1. History of Gaza in Biblical Time
Gaza first appears in the
Tanach as a Philistine city, the site of Samson's dramatic death. Jews finally
conquered it in the Hasmonean era, and continued to live there. Notable
residents include Dunash Ibn Labrat, and Nathan of Gaza, advisor to false
messiah Shabtai Zvi. Gaza is within the boundaries of Shevet Yehuda in Biblical
Israel (see Genesis 15, Joshua 15:47, Kings 15:47 and Judges 1:18) and
therefore some have argued that there is a Halachic requirement to live in this
land.
2. What Exactly Is The Gaza Strip?
The Gaza Strip is a roughly
rectangular territory surrounding the city of Gaza, wedged between the
Mediterranean Sea and Israel. To the southwest, it shares a seven-mileborder
with Egypt. The region has a long history of occupation—by the ancient Egyptians,
the Philistines, the Arabs, the Christian Crusaders, and the Ottomans.
AfterWorld War I, the Gaza area became part of the British Mandate of
Palestine, and it was occupied by Egypt in 1948, in the aftermath of the first
Arab-Israeli war. Israel took control of the region during the Six-Day War in
1967, along with the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the
Sinai Peninsula.
In 1994, Israel withdrew from
parts of the Gaza Strip as part of its obligations under the Oslo Accords
(which also affirmed the rights of the Palestinians to self-government). The
Palestinian National Authority and Israel shared power in the Gaza Strip for
the next 10 years, with the PNA administering civilian control and the Israelis
overseeing military affairs as well as the borders, airspace, and remaining
Israeli settlements.
In 2005, Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally ended military rule in the region and
withdrew all Israeli settlements, thus bringing all areas of the Gaza Strip
under Palestinian administration. However, Airspace and coastal waters remained
under Israeli control. In 2007, Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, causing
a division between the region and the other Palestinian territory, the West
Bank, where the Fatah party is dominant. Ariel Sharon as the Israeli president
in 2008.
3. How Did It Come To Be That Shape?
The rectangular Gaza Strip is
about 25 miles long and three to seven miles wide. One long side lies along the
Mediterranean. One short, straight end borders Egypt: This follows the border
that existed between Egypt and the British Mandate of Palestine. The other
sides of the rectangle—a long, ragged edge and a shorter, northeastern
side—separate the Gaza Strip from Israel. This border was established after the
first Arab-Israeli War, which also resulted in the creation of Israel.
The Gaza region became
Egypt's military headquarters during the 1948 conflict, and the narrow coastal
strip saw heavy fighting. When the cease-fire was announced later that
year—following a decisive Israeli victory—the final position of the military
fronts became what's known as "the Green Line," or the border between
the Palestinian territories (both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank) and Israel.
4. Who Lives On The Gaza Strip?
Since the withdrawal of Israeli
settlements, the Gazan population is almost entirely Palestinian Arab. More
than 99 percent are Sunni Muslims, with a very small number of Christians. The
region saw a huge influx of Palestinian refugees after the creation of Israel
in 1948—within 20 years, the population of Gaza had grown to six times its
previous size. The Gaza Strip now has one of the highest population densities
in the world: Almost 1.5 million people live within its 146 square miles.
Eighty percent of Gazans live below the poverty line.
5. Who Built The Fence Between Gaza And Egypt?
Who Controls The Border?
In 1979, Israel and Egypt
signed a peace treaty that returned the Sinai Peninsula, which borders the Gaza
Strip, to Egyptian control. As part of that treaty, a 100-meter-wide strip of
land known as the Philadelphi corridor was established as a buffer zone between
Gaza and Egypt. Israel built a barrier there during the Palestinian uprisings
of the early 2000s. It's made mostly of corrugated sheet metal, with stretches
of concrete topped with barbed wire.
In 2005, when Israel pulled
out of the Gaza Strip, Israel and Egypt reached a military agreement regarding
the border, based on the principles of the 1979 peace treaty. The agreement
specified that 750 Egyptian border guards would be deployed along the length of
the border, and both Egypt and Israel pledged to work together to stem
terrorism, arms smuggling, and other illegal cross-border activities.
From November 2005 until July
2007, the Rafah Crossing—the only entry-exit point along the Gaza-Egypt
border—was jointly controlled by Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, with the
European Union monitoring Palestinian compliance on the Gaza side. After the
Hamas takeover in June 2007, the European Union pulled out of the region, and Egypt
agreed with Israel to shut down the Rafah Crossing, effectively sealing off the
Gaza Strip on all sides.
