God's Love towards Us

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us...

1 John 4:10

I realized today that I don't really know the love of God. I have not understood it, nor have I embraced it. I have been reluctant to receive the fullness He offers, and most horribly, I have not loved others with the love of God, as He would love have me love them. Thankfully the Father's love towards us (towards me) does not condemn my failure, nor my weakness. That's the whole point.

My version of love has been based on soulish, selfish gain. I loved to be loved--by my parents as a child and later by God. It didn't matter to me if my spouse, children or friends found me unlovable--I didn't care because I knew God loved me. I was willing to totally dedicate myself to pleasing God. Any sin or selfishness--weakness--in me was put under control of my spirit--submitted to the Holy Spirit. God's strength came through to overshadow my weakness with His strength--for His glory. I hate my weaknesses. I even encouraged others to trust God to overcome any weakness that might beset them. All good and scriptural, however: The wholeness and fullness of God's love fills our weakness without always necessarily removing it.

I recently heard Pastor Tom Smardz say, "God himself has a weakness, it is us." God loves us! This is in spite of our weaknesses, our ungodliness. While we were yet sinners, God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus to die in our place so that we could be reconciled to a holy, righteous, and just God. I only need to accept Him for who He is--my Lord and my God. He loves us in an unconditional way beyond our comprehension. I am my Father's weakness--yet he accepts me and loves me, filling my weakness with His love for His glory.

My own weakness is my husband's current illness. His illness has made him very different than the man I married--at least temporarily. Our changed lives, my responsibilities and my caring for him exhausts me so much that I feel I have no energy to be who God has called me to be. In fact my personality and character flaws are now brought out by him, instead of my gifts, talents--my best--as it once was, when we would minister together. I often abhor myself when my attitude and sharp tongue fall far short of God's love and mercy. I miss the opportunity to honor my husband--when he needs it most.

Yet I am absolutely powerless to change--for the first time in my life I feel really powerless in this situation. I trust God, I have faith that He can do something to redeem the situation. However, I can only throw up my hands in further frustration, as I seem to sink lower instead of rising above my sin and weakness. I have often felt a bit like Job. But for the first time in my life, I really feel as if I am sitting on an ash heap--scraping my hideous boils with a sharp rock--alone--with no one to really confide in. Friends encourage me pointing out my godly responses and basically perpetuating my hatred of my weakness--yet this weakness is the cross that I am to take up, to embrace, so that God can transform me and the situation.

Jesus took up His cross submitting to an unjust death, rejection and torture. In His submission the entire scenario transformed from what appeared to be Satan's greatest victory--into Satan's ultimate defeat. The cross is a heavy, back breaking burden--too much to bear. Yet we are told to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Denying yourself the little things in life prepares you to carry the cross the Lord has destined for you in your path towards Christ-likeness. Jesus' motivation was His love, that must be ours--to love as He loves. Pure and unquestioning love for God, trust and obedience, are indeed pleasing to God. However scripture states:

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

His grace is His love gift that cannot be earned and is never deserved. This perfect(mature/complete) love fills to overflowing as we allow Him to fill our weakness that we might reflect His glory in the midst of any trial. He is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of our praise. Always...

Copyright © 2008 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.

The Trial of our Faith

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:1-5

Duane Mayfield, my husband, stayed in three different hospitals and a nursing home, beginning April 29, 2007, when he collapsed. We arrived in the U.S. in April 2007, from Israel, to begin our fund raising tour for Horizon Ministries. While serving in New Orleans for two weeks as Chaplains with Billy Graham Evangelical Association, Duane became very weak. A week later he collapsed and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Houston, TX. During the following weeks he suffered with a severe blood infection, double pneumonia, aortic heart valve damage, two strokes, brain swelling and an aneurism any of which could have killed him. May 17, the doctors placed a shunt in his head to relieve his severe brain swelling. May 24, he had brain surgery to remove the aneurism. On May 28, the shunt was removed from his brain. May 29, he was transferred to a Rehab Hospital. They believe all this was as a result of spider bites in March, in Jerusalem, which caused severe blood poisoning but which we had thought was healed after treatment.

