A trip to Israel

I was recently invited to be a part of a delegation of members of Congress going to Israel sponsored by the U.S. Israel Education Association. This fairly new group brings business leaders and senior members of Congress to Israel to educate, inform, and advocate for a strong Israel to build on what they may have seen and learned from precious trips. It was both inspiring an educational.

I wanted to share with you some of the highlights and things I learned as I thought you would be interested to hear.

DEFENSE

We met with Defense Minister Moshe Ya'Alon. This is the third time I've met with him. He's an impressive leader and seasoned warrior in the ongoing fight for peace and security.

We also had the opportunity to see the latest in Israeli missile defense including seeing both the Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems. As you may know Iron Dome has been very successful and has saved countless lives. They continue to improve its operations to make them more effective. It is a very impressive operation.

David's Sling is the new mid-range defense system and will be available very soon. A United States company, Raytheon, is partnering in the development and production of his system. It was fascinating to see.

We went up to the Golan Heights and overlooked Syria. While we were there shots could be heard from a distance. It is so important that Israel keep this strategic piece of land!

Certainly other defense issues such as the situation in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria, and Iran were discussed, too. Israel is 'in a tough neighborhood' as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told our group. They have many, many issues they are dealing with on any given day. We need to continue to pray for the leaders of Israel.

JUDEA-SAMARIA

We spent a lot of time during the trip in the West Bank seeing Biblical sites and touring areas of coexistence. We spent a day in Ariel visiting with the mayor, seeing the USIEA's Outdoor Education Center, visiting with the Chancellor and students of Ariel University and touring a plant there in their large Industrial Park. Some would call this place a 'settlement'; it is not. It is a thriving city where Israelis and Palestinians live and work side by side. It is the example of what can be if the Palestinian government gets out of the way.

Perhaps the most disturbing information from the trip was to the extent and depth of propaganda being perpetuated into the youth of Palestine by the Palestinian Authority (PA). We got to hear a presentation by the Palestinian Media Watch group that was very sobering. I will not get into the unsettling details of this propaganda here, but suffice it to say, young minds are being poisoned and kids are praised for horrific acts.

While we were in Israel this week several stabbing attacks occurred including at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem at the entrance to the Old City and across the street from where we ate lunch one day south of Jerusalem. In that attack which occurred only a couple hours after we had left the area two 14-year-old Palestinian boys attacked a 21-year-old off-duty Israeli Defense Force soldier, husband, and father of a one-month old in a supermarket which serves both Palestinians and Israelis. Sadly, he died.

Thankfully there was an armed citizen nearby who heard the shouts and ran to the scene, shooting the attackers – killing one and injuring the other. More innocent lives might have been lost were it not for this man.

My colleagues and I discussed several options for ways to try to stop this incitement. As a mother and a former school teacher, these techniques are despicable and pure evil to take innocent children and fill them with lies to turn them into killers. This must stop!

FAITH FINDINGS

We also got to visit the historic sites that are the shared spiritual heritage of both Jew and Christian alike. It was amazing to stand at Shiloh on the ruins of what they have discovered as the site of the first temple Joshua constructed and which served the young nation of Israel for over 300 years--the place where Hannah brought and dedicated Samuel--and site of Israel's first government. We walked where King Saul had his house and visited Samuel's tomb.

We also visited Hebron, where David was first king, the tomb of Jesse, David’s father, as well as the church where the bodies of Abraham & Sarah, Issac & Rebecah, and Jacob & Leah are buried. We also went up on the Temple Mount where, sadly, Jews and Gentiles are only allowed a few hours every week. It was a strange feeling to be in the area, controlled by the Muslims now, the place of Herod's Temple, which was the Holiest site for Jews and where Jesus walked and taught as well.

We also got to go on the Mount of Olives and spend time in the Garden of Gethsemene and the Garden of the Tomb.  It was incredibly special to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and pray on Mount Carmel as well as the Western Wall.  It was a time to reflect on what God has done for Israel and what he wants us to do at this time in history for the nation of Israel. 

The entire trip was a special time--important from a national perspective but also on a personal level, seeing the prophecies being fulfilled before our eyes of God establishing a nation for his people, protecting them, and blessing them. He is bringing kings from other lands to bless Israel like he promised.

America must continue to support Israel. The promise made to Abraham years ago holds true today, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Gen. 12:3)

May we always bless Israel.
 

For photos from my trip, check out my Flickr album here.