As we enter into the sixth day of fighting in Gaza, the need for a ground offensive becomes more and more apparent. Israel is coming close to exhausting its portfolio of targets that can be dealt with from the air. It takes a long time to build such a portfolio and air strikes exhaust them rapidly. The reluctance and procrastination of the government in sending in ground troops shows us a stronghold that continues to cripple the government’s decisions and also shows clearly that we haven’t learned the main lesson of the Second Lebanon War.

If we had truly learned the Lebanon lesson we would have sent in ground troops on the second or third day of the fighting. We have bombed and bombed Gaza and destroyed some of Hamas’s arsenal, but rockets continue to fall in Israel and their range becomes greater each day, now reaching Beersheba and beyond. We will not be able to stop the rocket threat without “boots on the ground.” Israel’s soldiers are trained for the task and ready to go. The longer they sit “ready to go” but not going, the more it saps their will and drive for victory. You cannot sustain a state of maximum readiness (condition red) indefinitely. There comes a time when your alertness begins to dull and fear of the battle and the enemy begins to overwhelm the readiness to fight and win.

How have we come to this situation? Israel used to be known for the courage and daring of its soldiers. The lightning victory of the Six Day War and the long distance commando raid and rescue of Entebbe are classic examples of military genius that are studied all over the world. Now, we have come to the place where we are joining into the deceptive and humanist sickness of the western world where the life of a soldier is more important than assuring the security and safety of the nation.

Please do not misunderstand me. The life of every soldier is precious, but they have a responsibility. That responsibility is to stand physically in the gap between the enemies of the nation and the civilian population, and if needed, to give their lives for those they are protecting. Someone once said, “We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” Winston Churchill said, “Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Who were David’s mighty men? They were brave warriors. David himself, beloved of God, was a warrior. We are still living in an unredeemed world and to be a warrior can still be a godly calling.

We are being told that Hamas is well prepared for an Israeli invasion and that we will take many casualties. I hope and pray that our casualties will be small, but if the fear of casualties keeps us from defeating the enemy, then we will have lost again as we did in Lebanon. If we continue down this road we will be in dire danger. Hamas, Hizbullah, and the other Islamic terrorists have no hesitation in giving their lives to destroy Israel. (This is also true with Islam’s battle with the world; they are willing to die to see the world under Islamic rule — the Caliphate.)

The other deception that Israel and the world suffer from is the lie that “there is no military solution to terrorism.” It has been proven that if the will to win is there, then military means can prevail against the murderous terrorists. We need to adopt the unyielding standard of the Allies during the Second World War: “unconditional surrender” of our enemies. If we have the will to win, it can be done and it must be done.

Pray for:

  • Clarity, courage, and sound judgment for Israel’s political and military leadership. That they have the strength of soul and spirit, as well as the determined resolve to see this battle through to the proper conclusion.
  • That the end of this conflict will also include the release of our prisoner in Gaza Gilad Shalit. That this will be a non negotiable demand of Israel.
  • That Israel will take over the “Philadelphia Route” (the border between Gaza and Egypt from which the smuggling tunnels operate) at a very minimum.
  • Please continue with the prayer points from Special Alert #1, especially courage and protection for Israel’s soldiers and the Messianic believers, and children of believers who are involved in the battle. That the soldiers would stay alert with clarity of mind and determined focus.

The IFI team 1 January 2009 Jerusalem