David Reagan - Myths About Israel, Part 2
Is it true that the Palestinians living within Israel are an oppressed and persecuted people? Is it true that Israel is an apartheid state? These are serious allegations that are made against Israel every day, even by the United Nations. Are they true, or are they myths? Stay tuned.
Dr. Reagan: Greetings in the name of Jesus, our Blessed Hope, and welcome to Christ in Prophecy. Last week, my colleague, Nathan Jones, and I began countering myths about the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. In the process, we focused on two issues: first, the claim that the Jewish people stole the land of Palestine from the Palestinians, and therefore, they have no rightful title to it; and second, the claim that the Jewish people have no historical or legal claim to Jerusalem as their capital. We concluded that both of these claim are total myths. And we presented the case for the biblical, historical and legal right of the Jewish people to ownership of the land of Israel and Jerusalem as its capital. In the process we pointed out that there has never been a Palestinian state and that Jerusalem has never been the capital of any nation except Israel.
Nathan Jones: And folks, if you missed that program, you can find it on our website at lamblion.com, or YouTube Channel.
Dr. Reagan: This week we want to take a look at another myth that is being used to garner support for the Palestinians among our nation’s college and university students. It is the claim that the Palestinian people are being persecuted and oppressed by the Israelis, and that Israel is in effect an apartheid state that keeps Jews and Arabs separated in all aspects of life. What about it Nathan?
Nathan Jones: Well, I had to look up the word apartheid because growing up you always heard about South Africa. How South Africa was–in other words the blacks and the whites were totally separate and not allowed to do anything. Now, you’ve been to Israel 45 times, and I’ve only been 3 but I don’t remember a single time I’ve gone there were I’ve seen the Arabs, or the Palestinians living there treated separately. There’s what 1.4 million Palestinians?
Dr. Reagan: Yes.
Nathan Jones: Out of the 7 million people living in Israel. And they have all the same rights. They can ride on the same buses. They can join the military, although the Arabs get the option to do it, where the Jews have to do it for three years. I saw them. Our tour guide was Jewish, our bus driver was Arab, they bickered like brothers. But they do businesses together. They live in neighborhoods together. There is no apartheid in Israel.
Dr. Reagan: Well, not only have I’ve been to Israel 45 times, I’ve also been to South Africa twice, and for extensive periods of time evangelizing and teaching. And I saw apartheid first hand. I saw the absolute rigid separation of races there. There is nothing like that in Israel. Never has been in Israel. An Arab who lives in Israel is a citizen of the state, and he has all the rights of any person, Jew in the state, right to welfare, right to work. You just name it. Ride a bus whatever, there is no such thing as apartheid in Israel. In fact the irony of all this argument about apartheid is that the true apartheid exists in all the Arab states who are condemning Israel for apartheid.
Nathan Jones: Yes, absolutely.
Dr. Reagan: It is the Arab states that will not even allow a Jew to live in the state.
Nathan Jones: Can you imagine that? You go to an Arab state and you’re not even allowed to be there if your Jewish people, but they accuse Israel of it.
Dr. Reagan: After the 1956 Suez War the Arab nations ejected all the Jews from their nations. And they did it overnight. I had a friend who was living in, a Jewish friend who lived in Cairo, very wealthy family they had a mansion and they were just told you must leave overnight; your house, your cars, your bank account everything overnight you get out of this nation, or you’re dead. And they had to flee to Israel. There were over 1 million refugees of Israelis from all over the Middle East that fled, and Israel, the tiny nation of Israel absorbed them. And yet the irony is that the so called refugees of the Six Day War which is about a million who are Arabs have never been absorbed by the Arab states. They won’t absorb them, they won’t take them.
Nathan Jones: They are not allowed to go home.
Dr. Reagan: They want to keep them in filthy camps so they can use them as a pawn to say to the world look how we’re being treated.
