More Sanctions On Israel

Earlier this week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); labeling it as, “A Theatre of the Absurd.”

As did Israel’s delegate to UNESCO, Carmel Shama Hacohen, but using only the word, “absurd.” Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon called the most recent UNESCO resolution against Israel, “total madness.”

Benjamin Netanyahu went on to say: “The forces of radical Islam are destroying mosques, churches, and antiquities, with Israel being the only country in the region that protects such places and allows freedom of worship for all religions. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee should be condemned, not Israel.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s reference to the World Heritage Committee (WHC) was intentional because this was the SECOND resolution endorsed by UNESCO in less than two weeks. With the first resolution passed on October 13^th (ratified on October 18^th) by the entire body of UNESCO composed of 52 nations. Whereas, the WHC consists of only 21 countries.

Oh, but there’s more! It was the third such resolution passed this year, the first taking place in April.

A resolution is a resolution is a resolution. But when all three say and do virtually the same thing, it becomes the height of redundancy, the pinnacle of repetition … the “theatre of the absurd.”

All three resolutions were fabricated through a pathetic perversion of historical facts; from the Islamic religion that came on the scene 2,500 years after Judaism, and 600 years after Christianity. Furthermore, the sheer recurrence has made these resolutions absurdly childish, much like a child on a long trip (or even a short one) saying over and over, “Are we there yet?”

However, the sinister motive is crystal clear: Tell a big lie often enough, and many will believe it. And in the case of UNESCO as a supposed stately and reputable component of the United Nations, pass enough resolutions and maybe the whole world will think the lies about Israel are true.

UNESCO’s First Resolution … What Was It?

I wrote about the first ruling in the Eye of Prophecy article, An Islamic United Nations? Posted 5-7-16. Here is an excerpt from that post:

In light of yet another anti-Israel resolution by the United Nations, this week’s Eye of Prophecy article could have been entitled, Peace or a Palestinian State … Which Will It Be? Or: More Palestinian Lies. Or: The Legacy of Temple Mount. Or: The Myth of Al-Aqsa Mosque. But it can’t because those are titles of articles already written.

Maybe each Saturday’s article should be posted late in the day instead of first thing in the morning. But that wouldn’t work either. Although Eye of Prophecy articles are published weekly and many of them are in the category of Current Events, they cannot keep up with the almost daily barrage of media reports on the Middle East in general and Israel in particular.

Just hours after I posted The Myth of Al-Aqsa Mosque article on April 16^th, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a resolution “officially” (for the UN, not for Israel or anyone who knows the true history of Temple Mount) classifying Temple Mount by its Arabic name, Al-Haram Al Sharif; which in English is translated to Noble Sanctuary. But disregard the English translation. Even though English is recognized as the main international language, only the Arabic name is to be used.

Among non-Muslim nations voting in favor of this contemptible resolution, France was the most conspicuous with (dis)honorable recognition for Sweden and Spain.

What will these Western nations do when Muslims change the identity of revered religious, national, cultural, or political sites in European countries, exclusively to Islamic names, with demands that only the Muslim designations be recognized? And if city or national governments do not comply, then they, too, are guilty of Islamophobia or religious and cultural intolerance or being PI (politically incorrect).

Stop shaking your head! It could come to that, just like Sharia Law could be implemented in some jurisdictions.

I wonder what the Muslim name for the Statue of Liberty will be. Perhaps, Mohammed’s Torch of Freedom?

*Note: Later in this week’s article, we’ll see the irony of France’s vote in favor of this April resolution, in the context of UNESCO’s origin, headquarters, and “The Theatre of the Absurd.”

Let’s return to additional excerpts from the article, An Islamic United Nations?

This latest resolution to denigrate and discredit Israel by renaming Temple Mount and insisting that all nations use the Arabic term for Temple Mount is yet another pitiful attempt to deny any association whatsoever of the Jewish people to their most holy site in their most holy city of Jerusalem. Furthermore, the resolution was on the very day of Passover, which has been an integral part of the Jewish tradition in Israel for nearly 3,500 years. With Jerusalem and the Temple (Temple Mount) established 3,000 years ago by King David and King Solomon.

