Stop Picking Sides: A Realist View on Israel, Palestine, and the West
It’s become a disturbing trend: Western nations—many of them formerly Christian, now increasingly secular or atheistic—feel emboldened to lecture or pressure Israel on how to conduct itself. But if you’re a Christian, you understand a deeper truth: all property ultimately belongs to God. The legal structures we call “property rights” are only as valid as a nation’s ability to defend them. That’s the reality of geopolitics—power and protection determine ownership, not idealism.
This is why it’s unwise for any nation or group to start a war it cannot finish. A person doesn’t get to invade a neighbor’s home, commit atrocities, and then expect mercy by simply asking for peace afterward. The damage is done, and consequences follow.
Whether we like it or not, war often resembles gang or tribal warfare. You provoke violence, and you’d better be prepared for the backlash. This is why freedom of speech matters—it’s a peaceful way to express dissent before things spiral out of control. Even radical rhetoric, from far-left Muslims or anyone else, should be protected. But once words turn into action—kidnapping, murder, terror—then everything changes.
What Hamas did wasn’t a political protest—it was a declaration of war. And they didn’t target Israel’s military; they went after civilians. In any other conflict, when a democratically elected leadership commits acts of terror, the nation behind it bears the consequences. Whether Israel’s retaliation is measured or excessive is not the primary issue. The war began with the October attacks, and Israel has a right to respond.
If either Israel or Palestine were to attack my country, I’d expect my government to act decisively. That’s sovereignty. Palestinians fear Israel may annex the West Bank, but what does that even mean in practical terms? It could mean military occupation, restricted access, or expulsion. But again—none of this is the business of outside nations unless their citizens are directly affected.
Let’s also address an inconvenient truth: Most Muslim countries want nothing to do with Hamas. There are Muslims who seek peace, and they see Hamas as a liability. Westerners often stereotype Muslims as a monolithic group with unified goals—that’s simply not reality. The facts are clear: Hamas launched a brutal terror attack, killing and kidnapping innocent people. From that moment on, they forfeited the luxury of international sympathy.
Western interference hasn’t helped. The more Western powers try to mediate and impose peace agreements, the more Israel is forced to delay decisive action. And ironically, that hesitation may have invited further attacks. If Israel had asserted complete control over disputed territories earlier, this cycle might never have escalated to this degree.
As for the argument that “Israel doesn’t belong there”—that’s historical revisionism dressed up as activism. Nations rise and fall. Borders change hands. There’s no such thing as permanent land ownership based solely on ancestry. Indigenous claims don’t override military or political realities. People, families, and nations must learn how to defend themselves—not rely on third parties, courts, or global sympathy to protect their interests.
Yes, Palestinians may feel oppressed. But once you respond with terrorism, you live with the consequences—just as any other group would. That’s not hate speech. That’s the harsh truth of how the world works.
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today!