David Mark, Author at Israel Rising

February 17, 2016December 16, 2016

Is Merkel Feeling the Heat?

One should not think too deeply on Angela Merkel’s words in press conference with Bibi Netanyahu in Berlin today. According to i24 News, the German Chancellor said:

“Now is not the time for a significant step forward [in the two-state solution].”

Angela Merkel has been known in the past as a major backer of the two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The fact that she seems to be pushing the pause button should catch more than a few glances. However, one should not take her pronouncement too far. In the intra-Europe sparring over the refugee crisis, Angela Merkel has been painted (mostly due to her own policies) as responsible for the catastrophic situation that Europe now finds itself.

With the Eastern European countries taking a far tougher approach than herself, she has been struggling to stave of not only a revolt in the EU, but one in her own country. Keep in mind, many Eastern European countries have sided with Israel over the labeling crisis and by doing so they have revealed how fractured the continent is. Merkel achieves a lot with her statement. By backing off of Israel, she can show her interlocutors that she isn’t as clueless about the sweeping hordes of Islamic migrants engulfing her continent. After all Israel has been taking the brunt of radical Islamic violence for years. Letting it drown in the region’s current typhoon of geopolitical chaos would prove how clueless European leaders really are. So Merkel gains the mantel of “principled leader” without forfeiting too much of her open borders policy.

Keeping Israel in Europe’s Orbit

As Israel continues to build on its economic growth with trade deals and energy agreements with a variety of new partners, Europe understands that Israel is in fact poised to surpass it as a global leader and influencer. China and India don’t care about the to state solution, backing it only with lip service. Russia does only what’s best for it and a strong Israel could very well be part of Putin’s plans for the region. Europe is being cut out of everything and losing influence over Israel would not bode well for it.

Backing Israel on the two state solution is ultimately an attempt to lure Israel away from shifting alliances, especially ones that stand diametrically opposed to the EU’s policy in the Middle East.

February 15, 2016February 29, 2016

Can the Turkey-Russian War Break the Alliance System?

Are we in 1914 or 2016. Sometimes with all of the alliances it’s hard to tell. Then again when it comes to Syria there are some outliers that might just throw the alliance system out the window. With the war in Syria on the verge of turning into a much wider conflict it is important to understand how all the sides are stacked.

Russia, Iran, Syria, Armenia

The Shiite-Russian alliance has been steadily growing for some time. The pervading assumption has been Russia’s need for a Mediterranean port being behind his support of Assad. With Turkey’s downing of the SU-24, Putin’s calculus has changed.

Long an opponent of Turkey’s expansionism, Putin used the SU-24 incident to turn the screws on Turkey’s Erdogan. Armenia, a close ally of Russia is being beefed up as a potential launching pad for attacks against Turkey. Besides its alliance with Russia, Armenia has historical redresses with Turkey going back to the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Iran and the Syrian government’s forces have become Russia’s ground troops in taking back the strategic Western part of the country. Russia has avoided a repeat of its Afghanistan debacle by using the Shiite armies to do its work. Besides that, the Shiites are giving Russia real geopolitical leverage against the region’s Sunni powers.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Gulf States

What makes the stakes so high in Syria, is the exacerbation of the Sunni-Shiite conflict. With Russia in full concert with the Shiite led countries, the Sunni states like Saudi Arabia and Turkey see no other choice but to go into the fray. The reasoning is simple: the Shiites with a resurgent Russia need to be stopped now or risk being too formidable once their gains are entrenched.

The Sunnis are 90% of the Islamic world, but the growing Shiite crescent creates a real strategic nightmare for them, effectively cutting the Sunni world in two and, of course, controlling key oil routes that will have a very real effect on future regional control.

NATO

Although conventional wisdom insists that NATO would issue the game changing Article 5 in the case of a Turkish-Russian war, it is not at all clear NATO will pick a side. Europe is very much dependent on Russian gas during the winter. They are also trying to tamp down the off again on again conflict in East Ukraine and need Russia to help them. As for Obama and the USA, getting into a war with Russia and the Shiites on behalf of Turkey and the gulf states is not something they want.