Yet UNESCO is doing nothing more than the United Nations, as a whole, has done for nearly 70 years: Castigate Israel fanatically and frequently. Whereas most of the anti-Israel sanctions are initiated by Islamic countries, other nations often vote in favor of these reprehensible resolutions which number far more than those against truly rogue and dangerous nations such as Iran and North Korea.

Will this resolution have any real impact on the world at large? Absolutely it will. The idea is really quite simple: If national leaders and government officials begin to use the label of Al-Haram Al Sharif in reference to Temple Mount, they will soon (if they haven’t already) consider Temple Mount as belonging—historically, religiously, and culturally—to Islam and to Arabs.

The Second Such Resolution

As suspected, this resolution was initiated by and for the Palestinians in Israel. Once again, in direct contradiction of historical facts as found in the Bible and also secular history, UNESCO passed its resolution entitled “Occupied Palestine” identifying all of Judaism’s holiest sites as exclusively Islamic, while accusing Israel as the source of violence in the region. Moreover the resolution was passed on October 13^th the day after Yom Kippur; then ratified on October 18^th, during the week-long celebration of Sukkot.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all that UNESCO originally planned to pass this bill on Yom Kippur itself, just to rub it in against Israel. Could be that too many of the nation’s representatives who would obviously vote in favor may have overslept that day!

(Jewish Sukkot Celebration at the Western Wall)

The semantics and intent of this (second) resolution generically regurgitated the one passed in April. Which was to call for international recognition that Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock must be referred to exclusively as, “Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al-Sharif.” Only Arabic/Muslim names are to be used for this site (Temple Mount) and other sites in Hebron and Bethlehem because they are, as alleged in the resolution, “a Muslim holy site(s) of worship and an integral part of a world cultural heritage site.”

Integral part of a world cultural heritage site? What in the world could that mean in the context that Temple Mount and the other holy Jewish sites in the Jewish nation of Israel have been around thousands of years longer than any Muslim holy site? Or that Israel has been recognized as a sovereign state in the world’s family of nations since 1947, and through a United Nations resolution at that. Not to mention (but I will anyway) that Al-Aqsa Mosque is only the third holiest site in Islam and this mosque is not even the actual site identified as, “the farthest mosque” in Islamic tradition. (Please see Eye of Prophecy article, The Myth of Al-Aqsa Mosque, posted 4-16-16).

Naturally, the resolution targets Israel and all things Jewish; by default it also eliminates any reference and credibility to the sites holy to Christians.

Some of the pernicious and provocative points listed in this resolution are as follows:

• Condemning Israel for restricting freedom of worship on the Temple Mount. The resolution doesn’t use the term Temple Mount. God forbid that anyone would call it by its name, Temple Mount, even to replace that historical name with another! In fact, the only mention of anything Jewish was to eliminate the, “new Jewish prayer platform south of the Mughrabi Ascent in Al-Buraq Plaza, ‘Western Wall Plaza.’” You read that right: even the Western Wall (Kotel in Hebrew) must now bear an Arabic name! The facts are absolutely irrefutable. It is the Jordanians in principle, as they have been given jurisdiction over Temple Mount, and the Palestinians in practice who have verbally and physically abused non-Muslims; and otherwise have tried to prevent them from so much as whispering a prayer on Temple Mount. Anyone with minimum knowledge about what goes on at Temple Mount knows the Palestinians are the aggressors. There are eye-witness accounts and actual film footage to show who does what to whom.
• Nations that voted in favor of this repulsive resolution agreed with another deceptive point. Which is: Israelis “storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif by Israeli right-wing extremists and uniformed forces.” (See first point for the absurdity of this statement). Incidentally, isn’t it much easier to say, “Temple Mount,” than “Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif?” I would have voted against the resolution for that reason alone!
• Same thing with changing Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem to Bilal Ibn Rabah Mosque and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron to Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi. Actually this otherwise low-key name change (in comparison to the other blatantly false points of the resolution) is equally absurd … theatrically so. Why? The Patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and Jacob’s wife, Rachel were OBVIOUSLY Jews, whose lives and history are recorded where…? Of course you know. The book of Genesis in the Bible. Written by Moses some 2,000 years before the Johnny-come-lately religion of Islam made its debut, then the error-filled and subsequently often-changed and “corrected” Koran came along.
• In a similar mendacious twisting of facts, the resolution claims that the source of all the violence comes from, “the constant aggressions by the Israeli settlers and other extremist groups against Palestinian residents.” This denies and defies the obvious evidence of the callous “lone-wolf” attacks by Palestinians that number in the hundreds since this intifada began a little over one year ago; with dozens of Israelis murdered and dozens more injured. It is so patently brazen as to even ignore the fact that the actual extremist groups are Hamas in the Gaza and other terrorist cells under the purview of Fatah in the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank. All of whom constantly suppress, oppress, arrest, imprison, torture, and kill each other over power struggles and ideological differences.
• There are other reasons, but this in-fighting among the Palestinians is the main factor why a Palestinian State is simply not feasible. Civil War would follow.

