The Identity of "Israel"
Richard Mouw Saturday, 1 December 2007
On several occasions I have joined other evangelicals in publicly urging the United States government to work for a two-state solution to the ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. These statements have typically been carefully nuanced. While we have wanted U.S. political leaders to know that not all evangelicals are supportive of all of the policies of the Israeli government, we have also wanted to clearly distance ourselves from any sort of "anti-Israel" ideology. Our contention has been that by engaging in constructively critical discussions of Israeli policy, we best support Israel's long-term best interests. In that regard, our views have been similar to many Jewish supporters of Israel's right to exist as a secure nation. We are quick to explain to our critics that we are not out of step with the Hebrew prophets, who regularly insisted that the desire for God's blessing on Israel cannot be divorced from a commitment to seeking justice with Israel's neighbors, as well as showing mercy to the sojourners who abide within her borders.
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