BBC bans film that discusses Jewish presence in Holy Land post AD70

The BBC has banned a film that discusses continued Jewish presence in the Holy Land post AD70. This film seems to challenge the origin of the modern Palestinian populace, suggesting in part it derives from an ethnic Jewish community. Dr Siam Bhayro finds the decision strange even though he doesn't agree fully with the conclusions. BBC criticised for banning a controversial film on the history of Palestinians and Jews

Passover and Easter

It is noteworthy that a number of Christians today enjoy partaking in Jewish Passover or Seder meals. Is this appropriate for Christians? I would suggest that if this is an act of remembrance of the work of Jesus upon the cross then there is essentially little wrong with it. Jews remember their ancestors’ slavery in Egypt as they take part in this community meal, and for Christians the communion is a remembrance of the work of Christ upon the cross. There is then a close correlation between communion and the Seder meal. Indeed the symbolism is clearly there in the New Testament, just as Moses led the people out of slavery in Egypt so Jesus leads us out of the bondage to sin and death. However, there are a couple of comments that might be raised. Firstly, some of the traditions of the Jewish Seder meal seem to be an elaboration on the Exodus account, although not necessarily wrong. But I would suggest there is a lot to be said for the simplicity of the Mosaic account. Secondly, there is some debate over whether the last supper is really a Passover meal, or just a traditional Jewish meal. This is because Jesus was seemingly crucified on the eve of Passover, and the meal took place the day before. At the meal Jesus explained the symbolism of the wine as his blood poured out and the bread as his body broken for us.
   The account of the Passover meal can be found in Exodus 12. We see the Israelites in Egypt are told to prepare a meal and eat it in haste. They are instructed to kill and roast a year old lamb over an open fire during the evening, and then eat all of it after sunset. That which is not eaten should be burnt. The meal should also consist of unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The blood was to be applied to the doorpost and lintel with a sprig of hyssop.
   We can see imagery of Christ’s sacrifice in the Passover, but as noted there is a debate around the last supper and whether it really was the Passover meal, or just a traditional Jewish meal. At the last supper we read of the bread and wine, but no lamb or bitter herbs. However, Christ was himself the sacrificial lamb, and just as the Passover lamb was tied to a stick and roasted over the fire, so too Jesus was nailed to the cross and raised up in darkness, but what of the fire? In some sense the Law of Moses is a fire. Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly and then was roasted in front of the Law of God as he bore our sins upon the cross. Jesus was also offered the bitter herb of hyssop mixed with vinegar. Remember, Moses told the Israelites to paint the blood on the doorposts using hyssop. And as Jesus said at the last supper, the fruit of the vine was symbolic of his blood. Jesus then tasted the bitter herb as the ‘blood’ was applied to his head and he provided the bread of his body.

Galloway scores an own goal...

George Galloway, Respect Party MP for Bradford West, has missed an opportunity to debate the Middle East crisis, and speak up for Palestinians. Instead he stormed out of a debate in Oxford University Christ Church College because he found out late that his opponent was an Israeli citizen. Bloggers have accused him of being anti-Semitic as a result, and there is little defence I wish to offer here. Surely, in Respect, one should be willing to argue a case against opponents. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/21/george-galloway-debate-israeli-oxford

Syria's children are suffering most due to civil war

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/syria-children-conflicts-biggest-casualty-030801222.html

We need to remember the suffering of all people irrespective of nationality and creed and pray for peace.

Israel - William Hague, The Hague and political fears

The UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has recently spoken out in support the two state solution and urged Israel to seek peace - this because Israel's policy of building on Palestinian land (especially the area known as E1 which will divide the Palestinian area) is losing it international support Hague warns Israel is losing international support over Palestine as people vote in General Election Hague points out that "An independent Palestinian state alongside Israel has been the basis of the US-backed Middle East peace process for almost 20 years." The State of Israel has of course just had elections, and we will wait and see what the policy of the new administration is, but it seems Netanyahu will be Prime Minister once again. In a further development Reuters reports that The Palestinian Authority may take Israel to the Hague Court over its building policy.

Israel - Conservative Friends are not helping - Oborne

Peter Oborne has written an interesting piece in the Daily Telegraph. This concerns the influence that Israeli politicians have in the Conservative Party, and the negative consequences that will build up if the UK government doesn't speak truthfully to the Jewish State. The cowardice at the heart of our relationship with Israel

According to Oborne, present Israeli policy in settlement development and expansion in the West Bank will ultimately lead to disaster, where it is forced to accept a one state solution instead of a two state solution. As a consequence, Israel will either no longer be a Jewish state, because Palestinians and Arabs will form a majority, or it will be forced to treat Palestinians as second class citizens in an apartheid-like situation. 

Israel to build 3000 more homes - in defiance of UN

The State of Israel is to build another 3,000 homes in East Jerusalem in response to UN recognition of Palestine as an observer non-member state observer non-member state.

The BBC report suggests the plan will effectively cut the West Bank into two. This is really a provocative act and a snub to the UN. The BBC says that "An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some of the new units would be built between Jerusalem and the settlement of Maaleh Adumim. Plans to build settlements in the area, known as E1, are strongly opposed by Palestinians, who say the development will cut the West Bank in two, preventing the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state." There are now 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the Palestinian areas.