ARC Israel Updates

Day 421 Swords of Iron – “The Return of the balm of Gilead?”

Chaim starts the video by saying that, as predicted, Hezbollah has already violated the ceasefire agreement. The IDF is moving swiftly to punish any violations, and so far this is working out.

But there was also a shooting attack on a bus near the city of Ariel in Judea and Samaria. Chaim rhetorically asks if this sort of behavior, which is practiced by one generation of Palestinians and taught to the next in an endless pattern, should be rewarded with a Palestinian State.

Chaim says that there has to be a change of heart, a change of culture, and a change of national narrative before there can ever be peace. He adds that this starts with changing the curriculum in schools so that children are not taught to hate Jews and Israel. This is helped by an expansion of the Abraham Accords normalization efforts that were begun in the first Trump Administration and Chaim hopes they will continue in the incoming Administration.

Next he mentions the renewed push by rebel forces in Syria against the regime of Bashar al Assad, who is an Iranian client. This is another indication that Iran’s regional position is weakening.

He also mentions that he’s standing on a hill that overlooks the ancient province of “Gilead” and he sings a few chords of a song about “the Balm of Gilead” and he adds that an ancient seed was discovered in a cave down in the Arava desert several years ago. The seed was coaxed into life and turned into a large bush and the sap from the seeds produced by this bush are believed by some to be the key ingredient in this “balm of Gilead” spoken of in Jeremiah 8:22; Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?

Chaim says this is a good metaphor for the healing that is going to be needed for the IDF soldiers who have fought in this war and the entire Israeli people who have all suffered from different kinds of trauma. This “balm of Gilead” might be part of that healing effort. He also says that Israel is supposed to be part of the healing of the nations.

In this context, Chaim quotes Isaiah 35:1; The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;

 

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(Day 627) Swords of Iron – “Going Ballistic on Beersheva”

Chaim starts by lamenting the destruction in Ber Sheva that was caused by a last-minute Iranian ballistic missile strike just before the cease-fire went into effect. But, he says, he’s glad to live in a country that cares about its citizens and works hard to protect them, even if sometimes the bad guys land a blow. On that note, Chaim gives some details that are known about what happened in Ber Sheva, including the facts that the missile that struck the building was one of a wave that Iran fired and many more lives could have been lost if people had not been in their bomb shelters.

(Day 625) Swords of Iron – “Kaboom!”

Chaim starts by cheering on the announcement by US President Donald Trump that the US has joined the war against Iran’s nuclear program, defending the free world against one of its most dangerous enemies by destroying the Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities.

(Day 619) Swords of Iron – “Remember We Didn’t Start This”

Chaim starts by acknowledging that these are difficult times in Israel, with incoming ballistic missiles and drones, cruise missiles and other weapons. Hundreds of people have been rendered homeless and at least 25 have been killed, while many more have been wounded. Israelis have had to run to their bomb shelters on several occasions over the past five days, and sometimes we have to stay there for extended periods, but it’s very important for us to stay safe.

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