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Expert: Islamic regimes should abide by the Declaration of Human Rights

A leading expert on Israel has given ASSIST News an interview in which he talks about the hot topics of the day that involve Israel, Christians in the West, and also his views on Christians being persecuted in that state, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.

Internationally known political scientist, author and lecturer, Dr. Paul Eidelberg is the founder and president of the political think tank, The Foundation for Constitutional Democracy with offices in Jerusalem and Washington, DC.

Prof. Eidelberg served as an officer in the United States Air Force. He received his doctoral degree at the University of Chicago. While at the university, he designed the first brain scanner for the Argonne Cancer Research Hospital.

Before making aliya in 1976 (becoming an Israeli citizen and moving to Israel), Prof. Eidelberg wrote a trilogy on America’s founding fathers: The Philosophy of the American Constitution, On the Silence of the Declaration of Independence, and A Discourse on Statesmanship.

In 1976 he joined the faculty of Bar-Ilan University.

From his rabbi, HaGaon HaRav Dr. Chaim Zimmerman he learned how to interface Torah and political science.

Prof. Eidelberg has written several books on the Arab-Israel conflict and on Judaism, including Demophrenia: Israel and the Malaise of Democracy, Beyond the Secular Mind, and Judaic Man. His most recent book, Jewish Statesmanship, provides the philosophical and institutional foundations for reconstructing and reforming the State of Israel. This book, which contains a Constitution for the State Israel, has also been published in Hebrew and Russian. He is currently working on a Jewish philosophy of history.

Prof. Eidelberg has lectured before Israel’s Foreign Office and has written policy papers for various Knesset members. He is on the Editorial Board of Israel’s premier journal Nativ, as well as on the Advisory Council of the Ariel Center for Policy Research. He has written more than 1,000 articles for newspapers and scholarly journals in the United States and Israel.

During the past five years, Prof. Eidelberg has been conducting seminars on constitutions, diverse parliamentary electoral systems, Jewish law, and related topics at the Jerusalem center of the Foundation for Constitutional Democracy.

In his interview with ANS, Eidelberg was asked how does Israel's government affect Christians?

Dr. Eidelberg said: "The failure of Israel's government to suppress Arab violence has resulted in the emigration of Christians from Bethlehem. Since the Arab Terrorist War erupted in September 2000, Israeli governments under prime ministers Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert have pursued a policy of self-restraint toward Arab terrorists. Thousands of Jews, especially in Jerusalem, were murdered, wounded, and maimed for life. Suicide bombers reduced women and children to body parts. Even nurses and doctors in Jerusalem hospitals suffered trauma in dealing with these barbaric atrocities. Meanwhile, Arab terrorists deployed in Bethlehem and made life miserable for the Christians in that city.

"The government did next to nothing to protect these Christians, just as it did next to nothing to protect Jews in Jerusalem. Given the power of the Israel Defense Forces, the government certainly had the power to eliminate the entire Arab terrorist network in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. This could have been done in one week immediately after 9/11. But the government was insanely committed to a Palestinian state. This necessitated a "negotiating partner," i.e., the Palestinian Authority. It necessitated adherence to the September 1993 Oslo or Israel-PLO Agreement, despite almost daily violation so that agreement by the PLO. Thus, by not abrogating Oslo, and by failing to eradicate the Arab terrorist network, the terrorists obtained more and more weapons (smuggled into Gaza from Egypt), and increased their deadly attacks, which made life miserable for Christians and Jews alike."

ASSIST News asked Dr. Eidelberg "Why should Christians be concerned about Israel's government?"

"Israel's government wants to surrender eastern Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to the Arabs. The Temple is intended for the redemption of all people, not only Jews. If the Arabs control eastern Jerusalem, Christians will be denied access to the Temple Mount. Going deeper, the Jewish Sages have said that the Temple Mount is of greater significance to the Gentile world than it is to Israel. Listen to the voice of the disparaged Pharisees regarding the sacrifices of seventy calves during the eight days of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, and note their humanitarianism:

"From Leviticus Rabbah: 'If the nations of the world had known how useful the Temple was to them, they would have surrounded it with fortified camps to protect it, for it was more useful to them than to Israel.' A Midrash in the Song of Songs (4:1) puts it this way: 'Your eyes are like doves' means that just as the dove (offered at the Temple) atones for everyone, so Israel atones for all peoples. For the seventy calves which were burned at the altar at the Feast of Tabernacles were offered on behalf of the nations, in order that their existence might be maintained in this world, which is why it is written in (Psalms 109:4), "In return for my love they laid obstacles in my path, yet I pray for them."