(Even if Hamas and the Palestinian Authority agree on one Palestinian State, they would insist on a corridor of land connecting the two areas. This would cut Israel in half)

Nations Involved in the Vote on October 13, 2016

I’m doing my best to reduce the reader’s confusion over the number of and number for the resolutions. Actually, I’m having a bit of a problem with the numbers myself! Because the latest resolution of October 26^th is referred to by journalists, op-ed writers, and the media in general as the Second Resolution, the first having taken place on October 13^th. To clarify, we need to remember that the first resolution took place earlier this year in April. Which means the next resolution was not the first, it was the second. With the second one being the third.

I guess that wasn’t so hard after all!

Seriously, and as expected, the second resolution that we just covered (October 13^th and 18^th) was drafted and submitted by countries that are entirely or partially Muslim. They are:

Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Sudan.

In addition to these seven sponsor nations of the resolution, seventeen other UNESCO nations voted approval. In alphabetical order:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, China, Dominican Republic, Iran, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, and Vietnam.

A total of 26 countries abstained from the vote, which can be interpreted as silently supporting the resolution without overtly doing so. Or, in quiet opposition to the resolution. Either one depending on your point of view. The nations that did not vote were:

Albania, Argentina, Cameroon, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and Nevis, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Ukraine.

Two countries were completely absent during the vote: Serbia and Turkmenistan.

Now for the drum roll announcing the nations that supported Israel by voting against this repugnant resolution. Let’s make it a really big drum roll, despite the sad fact that there were only six such nations. But six is better than five, and so on. They are:

Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and (hurrah) the United States.

Israeli and International Reaction to This Second Resolution

In addition to the Israeli Prime Minister’s strong reaction to the latest (third) resolution of 10-26-16, cited earlier in today’s article, read with me his response to the second resolution passed on 10-13-16 (ratified on 10-18-16) in which he also cited, “the theatre of the absurd:”

“The theater of the absurd continues with UNESCO, and today the organization has made its most bizarre decision by saying the people of Israel have no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.”

Although all three resolutions are attempting to dispossess the Jews and their heritage from Israel itself, the language of the second resolution is stronger (than the one in April). It stipulates directly and indirectly that the two Temples (Temple Mount) and other Jewish holy sites either never existed as Jewish or existed at all. That they are Muslim holy sites, exclusively. The resolution in April was geared more to identification of these sites by use of Arabic names only.

Benjamin went on to say:

“Obviously they have never read the Bible, but I would advise UNESCO to visit the Arch of Titus in Rome, where they can see what the Romans brought to Rome after they destroyed and looted the Temple Mount two thousand years ago. One can see engraved on the arch the seven-branched menorah, which is the symbol of the Jewish people as well as the symbol of the Jewish State today.”

