In recent times, a noticeable amount has been said and written about Israel. Yasser Arafat proclaimed a Palestinian state, which has already been recognized by several governments. In order to increase in popularity and lend particular emphasis to his cause, he went to the Pope. How else could this be a success? Israel's archenemy, who has not yet recognized the "Jewish state," then found some pleasant sounding words.

It is remarkable that the whole world adopts the vocabulary of the Palestinians and speak of the "territories occupied by Israel." This is intended to turn the mood against a people who are so deeply humiliated and reviled throughout the world.

In the vast Soviet Union, all the incorporated countries and regions are referred to only as "constituent republics." Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Armenia, the entire Asian provinces, part of Finland, and Poland belong to today's Soviet Union, without ever being referred to as occupied territories.

After the Second World War, Poland claimed West and part of East Prussia, Pomerania, and Silesia ‒ the area up to the Oder/Neisse line. Here, too, no one speaks of occupied territories. There is only a great outcry when it concerns Israel. Anyone who looks at the map will see that it is precisely the other way around for it is not Israel that is occupying foreign land, but Jordan and Syria that are occupying large areas that rightfully belong to Israel.

In the Holy Scriptures, we can read that two and a half tribes were assigned their land east of the Jordan river, specifically, land in present-day Jordan and Syria: "and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them" (Joshua 18:7b). In Joshua 1, verse 12, we find the same event described.

In the land east of the Jordan river, during the time of Moses, the two kings Sihon and Og, whose territory was that region, were defeated (Joshua 12:1-6). In the land west of the Jordan river, Joshua defeated 31 kings (verses 7-24). The area was clearly defined in Deuteronomy 11:24: "Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be."

It would be good if politicians, whenever Israel is concerned, would consult the Holy Scriptures and respect them as valid before God. For us as believing Christians, His decisions are binding. The land of Israel, with the extents ordained by God, has a size of 30,000 square kilometers, which corresponds to the size of the country of Belgium. However, the land west of the Jordan river only has an area of ​​19,270 square kilometers; therefore, a considerable area still needs to be added to the Land of Israel. The map included here clearly shows to everyone how vast the Promised Land actually is.

As for the so-called "refugee camps," they are the result of a malicious policy directed against Israel. The Federal Republic of Germany integrated millions of refugees and displaced persons after World War II. Even at that time, the reception camps only served to complete the necessary formalities for ethnic German repatriates. Afterward, the arrivals were distributed throughout the country. Considering the immense expanses of the Arab member states, one wonders why the few refugees have been detained in camps since 1948. Incidentally, I myself visited such a camp near Amman and was astonished to see the many luxury cars and thousands of TV antennas in the shanty town.

We know that God Himself has chosen only one people out of all nations (Deuteronomy 4:32), namely through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To this people He has sworn the land within its specified boundaries, and it will remain so. For the Scripture to be fulfilled, the governments of the nations must be against Israel. However, believers from all nations stand by Israel; even more, we wish the blessing of the Almighty on the people of God in the name of the Lord. This brief note is intended to provide the right answer to those who speak to us regarding Israel.

In recent times, a noticeable amount has been said and written about Israel. Yasser Arafat proclaimed a Palestinian state, which has already been recognized by several governments. In order to increase in popularity and lend particular emphasis to his cause, he went to the Pope. How else could this be a success? Israel's archenemy, who has not yet recognized the "Jewish state," then found some pleasant sounding words.

It is remarkable that the whole world adopts the vocabulary of the Palestinians and speak of the "territories occupied by Israel." This is intended to turn the mood against a people who are so deeply humiliated and reviled throughout the world.

In the vast Soviet Union, all the incorporated countries and regions are referred to only as "constituent republics." Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Armenia, the entire Asian provinces, part of Finland, and Poland belong to today's Soviet Union, without ever being referred to as occupied territories.

After the Second World War, Poland claimed West and part of East Prussia, Pomerania, and Silesia ‒ the area up to the Oder/Neisse line. Here, too, no one speaks of occupied territories. There is only a great outcry when it concerns Israel. Anyone who looks at the map will see that it is precisely the other way around for it is not Israel that is occupying foreign land, but Jordan and Syria that are occupying large areas that rightfully belong to Israel.

In the Holy Scriptures, we can read that two and a half tribes were assigned their land east of the Jordan river, specifically, land in present-day Jordan and Syria: "and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them" (Joshua 18:7b). In Joshua 1, verse 12, we find the same event described.

In the land east of the Jordan river, during the time of Moses, the two kings Sihon and Og, whose territory was that region, were defeated (Joshua 12:1-6). In the land west of the Jordan river, Joshua defeated 31 kings (verses 7-24). The area was clearly defined in Deuteronomy 11:24: "Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be."

It would be good if politicians, whenever Israel is concerned, would consult the Holy Scriptures and respect them as valid before God. For us as believing Christians, His decisions are binding. The land of Israel, with the extents ordained by God, has a size of 30,000 square kilometers, which corresponds to the size of the country of Belgium. However, the land west of the Jordan river only has an area of ​​19,270 square kilometers; therefore, a considerable area still needs to be added to the Land of Israel. The map included here clearly shows to everyone how vast the Promised Land actually is.

As for the so-called "refugee camps," they are the result of a malicious policy directed against Israel. The Federal Republic of Germany integrated millions of refugees and displaced persons after World War II. Even at that time, the reception camps only served to complete the necessary formalities for ethnic German repatriates. Afterward, the arrivals were distributed throughout the country. Considering the immense expanses of the Arab member states, one wonders why the few refugees have been detained in camps since 1948. Incidentally, I myself visited such a camp near Amman and was astonished to see the many luxury cars and thousands of TV antennas in the shanty town.

We know that God Himself has chosen only one people out of all nations (Deuteronomy 4:32), namely through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To this people He has sworn the land within its specified boundaries, and it will remain so. For the Scripture to be fulfilled, the governments of the nations must be against Israel. However, believers from all nations stand by Israel; even more, we wish the blessing of the Almighty on the people of God in the name of the Lord. This brief note is intended to provide the right answer to those who speak to us regarding Israel.