Nathan Jones: Right. Right. And I think there is a cultural work ethic there too. I mean for instance the Jewish quarter and all is very clean and neat, the Jewish people are very clean and neat people. The Arabs they have a more laid back culture, and it tends to be more run down, and dirty. So visitors will come and say, “Oh, you know the Arabs are kept in squalor.” No, it’s like going downtown Detroit versus uptown, you know there is a difference in there. But, the freedoms of the people, the Palestinians in Israel they have the same freedom of religion, of speech, of press.
Dr. Reagan: They can even run for office and they serve in the Knesset.
Nathan Jones: In the Knesset.
Dr. Reagan: Yeah, that would never happen in an apartheid state.
Nathan Jones: In the Parliament. Can you imagine some Arab country allowing a Jew to serve in the Parliament? And yet the Arab countries accuse Israel of apartheid.
Dr. Reagan: Yes. I’ll tell you it is just unbelievable the kind of propaganda that exists on the world scene, and even the media that knows it’s a lie uses it anyway.
Nathan Jones: It’s all that hatred of the Jews.
Dr. Reagan: That’s true. Satan hates the Jews with a passion because they are the chosen people of God, and because through them God gave the Word, and through them He gave the Messiah. And he is determined to destroy every Jew on planet earth that is what the Holocaust was all about. And Zechariah says that during the Great Tribulation he’s going to try to do it again, and he’ll succeed in killing two-thirds of the Jewish people.
Nathan Jones: How awful.
Dr. Reagan: But praise God He’s going to preserve a remnant until the end who will accept Jesus as their Messiah.
Part 2
Dr. Reagan: Welcome back to Christ in Prophecy and our discussion of popular myths concerning the nation of Israel. We have been talking about whether or not the Palestinians living within Israel are terribly persecuted as the world claims, and we have been making the point that this claim is a total myth.
Nathan Jones: Currently there are about 7.5 million people living in Israel, 6 million of those are Jews, 1 million 400 thousand are Arabs, so the worlds claim that Israel practice apartheid and therefore those one and a half million Arabs are mistreated in many ways it is just pure hokum.
Dr. Reagan: I’d like to show you an outstanding video on this subject that was produced by Prager University. The spokesperson on the video is a lady named Olga Meshoe. She is a South African who grew up under apartheid. She also knows a lot about life in Israel.
Olga Meshoe: Maybe you’ve heard someone say that Israel is an apartheid state. That Israel has a policy of segregating and oppressing the minority population within its borders, like South Africa once did. Maybe you’ve been so outraged by this information that you have considered joining the BDS Movement; the effort to boycott, divestment, and sanction Israel until it ends its alleged racist policies. I don’t blame you. Apartheid is a great evil and deserves to be fought were ever we find it.
But here is the thing: you won’t find apartheid in the State of Israel. So, I’ll put it bluntly the BDS Movement is a slick propaganda effort built on lies. I think I have the credibility to make this claim. Having grown up in South Africa and having spent a fair amount of time in Israel, I know what apartheid is and what it is not.
My parents were raised in a real apartheid where blacks were by law separated from whites at every level from education to drinking fountains. Blacks couldn’t vote. Couldn’t own land. Couldn’t live next to, or use the same transportation system as whites. I remember my father telling me about how my grandfather was kicked and humiliated in public by a young white boy. All he was permitted to say was, “Please stop little boss.” That was the world my family lived in. That was the world of apartheid South Africa.
But in Israel the law is color blind; Israeli Arabs have the same rights as Israeli Jews. They ride the same buses. Study in the same schools. And are treated in the same hospitals. Arabs are elected to Israel’s Parliament, serve as judges, and fight in the Israeli military. On my first trip to Israel the group I was with had a Jewish tour guide, and an Arab bus driver. Imagine our surprise having heard that Israel is an apartheid state. This would have been inconceivable in apartheid South Africa. All these things would be self-evident to anyone who did any kind of actual research, or even better visited Israel, something I encourage everyone to do. BDS doesn’t want you to research, or visit Israel. It depends on the ignorance of its audience.