Dr. Eidelberg said that in the treatise Sukkot in the Talmud, "we encounter a similar passage: Rabbi Jochanan says, 'Woe to the Gentiles for what they have lost (in losing the Temple). For when the Temple was standing, atonement was made for them on the altar … But now how will they atone?'

"Yet Israel's government may cede the Temple Mount to the Arabs!" he said.

What should concerned Christians who support the state of Israel be praying for?

"Christians should pray for an undivided Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty. By so doing, they will be praying for the ultimate redemption of all mankind as indicated above."

ASSIST News wanted to know how should Christians be pro-active on Israel's behalf?

"Christians should join with existing 'Christians for Israel' organizations and pro-actively oppose the surrender of any Jewish land to the Arabs. Christian churches should form local pro-Israel organization and disseminate information about the importance of Israel for the United States.

"Here is some vital data:

* Between 1991 and 2006, total U.S. military grants and economic assistance to Israel was approximately $47.5B. What has the U.S. received from Israel in return?

* Israel must spend about 74 percent of U.S. military aid in the United States, where it provides jobs for an estimated 50,000 American working men.

* Total exports from the 50 states of America to Israel between 1991 and 2006 was $102.4Bn―more than twice the $47.5Bn Israel received in U.S. aid during this period. The annual average of U.S. exports to Israel was $6.4Bn per year, more than twice the average American aid package. In fact, total exports to Israel from the 50 states in 2006 was almost $11Bn―more than four times the U.S. military economic aid package!

* Unknown to many observers, U.S. military aid to Israel creates a demand for, and the purchase of, tens of billions of dollars worth of U.S. weaponry by Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. U.S. grants to Israel -- far from imposing a burden on the American taxpayer --actually enriches the American economy.

* According to Gen. George Keegan, a former chief of U.S. Air Force Intelligence, between 1974 and 1990, Israeli aid to America was worth between $50-80Bn in intelligence, research and development savings, Soviet weapons systems captured and transferred to the Pentagon, and testing Soviet military doctrines up to 1990 when the USSR collapsed. Senator Daniel Inouye put it this way: "The contribution made by Israeli intelligence to America is greater than that provided by all NATO countries combined."

* Israel constantly relays to the US lessons of battle and counter-terrorism, which reduce American losses in Iraq and Afghanistan, prevent attacks on US soil, upgrade American weapons, and contribute to the US economy. Innovative Israeli technologies boost US industries.

"In 2005, Israel provided America with the world's most extensive experience in homeland defense and warfare against suicide bombers and car bombs. American soldiers train in IDF facilities and Israeli-made drones fly above the Sunni Triangle in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan, providing US Marines with vital intelligence that saved many American lives."

How should Christians in America stay informed?

"For daily reports, they should tune into Israel National Radio (Arutz-7). For in-depth analysis, they should consult my website www.pauleidelberg.com . But we must heed this paramount fact: to paraphrase my friend Dr. William Van der Hoeven, a Pentecostal Christian, anyone that advocates a Palestinian state is wittingly or unwittingly calling for the dissolution of the State of Israel. Henry Kissinger put it this way: 'there isn't enough space between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean for two sovereign state.' And as a RAND Study clearly indicates: A Palestinian state would not be economically viable.

Has the State of Israel been a success? What are some of the greatest problems it faces at this time?

Dr. Eidelberg explained the state of Israel has (a) provided a home for a million Jewish refugees; (b) resurrected the Hebrew language; (c) saved countless lives throughout the world by its technological breakthroughs in agriculture and medicine; (d) provided the United States with priceless military technology and intelligence (see above). Israel has accomplished this and more despite an inept system of multiparty cabinet government -- a system that hinders Israel's ability to counter its implacable Arab-Islamic enemies." (See www.foundation1.org for extensive information about Israel's flawed system of government.)