I, Ruth Mayfield, Duane’s wife and co-minister, have been held up a shield of faith for Duane and our ministry. Together with our prayer partners and friends we trust God to miraculously intervene in order that His plan and purpose for our ministry, our marriage and our lives will be fulfilled.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

God has a plan, not only to heal and deliver us, but God has promised that our latter days shall be greater than the former days (Haggai 2:7-9). We live by faith, trusting God to receive enough support through our ministry website ( www.horizonministries.org) and occasional speaking engagements in the US, in order to continue to serve in Jerusalem, Israel. God is our provider. Duane, after pastoring many years in CA, volunteers on the leadership team at Narkis Street Congregation, Jerusalem (www.narkis.org ). Our personal ministry in Israel takes many forms. We network with other ministries as well as minister to individuals. We have the privilege of serving Jews, Arabs and Internationals in our ministry. We also minister in Uganda and have several invitations to other countries. In the U.S. we share about our experiences and walk of faith, and how all this enables us to live by faith in Israel.

Throughout Duane’s medical ordeal, I continued to stand and pray to expose the enemy and reveal God's glory as we have traveled through this valley of trial and miracles. Through all of these events from one hospital to the next, we saw the signature of God in various places as He has put believing doctors and healthcare workers there to encourage us when we needed it most while providing for all our needs. If Duane’s collapse had happened in Israel, they would have transported him to the states because of insurance issues and he probably wouldn't have survived. Instead, the Lord directed our steps to be in Houston, TX where the best medical care could be received. The Church at Houston which had invited us to speak, hosted us during the initial two months of this trial, welcoming us into their homes and their hearts. They visited us in the hospital as if we were their own family—the family of God as in the Book of Acts. God bless each one of them, our family and our ministry partners, who have faithfully prayed and stood in faith with us through all of this.

God could have healed Duane instantly, but He has chosen this path of faith to full recovery for us and those who are praying with us. Medical professionals continue to be amazed as they look at his medical history and his current progress. Brain trauma as extensive as Duane has experienced, takes many, many months of intensive therapy to achieve the best recovery, depending on the amount of permanent damage to tissue. (There was a lemon size area in the right frontal lobe of Duane’s brain that was caused by the first stroke, and unknown amount of damage from the severe swelling from the center of his brain, the second stroke and an aneurism.) Amazingly, the neurosurgeon gave permission for Duane to travel a 6 hour flight only one month after surgery—normally this amount of recovery would take 3-5 months. Duane has no paralysis, no motor skill impairment, no speech impairment and only diminishing, minor memory issues. His strength and endurance though abated continue to improve. Praise you Jesus!

Duane spent a month in the hospital and ICU, another month in a rehabilitation hospital, then 5 weeks in a nursing home. He was released in August from the nursing home into home care. In mid-October he was released from all home therapy. He completed medical tests for his heart and brain in November. As a precaution doctors will continue to monitor the heart valve damage, but he has no restrictions to his activities or diet and requires medication only to alleviate the heart valve leakage. We expected to return to Israel in November. However, December 6, he had successful surgery for a blocked urethra. December 28, he was taken to emergency and admitted for sudden excessive bleeding—a late result of that surgery. At that time, Duane received four units of blood and another severe infection was discovered. God intervened again. They determined that the infection was confined to his bladder requiring only strong oral antibiotics.

The total hospital and doctor bills were close to $500,000. To our surprise, Duane did not have adequate insurance. God used government and charity resources to eventually cover 90% of the bills. We are confident that the Lord will make a way to cover every last medical bill. Duane now has medical coverage for all future treatments as well. Father God is an amazing provider as we diligently serve Him and place our trust in Him.

We spent ten months living with gracious friends and family, having to move every two-to-three weeks from place to place for Duane’s treatment. We returned to Israel February 5, 2008 to gradually resume duties at Narkis and our ministry. Duane is now recovering from overall weakness. His endurance increases with each passing day. We are seeing God's Hand and giving Him Glory every single day as we see Duane respond to therapy and gain strength and stability on the road to full recovery. He is an awesome God! His Ways past finding out!