Sadly on American college campuses BDS has a significance presence. It succeeds by playing on the good intentions of good people through deliberate deception. In short they lie. And lies really make me angry because lies empower evil. Lies about blacks empower apartheid in South Africa. Lies about Jews made the Holocaust possible. And lies about Israel are misleading a lot of good hearted young people into opposing the only country in the entire Middle East that doesn’t segregate and oppress its minority population. Just ask the next Egyptian Copt or Iraqi Christian you meet on campus.
So, the question people should really be asking is what does the BDS Movement want? The answer is simple, they want to destroy Israel. They can’t do it militarily, so they try to do it through lies. They say that Jews have no historic claim to Israel. Lie. They say that Israel treats its Arabs as second class citizens. Lie. They say that Israel doesn’t want peace with its Arab neighbors. Lie. If you tell lies and you tell them often enough people who don’t know the truth start to believe them.
The BDS Movement leaders barely try to hide the charade. They will lie and say that they only want a Palestinian State living side-by-side with Israel. And then they say this, “We oppose a Jewish State in any part of Palestine, ending the occupation doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t mean upending the Jewish state itself.” That’s from Omar Barghouti a founder of BDS. Barghouti lives in Israel, so you might expect that he said this from inside an Israeli prison like Nelson Mandela during South Africa apartheid. You would be wrong. Barghouti is a Ph.D. student at Israel’s Tel Aviv University where he enjoys the same rights as every Israeli. My parents could only dream of that kind of freedom.
Is Israel a perfect country? No. There are as many perfect countries as there are perfect people. But to call it an apartheid state is not only an insult to the only democracy in the Middle East, and the only country with equal rights for all its minorities. It’s also an insult to the actual victims of apartheid, like my parents and all those who suffered under it. I’m Olga Meshoe for Prager University.
Part 3
Dr. Reagan: Welcome back to our discussion of myths concerning Israel. I want to thank Prager University for giving us permission to broadcast the video you just saw. They have produced many such outstanding videos, and you can find them on their website at PragerU.com.
Nathan Jones: Now folks, if you don’t believe what Dr. Reagan and I have said about Arab freedom in Israel, and if you find it difficult to believe the Prager video, then take a look at this next video clip we have for you. It shows an Israeli Arab woman being interviewed on an Arab television station. Listen to her response to the claim that Israel is an apartheid state.
Host: Is Israel an apartheid state?
Arab Woman: No! Israel is not an apartheid state, and anyone who believes this should be ashamed of himself. You live in this country and enjoy all the full benefits of its citizenship. You are free to work, study, and express yourselves and whatever you desire. You lead and educate the next generation in a state that respects you. Look at Syria, Iraq, Egypt and the rest of the Arab countries. What have they done for the good of their people?
Host: I’m trying to understand- What’s Israel?
Arab Woman: Israel is a democratic state, as it is stated in its Declaration of Independence. And that it has minorities such as the Muslims, the Druze, etc. What is a democratic state? It’s a state that respects its people, and citizens that live within it. A state that provides freedom of belief, the right to educate, to elect and be elected, become judges or lawyers, a parliament member, and defends the individual’s right for freedom. Where else would you find these?
Host: Israel is a democratic state? How’s that?
Arab Woman: The fact that the country is providing you, an Arab journalist a platform where you can express your opinions and state your mind. When in Russia the media doesn’t even have the option to sound an opposing opinion, is proof that this is a democratic state. I take myself as an example, I can work in whatever job I desire that suits my skills and profession. Every work opportunity is equal for both Arabs and Jews. I hope and wish for all Arab countries, citizens and societies to have a democratic state just as Israel.
Host: How do you define yourself?
Arab Woman: I define myself as an Arab, a Muslim with Israel citizenship. Proud of my religion, myself, and that I’m living in a country that respects my will and my rights.
Host: What are your rights?
