![\"Jerusalem](\"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/dome-orthodox-ouria385.jpg\")
Jerusalem – Photo by Ouria Tadmor<\/p><\/div>We are hearing much about how much peace is a part of the current deluge of news about Islam and the Middle East. Israel is accused on the hour of acts of war, violence even apartheid. Yet where is the proof?<\/p>\n
In the Quran the word for \u201cpeace\u201d is mentioned 76 times. The Bible uses the word \u201cpeace\u201d 429 times. Peace is a gift from God and only from within Him. The Messiah is the \u201cPrince of Peace\u201d. The Quran resonates with words for violence. Ishmael was exiled and became a \u201cWildman\u201d, a problem for his neighbors. But Ishmael is still family and reconciliation is a necessity after he puts away his sword, and not until then.<\/p>\n
In the ancient world it was a general social practice that a conquered nation assumed the gods of its conquerors. Not so in Israel. No missionaries were sent; no wars of religious conquest, people became members of the Assembly by desire and choice and were admitted only after a period of waiting. The first followers of The Way of the Messiah were Jews and Gentiles who saw the truth in the fulfillment of the prophecies and were also attracted by the path, The Way, the followers practiced. \u201cSee how these Christians love another\u201d. The ancient world was a pitiless and merciless environment. Only the Jews seem to have any obligation to protect widows and orphans and the poor. The synagogues cared for the unfortunates and the rabbis considered this an obligation. The first deacons were administrators that saw to the care of those in need.<\/p>\n