As many of you know, on Monday, the U.S. embassy in Israel was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Many U.S. Presidents before President Trump, such as Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, delayed the move of the embassy to Jerusalem due to personal convictions.
In 1995, the Jerusalem Embassy Act was passed through the Republican Revolution 104th Congress. The Act became a law without a presidential signature in late 1995.
When the law was passed in 1995, it came with a presidential waiver, that could be signed by any president as many times as needed to delay the application of the law for 6 months on national security issues. The waiver has been signed for 23 years now until President Trump decided it was time to enact the law.
On December 6, 2017, President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. Although Jerusalem is Israel’s declared capital, it is not internationally recognized, due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This was a huge step forward for Israel, allowing for American allies to follow in our path to declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
On February 23, 2018, President Trump announced that finally, the U.S. embassy would be relocated to Jerusalem on May 14, on the 70th anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Israelis are in major support of President Trump, thankful for his hand in helping them achieve peace and dominance.
On Monday, as promised, the U.S. embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, honoring the Jerusalem Embassy Act passed 23 years prior. The Israeli people rejoiced in favor of the move, creating a large sign thanking President Trump.
However, since the move of the embassy, there have been many outbreaks of terror attempts, with more than 60 people declared dead, and 2,200 injured from bombs, shootings and tear gas. The Palestinians along the Gaza border have started a protest against the embassy movement. Israelis are standing on the fence between Gaza and Jerusalem, defending not only themselves but the American embassy.
These fighting in opposition to the embassy movement are now being identified as Hamas, a Palestinian political organization and a militant group who oppose Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They have been called by many a terrorist group who aren’t afraid to sacrifice women and children before themselves.
So the question remains: Why Do I Pray for Israel?
I pray for Israel because I am a Christian.
I am a Christian, deeply rooted in her faith, who believes that Israel is God’s holy land. Jesus walked through Jerusalem. It is written in Jeremiah 31:
“This is what theLord says: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness;I will come to give restto Israel…I have lovedyou with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.I will build you up again,and you, VirginIsrael, will be rebuilt.”
So I pray for Israel because it is holy land, and it’s God’s chosen land.
I pray for Israel because I am human.
When I woke up on Monday morning, I had received many notifications from Fox News about the deaths from the fighting in Israel. No matter who died, whether it be a Palestinian or an Israeli, a person is a person, a life is a life. I pray for those who have died in the movement of the embassy. I pray for their families and their loved ones. Those who lost someone in the past few days of fighting, I pray for them because I am human, and feel the grief of death.
I pray for Israel because they are protecting American lives.
You may not like Israel. You may not like the movement of the embassy. You may not like President Trump. All that being said, there are Israeli people who are fighting for the protection of Americans. They are risking their lives for this American embassy to be in Jerusalem. I pray for those Israeli's who are desperate to have the American embassy in Jerusalem, so in need that they are risking their lives for American lives.
I pray for Israel because I stand with Israel.
Being that I am a Christian, I believe that Israel is to be defended, and is to be protected. Therefore, I stand with Israel. I support the movement of the embassy and the American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I pray that the Israeli's will be protected from the Palestinian's and they will finally receive peace.
Even if you disagree with the movement of the embassy, even if you aren't a Christian believer, even if you are not in support of Jerusalem being named the capital of Israel, I ask you take a moment today to pray for the people of Israel, simply because you can. They are risking their lives for Americans. That should be motive enough. And if you can't find it in your heart to pray for the lives of the Israeli's, then I ask you to keep in your mind, that there are people in this world giving it all to defend your country.
Always,
HMS