6. Earlier Settlement Till 1956
The earliest settlement of
the area is by Avraham and Yitzhak, both of whom lived in the Gerar area of
Gaza. In the fourth century Gaza was the primary Jewish port of Israel for
international trade and commerce. Great medieval rabbis such as Rabbi Yisrael
Najara, author of Kah Ribon Olam, the popular Shabbat song, and renowned
Mekubal Rabbi Avraham Azoulai, were rabbanim in Gaza Jewish communities.
The periodic removal of Jews
from Gaza goes back at least to the Romans in 61 CE, followed much later by the
Crusaders, Napoleon, the Ottoman Turks, the British and the contemporary
Egyptians. However, Jews definitely lived in Gaza throughout the centuries,
with a stronger presence in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Jews were present in Gaza
until 1929, when they were forced to leave the area due to violent riots
against them by the Arabs. Following these riots, and the death of nearly 135
Jews in all, the British prohibited Jews from living in Gaza to quell tension
and appease the Arabs. Some Jews returned, however, and, in 1946, kibbutz Kfar
Darom was established to prevent the British from separating the Negev from the
Jewish state.
The United Nations 1947
partition plan allotted the coastal strip from Yavneh to Rafiah on the Egyptian
border to be an Arab state. In Israel's war for independence, most Arab
inhabitants in this region fled or were expelled, settling around Gaza City.
Israeli forces conquered Gaza, and proceeded south to El-Arish, but
subsequently gave control of the area to Egypt in negotiations, keeping Ashdod
and Ashkelon. In 1956, Israel went to war with Egypt, conquered Gaza again,
only to return it again.
7. After Six Day War 1967
With the 1967 Six Day War,
Israeli forces reentered Gaza and captured it. During the war, Israel had no
idea what it would do with the territory. Eshkol called it “a bone stuck in our throats.”
The initial settlements were
established by the Labor government in the early 1970s. The first was Kfar
Darom, which was originally established in 1946, and reformed in 1970. In 1981,
as part of a peace treaty with Egypt, the last settlements of the Sinai were
destroyed, and some Jews moved to the Gaza area. Israeli settlers reside in 18
percent of the 363 square kilometer area. They are sparsely settled in the area
as compared to the density of the Palestinian regions in the Gaza Strip.
There are twenty-one
settlements in Gaza. The most populated Gush Katif area contains some thirty
synagogues plus Yeshivat Torat Hachim with 200 students, the Hesder Yeshiva
with 150 students, the Mechina in Atzmona with 200 students, Yeshivot in
Netzarim and Kfar Darom, 6 Kollelim, a Medrasha for girls in Neve Dekalim and
more. All of the settlements have their own schools, seminaries, stores, and
doctors.
The largest group of
settlements is the Katif bloc, located along the southern Gaza coastline. These
settlements block access to the coast from the major Palestinian cities of Khan
Yunis and Rafah and cement Israeli control on the Egypt-Gaza border. Another
group of settlements (comprising Elei Sinai, Dugit, and Nisanit) are located
along Gaza's northern border with Israel, expanding the Israeli presence from
the city of Ashkelon (inside Israel) to the edges of Gaza City (the Erez
Industrial zone is part of this bloc).
Netzarim, Kfar Darom, and
Morag are strategically located in the heart of the Gaza Strip (along a
north-south axis), creating a framework for Israeli control of the area and its
main transportation route, and facilitating Israel's ability to divide the Gaza
Strip into separate areas and isolate each area's inhabitants. In addition, the
settlements control prime agricultural land, some of the area's main aquifers,
and approximately one-third of the total Gaza coastline.
The Gaza settlements range
from religious communities (Atzmona, Bedolah, Gadid, Ganei Tal, Gan Or, Katif,
Kfar Darom, Morag, Netzarim, Netzer Hazani, and Neve Dekalim) to non-religious
communities (Dugit, Elei Sinai, Kfar Yam), to mixed communities (Nisanit, Pe'at
Sade, and Rafiah Yam). Their economies are generally based on agriculture (with
many classified as “moshavim” or cooperative agricultural villages), with some
local industry (Neve Dekalim and Katif) and tourist facilities (Dugit, Katif
bloc).
One settlement, Gadid, has a
large French population and maintains an absorption center for new immigrants
from France. The isolated location of the Gush Katif bloc attracts some of the
most ideologically-motivated members of the Gaza settlement community.
