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Never Again Is Now

December 23, 2024

For over a year, Israel has been attacked on seven fronts: Hezbollah in Lebanon; Hamas in Gaza and Judea and Samaria (the West Bank); Houthis in Yemen; the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iraq and Syria; and directly by the Iranian regime. Against all odds, Israel endures.

Despite the horrific events of October 7, 2023, the rising death toll of soldiers who have fallen defending the nation of Israel and the ongoing crisis of 101 hostages remaining in Gaza under the torturous control of Hamas, Israel is pressing forward with victory and success in crushing its enemies. Behind this clear power of military might and brilliant strategic intelligence lies the true source of power: the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! Israel will be victorious because the God of Israel defends His covenantal nation, as Psalm 83 passionately declares.

However, there is an eighth front against Israel and the Jewish community that many people have not considered: the daily attacks and calls for violence against the Jewish people in the nations. Painted with the same distorted, hateful brush that comes against Israel, Jewish communities worldwide are under attack, whether through rhetoric, marches, social media or outright violence.

Recently in Amsterdam, Netherlands, hundreds of radical Muslims attacked Israeli football fans, beating them with clubs, bars and fists. The mob chased the Israelis through the streets, kicked them to the ground until they stopped moving, hounded them on trams and launched fireworks at their hotel windows. They cornered people demanding, “Are you Jewish?” They then proceeded to terrorize everyone suspected of being Israeli. This immediately prompted Israel to send rescue planes and medical staff from Magen David Adom (Israel’s national emergency and ambulance service) to assist the bloodied Israelis who showed up at the Amsterdam airport the next day and airlift them back to Israel.

In Montreal, Canada, thousands of protesters wearing masks and keffiyehs while waving Palestinian flags charged through the city center burning cars, smashing windows and chanting slogans about slaughtering Jews. Caught on film, protestors gave the Sieg Heil (Nazi salute) or called for the Final Solution against the Jewish community, a reference to the 1942 policy of Nazi Germany’s Third Reich to annihilate all Jews. The Nazis implemented this policy with terrifying success. By 1945, two out of every three European Jews had been murdered—over six million Jewish people in total.

Video after video has shown Jews—whether in North America or Europe—being told that their presence on city streets will “incite violence” as rabid, antisemitic protestors bay for Jewish blood and the destruction of Israel.

One of the key functions of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is to bring war criminals who live in nations with failed, corrupt judicial systems to justice. Yet the ICC recently demonstrated its immoral, antisemitic depravity by issuing arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This hearkens to the Scripture found in Judges 17:6b, “…every man did what was right in his own eyes” (NASB).

Amidst the turmoil, millions of Christians are at the forefront, declaring with a resounding voice, “Israel, you are not alone!” I recently spoke at Bridges for Peace Canada’s annual fundraising gala and this was the theme of the evening. Before a hall filled with Jews and Christians, I told them of how Bridges for Peace has donated ambulances, thousands of bags of food and clothing, trauma care support for survivors, appliances for members of displaced communities and much more as we respond with compassion to a traumatized nation.

I reminded them of the love and prayers of Christians from all around the world who stand with them, attend rallies to free the hostages and prayer vigils, speak up in their communities, share from pulpits in churches, take to social media and so much more. Through tears, I recounted the dark days following October 7, 2023, and reminded them of what God is doing in our world as He draws us together for His glory. I pray that my words of love and support, along with those from our teams worldwide, are a deep source of comfort and hope for Jewish people everywhere.

Yet it is no secret that Jewish people throughout the nations feel vulnerable, alone, hated and afraid. As we move into 2025, Israel is expecting a spike in aliyah (immigration to Israel), as thousands from countries such as France, Russia, the UK and the USA are expected to return to the Land of their promise. As Christians, we need to count the cost of siding with Israel. We need to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the nations with support, love and solidarity. History will not forgive us if we abandon them in their time of need. For the sake of our nations, our faith in Jesus (Yeshua), our being grafted into the olive tree of Israel (Rom. 11) and biblical truth, we cannot fail by being silent in the face of evil. We have seen the cost of silence throughout history. Never again is now!

God is calling out to the Church to discern truth and push back the darkness of antisemitism. God is regathering His people to His Land, just as He promised through the prophet Isaiah (11:12) and He is demonstrating His wonders every day. The prophets foretold of righteous non-Jews who worship the God of Israel and attach themselves with love to the Jewish people (Zech. 2:10–13). Will this be you? Please give to our Project Rescue fund and help the Jewish people return to their ancestral homeland.

With shalom,

Rev. Peter J. Fast

International CEO

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