ORU- United For Israel

What is happening right now in Israel ? This will be a dramatic oversimplification, and of course my perspective is that of a former IDF soldier, and active res...ervist, so take it with a grain of salt. But certain things are facts. The Temple Mount is holy to Muslims (their 3d holiest site). It is the holiest place in our religion. In 1948, Jordan seized control of Judea and Samaria and called it the West Bank in the wake of its nearly unanimously unrecognized annexation. Jerusalem is located there. Prior to that point, since the 1920 San Remo conference that had officially spelled out the borders of modern-day Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Jordan, and Iraq, this area had been part of Israel (then known as the Mandate for Palestine). After the annexation, Jordan began referring to the area as the West Bank, due to its presence on the West Bank of the Jordan river. Since 1967, when Israel liberated Jerusalem, all religions have been welcomed there. This Ramadan, the Israeli police noticed there was growing tension between Jews and Arabs at the Temple Mount, so they decided to stop JEWS from praying there. The Arabs didn't like the police there and thought they were there to prevent them from praying, and once a rumor starts it can't be stopped, so riots started... as soon as that started, then there was no backing away from conflict - you cannot turn one of the holiest places in the world into a bunker full of rocks and fireworks. Hammas felt like it had been a while since anyone paid attention to them, so they started by making headlines by giving Israel "ultimatums" to remove police from TM "or else...". Israel doesn't give 2 shits about Hammas ultimatums, nor should they, and went on with trying to control the riots at the Temple Mount. Hammas started firing rockets at Israel - Israel responded - Hammas continued with the rockets, killing and injuring Israelis, forcing Israel, as any country would do, to respond to this violence. Yesterday, Arabs in the capital who were rioting threw rocks at a car, and when the driver crashed, they tried to pull him (a Jewish man) out and lynch him, which was fortunately prevented by the Israeli police. Back to TM. The Jews also weren't happy that police were stopping them from praying at the TM, so they were trying to get in there to practice what they believe is their God given right, and the police were stuck in the middle. Yesterday was Yom Yerushalayim, when we celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem, and our freedom to access our holy sites, for which we yearned for over 2,000 years. And the Israeli police closed our holiest site to JEWS. That is a huge deal. Now. Are police perfect in this country? In any country? Certainly not. Will they display perfect amounts of restraint while being showered with rocks and Molotov cocktails? Is that a fair ask of anyone? I have been on the receiving end of that - it's terrifying, and induces an adrenaline rush like nothing else. So I am sure there have been incidents of unwarranted violence that resulted from pent up frustration/fear/anger. When this is over, those incidents should and will be investigated. Have innocent people been injured and killed in Gaza? Yes, that is an unfortunate reality of war, and of terrorists that hide among a civilian populace. Israel goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties, but it is impossible to avoid that in Gaza. And it is tragic, there is no but in this sentence. The responsibility falls on Hamas. And finally, we have the UN: "Please stop the violence". Thank you so much for your contribution to world peace.

As rockets rain down on Israel, I’ve seen the level human ignorance and depravity of so many on social media. From organizations, to celebrities to media outlet...s, with the meme easily sharable scholarship have painted a one-sided narrative, one that allows everyone to read 4 slides and believe they are an expert. The Middle East is complicated and if you believe a conflict that has roots going back hundreds if not thousands of years can be summarized in a few graphics and you’re impassioned enough to spew hatred, sit this one out. You’ve never had to rush to a bomb shelter with your kids in the middle of the night, you’ve never seen conflict on your doorstep. I don’t pretend I’m not supportive of Israel, because I am, just as I’m supportive of America my home. But I don’t treat this as a zero-sum game, this isn’t a sports game, this is a real conflict where human lives are being impacted. No one wins wars, people die, and they inevitably have a sequel in the region. I don’t want to see any innocent Palestinian killed ever, I pray that that Palestinian children know peace and can prosper. I pray Israel will know peace and will no longer have to send its children to war. The insanity of people who have never been to the region, don’t understand, demonizing one side is sickening, you’re inflaming a conflict and rather than being a peace maker you’re being social media war profiteers. I’m not trying to be balanced, I’m trying to be truthful. The same terror organizations that have held the Palestinian people hostage are doing it again, the same media who remain silent as Uyghurs are rounded up are defended those who seek to murder Jews, the same activists who have justified and excused the sterilization of Uyghur women, today portray themselves as the defenders of the oppressed. These people like so many on social media traffic in tragedy for their own ego and careers. There’s not talk of moving forward, making peace, nope from the comfort of their homes in London or Dhaka they stir up hate. You think posting antisemitic hate and laughing at images of Israeli babies Arab and Jewish will Free Palestine really? You thinking coming at me will Free Palestine? You think cheering for Hamas who torture Palestinians will Free Palestine? Or is this just an avenue for you to get your Jew hate out? I’ll say once more, I unequivocally stand with the people of Israel and its obligation to defend itself from terror. I pray for peace in the region, and I pray that one day Palestinian children will be allowed to grow up without the brainwashing and hatred they are taught by those tasked with their care.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and closures on campus, all ORU United for Israel events and meetings have been suspended for the rest of the semester Thank you for all your support and engagement this year! Please continue to pray not only for Israel but for the health and well-being of our world As always, feel free to reach out!

CUFI’s Never Again trailer! You won’t want to miss this! Coming to theaters this October!!

Thank you CUFI!!