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth allthine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life fromdestruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who
satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the
eagle's.PSALMS 103:2-5

Pray with us:

• That Duane will have the mind of Christ, full clarity of mind and without ever having any residue of weakness, exhaustion or confusion.
  
• Speak the Life of God into every cell of Duane's body and brain. All brain trauma and heart valve leakage will disappear without any residual affects and he will be stronger than ever.
  
• Wisdom and Direction—That we will continue to allow the Lord to direct our steps and provide for us His way.
  

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

To God be the Glory, Great things He is doing every day!!

Copyright © 2007 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.

It's All Good- by Christine Sakakibara

This is a blog written by a good friend here in Israel. At the end is a link to a video from Israeli TV. The video is in Hebrew, but you can still get the sense that it is POSITIVE coverage of a very contraversial subject in Israel--Messianic Jews. This was aired on national TV on Friday evening, Feb 16, 2007. This is a breakthrough! Some of those featured are close friends. The reason the show was done was one of the young children in the video was witnessing to a schoolmate, the reporter's child. God is AMAZING!

We all know that bad news sells more newspapers than good news, well at least that is the case in Israel.

One of the leading stories on the last day of December 2006 said the following: "Report paints gloomy picture of life for Israeli children". The report went on to reveal statistics released by the National Council for the Child. More Israeli children than ever are suffering from divorce, poverty, abuse, neglect and trauma. In short.. Third of Israel's children live below the poverty line. What the reporter of this particular article did not mention was all the assistance, both financial and material, that is being provided in aid by numerous non-profit Christian and Jewish organizations.

The reports that do not make the front page news are many times very encouraging and exciting. If the media had the good sense to give them time and space it would be a real morale builder, both to those who live in Israel and to the faithful ones who pray and support Israel in other ways.

Let's look at the immigrants from Western countries. According to figures released by the Jewish Agency, immigration from the West is on the rise. Aliya from the UK in 2006 reached a record high and surpassed all figures and was the best in 22 years. Russian immigrants are still coming and still make up the majority of immigrants. For the first time ever 220 Jews from the Bnei Menashe tribe in India immigrated after receiving approval that they indeed were one of the lost tribes of Israel.

Despite Israelis' many problems and complaints, a survey carried out by the Ministry of Health found that nearly half of all interviewed felt "happy most or all of the time". The survey interviewed 10,000 Israelis'. The conclusion of the survey showed, half of all Israelis' suffer from "chronic happiness"!

From all media reports, we often come to the conclusion that Israel is isolated and in danger of constant threat from surrounding Arab countries. Recently there was a report that an Israeli system for milking camels has been installed in Dubai. The system, the first of its kind, can milk 48 camels at the same time. Israel and Dubai do not have diplomatic relations. This particular system has the potential to attract 200 million Arab customers. Other countries, who do have diplomatic relations, act as the go between in purchasing Israeli technology for Arab countries. By the way, people who are lactose intolerant can drink camel milk.

Europe is becoming a hot bed of anti Semitism, yet the German government is encouraging tourism to Israel for German citizens who suffer from skin diseases such as psoriasis. The German Ministry of health made a decision to include Dead Sea treatment in the German basket of health services. A health study carried out in Germany concluded it was more economical and proved more successful if patients were sent for four weeks of treatment at Dead Sea hotels and clinics, rather than to skin clinics in Germany.

A Christian Arab researcher, 31years old, now living in Haifa and originally from Nazareth, recently won the largest grant ever given by the European Union to an Israeli scientist. He was given 1.75 million Euros to develop an "electronic nose" to sniff out cancerous cells and tumors before they have a chance to spread and kill. The grant will allow him to set up a new lab and hire researchers from Israel and abroad. He said the team's first goal will be "sniffing out" lung cancer.

But the biggest and best news was stated just this week on a Friday night TV report (Channel 22) on Messianic Jews in Israel. The reporter said that it's believed that there are now 15,000 Messianic Jews living in Israel and in Jerusalem alone are 15 congregations. Three years ago an Israeli newspaper reported they believed there were 10,000 Messianic Jews in Israel. One thing is for sure, souls are being added to the body of Christ.

