: “you salute and respect the uniform, if not the man (person)”. With the outrageous, ignorant onslaught this President has endured, without a word from “respectable” conservatives, it is highly hypocritical to accuse democrats of the same…start in your own back yard letting your representatives know you don’t approve of the type of politics that have been going on in this country for quite some time……Furthermore, tell me how this is different, hypothetically, from the PM of France speaking in front of Congress weeks before the Iraq invasion against such an action. How would have you reacted to that? Mr Obama was duly elected by a majority of the populous as our commander in chief…This was so OBVIOUSLY, TRANSPARENTLY an attempt by Netanyahu to undermine a peace process that will cost many people their lives and a political atrocity by the Republican that will come back and bite them in the ass.

Bruce: The French President does not equate to Netanyahu even remotely and that segues into my final statement – you’re missing the point.

Rob: Thankfully OUR president is enlightened enough to put this in perspective considering the Earth shattering ramifications of this issue…guess that’s why he got the Noble Peace Prize…is that something you should respect? I wonder what Jesus would do?

Bruce: As a quick aside, four presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Theordore Roosevelt for having brokered the peace agreement between Japan and Russia. Woodrow Wilson for his role in establishing the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter for his promotion of peace illustrated in the way he facilitated the agreement between Egpyt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Begin. Barak Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Yet, with less than a year in office, he had no notable foreign policy achievements under his belt, nor any other significant accomplishment to warrant the award.

You’re missing the point, Rob. Netanyahu isn’t “politics.” When he talks of terrorism and the threat of nuclear destruction, he does so representing a people who have lived with war and persecution for centuries. He speaks from experience having not just studied war, but fought on the front lines. Israel’s platform is just while the Islamic mindset responsible for a sensible disposition towards nuclear weapons etc. is founded on terror. He is not “pontificating,” he is articulating a platform that is rooted in experience and any law making body interested in making informed decisions does well to listen to someone like Netanyahu in that he’s more than an observer / critic, he’s a participant and a victim. He’s a legitimate voice and anyone who dismisses him as a political mouthpiece has forgotten that it’s not a party based agenda that’s being discussed, it’s a personal testimony.

BTW: Kudos to your Democratic party members who skipped Netanyahu’s speech by accepting an invitation from the White House to a trade meeting that made it virtually impossible to attend Bibi’s speech (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/03/world/middleeast/white-house-and-netanyahu-aipac-conference.html).

Oh, and as far as what Jesus would do? Know the times (1 Chron 12:32), Seek Counsel (Prov 20:18; Jas 1:5) and be prepared (Lk 22:36).

You’re killing me, Rob! I get drawn into these things and now I’m late! Rock on, brother…