With all of that being said, a full out war between Russia and Turkey will have large consequences for energy control, economy, and refugees. NATO may have little choice but to jump into things on behalf of their most disliked member, Turkey, even if the gamble proves to be a negative one.

Greece, Cyprus, Israel

With Greece, Cyprus, and Israel’s new found partnership in energy, technology, and security all three of them are loath to pick sides in what is fast turning into a geopolitical typhoon. Greece and Cyprus are arch enemies of Turkey and it is no surprise that Greece has made it clear that they see Russia as a friend and potential partner. This of course puts Israel into an uncomfortable position. At one hand, Israel has been seeking what is known as a neutral foreign policy for decades and, on the other hand, is still very much in the orbit of Europe and the USA.

With Russian overflights of Israeli airspace increasing daily and new trade avenues opening up with the very countries aligned with Russia, it should no longer be surprising what side the government in Jerusalem picks. Then again, that would put it on the same side as its arch enemies, Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah. Russia insists it has them in check, but trusting Putin has never been a good idea.

Of course, Bibi and Israel rather stay out of it and continue trading with all parties equally, but remaining neutral may no longer be an option.

Jordan

The King of Jordan has vacillated between the West and Russia. In many ways for the same reason Israel has. Surrounded by ISIS and Al Qaida, King Hussein’s rule is the most tenuous in the Middle East. Assurances for his family and his throne’s safety are key. If Russia can promise protection, then Jordan may very well switch sides.

Kurdistan

Kurdistan has always been hard to read. Typically speaking, the Kurds (split between Turkey, Syria, and Iraq) have done their best to pick partners that would be willing to help them advance their independence agenda. In this case, Russia seems most willing to help defend and enhance Kurdish objectives; mainly because the Kurds are the single biggest domestic threat to Turkey.

If a Turkish-Russian war does materialize then the Kurds are Putin’s most important weapon. They give Putin a Turkish domestic constituency primed for a violent uprising. In addition, they are a formidable fighting force situated along the length of Turkey’s entire Southern border. Coupled with the fact that Iraqi Kurdistan is oil rich makes them the lynchpin Putin needs.

What’s Next?

Full on war between Russia and Turkey and their respective allies seems almost certain at this point. The question is: when? That depends much on Turkey’s actions in the next few days. If the Turkish army continues to shell Northern Syria and even sends troops in then Russia will act. Russia will claim they have no choice but to capture the Bosphorous Straits, in order to defend against a Turkish closure to Russian vessels. At that point, the key actor to look at is NATO. If they enter on the side of Turkey, Russia will send their army into Ukraine. Once that happens all bets are off.

February 14, 2016February 14, 2016

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the Imminent Threat of Expanding War

If the latest reports out of the Levant are true, Turkey has quite possibly sparked a global war. RIA Novosti reports by way of Sputnik News the following:

“Turkish artillery opened fire on the positions of the Syrian army in the Alia hills region of northwest Latakia. Several shells have fallen from Turkish territory.”

Given the fact that Turkey has been building up its armed presence on the Syrian border has been seen by many as a sign of impending invasion. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has made it clear they would like to move ground troops into Syria in order to fight ISIS. The combination of the two Sunni allies potentially sending ground forces into the Syrian chaos guarantees an exponential expansion of the war.

Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime know the Sunni countries will not sit by and watch themselves become diced up by Russian backed Shiite forces. The Sunnis have spent way too much capital in stopping the burgeoning Shiite crescent to not try to push it back when it matters most.

Russia is not Backing Down

With oil prices falling and a weakened West, Russia cannot afford to back off it’s growing entanglement with Syria, especially since they appear to be winning. This is Putin’s gamble and he wants and needs to win. They have proven that sheer force and a disregard to international norms when attacking civilian areas can defeat what they view as radicalism. Putin is sending a message out to the Islamic militants within Russia, not to mess around.