Arab Woman: What about your rights? The fact that you are here and have the possibility to express your opinions. I do not represent politics. I don’t care about any party. I only care about our current modern day reality, and that I show the truth. Whether they like it or not- we are going to see the truth. I wish we should start seeing all the good things we have in this country. I hope we start to coexist and love each other.
Host: So, there is no occupation in Israel?
Arab Woman: No, there isn’t. I do not live under occupation in Israel. I have full democratic rights. And I hope that we start living together in peace, and understanding. I hope that we move on to a better future where we respect each other’s opinions and debate respectfully. That we open our eyes and see that we live in a democratic state that respects its citizens and grants them many rights. I represent myself as a minority in Israel. And I am not related whatsoever to politics. I’m proud to stand up and speak for Israel, and that I’m an integrated part of it. I hope that all the Arab countries will adopt the Israeli democratic regime. And for your information, more than 90% of the Gaza Strip citizens and the West Bank wish they were under such a regime.
Part 4
Nathan Jones: And folks, lest you think that what you just saw was the testimony of just a secular, non-observant Arab, let me show you a video clip shot in Israel in front of the Israeli parliament building. It contains the testimony of a Muslim observant woman named Sarah Zoabi.
Sarah Zoabi: My name is Sarah Zoabi, Arab, Muslim, Israeli, and proud Zionist. I believe with my whole heart in the rights of the Jewish people to a sovereign state in the Holy Land of Israel. It is the right that God promised and gave to the Jewish people–not a kindness–the right of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, the Promised Land, is written in the holy books of the three monotheistic religions. Everyone knows that the Jewish people lived here 3,000 years ago.
They suffered persecution, murder, and attempted genocide throughout history. Millions of Jews were burned in the Holocaust, six million, only because they were Jewish.
But the State of Israel is here to stay. And I’m here to shed some light, with all my might, on the truth about Israel, and the story of my love, and loyalty to my homeland. A never-ending love story. How can I not love you Israel? Even though you suffer from Arab and Muslim terrorism from within and without, you do not distinguish between sex, race, and religion. You respect, welcome, and hug me as an Arab, Muslim woman. Israel, my heart is full of love for you a tiny country, but huge in the size of its good deeds. You do a lot of good in the world. I stand proud next to your flag. The national anthem, Hatikva, is playing in my heart. And a never-ending love story is developing between us. My country, your angelic beauty and purity, your earth, the sun shining over you and the wind blowing through your fields. They are the inspiration for my love to you. My country, hug me to your heart, because my heart is lonely without you.
There will never be another country like you. They boycotted you, blamed you, fought you and attacked you. It was all unjustified. I call to you, Arabs of the world! You should be ashamed of your silence and that an Israeli woman cries out for your conscience, and your heart, that is no longer there. There is a river of blood spilled every day in the Arab and Muslim world in name of religion and you do not do anything. You are not ashamed that the State of Israel is treating thousands of wounded Syrians, and you, the Arab countries refuse to accept them for treatment and close your borders without giving them any help!? And then you claim that Israel is an apartheid state which occupies land belonging to others and does not respect human rights!?
My dear amazing country, it’s hard for me to describe my love for you. The only thing left to say is that I pray God will protect us, and the people of Israel. And keep and protect our Prime Minister and our leaders, and that God will light their way. My beloved Israel, you may be eternal and glorious forever. May you be blessed every year with prosperity. I swear I’ll watch over you with every part of my being because you respect and guard my dignity and my rights. ‘Am Israel Hai’ May the State of Israel live forever.
Part 5
Nathan Jones: Welcome back to our discussion of myths about Israel.
Dr. Reagan: Well, folks, I hope you are getting a clear picture of what hogwash it is to accuse Israel of apartheid. In reality, it is the Arab nations that practice apartheid because they will not even allow Jews to live in their countries.
Nathan Jones: Well, we have another video clip for you to consider. It was shot at a meeting at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the group most responsible for making untrue and even irrational accusations against Israel. Watch as nation after nation accuses Israel of apartheid, and then watch the faces of the representatives when a surprise speaker suddenly speaks up. He is Mosab Hassan Yousef, a Palestinian who is the son of the founder of the Palestinian terrorist group called Hamas.
