One thousand years before Jesus was born and 1600 years before Muhammad, Israel’s King David wrote: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Well, if you’re a praying person … pray harder. And if you’re not, now might be a good time to start.
Because this week, tensions in the already combustible Middle East are at their highest point since October 7.
Early Sunday morning rockets could be seen flying over Jerusalem from the Temple Mount.
The Islamic Republic of Iran sent a wave of suicide drones and ballistic missiles toward Israel.
How can Iran afford so many drones and missiles you ask? Well, you’d have to talk to Joe Biden about that.
On November 14, just a month after Tehran helped facilitate the deadly Hamas invasion of Israel that resulted in the murder of 1200 Israelis and the kidnapping of more than 240, the Biden Administration eased sanctions on Iran freeing up $10b for a regime sworn to the destruction of Jews and Americans.
But the Biden Administration was confident Iran would never use that money to launch attacks on Israel because Joe Biden had spoken to them with the diplomatic deft touch for which he is renowned.
Sorry, that was Biden addressing the Nashville elementary school shooting.
This is how Biden addressed the Mullah’s in Tehran.
Reporter: “What would you say to Tehran about their threats to launch a strike against Israel?”
President Biden: “Don’t!”
Except, they did.
I suppose Biden’s next move will be to tell Iran …
“Don’t … do it again.”
You think I’m joking.
Yesterday afternoon Biden ruled out military action to defend their ally, instead promising Israel “a united diplomatic response”.
Name one other nation that can be subject to a massive missile attack and be expected to respond with diplomacy?
Iran justified today’s attack, as Iran does, with lies and half-truths.
They said the attack was self-defence after Israel’s attack earlier this month on an Iranian consular property in Syria that killed 12 people, including a senior Iranian general.
What they neglected to mention was that the general, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, helped to plan and execute the October 7 attacks on Israel. So, he was a legitimate target.
Iran’s response was to target Israeli civilians by firing on densely populated Israeli cities.
Isn’t it funny how it’s only ever Israel who are lectured about a proportionate response. But I digress.
It’s a testament to Israel’s technological genius that hundreds of drones and missiles launched at the Middle East’s only democratic nation were intercepted and seem to have inflicted just one casualty – a little girl hit by shrapnel.
Having lobbed hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, Iranian officials tweeted that it was all in “self-defence” and that “the matter can be deemed concluded”.
Just as Hamas invaded Israel, raping and slaughtering civilians only to cry foul when they reaped the consequences, Iran believe they can pepper Israel with missiles and then say “Ok, that’s the end. No more fighting!”
Who would ever have given them the idea they can behave like that?
Well, there’s Joe Biden funding Iran while promising that he stands with Israel. And now promising not to retaliate against Iran except with another “Don’t”.
There’s Australia’s Penny Wong contemplating statehood for Palestine while Gaza is ruled by terrorists still holding men and women hostages.
And there’s the UN Secretary General calling for “all parties to exercise maximum restraint” right after one party, Israel, suffered a second major attack in just six months.
Antonio Guterres said: “Neither the region nor the world can afford another war.”
Well Israel know they are already in one. They also know, sadly, that they shouldn’t expect much help, even from their friends.
And Iran knows it too. Which is why they are so emboldened and why praying for the peace of Jerusalem might mean praying for a Trump victory in November.
Powerful article James.
A most reasoned plea for prayer. You have, as ever, distilled the essence of the crisis.