By Tom Brennan
Today’s news is full of the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas and the renewed threats from the south in Gaza. Hopefully, the disclosure by the Palestinian Authority that Hamas took over $ 700 million in funds for its own nefarious purposes will put appropriate pressure on the population to evict them from their government and from their midst. The Caliphate continues to grow, despite occasional air strikes and still empty words from Western nations and a mysterious coalition of Arab nations.
What is most disturbing is the threat from the north of Israel, from an older adversary with the same evil goals, Hezbollah. Hezbollah was birthed during one of Lebanon’s internal conflicts. Its core goals are the same: the destruction of Israel and its inclusion in a larger Muslim state with Lebanon. Lebanon and Hezbollah have become almost synonymous with conflict as the Christian/Muslim balance in that divided country shifts. Hezbollah has well built bases in the area south of the nation and its huge stockpile of rockets are capable of hitting anywhere in Israel. This is a genuine cause for concern.
Hezbollah’s origins are actually from the internal conflict among Muslim groups during the 1980’s when civil war raged in Lebanon. In 1982 murders and kidnappings were rampant and often were preceded by a question of whose political party did the victim belong, the answer “Hezbollah”, the party of G-d was one answer. By 1982 the group has formalized and began its long war with Israel. Hezbollah has been consistently supported by Iran and 1982 and 1983 saw foreign intervention by US and French troops The Marine Corps barracks in Beirut was bombed and over 200 marines were killed. Hezbollah undertook an overseas terror campaign and attacked embassies and other public governmental symbols. The United States resorted to bombardment by battleships of Beirut in a moment of frustration and destruction that still captures the memory of many.
Hezbollah’s adherents follow the Shiite conviction and this allegedly puts them at odd with the rise of The Caliphate, it remains to be seen if the apocalyptic enthusiasm of this group will bridge any gaps into a more unified effort to spread the fire and sword movement. The entry of Iran with its nuclear capacity is an unknown and is worth consideration. Hezbollah’s finances are less than religious. Drug commerce and other criminal behavior plus the activity of social media give an expanded reach to the group. They are generally regarded as a terrorist body by most nations.
We need to support Israel as the renewed threats from Hezbollah are added to the ongoing warfare in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. The common denominator is that all these Muslim groups have one goal: eradicate Israel and form that territory into a large Muslim state. Added to this is the warfare and persecution of Christians in the occupied lands and cities where The Caliphate has expanded. Now as these enemies begin to join forces the necessity of making sure Israel receives support from Christians worldwide. Israel is an island of freedom and hope in a stormy sea of violence and oppression. We are all in this together.
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