May 30, 2018 -- Israel believes rocket and motar attacks are over.

Smoke rises following Israeli strikes on Gaza City early on May 30. (Hatem Moussa / Associated Press)

Following the Gazan rocket and mortar attacks upon Israeli civilian neighborhoods this past Tuesday, Israel now believes the conflict is over.  It appears that Egypt helped relay a message to Israel that Hamas was willing to stop the attacks.  Israel responded that they will not attack if the rocket and mortar strikes end.  Initially Israel responded to the attacks forcefully striking 65 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets throughout Gaza and a tunnel that ran through the Sinai Peninsula into Israel.   

I just wonder if there is a conflict between Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.  Did the Islamic Jihad take the initiative to strike Israel?  Then with Israel’s strong response, did Hamas have to reel them in?

May 29, 2018 -- Israel Struck with Mortar Fire

On the second Friday of Ramadan, pro-Hamas demonstrations took place on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.  It is estimated that 200,000 Muslims had gathered for prayer.  Following prayers, thousands gathered shouting, “With strength and blood we will redeem you, al Aqsa.”

On Tuesday May 29, Israel was struck by mortar fire from Gaza.  It appears that the areas hit were civilian and residential.  Israel responded by hitting several targets with air strikes, locations that are said to belong to both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad who are Gaza’s militant groups. 

May 16, 2018 -- I see olive trees and a lampstand.

Tell me what do you see?  I see olive trees and a lampstand on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.

What else do you see?  I see olive trees on both sides of the wall.  Which wall?  The West Bank Wall.  

Olive Trees near the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem

Section of the Wall near Bethlehem

Creative Artwork and Graffiti on a Section of the Wall 

The Walled Off Hotel

Looking toward Bethlehem with Olive Trees on the Right

How is it possible that there are trees on both sides?  The trees are many, but the Land is one and the Sun is one.  I think I now see two witnesses, heaven and earth, bearing witness to the Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth.

May 15, 2018 -- You must speak concerning many peoples, nations, and tongues.

May 15, 2018

On May 15, 1948, the British Mandate ended a day after Israel was declared a nation.  On May 15, the Arab nations attacked the new Jewish State—with the combined forces including Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and forces from Iraq.  However, in a surprising turn of events Israel was victorious.

May 15 is also the final day of the Palestinian “Great March of Return.” This will be the final day of the 2018 Israeli-Gaza boarder protests that have been held every Friday since March 30, which was Land Day on which Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians commemorate that day in 1976 when Israel announced its plan to expropriate land from Arabs in Israel.

Today I visited the Ophel Archaeological Park also known as the Davidson Center.  This archaeological site contains ancient streets, walkways, ruins of various structures, mikvehs (ritual baths), stairs, and the remains of “Robinson’s Arch.”  Located on the Ophel Hill on the south side of the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, the site contains evidence from both the First Temple Period and the Second Temple Period. 

As you first enter the archaeological site, there is a visual aid on the wall that shows an illustration of the many peoples, nations, and tongues that have inhabited and/or ruled Jerusalem since ancient times.  There are thirteen in all. 

1.      Canaanite

2.      Israeli

3.      Babylonian

4.      Persian

5.      Hellenistic

6.      Roman

7.      Byzantine

8.      Early Muslim

9.      Crusader

10.   Mamluks

11.   Ottoman

12.   British

13.   State of Israel

On the south side of the mount, there are remains of an ancient street and steps leading up to the mount.  Nearby are a number of mikvehs (ritual baths) that were used for purification before entering the sacred area. 

Near the south west corner of the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif is evidence from the Second Temple Period: 1) piles of huge stones near the wall; 2) major indentions in a street below the mount where stones are thought to have fallen from above during the Roman destruction of the temple; 3) among a heap of stones was a corner section that was engraved as the “place of trumpeting” that is thought to have been where the trumpet was blown each Sabbath on the south west corner of the Temple Mount; 4) a stone under Robinson’s arch with Hebrew text engraved into the stone based on Isa 66:14 dated around 363 CE.

