PCG's Reliance on The Washington Times

PCG often quotes The Washington Times in their writings. The Washington Times is a far right newspaper. But PCG's writers never bother to mention to their readers what The Washington Times is.

The Washington Times was founded in 1982 by a certain controversial religious movement originating from Korea. This religious movement from Korea teaches many things contrary to PCG's teachings. It has often been described by ex-members and non-members as a cult. Both Rick Ross and Steven Hassan have much information regarding this controversial religious movement originating from Korea.

This link between The Washington Times and this particular religious movement from Korea is never mentioned by PCG.

Although The Washington Times is  often viewed as leaning far to the right PCG's heir apparent Stephen Flurry once described this newspaper as a "mainstream" publication.

The Trumpet Weekly is a news brief including digests of our top articles from theTrumpet.com, along with significant excerpts from mainstream sources like the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the Washington Times. (Stephen Flurry, December 29, 2012.)

Below are a collection of instances in which PCG quotes The Washington Times. There are many more instances of PCG citing The Washington Times but this list should suffice to prove that PCG trusts The Washington Times despite its ownership by that particular controversial religious movement from Korea. PCG has never mentioned this connection regarding this far right newspaper.

Some of the articles are written by Stephen Flurry, Brad MacDonald, Mark Jenkins, Joel Hilliker, the late Ron Fraser, Robert Morley, Jeremiah Jacques and Andrew Müller.

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Cal Thomas wrote in the March 8, 2000, Washington Times, ... “THE FOUNDERS NEVER INTENDED THE COURTS TO BE SUPREME. THEIR INTENTION WAS THAT THE LAW, ROOTED IN OBJECTIVE AND UNCHANGING TRUTH, WOULD BE PREEMINENT.”
Law scholars today don’t believe the Constitution was “ROOTED IN OBJECTIVE AND UNCHANGING TRUTH”—that is, they don’t believe our founders established the rule of law. But that’s just what the founders did. And now most lawyers and judges reject their foundational work. Our views today reflect a deadly degeneration into lawlessness! (Gerald Flurry, No Freedom Without Law, 2001, Chapter 3, p. 30. [These words are in pages 35-36 of the 2007 version of that booklet.])

The Washington Times reported a secret understanding reached between Pakistan and China to permit Chinese naval vessels to dock at Gwadar. (Gwadar Port Underway, July 2002.)

According to the May 23, 2004, Washington Times, for every 100 children born in the year 2000, 60 of them will spend part of their childhood in a broken family. (Divorce’s Trickle-Down Effect, January 2005.)

Timothy Roemer, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana, said, “There is not only a poisonous partisan attitude in Washington, but it seems to be paralyzing Congress from acting on some of the most important national security, economic and energy-related issues facing Americans. … It is more divisive than I have seen in my 20 years in Washington” (Washington Times, June 27). ...
Robert Reischauer, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, pointed out the part the media plays in this. “There has been a steady deterioration in the level of discourse and the standards of politeness that are used in discussion. The participants don’t seem to care what their opponents think of them as politicians and individuals,” he said. “Part of it quite frankly is attributable to the media. To glean the attention of the media, you have to shout louder and have more extreme views” (Washington Times, June 27). (Brad MacDonald, Crippling Division, December 2005.)

Surprisingly, this negative rate occurred against a backdrop of record-high seasonally adjusted earnings of $10.3 trillion. Out of that amount, $1.2 trillion was paid in personal taxes, leaving $9 trillion in disposable income. But of that, Americans spent $9.14 trillion—$58.8 billion more than they earned (Washington Times, September 4). In other words, for every $100 earned, Americans spent $100.65.  (Squanderville, December 2005.)

Some, like the Washington Times, have said the welfare state in New Orleans helped create the anarchy and chaos we saw after the storm. If that’s true, we should really sit up and take notice. New Orleans isn’t all that unique among U.S. cities. (Mark Jenkins, Caring for the Poor, December 2005.)

President Chavez has already signed deals to purchase long-range defense radars and a modern communication satellite from Beijing. The Venezuelan defense minister has signed a contract for three mobile air-defense radar systems, which will replace U.S. systems. More than simply providing technology for Venezuela, the Jamestown Foundation in Washington points out that these purchases will make Venezuela dependent on Chinese technology: “We can anticipate that Chavez will soon be buying Chinese weapons” (Washington Times, Nov. 20, 2005). (Mark Jenkins, China’s Quiet War, April 2006.)

