Israel Solidarity Rally – Christchurch

OPINION: May it be that the precious hostages of the October 7 ‘Black Saturday Massacre’ are returned home soon – every day, hour and minute is, for them, a living hell.

If these words are as a positive witness to you, please share with others; if these words are as a negative witness to you, please email me any time as your words matter to me.

AM YISRAEL CHAI!
Bobby Meyer

Shalom.
It is the 630th day of captivity for the innocent souls that were taken as human shields in the ‘Black Saturday Massacre’ of October 7.
To those who continue to stand up and speak out for the precious souls in the dungeons of Gaza, your courage and your continued
faithfulness for the past 89 weeks, is that of righteous warriors who battle tirelessly in the name of truth and justice.
Whilst our political, religious and community leaders hide behind their parliamentary privileges, pulpits and council chambers,
spouting their anti-Israel Jew hatred, the true voice of the people is heard on the streets of our nation.
Our hearts and prayers are with the victims of October 7, the hostages, the fallen and fighting heroes of the IDF and all their families.
We hope and pray also for the Israeli government that it will remain courageous and be guided by wisdom.
It must never be, that in the future we have to turn away in shame knowing that we never made a stand for that which our conscience
dictated.
To those who publicly declare their solidarity with Israel and its right to free the hostages, protect its people, defend its sovereignty
and live in peace – in the end, God wins.
As Israel defends itself against the present radical Islamic regime of Iran, let us remember something that the global community
hesitates or refuses to acknowledge: Israel and Iran were once allies, and there is a hope that this relationship will return.
From the early 1950’s, under Iran’s then leader, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, these two nations shared common interests and
a mutual respect for each other.
In the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini swept into power, ousted the Shah and brought in a ruthless military regime driven by
extreme Shi’ite ideology. Iran’s radical regime became, and continues to be, the master of terrorism – both directly and through its proxies.
From the beginning of his reign of terror, Ayatollah Khomeini has stated, “We must rise to destroy Israel”, which he calls the ‘Little Satan’,
and America, which he calls the ‘Great Satan’.
This lust to destroy firstly Israel, then America and then the infidels – being non extremist Islamists, became their fervent mission and
their blood soaked hands have reached out world-wide to accomplish that goal.
For 46 years, the Iranian people have laboured under a brutal dictatorship: their human rights have been strangled and their voices suffocated.
It is our hope that the people of Iran will rise up, strip the Ayatollah and his flunkies of their power, take control of their country, and return it to
the free nation that it once was.
Whilst I often call out radical Islamic terrorists, it must also be known that, like the radical Te Pati Maori in our parliament who claim wrongly
to speak on behalf of all Maori, radical Islamists are not representative of all Muslims.
In light of this fact, the following is a statement made by an Imam in France, Hassen Chalghoumi. It is in reference to the Jewish people.
“I, the son of Ishmael, an Imam, a Muslim, a man of peace, hereby offer sincere testimony about this extraordinary people:
I must admit, I believe in religions and in miracles. But there is something about this people – the people of Israel – that truly feels like a living miracle.
A people whom the Pharaohs tried to erase 3,000 years ago…and failed. A people whom the Babylonians tried to destroy 2,500 years ago…and failed.
A people whom the Romans wanted to annihilate 2,000 years ago…and failed. A people the Nazis tried to exterminate 80 years ago…and could not
wipe out. A people whom the Arabs fought in five wars to erase from the map…and failed.
This is a small people in number, but possessing a unique strength – a divine blessing. Wherever they place their hand, they succeed: in finance,
commerce, science, philosophy, literature…A desert land they turned into a paradise, without oil or gas, but with freedom, democracy, intelligence,
and willpower.
This is a people who gave the world Einstein, Newton, Kafka, Karl Marx, Nietzsche, Spinoza, Freud…and many others who left a mark on humanity.
There are realities that neither reason nor logic can explain. There is only one word for it: Miracle.
For two and a half years, this people has been fighting on five fronts. They said Israel would tire, that it was on the verge of collapse…
yet once again, it surprises the world by opening a new front against an Iranian enemy feared by many, even among Arab regimes.
This people, though small in number, possesses the courage of nobles, the wisdom of prophets, the patience of righteous men, and
the determination of survivors.
How could it be otherwise, when they are the descendants of Abraham, Solomon, David, Moses, Jacob, Joseph…and 1,523 prophets
and emissaries from among their offspring?
This is the people who brought monotheism and faith in one God to the world. A people driven by a thirst for life, work, innovation, and
continuity – for over 4,000 years.
Truly, I can find no other word to describe them than: The Miracle People. If the Arabs had clear vision, they would choose to align with
this people, learn from them, collaborate with them…perhaps they would absorb their knowledge, wisdom, and dignity.”
Imam Hassen Chalghoumi.
Upon reading the Imam’s words, I wept. I wept tears of shame and hope: shame that at times I had allowed my vision of the Muslim people
to be clouded by the acts of extremist Islamic terrorists, and hope that one day the veil of Jew hatred shall be drawn away and cast aside;
hope that the world would see not only the truth of the Jew but also the absolute reality of the Jewish God.
Whilst precious souls linger in the death dungeons of Gaza, it is difficult to consider future reconciliation and a peaceful relationship
with Israel’s neighbours; this may even seem impossible for us, but it is not beyond the power of God, should it be His Will.
We must determine that, no matter the future, never, never must the October 7 ‘Black Saturday’ massacre, happen again.