Where Anti-Semitism persists, the well-being  of all our people is at risk.
– Paul Sarbanes

Years ago, American national security experts asked an ominous question: Will Jihad eventually reach American Shores? Tragically, we know the answer now is “Yes.” Who in their worst nightmare could have imagined that two staffers at the Israeli embassy to the United States would be murdered in cold blood when a jihadist shot them at point blank range as they left an event in D.C. at the Capital Jewish Museum. The victims, a young man and young woman, who happened also to be a young couple. The young man, Yaron Lischinsky, had intended in just coming days to extend a wedding proposal to Sarah Milgram. Both of these murdered staffers served were in the foreign service of Israel in the United States.

According to The New York Times, upon his arrest, the jihadist said to police officers, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” The suspect also said after his arrest, “Free, free Palestine!” This is a major turning point when you consider the efforts by the United States to fight terrorism. While this is normal for much of the world, it’s now happened in the United States, in Washington D.C. Is anyone safe anymore anywhere? 

Yaron Lischinsky was raised by a Jewish father and Christian mother in Israel. The family emigrated to Germany while he was in high school. There he attended a messianic congregation, for Jews who believe in Jesus. Wahba says Lischinsky’s faith drove his work in foreign policy to be a peacemaker. The very event where he was murdered had been organized to discuss ways to deliver humanitarian aid to places like Gaza.

This escalation in violence in our own country goes back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas and several other Palestinian nationalist militant groups launched coordinated armed attacks from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel. It was the first invasion of Israel since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. While no one has all the answers for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, let me make a few observations.  

The October 7^th attack was an act of war.

Though it was not committed by another nation, yet just as 9/11 was an act of war on our country by Islamic extremists, the October 7^th attack on civilians by Hamas was act of war. 1,200 Israeli civilians—men, women, and children—were slaughtered, raped, mutilated with 250 hostages taken. It would be the equivalent of terrorists coming across the border into Southern California and murdering, raping and mutilating 42,000 people and then taking 12,000 hostages, just for comparison’s sake. Yet, you have a nation versus another threatening force non-nation. It was our problem when going into Afghanistan after 9/11. This is not a nation war. It’s a new juncture in history in that it is not nations going to war with each other. Often, today a nation must defend itself against terrorist organizations. Nonetheless, it was an act of war and Israel was justified in their military response to Hamas. 

Israel’s war on Hamas is not genocide.

The Israelis are conducting what is known as a Just War. Labeling what’s happening in this conflict as Genocide is propaganda that those in the West are often buying. Israel is not attempting to eradicate a people group. It’s not a Holocaust. 

John Spencer, America’s leading expert on protecting non-combatants in a time of war states that Israel has done more than any other nation in history, including the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, to protect non-combatants. They bind themselves to extraordinarily strict rules of engagement. Sadly, in a time of war, civilians die. 

Unlike most warring nations the Israelis have taken steps to provide for the needs of the people in Gaza. Hamas stated goal is not to defend or protect the people of Gaza. Hamas goal is to bring about the annihilation of the state of Israel. Though a war zone where an enemy is hiding, often behind human shields of their own people, Israel has kept water lines running into the territory open and allowing trucks with food aid in. Even Palestinians in Gaza are protesting and asking for Hamas to be expelled.

Israel is not innocent.

While the Bible is clear that the Jews are God’s chosen people, and many promises to them in Scripture are prophetic and yet to be fulfilled, the majority of them are not Christians. Nearly 50% of Jews in Israel consider themselves non-religious. Abuses by Israel of their Palestinian neighbors has been taking place for decades. According to reports, those abuses have only escalated with reports of torture in Israel’s prisons for Palestinians. There are reports of Israel’s widespread, systemic abuse of Palestinians in detention and arbitrary arrest practices, coupled with the absence of restraints after the 2023 attacks. Around 9,500 Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, are currently imprisoned. It’s estimated there are 30% without any charges against them.  

American Jews should NOT be fearful for their own safety.

Jewish students at major universities shouldn’t have to fear for their safety on campuses amid a surge in antisemitism. Colleges are not doing enough to fight antisemitism. Jewish students have experienced an increase in hate speech and harassment on campuses. Some of these threats are from Muslim students from other countries in America on a student visa. If a foreign student is in America on a visa, but is threatening our own citizens, they should be deported. They’ve lost their right to be here. 

Christ-followers must love, pray for and seek to reach both Muslims and Israelis with the gospel.

The Great Commission is not nationalistic or prejudicial. When we learn of brutal attacks like D.C., it’s tempting to became bitter, even hateful toward Muslims. When we learn of the atrocities that Israelis are committing against Palestinians, we have the same temptation to succumb to anger and hate. 

There are over 7 million Jews in Israel and 2.5 billion Muslims in the world. We must never forget that Jesus died on the cross for all of them. As Christ-followers, we’re to love and seek to reach them with the gospel. And you don’t have to go to the Middle East to seek to reach them. There is a growing Islamic population in Milwaukee. The mission field is here. 

Jihadist violence doesn’t change God’s plan of worldwide evangelization of every tribe and nation. Are we doing our part to advance His plan?