NETANYAHU: “WE ARE AT WAR.”

Philip C. Johnson, Ph.D.

October 7, 2023

Early this morning, on the last day of the Simchat Torah, (Sukkot, the Feast of the Tabernacles), one of the most joyous days of the Jewish calendar, Hamas terrorists rampaged through towns in Israel killing at least 250 people and taking many hostages. This has been the worst day of violence in Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago – which incidentally, also surprised Israeli intelligence. 

According to Reuters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We will take mighty vengeance on this black day. Hamas launched a cruel and wicked war. We will win this war but the price is too heavy to bear. Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders mothers and children in their homes, in their beds. An enemy that abducts elderly, children, teenage girls.”

That vengeance from Israel has already begun: At least 232 people in Gaza have been killed. Social unrest and riots are destabilizing Israel’s infrastructure in other parts of country. 

I have worked in Israel for many years – even as recently as this past March. I teach courses to students on the Bible, leadership and geopolitics and have followed the stories of Jewish-Israelis, Arab-Israelis and Palestinians. I have spent time in “Israel Proper” and time in the “West Bank,” not just in touristy Bethlehem, but in Hebron, Ramallah and Nablus.  I know and care about people on all sides of this issue – and we will not find a point of unity regarding Israel, Palestine, this land and who should live on it. Not even amongst Palestinian Christians. 

The grievance of the Palestinians is baked in hard and deep. What else would you expect when the education system is designed to instill a hatred towards Jews and the existence of Israel. When the propaganda is this heavy, it is impossible for a Palestinian to comprehend any other narrative than what he or she has heard throughout their life. The general view of the Palestinian population is that this land was stolen from them by occupiers and they have been oppressed, imprisoned and murdered ever since. In fact, Hamas, the terrorist government of the Gaza Strip, says that today’s violence was payback for “atrocities’ against the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, which the Jews know as the Temple Mount, as well as for an uptick in violence against Palestinians. 

Israel would see it differently – the Jewish religious community is demanding that they have equal access to the Temple Mount for prayer – which is currently forbidden. And when it comes to an uptick in violence – or the death of Palestinians, the Israel government would say that this is the business of clearing out terror cells and keeping Israeli citizens safe. You are not going to persuade either side to see the other’s point of view. 

Here are a few things to consider: 

1.) This is all happening against the backdrop of “peace” agreements with Arab states and Israel. The political forces of Hamas and Fatah have used the issue of the Palestinians for years to drive a wedge between Israel and the rest of the region. They’re feeling desperate as other nations begin to see that peace is possible with Israel without a solution to the Palestinian problem. 

2.) Hamas has a clear agenda- and always has – and that is for Israel to cease to exist. Iran shares that agenda and finances attacks like these. There is no desire for a compromise, for a two-state solution or any reasonable solution. There is one solution, and that is to destroy Israel. 

I have met with one of the founders of Hamas’s military wing. He was abundantly clear to me that the only acceptable outcome was the destruction of Israel – every man, woman and child. And that Hamas would not stop until this was accomplished. 

So what now? Things will get worse for the time being. My Israeli contacts confirm the deaths, the thousands of rockets that have been shot into Israel and the kidnappings of both soldiers and civilians. My Palestinian friends – especially those who are not radicalized – are nervous. The “other shoe” of Israel has started to drop and it will be heavy. And because Hamas excels as putting weapons and rocket launchers near schools and hospitals, there will be many civilian casualties. 

So how should you respond? Well, this is a situation that involves people, politics, land, promises, covenants and a sovereign God, that has a plan for humanity all His own. I think for the moment, the best thing to do is to follow scripture where it says in Psalm 122: 6-9,” Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers! For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, Peace be within you! For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.”