WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING IN ISRAEL?

September 10, 2024

I’ve spent the last five days in Israel, visiting the sites of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks on Israel where approximately 1200 individuals were brutally murdered. And the war continues. And there are still 101 hostages in Gaza. Just ten days ago, six of the hostages were savagely murdered as IDF forces were close to rescuing them. And that pushed the Israeli population to launch the largest mass protest yet (somewhere between 500,000-750,000 people) in Tel Aviv this past Saturday night. People are fed up and are demanding that Prime Minister Netanyahu bring the hostages home. And bring them home alive. Sadly, we know that this won’t be possible. I was told that at least 30% of those hostages are already dead. Maybe more.

While in Israel, I’ve met with politicians, researchers and survivors of the massacre. Over the next few days, I will be releasing several short articles and videos about my visit. I will review what happened, what is continuing to happen, how Israeli leaders view the future and my conversations with people.

If you’re a Christian, you will care about what happens to the nation of Israel, from whom came our Redeemer, Jesus. You should also care about a people with whom God has made covenants and with whom God has unfinished business. 

If you are a secular person without a Judeo-Christian faith, you should still care about what happens to the only democracy in the Middle East, especially as she sits in a sea of enemies that not only count Israel as an enemy, but through the ideology of Islam, also hates Western liberal democracy. And hates it harder than you’d like to believe. 

As I write these words, I am sitting in the airport in Tel Aviv waiting for my flight to Athens where I will meet one of my American groups for a Global Next Conference. Prior to this post, I have not posted any information on social media regarding my visit. As many of you know, over the last 20 years, I have worked in the neighborhoods of North Africa and the Middle East. During that time, I have made many friends. And a few enemies as well. During this pocket of time, I thought it wiser to share what I’ve learned, what I saw, what I heard, and what I think from outside the borders of this Holy Land. It will not always be so – I am confident that before very long, I will be taking groups back to this special place to show them the history of this region, the fascinating current events, and of course,  what will happen there in the future when Jesus makes his glorious return. 

When you read this, I will have just landed in Athens, Greece. For now, I leave you with this introduction and a few photos. 

Phil Johnson

Global Next Research Group

Kibbutz Kfar Aza, less than 2 miles from the Gaza border. At least 52 were killed when attacked by 70 Hamas terrorists.

Kibbutz Be’eri, 3 miles from the Gaza border. 101 civilians and 31 security personnel were killed here by Hamas militants. More than 10% of the Kibbutz’s population was murdered.