Good things are happening in Israel, too good to be kept hidden. Israel is well on its way to becoming "A light to the nations". (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6)

link to Israeli tv-video (it begins with advertisements, but the video starts with the family at the kitchen table)

For more articles and news from Christine go to her blog: http://christine-theview.blogspot.com

Devotional: Psalms 42

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. PSALMS 42:1-5

Many of you may be familiar with the old chorus that is written based on the first few verses of this Psalm. "As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul longeth after thee. You, Oh Lord, are my heart's desire and I long to worship thee...." I always loved the sweet, soft peace in the atmosphere of that song, but this song is not as soothing sounding. The words of these first five verses are a cry of a heart in desperation.

This Psalm has been a favorite of mine through many a difficult time period in my life. Times when my world seemed to be crashing down all around me, and depression grabbed me, gripping me by the throat so that my very life felt like it was fading. The enemy comes in like a flood sometimes, he tries to convince us our hope is gone. Even our friends may ask us as Job's friends did, what is our secret sin? When we stand in faith, believing that the trials are temporary, they will ask, "Where is your God?" Our hearts and minds may know to trust in God, but it may become very difficult when faced with pain, disease, or lack; particularly if you have to watch a child or a loved one suffer. Sometimes there are no answers for those who question our trust in God. All we can do is persevere. Our hope is in God.

I have had conversations with Father God much like the words in this Psalm describe. I've done everything, I am praising you in the midst of the fiery furnace, yet the enemy mocks YOU! And he mocks my faith in You. Yet again God's grace reminds me of Job and his words. "I know my Redeemer lives!" "Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him." It is good to remind myself that whatever I am going through, Jesus understands. He suffered and experienced everything we ever could, and He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. There is suffering in this world. We cannot know God's heart if we don't experience suffering. Sin and it's consequences doesn't make God as angry as it does cause Him to suffer and grieve. His Holiness and Righteousness produce the wrath but His Love shields us in Mercy.

So this Psalm intermingles grief and despair with hope and faith. We can speak to our own souls and tell them to hope in God, because all tears will be forgotten in the light of His Countenance. We can answer those who question, where is your God? He is right here with me. He is pouring His strength into me, because I have no more of my own. He is giving me joy and hope, when there is no tangible reason for these to exist in me. I will seek my God, not because He has an answer to stop my suffering, but because He is everything to me. If He would forsake me, I could not breathe another breath. He holds me in the palm of His Hand. By Him the stars are held in their places. He brings the sunshine and the rain, when the earth is parched. He floods me being with the warmth and light of His Love and His Presence. I desperately need Him, He is all I need.

Devotional: Psalms 18

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong forme. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. PSALMS 18:1-16

This is the beginning of a song, or Psalm, written by King David after his victory from a very low point. He himself had been anointed as the new king of Israel by the Prophet and Seer Samuel. Yet King Saul, whom David had faithfully served, was still the king and he was chasing David through the desert to kill him. Can you imagine all the thoughts that might have gone through David's mind? It would certainly be difficult in his situation not to question God. David was the least in his father's house and had no aspirations for leadership. It was all God's idea! He has submitted to God, submitted to the authority of Samuel, and even the authority of the King, Saul. His reward is a death sentence. He finds himself running for his life to the desert.

David was probably well acquainted with survival in the deserts of the Judean hills were he had kept his father's sheep. Scripture tells us he had also slain a bear and a lion with his bare hands, so we know that it was not the desert itself that David feared. Yet we know that the desert place symbolizes a dry, difficult place where we begin to feel like we are alone. We seem to loose our perception and wonder if perhaps God himself has forsaken us. Even though we may know that God has promised in His Word never to leave or forsake us, and there is no place we could hide from God's presence even if we tried, we can forget these things in the face of extreme distress. Other Psalms written by David describe every "feeling" we could ever experience in the desert place, from fear to depression, from absolute loneliness to exaltation in the presence of God's nearness as we view the night sky in wonder.

