Viewpoint: History's Repeating Itself

Over three-and-a-half thousand years ago, old Jacob was sitting and musing one day when famine had overtaken the earth. As he considered his plight, with deep contemplation, he thought: “But there is food down in Egypt.” Then, speaking sternly to his eleven sons, he inquired: “Why do you look at each other like that?

There is grain in Egypt, so go down there and buy us some food that we may live and not die.” Obediently, ten of the young men heeded their father’s instructions, and hurried to Egypt to purchase ten bags of corn, while Benjamin, the youngest, stayed at home with his dad.
Desperate conditions usually call for desperate measures. Last week, history once again repeated itself as desperate Palestinians, lacking much needed supplies, journeyed from their Gaza settlements in masses across the Egyptian border, clamoring in throngs around Egyptian markets to purchase anything from food, water and fuel, to cement, kitchen utensils, fertilizers, mattresses and blankets, and even goats. Bigger ticket items, such as Chinese-built motor bikes and fridges were also being bought.
By the way, one needs not look very far to notice how China is rapidly dominating world trade by stocking its merchandise in just about every wholesale and retail market worldwide. Similar to Japan, China has long had a tendency to be capable of displacing the U.S. as the world’s most versatile economic giant. A vast number of American companies have been out-sourced to China in recent years, and now with America grappling in a quicksand of potential economic recession, China is flaunting itself as a power to be reckoned with.
But with regard to the Gaza “gold-rush”, it would be interesting to note what factors sparked off last week’s commotion. Palestinian Arabs, living in Gaza, are people who are highly self-willed and patriotic. Most often than not, their over-zealous patriotic ambitions and their determination, coupled with political and social hardship, drive them to a point where they become aggressive and in some case dangerous to their neighbors. Surrounded by Israel in the north, Egypt in the south, Jordan on the East and the Mediterranean Sea on the west coast, Gazan citizens often feel like they have been boxed in and controlled by their Arab neighbors – particularly by their chief rival, Israel. Even prior to medieval times, they have long charged Israel for taking away their land and occupying the territories to which their ancestors have had historic claim.
The Gaza Strip had been virtually cut off from the world since last June when the Hamas seized power from rival Fatah militants led by President Mahmoud Abbas, the successor of Fatah icon Yasser Arafat, following his death in 2005. Literally speaking, Israel constructed a protective wall fence that has isolated the 1.5 million inhabitants of Gaza. In addition, for years Gaza had been separated from Egypt by another massive concrete wall, interspersed by tall heavy-gauge steel panels.
Naturally, Israel had opted to install their wall because in recent tines Palestinian militants from both Hamas and Fatah had been subtly entering Israel and detonating suicide bombs, killing and maiming innocent Israelis. Moreover, missiles from Gaza had been targeting southern Israel here of late in protest over Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. In response, Israel deliberately decided to cut off the supply of fuel and goods to the Gaza settlement as part of a resolute economic blockade.
It is these desperate circumstances which have driven the Palestinians to take such bold action to have their needs for necessities from Egypt met. And unlike Jacob, they took the initiative to relieve their plight by militant means: Overnight on Wednesday, January 23, it was alleged that Islamist militia forces of Hamas planted about 17 explosives and landmines at the base of the gigantic Egyptian wall. The early dawn blasts created a much wanted window of opportunity for crossing over. Certain sections of the wall were almost flattened by the powerful explosives, providing gaps through which deprived Gazan residents could flow into Egypt, flooding stores with booming business.
As the mobs freely poured into the Egyptian town of Rafa, very little control was on hand to regulate the flow of excited shoppers, whose emotions ruled with eager temperaments. Egyptian border guards stood by as if it was needless to worry about their country being overrun. Though they recognized that militants had destroyed their protective wall, yet, no doubt, they realized that the cause was a worthy – to alleviate a humanitarian crisis. Notwithstanding, Hamas police sought to direct the crowds through two prime sections of the border, and they randomly inspected the bags of some of the patrons returning home with their precious goods.
Unrest in the Middle East signals the state of the world at large in terms of what we refer to biblically as the “end of the age”. But even without considering a religious factor, it is plain to see that the tensions between these ancient civilizations are destined to spell some form of catastrophic event which has been brewing for many years now. The question is: will these countries, recognized as key players in biblical times, continue to squabble with each other and stage political and social drama indefinitely?
I am persuaded that the Master of this planet, the almighty God Himself, has a precise plan for all the Arab countries and a triumphant outcome for their rival Israel. It is the duty of any responsible government to provide safety for its people. Thus, it was prudent that Israel opted to install the revolting wall on its Gaza border to keep its Palestinian perpetrators at bay.
Traditionally, Middle-eastern countries have been known to be protected by walls as bulwarks from time immemorial. The purpose is to keep out vicious enemies. One of the most notable was the ancient Wall of Jericho, a mighty fortress of defense, which allowed its inhabitants to feel safe and secure. It is recorded, however, that God provided Israel with victory over Jericho, when Joshua and his priests marched around the city while the people shouted. Likewise, I am convinced that it is also God who sanctioned the idea of erecting this wall on the Gaza-Israeli border. It is not His will that His people continue to suffer massacres at the hand of heartless suicide bombers.
The Palestinians’ suffering from the lack of necessary household commodities, therefore, comes as a result of their own arrogant actions. They could have been enjoying a cohabitant relationship with Israel if they had only conducted themselves civilly, instead of considering the God-favored nation to be their aggressor.
Through God’s providence, Israel will never be defeated, no matter how much Palestinians or other Arab countries choose to ramp and rage against her. Since the Palestinians can’t beat God’s country, why can’t they be content to play it cool with Israel and dwell in peace with the holy state, instead of being so insolent? Well, perhaps that is easier said than done. Anyway, let’s appreciate Egypt who has for the most part tolerated their bold defiance.