Israel Votes
Voter turnout reportedly is heavy in Israel today, particularly in Arab/Muslim areas, adding to concerns that Prime Minister Netanyahu may lose his reelection bid. Obama-allied political operatives have been in Israel for months helping parties on the left and utilizing the type of negative campaign ads against Netanyahu that have been used so effectively against conservative candidates here in the United States. The Obama Administration is hopeful that once it’s rid of Netanyahu, it can bully a leftwing Israeli government into dividing Jerusalem in half and abandoning Judea and Samaria, where more than 350,000 Israelis live.
Netanyahu made a last-minute pitch to conservative voters yesterday when he said publicly that if he is reelected he will no longer agree to the creation of a Palestinian state—a reversal of his previous position. The Obama Administration, Europe and the United Nations are demanding that the Palestinians be given such a state now. But that probably won't happen. The Palestinian leadership wants to eliminate Israel, not live side by side in peace with it. A divided Jerusalem and a Palestinian-run Judea and Samaria would quickly become launching pads for Iranian-sponsored jihadist attacks on the Israeli heartland.
Make no mistake about it: If Netanyahu does not prevail, Champagne corks will be popping in the White House. Iran’s leaders will be celebrating too, as one more impediment to a nuclear deal is removed—a deal that will surely be a disaster for Israel and the U.S.
Losing America
When Barack Obama was elected in 2008, he said he wanted to "fundamentally transform" America. It is amazing how much has changed so quickly.
America has taken a giant leap toward socialized medicine thanks to Obamacare.
The government is driving the coal industry into bankruptcy. Rather than welcoming energy resources from a friendly nation to the north, our government is fighting it.
America is alienating allies like Israel while it negotiates with enemies like Iran and appears impotent against the threat of ISIS and a resurgent Russia.
And as Obama was swept into office, voters, even in blue states like California, were approving laws preserving the normal meaning of marriage.
Through his tremendous work with Samaritan's Purse, Reverend Franklin Graham has devoted much of his life to helping those in other countries. But he is increasingly concerned for ours. During a recent interview with my friend Tony Perkins, Graham said:
"My father wasn't worried about losing our country when he was growing up. That wasn't the issue. Today, we are losing morally our nation, and the foundations of this country are collapsing and falling apart. . . .
"You know, I have people come up to me and they say, 'Franklin, your father would not be speaking out like this.' And my answer to them is to say, when my father went to school, the Ten Commandments were still on the wall. When my father went to school, the teacher led the whole classroom in the Lord's prayer. . . . It's a different day, it's a different century, and we have a whole different, new set of issues in front of us. . . .
"We have to take this very seriously and realize we're losing our country, and we're going to lose our freedoms that we've enjoyed as Christians in this country -- we're losing those quickly."
Summit Ministries
In tough times we can't help but wonder what life is going to be like for our children. Fortunately we don't have to be passive. For many years I've been proud to support Summit Ministries and its intensive, 12-day course that equips students to defend their faith and gain the confidence not to back down from an opposition that pushes so many good people to the sidelines.
Summit's programs in Colorado, Tennessee and California bring young adults up to speed on the issues we care about, such as marriage, life and free-market economics. The impact is stunning. Students come home focused and alert, ready to live with purpose and boldly speak the truth.
To learn more and to sign up for the $200 early-bird discount, go to www.summit.org. Here's one more idea: bring your youth group and the youth pastor or sponsor comes free! The early-bird discount ends March 31st and Summit sessions always fill up. So don't delay. Visit www.summit.org today.