(Arch of Titus in Rome)

(Another view of Arch of Titus … Can you see the Menorah carried by victorious Roman soldiers in the lower right portion of the photograph?)

Just a brief pause to comment on Netanyahu’s reference to the Bible, which is ultimately the very heart of the matter. As some Bible scholars and teachers have written, including me in several Eye of Prophecy articles: The real Arab agenda and Muslim (Palestinian) animosity toward the Jews is an ancient one, as found in Scripture. From the very onset of the Islamic religion (all religions … with as I’ve often said … the Christian faith is not a religion, but a relationship with a Person, Messiah Jesus) the crucial question to answer: who is the true and living God? Is it Allah—the moon-god selected by Mohammed from one of several Arabic gods at the time? Or is the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac (the promised child instead of Ishmael), and Jacob the one and only God? In this article, time/space permits only one distinction, but it is a monumentally significant one: Only the God of the Bible has made hundreds of prophecies that have come to pass; and more that will surely be fulfilled … and soon.

The Bible is the most historical book ever written because it contains God’s interaction with all of mankind (Jews and Gentiles alike) through the ages. Scripture contains an astounding amount of facts and an astonishing number of people, places, dates, events, genealogies. As well as a vast volume of spiritual truth of the Old Covenant of the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant of salvation through faith in God’s grace—gift of His Son, Messiah Jesus to die for our sins. Then the eternal destiny of every man and woman who has ever lived … based on their relationship or lack thereof with God and His Son.

Actually, the Bible consists of 66 books written over a period of some 1,500 years by 40 authors, all of whom are “on the same page.” How could that be possible? Easy answer: God inspired each author, either by directly speaking to him (such as the prophets); or the spoken words of Jesus and hundreds of other people in Scripture; or eyewitness accounts of events; or through inspiration of the Holy Spirit to write exactly what the Lord wanted to be written, with regard to Biblical truths and precepts.

Speaking of the Roman General Titus, who led the legions that finally conquered Israel and Jerusalem in 70 A.D., the prophet Daniel predicted that event about 600 years before it happened (see Daniel Chapter 9). I’ve also written much about that spectacular prophecy, as it involves the Roman Emperor, Nero; who is and will be the Antichrist beast of the book of Revelation, when he returns from the Abyss. See any number of Eye of Prophecy articles in the category of Antichrist. Better yet, read the book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved?

(Depicts Roman Legions Destruction of 2nd Temple)

Benjamin Netanyahu could also have cited more secular history that indisputably documents the existence of a Jewish Temple (on Temple Mount), not the least of which was Josephus’ account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans.

Here is a another quote from Prime Minister Netanyahu in response to the October 13^th UNESCO resolution.

“Surely UNESCO will say that Emperor Titus was a part of Zionist propaganda. To say that Israel has no connections to the Temple Mount and Western Wall is like saying China has no connection to the Great Wall of China or Egypt has no connection to the pyramids. With this absurd decision, UNESCO has lost what little legitimacy it once had. However, I believe the historical truth will prevail.”

Amen to that! The historical and Biblical truth will prevail powerfully. These truths will triumph when Messiah Jesus returns to set all things right in this hypocritical politically correct, upside down, inside out, good is evil and evil is good, morally relative, tolerance obsessed, pluralistically mad, and fanatically inclusive world in which we live. That is: tolerant and pluralistic and inclusive of everyone except Christians and Jews.

Then, one more quote from Prime Minister Netanyahu on October 18^th, following the final UNESCO executive approval of the October 13^th resolution; which, as a reminder, is still pertaining to the second resolution, not the third one passed the following week. Here he unloads with a satirical analogy, one that in my opinion fits the preposterous UNESCO resolution:

“What’s next? A UNESCO decision denying the connection between peanut butter and jelly? Batman and Robin? Rock and roll?”

Here is a quote from Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi who told Prime Minister Netanyahu in a personal meeting between the two leaders: “To say that the Jewish people have no connection to Jerusalem is like saying the sun creates darkness.”

