AP News ran an article today, quoting Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.  He said in a discussion with Rom Braslavski, one of the former Gaza-held hostages, “I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat — there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people.”

That certainly jibes with what we heard last week by Palestinian presenters at the “Christianity Without Christian Zionism” conference in Louisville, KY.  The Jewish settler mantra towards Palestinians while they force them out of their homes and steal their land – “REMOVE… then ERASE…” certainly agrees with such a callous and brutal thought like Gvir’s.

And it raises a really important question:  Why do we – as we hear news like this coming from Gaza and the occupied West Bank – why do we find all kinds of mental gymnastics to excuse, mollify, or even condone such violence?  Why are so many American Christians – almost all involved in the evangelical / fundamentalist protestant churches in conservative areas of our country – willing to support Jewish organizations that seem to believe, as a matter of course, that violence or murder of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ is somehow a righteous mindset, blessed by God himself?

It’s as if Matthew 25 no longer exists in the King James Bibles these people read.  (They certainly have forgotten Paul’s words in Romans 10:12 and Galatians 3:28 – otherwise they could never condone statements like one Baptist’s pastor’s nonchalant comment to the youth in his church when he said, “The Jews are better than us.  You need to understand that and just get used to the idea.”)

How is it possible we condemn other cultures as barbaric and terrorists when they prove they are willing to fight for their beliefs (either right or wrong; either valid or non-valid).  But we can still pump BILLIONS of dollars worth of aid to a nation whose leaders clearly state their desire to murder others who have as much right to their land as anyone else?  (More so than Jewish settlers who use God as their excuse to steal Palestinian homes!)

Once your eyes are opened to this ongoing tragedy?   To the continuing Genocide that’s happening right before our eyes?  You will begin to see this kind of hatred and barbarism in ever single news cycle.  Every single day… in practically every avenue for information… Benjamin Netanyahu’s barbaric government proves it’s not worthy of a single dime more of United States aid.  Call your Congressman or Congresswoman.  Mail your Senators.  Make your voice heard:  “Not one dime more to Israel. No bombs, no planes, no missiles, no drones… until they get their own house in order and recognize others’ right to life.