Damage of Herodian Street from Falling Stones off of Mount

Pile of Stones near South West Corner of Mount

Close up of Stones

Section from South West Corner of Mount

Another View of Section from South West Corner of Mount

Replica of Hebrew Text "to the place of trumpeting to...." (original 1st Century CE)

Hebrew Text from 4th Century CE (Isa 66:14) in Stone near South West Corner of Mount

May 14, 2018 -- The book tasted sweet in my mouth, but was bitter in my stomach.

May 14, 2018 -- Jerusalem, Israel

Today the US Embassy officially opened in Jerusalem.  I did not visit the embassy, but I was able to capture a picture of one of the new embassy signs.  There were signs around Jerusalem expressing appreciation for US President Trump and his support of Israel and for the opening of the embassy. 

Things appeared to be pretty peaceful in Jerusalem.  I asked one individual what his thoughts were as a Palestinian concerning the embassy opening.  He said that it did not change much because Jerusalem was already the location of the Israeli government.  In a sense it is already the capital of Israel.  I then asked him why some Palestinians were so upset about the US moving its embassy.  He said that they do not understand and that maybe they are being worked up by radicals.

Today I visited the tunnels along the Western Wall (Kotel) of the Temple Mount-Haram al Sharif.  The tunnels reveal hidden sections of the Western Wall.  A secret underground passage reveals mikves, water cisterns, streets from Second Temple Period, a quarry where stones were excavated for the Western Wall, a damaged Herodian stone most likely from the Roman’s destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in the 1st century CE.  The Herodian stones used in the construction were massive and impressive.  The work done to prepare and dress the stones was done with stunning precision. 

The quarry that was excavated for stones appears to have been in operation up until the work stopped.  A likely scenario is that workers were building and finishing up the wall up until the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple.  I have included a short video from here from the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.  

Example of Stone Workmanship for the Western Wall

Broken Stone in the Western Wall -- Most Likely from Roman Destruction in 1st Century CE

Closeup of Broken Stone -- Above the stone are small blocks that were a restoration to the wall at a much later date.

Women Praying in Tunnel at Western Wall

Closeup of a Section of the Western Wall

Narrow Passage on Northern End of Western Wall

Picture of a Quarry Excavation within 5 Feet of the Western Wall

The day ended on a much somber note.  It was reported that 58 Palestinians were killed at the Israeli-Gaza boarder by Israeli forces.  Israel argues they have a right to protect their boarders.  Others responded to the killings calling them a “massacre.”  Some say that they were peaceful protests; though there is evidence that they were not peaceful in the sense Americans understand peaceful/nonviolent demonstrations such as Martin Luther King Jr or Mahatma Gandhi.  In fact, there is evidence that some protesters attempted to harm Israelis and Israeli property.  It also appears that Israel had warned the demonstrators not to approach the fence or there would be deadly consequences.

What seems certain is that Israel responded to the apparent threat with deadly force.  It was not, it seems to me, a proportional response to that threat.  However, it appears that some of the protesters had intentions to rush the fence and brake through in order to enter the land and harm Israelis.  In the broader context, Israel has neighbors that have and continue to endanger its existence calling for the extinction of Israel.  

I fear that Israelis and Palestinians are being played like a chess game by unseen forces.  I hope and pray that both sides will awaken to the light and hope of a new day.  I pray daily for the leaders in the Middle East that we all might live peaceful and godly lives.  Some sides stress peace.  Others point to godliness.  We in the US and the Middle East need both!  The present state in Israel/Palestine is hard to swallow for many Americans.  It is for us both sweet, but bitter.    Lord Have Mercy!  

 

May 13, 2018 -- Jerusaelm Day

In honor of Mother’s Day, I honor the heavenly Jerusalem, who is our heavenly mother (Gal 4:26; Heb 12:22; Ps 45:10-17). In a twist of irony, I spent all day in Jerusalem, which means the “city of peace” or the “pillar of peace.” I have come to realize that “Mary” has become the personification of Jerusalem, a pillar of peace.

There were many Israeli young people out on the streets of Jerusalem celebrating the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel.  The Palestinians that I saw near the Damascus Gate in the Old City, and those who I was staying with, did not celebrate.  In my conversations, though, they would on occasion refer to the Israelis as settlers.  This title is something that I heard last year when I first visited Jerusalem.

I have included several pictures that captured the joy of the day.