Erdogan Needs a Win or Else

Erdogan really thought that he would have been able to woo Israel back into his fold. Yaalon has now indicated that it will not happen. Without an energy partner and a tightening embargo from Russia, Erdogan has to push back on the Syrian forces that are maligning ethnic Turkmen in Northern Syria. Even more so, Erdogan has to show that he is still viable. Bombing Syria and taking the Northern territory is the surest way to do that. Of course it could very well ignite a conflict far more destructive throughout the entire region.

February 10, 2016

Ted Cruz, Mike Bickle, and the Need to Decouple Liberal Judaism from Itself

I have often times shocked my friends in admitting I never vote in American elections. As a dual citizen of both the United States and Israel I am fully eligible to vote, but refrain from doing so. Why? I am what you call a one issue candidate. That issue is the security of the State of Israel. Although I believe our security here is of importance to the electorate in the USA, I feel it is wrong to help sway their vote in order to help my cause, which is overly and rightfully Israel centric.

With all of that being said, I cannot help but comment on the state of politics in my former country. Jews in America have done well in politics. There are Jewish congressmen, senators, and now even Presidential candidates. We have always excelled in all of the countries we have called home. From Joseph in Egypt to Daniel in Babylon/Persia.

We also have a habit (especially in modern times) of overplaying our hand. Nowhere do we see this in the current presidential race as explicitly as the attacks coming forth from the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) against Ted Cruz. These attacks are focusing on Pastor Mike Bickle’s comments in 2004.

Bickle said as follows:

““Let me tell you, these 20 million — less than 20 million Jews worldwide, there’s about 5 million in Israel, about another 15 million worldwide, a little bit less than that — those 15 million, God is going to bring them all back. Two-thirds will die in the rage of Satan and in the judgments of God and one-third, every one of the one-third, will be in the land before it’s over and they’ll be worshipers of Jesus … The Lord says, ‘I’m going to give all 20 million of them the chance. To respond to the fisherman. And I give them grace. And I give them grace …if they don’t respond to grace, I’m going to raise up the hunters … And the most famous hunter in recent history is a man named Adolf Hitler.’”

Bickle has endorsed Ted Cruz for President saying the following:

“Our nation is in a great crisis in this hour. We need a president who will first be faithful to honor God’s Word. We need a president who will work to defend religious liberty, uphold our Constitution, keep our country safe and our economy sound, and speak truth to the nation. We have been praying for righteous leaders and Ted Cruz is such a leader. I am enthusiastically endorsing Ted Cruz.”

Ted Cruz has touted the endorsement saying, “I am grateful for Mike’s dedication to call a generation of young people to prayer and spiritual commitment. Heidi and I are grateful to have his prayers and support. With the support of Mike and many other people of faith, we will fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith.”

The above statements are fact. There is no denying what was said and the outlook Bickle has. The real question is, why does it matter? Secondly why is the NJDC making such a big deal about the viewpoint of Bickle?

The Liberal Jewish establishment in America have for years supplanted traditional Jewish teachings with the philosophy of the modern liberal and social justice movements. Judaism, being the moral foundation of the Jewish Nation is covenant centered in outlook. The law was given by the Almighty to be followed and help direct a truly just society. The Liberal Jewish approach to the world is opposite. Liberalism has become the foundation for all things, even Judaism. If a piece of the Law does not fit into a “modern” outlook then it is ejected. By no means am I implying this is an all or nothing affair, but rather I am attempting to stress that way one views the basis of his or her life outlook essentially becomes pivotal foundation for which they judge morality.

Liberal Jews have taken to picking apart anything connected to conservative principles as archaic and primitive. The weapon of choice is often the anti semitic card. This has increasingly become more and more maligned by non-partisan observers, but organizations like the NJDC continue to deploy it. The fact is, many of us Jews on the right in America and in Israel cringe when mostly Democratic Jews who have little or no connection to observancy play the Jewish victim and are “appalled” at the religious viewpoints of devout Christians.

