But the devil wants to swap Israel’s dream for a nightmare.
by Charles Gardner.
As we approach the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, some of us have been watching in horror as British government ministers heap curses on our nation by demonising Israel.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband (who is Jewish) was given a rousing ovation at the Labour Party conference after setting out his plans to punish Israel for failing to capitulate to their demands for dividing the Lord’s land. (See Joel 3:2 & Isaiah 60:12)
I am reminded of Jacob’s dream at Bethel when God promised that the land on which he was lying would be forever theirs. Bethel is located in the so-called West Bank – actually Samaria, in the heart of Israel – and woe betide those who would rob them of this territory.
Here’s what God told Jacob: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.” (Genesis 28:13)
Labour’s repeated denouncements of Israel – pandering to the Islamist vote – are providing further encouragement to jihadist warmongering. And if we keep feeding the crocodile, he will eventually have us for dinner and take over our country.
As for accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing for having the temerity to defend herself from yet more atrocities, here’s a point to ponder.
From the time the ‘West Bank’ was illegally annexed by Jordan in 1948 to 1967 when it was re-taken by Israel, the Palestinian population dropped 4.2% to 1.36 million. But under Israel’s administrative rule since, the Arab population has skyrocketed to 7.41 million, according to Palestinian Authority sources – a stonking 445% rise.1
Truth is being turned on its head to make the victims look like the perpetrators, and a huge swathe of our people – led by politicians and the media – have swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker.
Free Palestine? My prayer is that the Palestinians themselves would be set free from the constant propaganda of their Nazi leaders who learnt their skills from Hitler.
According to journalist James Marriott, who writes for The Times, we are entering a new dark age – a post-literate society addicted to smartphones and driven along by sloppy slogans. Among these (my suggestion, not his) is ‘From the river to the sea’.
Marriott notes that we no longer have the patience or attention span to read books and have our minds informed by reasoned debate that is neither visual nor adversarial.
My wife and I attended the launch in York last week of Marriott’s book The New Dark Ages (Bodley Head, £14.99) which I will review in due course. But his judgment on the perilous state of our society is clearly laid at the demise of the printed page.
Yet this is just one aspect of a much wider problem facing the West. Since the invention of the printing press and the translation of the Bible into modern languages, we became aware of a God of order and discipline whose word formed the basis for centuries of uplifting literature. Yet the bookshop where the launch was held – though wall to wall with books on two floors – spares only a small section for Judeo-Christian literature. I made my point at question time.
As the Bible itself says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain,” (Psalm 127:1) a verse inscribed (in Latin) on the floor of Britain’s Houses of Parliament. And at the United Nations headquarters in New York, forum for so much antisemitic debate these days, the Jewish prophet Isaiah is quoted, thus: “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks,” a verse which continues: “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
Why then do they consistently encourage all this warmongering against Israel?
The time has come for Christians, who have most benefited from their Jewish heritage, to speak out and face the tribal music of those who hate the God of Israel. Thus far, and no further, should be our cry. As Isaiah also said: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her… that her sin has been paid for… (on the cross by their Messiah).” (Isaiah 40:1f)
Tell them the good news that their God reigns! (Isaiah 52:7)
1David Soakell in Christian Friends of Israel newsletter Watching Over Zion, October 1, 2026