PLO UN Representative: Israel, the occupying power, continues with its colonial policy and its daily violations. It continues to abuse, to arbitrarily detain, to carry out ethnic cleansing, steal land and natural resources, uproot trees, steal money.
Syria UN Representative: Israeli activity to Judaize Jerusalem, demolition of homes, confiscation of land and property, spoiling of natural resources.
Qatar UN Representative: Racist violations perpetrated by Israel.
North Korea UN Representative: Israel continues to commit human rights violations in Palestine.
Pakistan UN Representative: Israel, the occupying power, is advancing in its efforts of mass colonization and continued apartheid. Put an end to this colonialist regime.
Venezuela UN Representative: Apartheid, atrocities, and massive destruction inflicted on the Palestinian people.
Iran UN Representative: War crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, state terror.
UNHRC President: Thank you. United Nations Watch.
Mosab Hassan Yousef: Thank you, Mr. President. I take the floor on behalf of the UN Watch. My name is Mosab Hassan Yousef. I grew up in Ramallah as a member of Hamas. I address my words to the Palestinian Authority which claims to be the “sole legitimate representative” of the Palestinian people. I ask: Where does your legitimacy come from? The Palestinian people did not elect you, and they did not appoint you to represent them. You are self-appointed. Your accountability is not to your own people. This is evidenced by your own total violation of their human rights.
In fact, the Palestinian individual and their human development is the least of your concerns. You kidnap Palestinian students from campus and torture them in your jails. You torture your political rivals. The suffering of the Palestinian people is the outcome of your selfish political interests. You are the greatest enemy of the Palestinian people. If Israel did not exist, you would have no one to blame. Take responsibility for the outcome of your own actions. You fan the flames of conflict to maintain your abusive power. Finally, you use this platform to mislead the international community, to mislead Palestinian society to believe that Israel is responsible for the problems you create. Thank you.
Part 6
Nathan Jones: Well, folks, how’s that for a surprise?
Dr. Reagan: You know, folks, Adolph Hitler’s propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels once said, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” And that is exactly what Satan is motivating the world to do regarding Israel. Satan hates the Jewish people with a passion. As I said before he hates them because they are the Chosen People of God and through them God gave us the Scriptures and the Messiah.
Nathan Jones: And the Scriptures make it clear that God intends to bring a great remnant of the Jewish people to belief in Jesus as their Messiah when He returns to this earth at His Second Coming.
Dr. Reagan: Satan does not want to see a single Jew saved. He tried to annihilate them in the Holocaust. He is going to try again in the Great Tribulation when the book of Zechariah says that two-thirds of the Jews will die. That is the reason that he is orchestrating all the nations of the world against them today. And that is the reason for all the myths concerning Israel. They are designed to turn the world against the Jewish people.
Nathan Jones: But that will all change when Jesus returns. Bible prophecy says He will regather all believing Jews back to Israel and make that nation the prime nation in the world. He will reign from Jerusalem over the world, and the world will be flooded with peace, righteousness and justice as the waters cover the seas.
Dr. Reagan: The blessings flowing to all the world through the Jewish people at that time will be so great, that the prophet Zechariah says that when a Jew walks by, ten Gentiles will grab his robe and say, “Let us walk with you, for we know that God is with you.”
Nathan Jones: Psalm 122:6 says that we are to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” So, when you do so, you are really praying for the return of Jesus, because the Bible reveals that there will be no peace for Jerusalem until Jesus the Prince of Peace returns to reign there.
Dr. Reagan: Well folks, that’s our program for this week. I hope it has been a blessing to you. The Lord willing, I hope you will be back with us again next week. Until then, this is Dave Reagan speaking for Lamb & Lion Ministries, saying, “Look up, be watchful, for our Redemption is drawing near.”