Rice and Bush Errant in Pushing to

Give Up One Inch of Israeli Land

Commentary by Daniel Gilbert

During a peace summit in Annapolis, MD, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has vowed to heavily pressure Israel to divide Jerusalem. Worse, Rice and the current administration are expected to blame Israel for the lack of peace in the region, according to a Palestinian negotiator who spoke to WorldNetDaily.

Blame Israel? Perhaps President Bush and his administration need a history and current events briefing.

Biblically and historically, what has been dubbed “Palestine” has always belonged to the Jewish people. Christians who have studied the Bible know that this land was promised by God to the Jews: “In that same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." (Genesis 15:18 and Numbers 34.)

Archeological evidence proves a Jewish presence in Palestine for over 3000 years, including coins, pottery, cities and cultural artifacts. No other culture can predate the Jewish claim in this region. In fact, modern-day Jews are considered to be direct descendants of Israelites in the region.

Jews continued to persevere and maintain a cultural and physical presence in the area during the Roman’s conquest, (who renamed it Palestine), the exile and the destruction of the second Temple.

Historically, Palestine was not the economical prize that it is, ideologically, today. Only when the increase in Jewish migration to the now disputed area transformed a once considered barren wasteland into a thriving community, did Palestinians, i.e. Arab refugees, follow and the historic battle began.

Palestinians can only claim the abstract of victim-hood and cling to the threat of violence promoted by other Arab states to justify their stake in the region. If Palestinians truly want peace, why have they not jumped at the chance for statehood? Better yet, why have they not demanded the same treatment from other Arab states when under Arab control? The answer is Palestinians are at the mercy of Arab states who ignore the plight of the Palestinian people, promote their victim-hood, and exploit the ‘peace’ process for their ultimate goal: the destruction of Israel.

A year before the establishment of the state of Israel, the United Nations proposed two states, one Israeli, one Palestinian. The Jews agreed, the Arabs said “NO.” No peace agreement or truce for 30 years would afford any agreement without either refusing recognition of, or declaring the desire for, the destruction of the second (and arguably the first) most important ally of the United States.

After four major attacks on Israel by Arab states following 1948, Israel remained more than accommodating for peace in the region, even as a victorious nation simply defending its sovereignty. Arab nations expressed no desire for a Palestinian state and held out as long as possible to recognize an Israeli state which they increasingly acknowledged as undefeatable.

After the Independence War, which ended is 1949, Israel agreed to UN “green lines” to end fighting, promote peace and return refugees to their homeland. Arabs still refused to recognize Israel. From 1947 to 1967, Arab states, including Jordan and Egypt which controlled the West Bank and Gaza respectively, never considered a Palestinian state.

After the Six Day War in 1967, Israel gained control of the Gaza Strip, Sinai Desert, Golan Heights, and the West Bank. Following the 6 Day War, all Arab countries said “no” to recognition of Israel, “no” to peace and “no” to negotiation.
During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel was once again attacked on what is considered their holiest day, yet Judeo-Christian nations today are prohibited by the international community to strike an Arab country during Ramadan. Israel, victorious, and their ally, the US, were punished by an oil embargo where prices skyrocketed from $3 a barrel to $11. Arab countries were not punished for their aggression.

In 1982, Israel responded to several PLO terrorist attacks by creating a security zone in Lebanon. At the same time, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from the Sinai Peninsula as Egypt agreed to finally recognize Israel. Israel also offered Egypt the Gaza Strip, but Egypt declined.

Since then, the “peace” process has become more interesting. Let’s consider that under the Clinton Administration, Israel offered: A Palestinian State; 95 percent of the territory of the West Bank; 95 percent of the Gaza Strip; Air space sovereignty and half of Jerusalem.

How did the Palestinians react to such an offer by a weak leader (Ehud Barak), elected with the help of Democratic operative James Carville? No deal.

In 2003, President Bush and Secretary of State Rice concocted the “Road Map to Peace” and in 2005, as a good faith effort, Israel spent $1 billion relocating Jewish settlers out of Gaza. Where did that leave Israel? From 2001-2007 – during “peace” negotiations Israel was afforded: 6 bus bombings killing 84 civilians; 3 mall bombings killing 33 civilians; nightclub, restaurant and falafel stand bombings killing 28 civilians; port bombing killing 10 and 2 bombings killing 16 Israeli soldiers.

Democrats and some Republicans complain that the United States has lost many of its allies, particularly in Europe; but we are not fighting a war in Europe, we are fighting against Islamo-facists in the Middle East. Our main ally there is Israel. If these people cannot realize the invaluable asset Israel is to our stake in the Middle East, surely President Bush and his administration should.

All Jews, Christians and Muslims should keep Genesis 13:14-17 in mind: “And Jehovah said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it.”

It is clear that the US should not be involved in the process of giving away any fraction of the land given by God to the Jewish people.

Daniel Gilbert is running for the Republican nomination for the office of the President of the United States in Asheville, North Carolina. He will be on the Missouri primary election ballot on February 5th as well. He firmly believes that there has to be a change in presidential and congressional leadership to affect change in this country. That there has to be a way to get the politicians out and the statesmen in. That politicians who vote only for the sake of the party, the lobbyist or big business have to be removed. To bring about substantial changes in the government these new statesmen must control the House, Senate and the White House. Born 1946 in Winston-Salem, NC, Gilbert is married with two grown children, 4 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. He is a businessman and member of Biltmore Baptist Church in Asheville. He was an Eagle Scout, grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina and graduated in 1969 from Virginia Tech with a BS in Civil Engineering. He received an Army ROTC commission, was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, Fort Jackson, SC and served in Vietnam. For more information regarding Daniel’s bid for the presidency visit his website at www.wethepeopleforpresident.com or call (910) 270-8966.