Intellectual Faith
Free E-Book!!
Intellectual sparring contests with non-believers are often frustrating
and unfruitful. The problem is that Christians often don't know how to
witness to them. So, I have written a book on how to witness to
intellectuals.
Topics include common Christian arguments that should not be used with
intellectuals, responses to intellectual arguments that usually leave
Christians speechless, as well as advice on how to be taken seriously by
an intellectual who thinks your beliefs are irrational.
I want very much to help arm my Christian brothers and sisters so that
more intellectual atheists will be won over to the Kingdom. Please
forward this newsletter (or the link below) to any Christian friend who
might be interested.
The password
is faith...
If a friend emailed you this newsletter and you would be interested
in subscribing, fill in your email address below and hit "Go" or email
us at israeltour@yahoo.com.
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Dear Michael,
The Shatilla Massacre
One of our readers recently asked about the Shatilla Massacre, and wanted
to know if it was true what Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had done
20 years ago... basically allow the slaughter of men, women, and
children in a Palestinian refugee camp in 1982. The charge levied
against Sharon is that he is as much of a terrorist as he claims the
Palestinians to be.
Shatilla is located in West Beirut. It was the site of a refugee camp
created during the 6 day war in 1967 when many Palestinians fled
Palestine to avoid being casualties of the fighting between Israel and
the Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Instead of being
assimilated into the Palestinian nation of Jordan, these refugees were
forced to remain in the Shatilla camp, and were still there when Israel
invaded Beirut 15 years later in 1982.
Now, Beirut is located in Lebanon, and Lebanon was in civil war, and was
in the process of electing Bashir Gemayel to be president of Lebanon in
1982. Bashir was a Christian, and one of his accomplishments was being
the leader of a political middle-eastern Christian army referred to as
the Phalange. However, right after being elected, he was assassinated,
and the Christian Phalange army saw his death as a blow that needed to
be avenged.
Now, during Lebanon's civil war, Israel was trying to get at Arafat's
PLO, and had intelligence reports that they had a headquarters set up in
the Shatilla camp. The PLO was theoretically leaving Lebanon at this
time, so hearing of PLO in Shatilla was significant. The problem for
Israel was how to gather up the PLO guerillas in Shatilla, when everyone
in Shatilla was hostile toward Israel.
Israel's relations with the Phalange army was pretty good, so they
recruited them to find and capture any PLO guerillas in Shatilla. Israel
flew the Phalange army to Beirut. Then, while the Israeli army
completely surrounded the refugee camp, the Phalange were sent in. What
they did was slaughter everyone in the camp... as revenge for the
assassination of President Bashir.
Now, I've included some links below. Some explain the massacre from
Israel's standpoint, and some are from the Arab/Palestinian standpoint.
The Arab sources consider Israel's actions to be cunning and
intentional. Israel considers their actions a mistake. The person in
charge of the Israeli army during the invasion of Lebanon was Ariel
Sharon. This makes Sharon the ranking Israeli military leader responsible
for Israel's actions at Shatilla, resulting in the allegation that Sharon
is a hypocrite and a terrorist.
Benjamin Netanyahu is no fan of Ariel Sharon. But, he is an Israeli.
I've read his writing, and I consider him to be an honorable man, even
though he is blinded where God is concerned. Nonetheless, it is
Netanyahu's opinion ("A Durable Peace") that the tragedy in
Shatilla was
indeed a tragedy, but was not a plan of Israel or Sharon. In fact
Netanyahu wrote that "many thought Sharon should resign", not because
he'd planned the massacre, but because the massacre was not foreseen!
Sharon is no terrorist. However, he is not always the brilliant military
strategist either. We see it today, and it was demonstrated 20 years
ago.
As supporters of Israel and students of prophecy, we must admit that
Israel has a bloody past, and doesn't always exercise good judgment
(Oslo for example). But, it is more their desire for peace and their
value of life (yes, even Palestinian life) that gets them into trouble,
providing fodder for the anti-Israel crowd.
Links to read about the Shatilla Massacre:
The Sabra and Shatilla Massacre
balanced)
Naom Chomsky's account
(Anti-Israel)
15 Years
After the Sabra & Shatilla Massacre: The State of Palestinian Refugees in
Lebanon (Anti-Israel)
The Real Temple of God (part 8) - The
Mercy Seat
Ever wonder how it is that the
Father and the Son both have thrones? This study shows how,
scripturally, they are likely the same throne! (Can you say... Trinity?)
Enjoy!
Click here to read about the Mercy Seat...
If this ministry has benefited you, please forward this newsletter to
any friends who might be ministered to as well!
If anyone has any questions, I will try to answer them personally via
email. If they are of general interest (positive or negative), they
might be included (without your name) in a future newsletter (unless you
request otherwise).
In Christ,
Michael Trutt
Israel Tour Bible Studies
email:
israeltour@yahoo.com
web:
http://www.geocities.com/israeltour
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