Let’s put it more clearly. Liberal Jews are liberals. Their religion (not their ethnicity) is liberalism. Any theological convictions are at their core in opposition to liberalism. This would go equally for any dedicated co-religionist. Being an observant Jew, I have no qualms in my belief set. I also understand my co-religionists disagree on my eschatological outlook. This is of no surprise since each of us believes our side is right. The question is not how one views the “End of Days,” but rather how an individual acts towards their fellow man up until that point.

From Israel things are Viewed Differently

Israelis do not care if a particular person believes in a different ending to the redemption process. We care about developing our country and want the strongest allies possible. Ultimately our foreign policy is increasingly becoming a neutral one. This means, we have to do what is best for the Jewish Nation. Since what is important to Israel is Israel, then it is very easy to decide who would be the best President. All one has to do is look at a candidate’s record. There has been perhaps no greater supporter of Israel and the Jewish people’s rights to all of the Land of Israel in the Senate than Ted Cruz.

In September of 2014 Ted Cruz was booed off stage at an event supporting the Christians of the Middle East. Why was he booed off stage? For supporting Israel.

“Those who hate Israel hate America,” Cruz told the people attending the event, which he had been invited to address as the dinner’s keynote speaker. “Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target Jews for their faith, for the same reason.”

The last statement Cruz made as he walked off stage was, “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless.”

Calling Ted Cruz an Anti-Semite is despicable. It’s true, he may very well have a Christian eschatological outlook, after all he is a Christian and he is in fact entitled to his religious beliefs. Organizations like NJDC and leading Liberal Jewish politicians would do well to separate Liberalism from their Judaism. When they do that, they may see the only thing they can accuse Ted Cruz is disliking Liberals. In my book, that is perfectly fine.

February 9, 2016

Israel Bans its own national anthem from the Temple Mount

Decades have now gone by since the immortal words of Motta Gur, “The Temple Mount is in our hands!” blared across Israeli radio. The world took a collective breath as the Jewish people regained their ancient capital. Despite the miraculous victory, the secular elitists chose to hand the keys to the Temple Mount over to the Jordanian Wakf. After all, the rabbis declared it forbidden to ascend to our holiest site. This is despite the fact that, rabbinic sages of the past like the Rambam ascended to the Temple Mount with no qualms.

Despite the security ban on public display of prayer on the Temple Mount, more and more Jews are ascending the mount.The issue has moved from the fringe of the Israeli body politic to the center. Led by Rabbi Yehuda Glick and Rabbi Richman, the Temple Mount movement uses the most basic argument there is, freedom of worship.

This argument alone has compelled most on the right and many in the center to support Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount. Even the Supreme Court, known usually for its leftward judicial activism has supported unhindered Jewish prayer at Israel’s most holiest spot. The government though, through the security establishment has clamped down on Jewish prayer citing unofficial agreements with the Jordanians on following the legally fictional status quo.

Jews that pray are systematically hauled off the Temple Mount and arrested by security officials. The arabs, who typically use the area to lay soccer or even urinate magically appear offended at the notion that Jews are using the area to serve the Creator. This plays into the security establishment’s fear of sparking more and more violence, when in fact there would be violence anyway. What the arab street is done is use that fear to stake and hold de facto control over the Jewish Nation’s holiest spot. Rabbinic leadership, mostly within the ultra Orthodox are happy to oblige the arabs.

Why?

The Temple Mount is the key to the next stage in the collective redemption of Israel and the world. The awakening in the world about justice, peace, and global rectification is due to the reconnection of the Temple Mount to its rightful caretakers. The possibility of actual change brings with it an equal level of opposition. Those groups that fear the unknown and the future, fear an open policy of prayer on the Temple Mount.

With all of this in mind, it is no wonder that even today the growing outrage by normal Israelis over a lack of true freedom of worship on our holiest spot is on the rise. Nationally speaking, the dam is about to burst. Perhaps this is why even singing Hatikvah is forbidden. For if those that fear the future agree to disconnect the nation from its source, then the present quagmire that all of us find ourselves in may just continue for the foreseeable future. In that kind of world, the injustices that have grown steadily will continue reign over us all.