Monday, May 23, 2011

Who Should Guard the Christian Holy Sites? Israel or HAMAS?

Washington D.C. (May 23rd, 2011) -- The following is a statement from Traditional Values Coalition founder and chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon during today's "Israel: You Are Not Alone" campaign press conference, reacting to President Obama's declaration seeking a path to peace in Israel along the pre-1967 demarcation lines.

"If the Palestinians were to lay down their arms, we would have peace tomorrow and a Palestinian state within a week. If Israel were to lay down her arms, the State of Israel would cease to exist.

"In March 2001, it was Muslims that destroyed the archaeological treasures of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, a site in Afghanistan that Muslims intentionally destroyed because they offended Islam. What sort of protections do the American people believe HAMAS and other Islamic terror organizations will afford the Jewish and Christian holy sites such as the Tomb of Abraham in Hebron, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, or the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem?

"Who should guard the Christian holy sites? Israel or HAMAS?

"That President Obama would deliberately antagonize our Israeli allies during the visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu is offensive beyond all measure. The people of Israel -- and Israel's enemies -- need to be aware that the people of the United States are entirely, unhesitatingly, and full heartedly behind Israel's right to exist in peace and security.

"The strength and peace of the Holy Land rests on the security of Israel, and our Israeli allies should not have to cede one single iota of their sovereignty, their land, or their security in order to secure peace. Traditional Values Coalition and the 43,000 churches and millions of Christians we represent stand behind Israel."

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, O Jerusalem, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy." (Psalms 137:5-6)