In this Psalm David has just been delivered from death by the hand of God. What a victory! David sees God as having moved heaven and earth on his behalf! David is my personal hero because whether he is facing fear or victory his FIRST thought is always God. Though he is a mighty warrior himself, he ALWAYS gives God ALL the credit. This Psalm is no exception. David joyously sings of God's deliverance and then reminds himself, and us, that God has done this because because "He delighted in me". God's infinite love for us is the reason He walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death and brings us to victory. It isn't because David had earned God's favor, David believed in, and expected God's favor. The Bible says that God considered David His friend. What an honor to be called a friend of the Most High God.

Do you know that Father God delights in you? Every time you acknowledge His blessings in your life and give Him glory, He delights in YOU. Yes, He created the stars and all the wonders of this earth and in the universe, and yet He delights in our recognition, our dependence, our obedience, our love for Him. We are so blessed to have the Bible as we go through our desert places and come under the attack of the enemy. We can read through the Psalms and allow the Holy Spirit to remind of God's faithfulness, even when we are weak and fail. How grievous it is to hear someone say, "Oh, I am in a desert place and the Word is so dry I cannot read it." This is like refusing life saving water because your throat is too dry to swallow. Don't give into the enemy's lies!

I pray that today you will delight yourself in the Lord that He may delight in You. May you love, serve and glorify Him in ways that make Him sing, dance and rejoice over you.

New Generation of Kids

A Word 2/4/07 Albany, OR by Kim Clement

The Spirit of God says this year I am dedicating to the child. To the children of this nation and to the children of this earth because it is now time for retribution, it is time for Me to repay for the many who have been taken out legally by abortion, I'm going to repay. I will raise up a double portion and a double sound in your children for the gifts that previous generations had are nothing compared to what I'm about to do through your children. The Spirit of God says look at them these are but a few compared to what I'm going to do. I will not only baptize them with a Spirit at an early age but I will do it in the schools, I will do it in preschools. They will have no choice because my Spirit has been waiting for a moment to repay for that which they have done to the children of this generation. Therefore rejoice for tonight is the beginning of something that shall continue and continue and grow. Children will gather together and they will hear the voice of the prophet and they themselves will prophesy. God says the powers of hell will not be able to stand the sound of a child. No one will stop the sound of God in the child that I am raising up in this hour. They will not stop the sound of child-like faith. They will not stop the sound of child-like praise. They will not stop the sound of child-like wisdom. This is something that will continue throughout this country until the voice of God is heard in the preschools, schools, universities and colleges. My voice shall be heard says the Lord. http://www.kimclement.com

View this on LiveDigital

This new generation of children is arising in our midst. God is doing it. We can choose to cooperate or try to squash what He is doing. But He will do it. It is prophecied in Joel.

I challenge you to consider, God sees each of us as one of these little children. Whether we are 5 years old or over 80, whether we have been saved 5 minutes or for our entire lifetime. We remain as little children to our Abba, Father. Throw away the wordy explanations of your flowery prayers, seasoned with your doubts and thoughts of how God ought to answer your prayers and intervene according to our desires, and learn to pray these kinds of childlike prayers.

Abba, we need You. All we need is YOU!

Accoustic Prayer from the Gaza Strip

Palestinian/American missionary minstrel sings his original prayer for peace for Rafah/Gaza and all the Holy Land and all its peoples.

OUR WORLD: WELCOME TO PALISTINE by Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post

The Jerusalem Post one of the main sources of media in Israel. I am posting this, not because I don't love Muslims who have been terribly deceived and brainwashed, but because most Americans don't have a clue what it's like here. We have friends in ministry in Gaza, and in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). It is utter insanity that the US is putting $ and weapons in the hands of Fatah, who has taken credit for the suicide bombing last week in Eilat. I think all US politicians should be required to go visit some of these places for a few days to open their blind eyes. The Bible says the "Truth will set us free."  Please continue to pray fervently for Jesus to invade these areas in dreams and visions and sending believers as witnesses--AND for protection for those brave believers. Nothing is too hard for God. If you are interested in reading a perspective of Israelis in the aftermath of the bombing in Eilat please visit my friend Christine's blog: http://christine-theview.blogspot.com/