Dr. Eidelberg was asked to explain why Arabs hate Jews? Can Israel do anything to change this?

"Arabs (Muslims) hate not only Jews but all 'Infidels.' But what magnifies Muslim hatred of Jews is this: (a) the rebirth of the State of Israel in 1948 constitutes a refutation of Islamic doctrines; (b) Israel's scientific and economic accomplishments incites Arab envy; (c) given its reputation as a democracy, Israel constitutes a threat to the power structure of Arab-Islamic dictatorships. Diplomacy and territorial concessions are not going to change Islam's implacable hostility toward Israel. In fact, engaging in negotiations and make concessions only incites Arab contempt and promotes Arab terrorism. Six years of diplomacy and sanctions did not deter Iran from continuing its development of nuclear weapons, which, as Governor Palin and others have said, endangers not only Israel but also Europe and the United States whose economy depends very much on Europe's economy."

He was asked if Christian believers (Messianic Jews) Jewish have the right of return to Israel?

"The late Yitzhak Rabin said long ago -- and he was not religious -- for Israel to remain a Jewish state, a substantial majority of its population must be Jewish.

Eidelberg was also asked to comment on how he feels when some Ultra Orthodox Jews go after Messianic Jews? Should the government do more to protect them?

"I do not personally know of Ultra-Orthodox Jews who fit this description. In any event, the government should protect the legal and civil rights of all residents of Israel. My basic knowledge of Messianic Jews is derived primarily from Elijah Benemozegh, Israel and Humanity. The Torah contains, as it were, two religions, one for the Jews and one for humanity as a whole, namely, the Seven Noahide Laws of Universal Morality, the very laws upon which the United States was founded and which were recently incorporated in a Joint Resolution of Congress to commemorate Education Day. As for the ultraorthodox parties, of which I have been critical, we need to bear in mind that the high birthrate of ultra-orthodox Jews has offset the high birthrate of Arabs. In fact, the Jewish population of Israel plus the "West Bank" is now 60 percent of the total population; and if we include Gaza, the Jewish population is 59 percent. The Arab birthrate has significantly declined, whereas the Jewish birthrate has increased -- which mean s that Israel has a favorable demographic future."

Eidelberg was also asked to respond to how he feels about Palestinian Christians who live difficult lives in the West Bank and Gaza?

"They are leaving, and I blame Israel's government for this phenomenon. The government has a duty to protect these Christians. But the government also fails Jews, as witness the thousands of bombs that have struck and depopulated Sderot. We need a very new government, and this requires, as a precondition, a very new system of governance."

Eidelberg said he has several books and countless articles on this subject, and readers should check his websites for detailed and in-depth analyses.

Finally, Eideleberg responded to the fact that many Christians are leaving because of the dangers they face. Does he think they should stay as a witness?

"This is a life and death question, and it affects Jews as well as Christians in Judea and Samaria. I have been asked this question by Jews in these areas! Parents must take care of their children. I have struggled for 32 years trying (with others) to reform Israel's government, to prevent the ascendancy of terrorists in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, so that the people in these areas can live a normal life.

"Christians who are leaving should bring with them a message to the world: only under Israel can we live in peace and be protected in our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A Palestinian state would be a terrorist state. As Daniel Pipes has indicated, the fact that Arab children have been indoctrinated to hate Jews and emulate suicide bombers means that it would take at least two generations to overcome this horrific brainwashing, and this will not happen so long as Islam fosters hatred and murder of 'infidels.' Therefore, and as admitted by Muslims who have renounced Islam, the ethos of Jihad must be eliminated, and respect for individual life -- especially for women -- become basis principles of Islamic culture.

"In short, we must insist that Arab-Islamic regimes abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or be expelled from the United Nations."

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TAGS: Israel Christian persecution Dr. Paul Eidelberg Foundation for Constitutional Democracy University of Chicago Arab terrorists United Nations

[09/30/2008]

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