Hamas Breaks Ceasefire Again 

The latest truce between Israel and Hamas unraveled yesterday after talks in Cairo failed to resolve one of the major issues -- Hamas' demand for open airports and seaports, which Israel will not agree to unless Gaza is demilitarized. The reason should be obvious to anyone. A completely open airport and seaport will mean more weapons from Iran pouring into Gaza, guaranteeing that the next war will be even more costly to Israel. 

Hours before the ceasefire was scheduled to end, Hamas fired 50 rockets at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, hoping to kill Israeli civilians. It was the eleventh ceasefire that Hamas had rejected or violated. 

ISIS Beheads American Journalist 

While Israel is fighting the jihadists of Hamas, the jihadists of ISIS apparently beheaded American photojournalist James Foley. The decapitation was carried out by a jihadist who, according to one report, spoke "in perfect English in what sounds like a London or southern English accent." 

That fact highlights the likelihood that he grew up in a Western society where messages of tolerance and pluralism were plentiful. Yet he chose the most intolerant, hateful and vicious wing of Islam that does not even pretend to desire peaceful coexistence with other faiths and cultures. 

This brutal murder has sparked international condemnation. But as terrible as it is for James Foley and his family, this is what ISIS has been doing to Christians and other religious minorities for months now. Far too many Western leaders are still in denial about the fact that ISIS and Hamas are just two different manifestations of the same jihadist army on the march throughout the Middle East and much of Africa. 

Israel is literally on the front lines confronting this barbaric army. Yet too many Western leaders are constantly berating and undermining its efforts. Some reports suggest they may even be holding back reinforcements in an attempt to force Israel to make some sort of peace with a group dedicated to its destruction and ours. 

By the way, the jihadists of ISIS have been encouraging the violence in Ferguson, Missouri, with mocking tweets like "How is democracy treating you guys?" 

ISIS tweeting about police brutality? The irony abounds coming from a group that beheads journalists, cuts children in half, crucifies Christians, sells women into sexual slavery and viciously rapes girls and boys. 

Speaking Up 

Many thanks to Ronald Laudner, president of the World Jewish Congress. He has a column in today's New York Times, asking, "Why is the world silent while Christians are being slaughtered in the Middle East and Africa?" Let me share with you a few excerpts: 
 

"The general indifference to ISIS, with its mass executions of Christians and its deadly preoccupation with Israel, isn't just wrong; it's obscene. … This bond between Jews and Christians makes complete sense. We share much more than most religions. We read the same Bible, and share a moral and ethical core. Now, sadly, we share a kind of suffering: Christians are dying because of their beliefs, because they are defenseless and because the world is indifferent to their suffering.

"Good people must join together and stop this revolting wave of violence. It's not as if we are powerless. I write this as a citizen of the strongest military power on earth. I write this as a Jewish leader who cares about my Christian brothers and sisters. The Jewish people understand all too well what can happen when the world is silent. This campaign of death must be stopped."

One of those speaking out is my friend Rep. Frank Wolf, a stalwart champion of religious liberty throughout his many years in public office. He is retiring this year, but he is still fighting and still speaking out. 

Please tune into Focus on the Family's radio broadcast this Friday. Rep. Wolf will be discussing the plight of Iraq's persecuted Christians with the Reverend Canon Andrew White of St. George's Church of Baghdad. Click here to find your local station listings. And please encourage your pastor to tune in and speak out! 

The People Versus The Elites 

Riots and terrorism are dominating the headlines. But the issue of illegal immigration may be about to burst back onto the scene. An official at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants warns that a second surge of unaccompanied illegal minors -- perhaps as many as 30,000 children -- is likely to reach the U.S. border sometime in the next four to six weeks. 

Meanwhile, there is yet more polling data revealing a growing chasm between the American people and our political and cultural elites. Consider these results from a survey conducted last month by The Polling Company: 
 

• 75% of likely voters (including 63% of Hispanics) favor enforcement of existing immigration laws.
   
• 74% of voters oppose any unilateral amnesty by Obama.
   
•  60% believed that "sending these children back to their home countries will convince parents to stop sending their children to the U.S."
   
• And a new poll by Rasmussen Reports finds that 60% of likely voters believe that securing the border is more important than "legalizing the status of undocumented workers in America." 

  And what are America's elites doing? Representatives of leading tech companies recently met behind closed doors at the White House trying to find a way to import more foreign workers into America. 

  Senator Jeff Sessions blasted this closed-door meeting, noting that virtually every one of the companies now asking for more foreign workers had also announced layoffs. Sessions said: 

  "Even while they demand more foreign workers, these companies are laying off current employees in droves. Cisco, which Politico reports met with White House aides to advocate for more foreign workers, just last week announced its intent to lay off 6,000 employees. Last month, Microsoft declared it would lay off 18,000 workers. Overall, mass layoffs in the tech industry are up 68% from the prior year."