*************************************************

The Jerusalem Post Internet
Edition

Our World: Welcome to Palestine
by Caroline Glick
THE JERUSALEM POST Jan. 30, 2007
________________________________

In the world of international diplomacy few issues receive
more wall-to-wall support than the notion that it is
essential to establish a Palestinian state. Leaders
worldwide are so busy speaking of how essential it is for a
State of Palestine to be founded that none of them seems to
have noticed that it already exists.

This state was officially founded in the summer of 2005,
when Israel removed its military forces and civilian
population from the Gaza Strip and so established the first
wholly independent Palestinian state in history. Israel's
destruction of four Israeli communities in Northern Samaria
and curtailment of its military operations in the area set
the conditions for statehood in that area as well.

And so it is that as statesmen and activists worldwide
loudly proclaim their commitment to establishing the
sovereign State of Palestine, they miss the fact that
Palestine exists. And it is a nightmare.

In the State of Palestine 88 percent of the public feels
insecure. Perhaps the other 12 percent are members of the
multitude of regular and irregular militias. For in the
State of Palestine the ratio of
police/militiamen/men-under-arms to civilians is higher than
in any other country on earth.

In the State of Palestine, two-year-olds are killed and no
one cares. Children are woken up in the middle of the night
and murdered in front of their parents. Worshipers in
mosques are gunned down by terrorists who attend competing
mosques. And no one cares. No international human rights
groups publish reports calling for an end to the slaughter.
No UN body condemns anyone or sends a fact-finding mission
to investigate the murders.

In the State of Palestine, women are stripped naked and
forced to march in the streets to humiliate their husbands.
Ambulances are stopped on the way to hospitals and wounded
are shot in cold blood. Terrorists enter operating rooms in
hospitals and unplug patients from life-support machines.

In the State of Palestine, people are kidnapped from their
homes in broad daylight and in front of the television
cameras. This is the case because the kidnappers themselves
are cameramen. Indeed, their commanders often run television
stations. And because terror commanders run television
stations in the State of Palestine, it should not be
surprising that they bomb the competition's television
stations.

SO IT WAS that last week, terrorists from this group or that
group bombed Al Arabiya television station in Gaza. And so
it is that Hamas attacks Fatah radio announcers and closes
down their radio station claiming that they use their
microphones to incite murder. Because indeed, they are
inciting murder. What would one expect for terrorists to do
when placed in charge of a radio station?

And so it is that in the State of Palestine, journalists -
whether members of terror groups or not - are part of the 88
percent of their public who are afraid. Sunday they
protested outside the offices of one terror faction or
another that controls the Palestinian Authority.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, reporter Ala Masharawi
explained, "No one goes outside, no one moves without
thinking twice. Gaza's streets have become terrible streets,
especially at night. Gaza is a ghost town."

As the Post's Khaled Abu Toameh reported last week, in the
State of Palestine, Christians are persecuted, robbed and
beaten in what can only be viewed as a systematic campaign
to end the Christian presence in places like Bethlehem. As
Samir Qumsiyeh, owner of the Beit Sahur-based private
Al-Mahd (Nativity) TV station lamented, "I believe that 15
years from now there will be no Christians left in
Bethlehem. Then you will need a torch to find a Christian
here."

MANY GOVERNMENT ministers and commentators seek strategic
meaning in the strife in the State of Palestine. Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni, for instance, goes on and on about the
need to strengthen the "moderates" - that is, the Fatah
terror group - over the "extremists" - that is, the Hamas
terror group.

Helping her to propound this nonsense is PA Chairman and
Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas and his men tell Westerners
how pro-Western they are at the same time as they name
streets and schools financed by US aid after Saddam Hussein
and build sports facilities on the American taxpayers' tab
in memory of terrorists who killed American soldiers in
Iraq.