He also expressed regret that Italy abstained from the vote rather than voting against the resolution, with the not-so-valid reason that it was understood before the actual vote that no European country would vote in favor of the resolution. Instead, EU nations who were members of UNESCO would abstain.

My opinion: The nations that abstained didn’t want to be accused by other member nations of Islamophobia had they voted against the resolution.

Two countries that voted in favor of this revolting resolution later expressed regret, and said they would abstain from similar votes in the future. They were Mexico and Brazil. Unfortunately they were correct. Undoubtedly, there will be “similar votes in the future.”

The Third Resolution—That Began Today’s Article

However, the second resolution (the first of the most recent ones) wasn’t enough, even though it came through the United Nations entire administrative body of UNESCO. The World Heritage Committee within the organization of UNESCO decided to reinforce the October 13^th & 18^th passage by rubbing the proverbial salt into Israel’s wound … to pound more nails into the coffin that they so arrogantly think will bury Israel.

There was as much reaction from high ranking Israelis and Jews the world over, as well as from some leaders of prominent nations, as there has ever been to a United Nations sponsored sanction against Israel. As already indicated, this had much to do with the abjectly “absurd” allegations of UNESCO’s decision. These assertions were truly over the top.

All of things and people, even UNESCO’s Director-General Irina Bokova issued a statement strongly denouncing the resolutions, calling the Temple Mount’s Western Wall, “the holiest site in Judaism.” She also promised to combat anti-Semitism. We’ll see?

One such reaction from Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat echoed both the serious and justifiably sarcastic imagery comparisons voiced by Benjamin Netanyahu. Said Mayor Barkat:

“I was outraged to hear of UNESCO’s vote today which denies thousands of years of Jewish connection to Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Would UNESCO vote to deny the Christian connection to the Vatican? Or the Muslim connection to Mecca?”

*Note: I don’t support the idea that the true Biblical Christianity has a connection to the Vatican, but that’s beside Mayor Barkat’s point of comparison.

He goes on to say:

“The UNESCO vote claims there is no connection between the Jewish people and the Western Wall. In fact, it is the UNESCO vote that has no connection to reality.”

UNESCO as a whole and this sub-division entity called the World Heritage Committee were apparently oblivious to world reaction, presumptuously thinking they would further influence world opinion against Israel. But it’s also evident that the Palestinians were more than a little concerned how global response might affect the subsequent vote of the WHC.

One main reason for this concern was the part of the prior resolution that also included the Western Wall bearing no connection to Israel or Judaism. This was the first time that the Western Wall had been included with all of the other Jewish holy sites in Israel. That crossed a huge red line with Israelis, with Jews world-wide, and with some leaders from non-Muslim nations.

I’ve been to Jerusalem and the Western Wall, also to Temple Mount. I can guarantee you that there were no Muslims at the Kotel when I was there; because all men (Jew and Gentile) including tourists must wear a kippah or other acceptable head-cover while at the Wall. No Muslim in his right (or wrong) mind would do such a thing. Also, it’s highly unlikely for any Muslim to have been at the Western Wall since June, 1967 when Israel recaptured all of Jerusalem, the West Bank, Golan Heights, and Gaza, and most of all Temple Mount and the Western Wall from the Jordanians, Syrians, Egyptians, and Palestinians. Only to relinquish Temple Mount jurisdiction back to Jordan, West Bank and Gaza to the Palestinians, and later the Sinai back to Egypt in capitulation to pressure from many other nations.

(All men wear a Skullcap, Orthodox Jewish hat, or Tallit–prayer shawl at the Western Wall … Even President Obama who was undoubtedly making a token appearance!)

Well, UNESCO, I’ve got news for you. Go ahead and try to enforce your resolutions. But make sure your enforcers wear a kippah while approaching the Western Wall, if they even make it that far!

“Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls”

That was the title of this third resolution passed on October 26^th. Much of the language was the same as the previous resolution ratified on October 18^th, but even harsher in that it contained not one reference to Jewish or Christian affiliations with Israel’s holy sites.

