All posts by Kameel Majdali

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

SIX ANNIVERSARIES PART 02

Last month, we looked at two major anniversaries in 2017: the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and 120th Anniversary of Theodor Herzl’s first Zionist congress. This month, we focus on four more anniversaries for this year.
100 Years Ago – Battle of Beersheba 31 October 1917
Exactly 400 years after the Reformation, the Australian Light-horsemen, along with the British, captured the city of Beersheba in the south of Turkish-occupied Palestine. This campaign not only highlighted the great bravery of the Allied troops, but it was the beginning of the end of 400 years of Turkish rule. The British would capture the rest of the country, including Jerusalem in December 1917, were granted a mandate in Palestine by the League of Nations, and all this led to the creation of Israel in 1948.
100 Years Ago – The Balfour Declaration 2 November 1917
A seemingly harmless letter written by the British Foreign Secretary Lord Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild became the foundation stone of international support for the creation of the Jewish state in Palestine. In gratitude for Dr. Chaim Weizman’s contribution to the British war effort, Balfour wrote the following words:
His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Until this letter was issued, the Zionist enterprise battled alone on the international front. Now, it had the backing of the British War Cabinet, and by extension the British Empire. Though it was a great morale booster for the Zionism, by itself it did not confer rights and responsibilities. However, the 1920 San Remo Conference and the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine made the Balfour Declaration the cornerstone of its policy and granted international legitimacy to the Zionist cause. Thus, the Balfour Declaration facilitated the birth of the Jewish state; an unintended consequence was that it stirred up unbridled opposition of the Arabs, which continues to this day. Thus, the Arab-Israeli conflict is the ‘hundred year war.’
70 Years Ago – United Nations Partition Resolution 181 of 29th November 1947
After 30 years in Palestine, Britain informed the newly-created United Nations that it was going to withdraw from the country. The explosive Palestine issue now became the problem of the UN. After several months of deliberation, the General Assembly Resolution 181 of 29 November 1947 voted 33 to 13, with 10 abstentions, to partition western Palestine (to distinguish it was Transjordan, which was eastern Palestine) into Jewish and Arab states. Jerusalem would be under an international regime for 10 years (corpus separatum).
The Jewish community accepted the resolution results. The Arabs rejected the resolution and vowed to strangle the Jewish nation at birth. The security situation in the country deteriorated immediately and alarmingly over the next five months. On the day Israel was born, 14 May 1948, the first Arab-Israel war began.
The partition resolution recognised in principle the creation of the Jewish state. The subsequent war rendered implementation impossible. The borders would be determined on the battlefield.
50 Years Ago – Six Day War of 5-10 June 1967
After 19 years of unstable ceasefire, the third Arab-Israel war erupted on 5 June 1967. In May 1967, pan-Arab nationalist leader and Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser ordered a blockade of the Red Sea’s Straits of Tiran at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. This prevented shipping to the Israeli port of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba. The closure of international waters was considered an act of war. Nasser demanded the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping troops in the Egyptian-held Sinai Peninsula. Then Nasser formed an alliance with Syria and Jordan to confront Israel militarily.
In a pre-emptive air strike, Israel destroyed the three Arab airforces with their planes still on the ground. Having unchallenged skies, Israeli tanks raced through Arab held territory unopposed. The entire Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights, and East Jerusalem with the Old City, were captured with lightning speed. Israel trebled its size in just 6 days. East Jerusalem was annexed to Israel before the end of the month, declared the ‘indivisible’ and ‘eternal’ capital of the State of Israel. ‘Jerusalem is not negotiable’ was their motto and remained so until the Camp David negotiations of 2000. The remainder of land was declared ‘occupied territory’ and, in theory, subject for peace negotiations.
Israel expected a ‘phone call’ from the Arabs, asking for peace talks in order to return the territory it had seized. Instead, in the Sudanese capital of Khatoum on 1 September 1967, the Arabs issued the three ‘No’s:’ No negotiations with Israel. No recognition of Israel. No peace with Israel. The state of war would continue unto this very day, though Egypt and Jordan have since signed peace treaties.
The six anniversaries may be a cause of observation, even celebration in Israel, but will be viewed with disdain by the Arabs. We would do well to remember the injunction to ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love her’ (Psalm 122:6).

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

What Can We Do About North Korea?