For the umpteenth time, on Sunday Fatah spokesmen in PA
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's office blamed Iran and Syria for
the escalating violence in Gaza and Judea and Samaria that
has killed 29 people, including two children, in four days.
"Iran and Syria are encouraging Hamas to continue fighting
against Fatah," they alleged.

And yet, just last Thursday the Shin Bet arrested Omar
Damra, a Fatah terrorist in Nablus. Damra is accused of
manufacturing suicide bomb belts and attempting to smuggle
them into Israel. He also stands accused of plotting to
place explosive devices along roads in Judea and Samaria
with the intention of blowing up IDF patrols.

Damra and his partner and fellow Fatah terrorist Mahmad
Ramaha, who was arrested a month ago, were working under the
instruction of Hizbullah - that is, under the direction of
Iran. According to the Shin Bet, Hizbullah - that is, Iran -
has taken over Fatah operations in Nablus. Since Israel's
withdrawal from northern Samaria in August 2005, the Shin
Bet has noted that, like Gaza, the Nablus area has become a
mini-Afghanistan.

So not only are Hamas terrorists operating under Iranian and
Syrian direction today, Fatah terrorists are as well. Yet
this doesn't stop the US and Israel from pouring guns and
money into the hands of Fatah terror chiefs. They fail to
recognize that what you see is what you get.

These guns are not used to encourage moderation. These guns
are used against Israelis and Palestinians alike in a turf
battle between terror groups over money, guns and power that
will never end. And it will never end because fighting and
killing for money, guns and power is what terrorists do.

FOR THE past 13 years, since the Palestinian Authority was
established in 1994, the contours of the State of Palestine
have taken form in front of our eyes. Starting with Yasser
Arafat's abrogation of the rule of law and murderous
campaign against land dealers and journalists, with each
passing year and with each move to further empower the PA,
the situation has only grown worse. And yet, international
pressure on Israel from Arabs, Europeans and the US to
surrender more territory, curtail its authority, abrogate
its claims to the areas set for Palestine, and finance the
Fatah terror group have only grown in intensity.

And with each passing year, as the reality of Palestine has
become clearer, the Israeli leadership's will to resist this
pressure is increasingly eroded.

So it is that last week Defense Minister Amir Peretz
announced that he supports negotiating with Hamas. Peretz
laid out his "vision" for the reinstatement of the so-called
peace process with the Palestinians, and stated that, to
"empower" the Palestinians, he supports extending the ban on
IDF operations from Gaza to Judea and Samaria. It should go
without saying that such IDF operations are aimed at
preventing massacres of Israeli civilians like the one that
happened in Eilat Monday morning.

LIVNI, FOR her part, has become the international champion
of Fatah. Gushing to an audience of international peace
processors in Davos, Switzerland, last week, Livni said, "In
order to achieve peace and in order to promote a process, we
must stick to this vision of a two-state solution and
examine what the best steps to take are."

Of course, neither Livni nor Peretz, who insist that
Israel's most urgent priority is to establish Palestine, is
willing to recognize that Palestine exists already. They
refuse to acknowledge what we already know: Palestine is a
terror state and an economic basket case fully funded by the
international community. Indeed, over the past year since
Hamas won the Palestinian elections, international
assistance to the Palestinians has increased dramatically.

As Ibrahim Gambari, the UN under-secretary-general for
political affairs, noted last Thursday, official Western aid
to the Palestinians, not including Arab and Iranian support
for Hamas and Fatah, increased by 10 percent in 2006 over
2005, and stood at $1.2 billion.

The Palestinians, who receive more aid per capita than any
people on earth, are needy not because they lack funds. They
are poor because they prefer poverty, violence and war to
prosperity, peace and moderation. So it is that 57 percent
of Palestinians support terror attacks against Israel.

The multitude of protesters worldwide who demand an end to
the so-called "occupation" and the establishment of
Palestine should be made aware of the fact that Palestine
already exists. The hordes of political leaders mindlessly
squawking about "visions" and "two-state solutions" should
know: This is Palestine. Enter at your own risk.

The Jerusalem Post Internet
Edition article