However, something interesting happened on the way to the World Heritage Committee forum.

This sub-division body of 21 nations (nearly all of them different from the 52 countries that currently comprise UNESCO itself) didn’t do what the Palestinians told them to do. The Palestinian Authority wanted this newest resolution to pass by consent of all 21 nations. Evidently, most WHC decisions are unanimous from the beginning, without the need to vote. If the entire WHC didn’t agree up front to comply with what was tantamount to a rigged election vote, then Jordanians and Palestinians who drafted the resolution would alter it to be even more anti-Israel than the previous resolution passed by UNESCO itself (the main body).

On occasion WHC apparently votes by secret ballot, rather than an open assembly session. The Palestinian Authority (which has observer status at the UN) and the Muslim nations belonging to WHC were certain there would be a consensus; thus, no need for individual votes from each of the 21 countries.

Wrong!

Although the resolution passed (technically) with the harsher measures, the vote tally was much less than unanimous. Nations in favor of the resolution: 10. Nations opposed: 2. Countries that abstained: 8. One country, Jamaica, was absent (didn’t participate). The two nations that voted against the resolution were, Tanzania and Croatia.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu saw the glass as half full. He considered the abstaining nations as those not supporting this follow-up resolution, one that was totally unnecessary. One, however, that the Muslim nations and Palestinians believed would bolster world opinion against Israel. It backfired on them. Reason: Because there was no consensus, UNESCO’s Secretary-General said the WHC resolution won’t be implemented. I don’t fully understand that or how it would have been “implemented,” but that’s neither here nor there. Fact is: On this rare occasion a United Nations organization (WHC) didn’t even exceed 50% agreement on an anti-Israel resolution!

The WHC membership is composed of the following nations:

Angola, Azerbaijan, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Cuba, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

UNESCO & the Theatre of the Absurd

Whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew there was a tangible connection between UNESCO and the “Theatre of the Absurd” is unknown. He probably does know. Either way, his characterization of UNESCO’s absurd play on the world stage is right on. Let’s see why.

From one of the UNESCO websites (http://en.unesco.org/) the following excerpt is quoted:

“In 1945 UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation, that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity.

Three power points follow; I will quote just one: “Building intercultural understanding: through protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity. UNESCO created the idea of World Heritage to protect sites of outstanding universal value.”

Then from the last paragraph of this website: “UNESCO is known as the ‘intellectual” agency of the United Nations. At a time when the world is looking for new ways to build peace and sustainable development, people must rely on the power of intelligence to innovate, expand their horizons and sustain the hope of a new humanism….”

Much could be said regarding UNESCO’s ultimate goal of creating a “new humanism” (one that has no room for the God of the Bible or for the “the people of the book”, both Jews and Christians). For purpose of today’s article, only the following will be said:

Though a glaring unintellectual grasp of even the basics of Israel’s history (the Jews were in Israel long before the Arabs … the Jews ARE Israel), UNESCO isn’t even close to accomplishing the, “protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity.”

Instead they have made a mockery of their own stated objectives by protecting the site of Temple Mount, the Western Wall, and other Jewish Holy Sites in Israel exclusively for the Palestinians and Muslims … at the total expense of the Jews and in the face of the obvious cultural and historical (both Biblical and secular) evidence. This is the height of hypocrisy. It is not diversity; it is divisiveness. It is not moral; it is amoral. It is not intelligent; it is stupid.

(UNESCO’S Main Assembly Hall)

Question: Where is UNESCO headquartered?

Answer: Paris, France.

Theatre of the Absurd

First, the definition of Absurd: “Ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous … meaningless … lacking order or value” (Webster’s Dictionary).

From Wikipedia on the Theatre of the Absurd: “(French: theatre de l’absurde) is a post-World War II designation for particular plays of absurdist fiction written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1950s… Their work focused largely on the idea of existentialism and expressed what happens when human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down, in fact alerting their audiences to pursue the opposite. Logical construction and argument gives way to irrational and illogical speech and to its ultimate conclusion, silence.”