Residents of the northern
bloc (Elei Sinai, Nisanit, and Dugit) are physically separated from the rest of
the Gaza settlers (to reach the other settlements they must travel into Israel,
then re-enter Gaza, through another entrance point) and their social and
economic lives are more closely linked to Israel than other settlers, with many
of the residents working and studying inside Israel.
Jews and Muslims co-existed
for more than a decade but tension rose, and in 1987, a Jewish shopper in a
Gazan market was stabbed to death. The next day an Israeli truck accidentally
killed four Arabs, sparking the first riots of what would become the first intifada.
A brief period of calm followed the Oslo agreements as Israel agreed to
withdraw from parts of the Gaza Strip.
Ultimately, the Palestinian
Authority assumed control over about 80 percent of the area, but an escalation
of violence, especially after September 2000, led Israel to impose stricter
measures on Palestinians in the area, and to engage in frequent military
operations to prevent terrorist attacks against soldiers and Jews living in the
Gaza settlements as well as infiltrations to attack targets inside Israel.
8. Jewish Evacuation From Gaza Strip
On August 17, 2005, Israel
began to evacuate all the Jews from Gaza. It was expected to take several
weeks, but took less than one. Israel and the Palestinians agreed the buildings
would be razed and the army began that process after the residents left.
A total of 1,700 families
were uprooted at a cost of nearly $900 million. This includes 166 Israeli
farmers who produce $120 million in flowers and produce. Approximately 15
percent of Israel's agricultural exports originate in Gaza, including 60
percent of its cherry tomato and herb exports. Israel will also lose 70 percent
of all its organic produce, which also is grown in Gaza.
Since the disengagement process was completed,
no Jews have been present in the Gaza Strip
9. The Bible Prophecy About Gaza (The Future of
Israel)
The Bible links GAZA to the
coming "Apocalypse." Several years ago the world watched as all the
Jews in Gaza were forcibly removed from their homes and their land ... even
those buried in cemeteries were forcibly dug up from their graves and removed
from Gaza. This 'uprooting' of the Jews from Gaza which the whole world watched
on the news may be a much more 'significant' prophetic event than most realize.
In the book of Zephaniah, God
gave a terrible warning, Gaza would one day be ‘forsaken' (yes, that same Gaza
you have recently been watching on the world news). Gaza is in the land which
was given to the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:1-12), and one of Messiah's titles is
"The Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Rev. 5:5). God links the forsaking
of Gaza to the coming 'Apocalypse,' which is also called 'The Day of God’s
Wrath' and the 'Day of the Lord's Anger."
From these following passages
in Zephaniah 2:1-7, God wants the children of Israel and ALL people on Earth to
learn and know at least THREE (3) things . . .
1. The Bible LINKS Gaza to the coming
Apocalypse. GOD has issued a terrible warning and a 'plea' to the children of
Israel and to ALL people on Earth... In
the day of the Lord's anger" (Zeph. 2:1-7).
2. GOD wants all in Israel and on Earth to know
what will help trigger this fierce and terrible anger: Gaza!!
He warns, 'Gaza will be forsaken'... her inhabitants (the children of
Israel) 'uprooted' and 'driven out'… So
there shall be no inhabitant" (Zeph. 2:1-7).
3. GOD also wants all to know there is
Hope. He promises hope for all those who
will wait in faith and trust in Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew)...
for one-day in the future, after the coming 'Apocalypse' ... the 'Day of God's
Wrath' ... the terrible coming 'Day of the Lord' a remnant of the tribe of
Judah will once again peacefully inhabit and prosper in that precious land God
promised and gave to them ... and then, and only then, will there be 'peace on
Earth.' For at that time, our Messiah
and God will restore all the Earth in peace and beauty ... as promised (Zeph.
2:1-7).
As noted earlier, the Bible
links Gaza to the coming ‘Apocalypse’ which is also called the Day of the
Lord’s Fierce Anger, or the Day of God’s Wrath, when ALL nations will turn
against Israel. God warns His land and His people Israel will be divided. The
fulfillment of this prophetic division began when the children of Israel
forsook Gaza (and Judah) as it willingly gave Gaza to her enemies!! (2Chro.
20:1-30, Joel 3:1-2, Rev. 16:12-16).
The weapons will be used.
