A poll conducted by the official Knesset television channel recently found that an overwhelming majority of Israelis do not support further withdrawals from portions of the biblical Land of Israel, even in exchange for "real peace" with their Arab neighbors. The survey was carried out in an effort to determine how the Israeli public would vote in a referendum that newly submitted legislation would require prior to surrendering the Golan Heights, eastern Jerusalem or Judea and Samaria. The bill passed its first reading, despite opposition from the government.

Even in the framework of a "real peace deal," sixty-eight percent of respondents said they would oppose relinquishing the Golan Heights, eighty-six percent would not agree to hand over eastern Jerusalem, and fifty-three percent would reject a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. Furthermore, sixty-five percent of Israelis polled said they do not support a unilateral withdrawal from parts of Judea and Samaria, which was the main plank in the election platform of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party.

Politicians and public figures have weighed in over the past days with suggestions for how to bring an end to the rocket attacks from Gaza. Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman announced a plan Thursday that calls for a "completion of the Disengagement." Lieberman explained: "We expelled all the Jews from Gaza and left there completely, but still provide it with economic support, water and electricity. We must sever all connections with Gaza and declare it an independent enemy entity," he said. "There is no reason Egypt cannot supply the electricity and water for Gaza and let the European Union build infrastructure and provide security if they care about the poor Palestinians so much," he added. "Membership in the axis of evil has a heavy price-financially, politically, and militarily."

Lieberman said his plan includes a complete closure of all crossings between Gaza and Israel through which "Palestinian" Authority (PA) Arab workers currently cross into Israel and through which aid passes to Gaza. His plan also calls for bombing Gaza neighborhood in response to rocket-fire, ending visitation rights for PA terrorists until kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is released, severing Gaza from Judea and Samaria and stopping diplomatic contacts with any and all PA officials, including Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas.

Lieberman said the plan would come into effect in 2008 and be modeled after how Israel related to the Sinai after withdrawal. "Just as Israel did not continue to provide anything to Sinai after it withdrew, there is no reason why it should act any differently toward Gaza, especially in the current situation," he said. The Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is Our Home) chairman said he would present his plan to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the rest of the government Thursday.

In a surprising but telling twist, Israeli peace activists demonstrating against the presence of Jews in Hebron on Tuesday were stoned by the very "Palestinian" Arabs whose cause they are trying to aid. As the three-hundred members of the leftist Peace Now organization departed Hebron in their tour buses, scores of Palestinian youth began pelting the vehicles with stones. There were no injuries in the incident, which Hebron Jewish leaders called a perfect example of how the "Palestinians" are not true peace partners.

The Peace Now demonstration was held in Hebron's Jewish quarter to mark the fortieth anniversary of Israel's 1967 Six Day War victory, which brought all of Judea and Samaria back under Jewish control for the first time in some 2,000 years. The left-wing protesters waved banners and flags demanding that Jewish "settlers" stop oppressing the "Palestinians" with their presence.

Though the Jewish Community in Hevron was unhappy with the Supreme Court's recent decision to allow the protest, the Jews decided not to fall into the trap set for them by Peace Now. "The leftists want to cause a provocation," said resident and activist Itamar Ben-Gvir, "and we won't let it happen. They're expecting us to throw tomatoes so that they can have photos all over the world - but we won't give them the pleasure." Ben-Gvir explained, however, that they couldn't simply ignore those whose "traitorous actions caused us to run away from Gush Katif and most of Hevron." In that spirit, therefore, a small but enthusiastic group of some fifty people - including many who do not live in Hevron - demonstrated and held signs boasting of the Jewish People's eternal connection to Hevron and the Land of Israel. The signs read, "Our parents are buried here" [a reference to the Machpelah Cave of the Patriarchs], "No more disengagement from our legacy," "The Kibbutzim are on stolen Arab land," "Hevron is like Tel Aviv," and even just "Traitors".

The Tzemach Institute has joined forces with the Christian Friends Of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) in planning a special tour of the heartland of biblical Israel. Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life. The tour has been coordinated with Sondra Baras of CFOIC and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein [pictured left].
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