My observation: Fits UNESCO to a tee. They and their incessant anti-Israeli resolutions serve no purpose, have no meaning, and are irrational and illogical. Thus, they should be SILENT.

Three of the most notable “absurdist” playwrights were born in France: Jean Genet, Jean Tardieu, and Boris Vian. Many others moved to France during the heyday of the “theatre of the absurd.”

Paris was considered the home of this bizarre literary and stage experience.

Such a coincidence, don’t you think?

I’m certainly not berating or blaming France for this ironic connection between UNESCO and the Theatre of the Absurd. However, France’s (more recent) record regarding their treatment of French Jews (mostly at the hands of Muslims living in France) has been dismal. Which is one reason why more Jews are making Aliyah to Israel from France than any other European country in recent years.

Things to Ponder

There is absolutely no absurdity found in the Bible, other than found in some of the people and nations—their apathetic actions or defiant disregard for God and his magnificent plan for the human race and destiny for his special possession, Israel. On the contrary, the Word of God is replete with life’s value, meaning, purpose, and everlasting promises for those who have believed and received God’s gracious gift of His Son, Messiah Jesus, for redemption.

King David knew this and trusted the Lord God implicitly, when David said:

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).

Jesus himself promised: “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:9-10, NASB).

There are several events in Scripture, where it’s quite evident God has a sense of humor. After all, he created us in his image … with a remarkable array of characteristics, including humor. Who doesn’t like to laugh?!

So, let’s close with some Jewish humor as found in the Levitt Letter (Zola Levitt Ministries), October, 2016 edition. As follows in italics:

The rabbi was an avid golfer and played at every opportunity. One Yom Kippur, the rabbi thought to himself, “What’s it going to hurt if I go out during the break and play a few rounds? Nobody will be the wiser, and I’ll be back in time for services.”

Sure enough at the conclusion of the morning service, the rabbi snuck out of the synagogue and headed straight for the golf course.

Looking down on the scene, Moses complained to God, “Look how terrible—a Jew on Yom Kippur—and a rabbi at that!”

God wryly replied, “Watch, I’m going to teach him a lesson.”

Out on the course, the rabbi stepped up to the first tee. When he hit the ball, it careened off a tree, struck a rock, skipped across a pond, and landed in the hole for a hole in one! Seeing this, Moses protested: “God, this is how you’re teaching him a lesson? He got a hole in one!”

“Sure,” agreed God. “But who’s he going to tell?”

To be sure, God has taught his chosen people a lesson down through the centuries. One that required serious discipline for some 2,500 years. But that’s over. He is restoring his people to the Promised Land in great numbers. He is fulfilling his original promise to Abraham.

“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3).

This blessing began through Isaac, the child promised to Abraham. But ultimately through Isaac’s descendant, Messiah (Jesus). The CHOSEN ONE. (See Isaiah 9:6-7).

Blessing in the fullest sense of the word. Summed up in the Hebrew word: Shalom … Peace.

Not just absence of war. Also wholeness, security, serenity, fullness of joy… Go ahead and fill in some more blessings.

And ultimately, spiritual salvation and physical restoration of all Israel. With untold blessings to the Gentile nations during the glorious reign of Messiah Jesus on earth.

UNESCO, the United Nations, indeed all peoples of the earth would do well to heed the promises but also the warnings issued by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads. Just as you swallowed up my people on my holy mountain, so you and the surrounding nations will swallow the punishment I pour out on you. Yes, all you nations will drink and stagger and disappear from history” (Obadiah 1:15-16).

One day (soon), there will be Arabs at the Western Wall. From the Kotel and from Temple Mount, they will be welcomed by Jews who have, themselves, recognized Yeshua as THE MESSIAH. And Jesus, himself, will embrace both Jew and Gentile for choosing Him as their Savior and Lord.

Only Almighty God and his majestic Son, Messiah Jesus, can make the impossible, possible!