It’s that time again and the sabres are rattling out of the Hermit Kingdom. We have heard these noises before. North Korea wants to test nuclear weapons, America and the international community confront, there are threats, then deals, things go quiet … until the next provocation. Is this time any different from before? Yes, it is – as if the Cold War never ended.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea, is a communist nation, a Stalinist state of 25 million people. It browbeats it subjects, has drastic food shortages, periodically threatens the South, and has the notorious distinction of being the Number One nation in the world for the persecution of Christians. Despite its official name, North Korea doesn’t have democracy as we know it, does not observe human rights, and is ruled by an erratic, mercurial god-king. The Hermit Kingdom has had only 3 leaders since 1948: Father, son and grandson. The grandson, Kim Jong UN, though educated in Switzerland and only in his mid-30s, wants to prove he is the toughest of all. He had his supportive uncle executed and is accused of having his half-brother Kim Jong-nam assassinated early in 2017 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).  The scenario today is different and very concerning.
North Korea is armed with nuclear weapons, along with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Pakistan and Israel. Until now, we could sleep at night knowing that the parties involved were ‘rational.’ Even experts said that North Korea’s only reasons for getting nuclear weapons were to ‘gain respect’ and prevent western-style ‘regime change.’ Leave the regime alone and they will stay in their box.
Things have now changed. Kim Jong Un has openly proclaimed that he wants to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States, Europe, and yes, even Australia. His arms developers have made progress in developing solid-fuel rockets. These can be set up quickly and are harder to detect and destroy. He has promised to have a nuclear test ‘every week,’ which is a major provocation to East Asia and the world. This means Kim has the capability to destroy a western city and that is an intolerable prospect. Without checks and balances of a democratic system, what is to stop North Korea from pressing the button and wrecking havoc?
Though exact numbers are uncertain, it is estimated that North Korea already has 10 to 16 nuclear bombs. Give them another 3-4 years and they could have a total of 100. Kim has threatened to strike the United States and even Australia if it continues with its US alliance, even though Australia has diplomatic relations with North Korea. Let’s not assume that Pyongyang is joking. This is serious stuff. 
So what can we do? 
First, it is important to stay strong. Say what you want about US President Donald Trump, but he projects decisiveness and strength. The President simply cannot allow North Korea to have the ability to threaten an American city. He has ordered the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the Korea Peninsula. Kim has threatened to sink it but Trump has not blinked. Guided missile subs are also being sent to the region. South Korea and Japan, both American allies, are being offered THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence), a missile defence system that can shoot out of the sky incoming missiles. America had tactical nuclear weapons stationed in South Korea in the past and could place them again to ward off the threat from Pyongyang.
Second, it is important to have a united front with allies like those in Asia, Europe, and Australia. Unity is always a powerful motivator and deterrent. This unity is shown by enforcing and even enlarging sanctions against North Korea.
How about a pre-emptive strike against North Korea’s nuclear facilities. This is not recommended, though, as the Trump Administration says, ‘all options are on the table.’ The danger is that Pyongyang is threatening all out war – a threat we should take seriously. In a war 50 million South Koreans would be in harm’s way. America could and would win in an all-out confrontation, but the price is simply too high. That said, the US could still shoot a North Korean missile out of the sky without incurring the same amount of wrath.
Then there is the ‘China card.’ China, more than any other nation, has leverage over North Korea. In the past, this was used a bit but not whole-heartedly. This time, the West needs to make it worth China’s while to stop the North in its nuclear quest. After all, China is raking in the money and war is bad for business. China does not want war and has said so. 
The potential fall of North Korea means North Korean refugees could stream across the Yalu River into China. It also means South Korea and America will be on China’s border. Having their Japanese and South Korean rivals possessing THAAD neutralises their own nuclear umbrella. Even a more unpalatable scenario for China are these two countries seeking to obtain nuclear weapons themselves. 
Thus, China has an incentive now to be effectively involved with stopping North Korea that was not there before. America could offer China a ‘deal’ which is too good to refuse, like a nuclear-free, China-friendly, non-aligned North Korea. Asia likes ‘deals’ and President Trump wrote a best-selling book on the subject. There are some hopeful signs: Chinese President Xi Jinping has already been in touch with President Trump.
The Greatest Weapon of All
Finally, for Christian believers, you have the most potent weapon of all: prayer in the Name of Jesus. Forty percent of South Korea now Christian, with dozens of prayer mountains across that nation. Don’t you think this ‘wall of prayer’ has keep the peace on the Korea Peninsula since 1953 more than anything else? And prayer from the global Body of Christ will have even a greater effect. So let us pray:
    1      For a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear crisis;
    2      For wisdom, calm and clear heads to prevail;
    3      For China’s willing, meaningful, and successful engagement;
    4      That God’s hand to cause the church to grow on both sides of the DMZ.
Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Vegetable Pancakes: Carrot, Corn, and Zucchini

Vegetable Pancakes: Carrot, Corn, & Zucchini
We discovered this dish years ago and have not looked back. It is so popular that people are helping themselves to the pancakes fresh from the fry-pan before they even makes it to the dining table. A good way of getting your vegetables for the day!
3/4 cup milk
2 Tablespoons plain yogurt
1/2 cup grated cheese
90 grams butter
3 eggs
90g butter, melted and cool
1 cup flour
2 carrots, peeled, grated
2 zucchini, grated
150 grams corn (thawed or canned)
1/4 cup continental parsley, chopped
2/3 cup parmesan cheese.
1.   Stir milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter & eggs together in a large jug.
2.   Place flour in a bowl with a well in the middle. Stir into the flour the milk mixture until it is barely combined.
3.   After grating the zucchini, squeeze out excess liquid. Add it, plus the carrot, corn, parsley and parmesan cheese, to the flour/milk mixture. Stir until combined (don’t over stir). Salt and pepper to taste.
4.   Lightly grease the frying pan. Heat until it is of medium temperature. Add to the hot pan 1/4 cup of batter. Spread mixture with the spatula. Cook until golden, using about 3 minutes on each side. Repeat until the batter is used up. Dry on paper towels.
5.   Enjoy, topped with plain Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream.
Makes 12 pancakes.