Last Friday I received an email with a subject line that read “Digusting.” Now, with a subject line like that I suspected the email’s author was not a fan of Blessors of Israel. My suspicion was confirmed for I soon discovered the email was laced with accusations against Israel similar to what is frequently spread by Israel’s enemies, not only in the Middle East but at the United Nations, in the mainstream media, and on college campuses across the United States. Not content with limiting his attacks to Israel, the author proceeded to mischaracterize the Bible before concluding his email with an expression of his personal distaste for Blessors of Israel, “Your organization disgusts me.”
At first I was tempted to ignore the email and tackle my Friday’s “To Do List.” But after receiving counsel from Pastor Rich Jones, I decided to engage with the email’s author and respond. One paragraph flowed into another and eventually one page turned into two. Before I sent my response, I asked Pastor Rich for his editorial input, and once my edits were completed, I clicked the send button. Soon my response left the outbox, and as it did I asked the Lord to open a door for honest dialogue regarding Israel’s war with Hamas. As of today, I have not heard back from the email’s author, but I still hold out hope.
I also felt compelled to share my response to this email with you. You will notice that I frequently asked questions. I did so because questions are a powerful way to reveal the flaws in someone’s logic or point of view. My goal was not to embarrass or shame the email’s author but to hopefully stimulate a desire to discover the truth.
Beyond this email, my hope is that we Christians will begin to dialogue with non-Christians and help them see the flaws in many of the talking points concerning Israel and the modern Palestinian problem. Ultimately, my prayer is that, as we engage with non-Christians, God will open doors for us to talk about His Son, Jesus Christ, because our world truly needs Jesus now!
Please join me in praying for Israel and her people.
By His grace,
Dr. Matthew Dodd, Executive Director
From: Matthew Dodd
Sent: Monday, October 30, 2023 1:03 PM
To: < >
Subject: RE: Digusting
Hi ,
Thank you for sharing your perspective. Like you, I am also deeply concerned by what is happening between Israel and Hamas and I am praying for a peaceful resolution. I am grieved to read of the horrific things that have been done to the Israelis and that so many innocent Palestinian women and children in Gaza have also been injured or killed because they dwell in a land that is governed by Hamas terrorists.
As I reflect on your email, some questions come to mind by way of response. I sincerely hope that this will open the door for future dialogue.
Hamas is an internationally recognized terrorist organization which does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and is committed to the extermination of the Jews. If you had an enemy within the boundaries of your control who was committed to your annihilation, what would you do? What do you recommend that Israel do when it has attempted to live in peace with an enemy that does not want peace? Do you believe Israel has the right to defend itself from such an enemy? Is there something that Israel could do that it has not tried in the past?
Recent reports have revealed that Hamas deceived Israeli leaders into thinking they wanted to live peacefully with Israel. In response, Israel permitted thousands of Palestinians to come into Israel because Israel’s leaders believed the Palestinians in Gaza would benefit from higher wages. But those same Palestinians took advantage of Israel’s kindness and meticulously mapped out southern Israel for the Hamas terrorists in preparation for the October 7th slaughter. Again, what is your counsel to Israel after it extended an olive branch to Hamas and, in return, received an unprecedented slaughter in response?
Do you support the unprovoked and unprecedented atrocities that Hamas exacted upon Israel on October 7th which resulted in 1,400 dead, 5,431 injured, and 239 taken hostage? Do you believe Hamas was justified in beheading babies, raping women and teenage girls, and slaughtering Jews and non-Jews alike? Do you believe that any of these acts violated international law? And do you believe Israel has the right to not only defend itself but also ensure such heinous crimes never happen within its borders again?
On another note, Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and millions of dollars from the United States, the European Union, and other nations were given to the Palestinians living in Gaza. Hamas could have literally turned the Gaza Strip into a Mediterranean resort. What did Hamas do with all of that money? Did Hamas bless the residents in Gaza with better roads, water, and sanitation systems? Did they turn Gaza into a travel destination so that the Palestinians could thrive from a booming tourist industry? Did they educate the Palestinians so that Gaza could compete internationally? No, they used the millions of dollars to dig tunnels, convert water pipes into missiles, and pay the families of Palestinian “martyrs” as a way of encouraging more terrorism.
It is well documented that Hamas has been indoctrinating the Palestinian children to hate the Jews. Do you support the indoctrination of the Palestinian children by Hamas so that little boys and girls are not only taught to hate the Jews but to even celebrate when Hamas terrorists murder Jews?
It is also well documented that Hamas stores weapons and ammunition under hospitals and schools. Hamas uses hospitals and schools in order to blame Israel when it defends itself against a terrorist attack from one of those locations. Should hospitals and schools be used to store weapons and launch missiles at Israel?
When Israel gave the Palestinians advanced notice to leave northern Gaza before it commenced bombing that region, Hamas not only prohibited the Palestinians from fleeing, they also threatened to kill Palestinians who attempted to do so, innocent women and children alike. Why would Hamas treat the Palestinians in this manner, especially innocent women and children? Could it be that Hamas is using innocent Palestinian women and children as human shields? Do you support Hamas and their treatment of innocent Palestinians living in Gaza?
Regarding the topic of apartheid, this is a common attack against Israel. I hope that as you consider your answers to my questions, you will see why it is inappropriate to call Israel an “apartheid state.” That said, there are apartheid nations in the Middle East. For instance, are you familiar with Lebanon and its treatment of the Palestinian refugees within its borders? Did you know that Lebanon restricts Palestinians from access to government services and that Lebanon prohibits Palestinians from pursuing occupations in the medical, legal, and government fields? Why would Lebanon treat the Palestinian refugees like that? Correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe the Palestinian refugees are committed to the destruction of Lebanon and the extinction of the Lebanese people. And why has Syria done the same thing to the Palestinian refugees within its border? Doesn’t that sound like apartheid to you? On a similar note, why hasn’t Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, or Jordan welcomed the Palestinians into their countries? Could there be another reason? If so, what do you think that reason is? Do you think it may have to do with the destruction of Israel and the extermination of the Jews?
Do you believe that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s collective commitment to the destruction of the state of Israel and the extermination of the Jews can be rightly defined as a commitment to commit genocide? If not, what is your definition of genocide?
Please know that God does not delight in the death of anyone because He wants everyone to turn from their sin and have a life-transforming relationship with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (Ezekiel 33:11; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). And it is also true that Jesus Christ is coming back and when He does He will make right all that is wrong for His kingdom will be righteous and just (Isaiah 9:6-7).
As I close, you stated that you are “disgusted” by Blessors of Israel. Hopefully, my comments and questions will serve as the catalyst for you to reconsider your view. I appreciate your time and look forward to future dialogue.
By His grace,
Dr. Matthew Dodd, Executive Director