Much of the world will be destroyed. Cities will disappear. Armageddon means
the "Hill of Megiddo." Megiddo is part of the Plain of Esdraelon
which is located in central Israel. Napoleon came through there and declared it
to be the finest battlefield in the world. The whole world will be drawn into
this war over Israel and Jerusalem. No nation will be spared. The Bible warns
there will be three deadly waves associated with this conflict, including: A
Russian lead invasion of Israel, a massive Chinese invasion of the Middle East,
which will then be "joined" as the armies of the Antichrist march
from all around the world to the place called "Armageddon." Jesus
will return to engage this final battle Himself. He alone will destroy the enemies
of Israel. We don’t know the time between events. We do know that God has set
aside seven years to complete His plan with Israel, and this Age (Jer.30:7, Dan.12:1, Zech. 13:8-9, 14:2, Matt.24:21-22).
Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew)
warns NEVER in the history of Mankind has there ever been (or ever will be)
anything as terrible and deadly as the coming "Apocalypse"... only a
small remnant of the world will survive after the coming Antichrist commits
"the abomination of desolations" when he will stand in a new Jewish
Temple and demand to be worshiped above all that is called "god" The
Scriptures tell us Messiah, Jesus Christ, will return twice:
First, "As a thief in the night" for all
believers
Second, "Every eye shall see" with all
believers
(Rev. 1:7, Jude 1:14-15, Isai.66:15-16, Dan. 7:13-14, Isai.24:19-20, Zech.
14:4, 6, 7, Isai.2:2,4, Jer.3:17, Luke 1:32-33,
Rev.1:5-7, 5:9-12, 19:11-16).
We find the Rapture is
somewhat analogous to a loving Bridegroom yanking His young wife ('betrothed')
off the railroad tracks just as the train goes thundering by. Prophet after
prophet in the Bible warns of a very specific period of time referred to by
many names, including the "Day of the Lord’s Wrath (fierce anger),"
the "Great Tribulation" or the "Apocalypse" (which actually
refers to the Revelation or "revealing"), when God is going to pour
out His wrath on a violent, immoral, arrogant, and unbelieving world. We are
told those who believe in His Son and wait in faith are not appointed to this
time of God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9-11).
The actual word "rapture"
is not found in most Bibles. The Greek word which was translated "caught
up" in the English, was translated in the Latin as "rapturo." So, the term
"rapture" comes from a Latin translation. In fact the Greek word
actually used, which was translated in the King James version as "caught
up" (1 Thes.4:17), is "harpazo"
which easily could have been, or should have been translated, "to seize,
to pluck away, or to take by force."
The view presented in this
book supports the belief that this generation is the generation of the Rapture
and a worldwide body of faithful believers will be removed suddenly before the
"Day of the Lord’s Wrath" (the coming Apocalypse), and since it
appears the time draws near, it is worth the time to look at a few of the
verses found in the Bible which directly, or indirectly refer to this strange,
forceful, prophetic event which we simply call the Rapture ... (for a more
complete study read Prophecies of the Rapture study.). (1Cor.15:51-52, 1Thes.4:16-18, Rev.3:10-11, Zeph.
2:1-7, Matt. 24:36, 40-42, Luke 12:40, 1Thes.5:1-2).
As noted above in these
prophecies of Gaza, God ALSO wants all to know there is Hope. He promises hope
for all those who will wait in faith and trust in Jesus Christ (Yeshua
Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew) ... for one-day in the future, after Gaza will be
forsaken, and after the coming 'Apocalypse' (the 'Day of God's Wrath'') the
Messiah of Israel, Jesus Christ, will return at the very end of the coming
‘Apocalypse’ to save the remnant of Israel from the armies of the world which
will one day gather against her. He will then rule and reign over Israel ...
and over ALL nations of the World.
At that time a remnant of the
tribe of Judah will once again peacefully inhabit and prosper in that precious
land God promised and gave to them ... and then, and only then, will there be
'peace on Earth.' For at that time, God will restore Israel and all the Earth
in peace and beauty... as promised. Then, at that time, God will restore the
land of Judah, and ALL the Earth in peace and beauty ... as promised (Zephaniah
2:1-7).
Sources:
Americans
for Peace Now.
The Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Disengagement Plan Jewish Agency for
Israel Settlements in Focus (Vol. I, Issue 5).
Bard Mitchell,
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle
East Conflict. 3rd Edition. NY: Alpha Books, 2005.
Michael Oren, Six Days
of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East. NY: Oxford
University Press, 2002, p. 253.
Nina
Rastogi, Gaza:
The Basics. Some history and background on the Gaza Strip. January 25, 2008.
0 comments :
Post a Comment