On July 24, the Washington Times reported Cuba is drilling for oil just 60 miles off the Florida coast. Cuba, a nation the United States has embargoed for the last 45 years, may actually end up pumping oil from sovereign U.S. territory. (Cuban Oil to Break U.S. Embargo?, October 2006.)

U.S. experts familiar with the case say “the compromise of the b-2 technology is extremely damaging because it will give China key secrets on the bomber” (Washington Times, Nov. 23, 2006). (B-2 Technology Not So Stealth, February 2007.)

Reporting for the Washington Times, Diana West stated, “At the crux of the Muslim council’s document is a call for special treatment for Britain’s Muslim students that is so special as to reorient the entire British system according to Islamic law” (February 23). (Sharia Law for British Schools?, May 2007.)

The February 28 Washington Times reported on a case in Germany, again involving the state contesting the parents’ rights to have a say in the education of the children to whom they, not the state, gave birth. Earlier in the month, a Bavarian teenager was taken from her parents and institutionalized for being home-schooled. Further, a year ago in Hamburg, a home-schooling father of six was sentenced to a week in prison and a fine of $2,000 for the same “crime.” Last September, a Paderborn mother of 12 was jailed for two weeks. ...
In America, certain liberal politicians and lawyers are claiming that United Nations conventions are “‘customary international law’ and should be considered part of American jurisprudence” (op. cit., Washington Times; emphasis ours). Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child declares that the state has an inherent right to direct the education of children. (Schooling in State’s Hands, May 2007.)

A Washington Times editorial read, “Zimbabwe is a country where, two years ago, the government made refugees of approximately 1.5 million of its citizens in ‘Operation Clear the Trash,’ which bulldozed ‘unlawful’ town[s] and cities…This is a country whose opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is arrested repeatedly and beaten by regime forces for the ‘crime’ of speaking out and holding political rallies. Now, this regime’s representatives are entrusted with an organization whose inspiring principles include the following: ‘Human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development’” (May 19). (Nation of Ruin to Take Key Post, July 2007.)

The Washington Times reported that in May, the Border Patrol caught over 300 aliens and 600 pounds of marijuana in a 3-mile stretch over 10 days (June 19). In response to the agency’s activities within the operation, illegals set at least five fires in an attempt to burn agents out of an observation post. (Illegals Set Fire to Border, August-September 2007.)

History shows that economic primacy generally underpins military dominance and national power. The unraveling of the American economy over the past three weeks reminds us of that reality, explains Victor David Hanson, in today’s Washington Times.
Last week, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of aiding Georgia by providing weapons and military personnel during Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August. The Washington Times wrote, “The timing of Russia’s statements underlined Moscow’s drive to increase its leverage in the neighboring former Soviet republic of Ukraine.” ... Ukraine is divided over the nato membership bid backed by their pro-Western leader Viktor Yushchenko. According to the Washington Times, “Russia’s use of force in Georgia has heightened nervousness among many Ukrainians about their larger neighbor, whose leaders are vehemently opposing Mr. Yushchenko’s efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO. The Kremlin has warned NATO against granting membership to Ukraine or Georgia.” (Stephen Flurry, The Weekend Web, October 5, 2008.)

The American superpower’s next move [regarding pirates operating in Somalia], the Washington Times informed us on Friday, is to seek help from the United Nations. And even with the UN taking the lead, a senior administration official in Washington said we should not assume that such action would necessarily involve U.S. forces. (Joel Hilliker and Brad MacDonald, The Weekend Web, December 14, 2008.)

Michael Yon, writing for the Washington Times, says that just like the previous administration, “Mr. Obama is trying to win the AfPak war on the cheap while minimizing political risks.” He concludes: “Unless we speed up progress in AfPak, we are on the road to a slow, painful failure. If we are going to fight with half-measures, we should pull stakes and come home. Despite the backslapping going around, with Pakistan ready to lap up billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars while corrupt Afghan officials are excited to see more billions flying in their direction, the pungent reality is that the latest ‘plan’ is a plan to fail.” (Joel Hilliker, U.S. to Europe: Please, Join Our Losing Cause, April 8, 2009.)

In conformity with the spirit of our times, U.S. Foreign Service officers and their superiors are not allowing negative news about U.S. allies to reach Washington. The Washington Times reports....
The resigning officer, who asked the Washington Times not to use his name, said that one ambassador had “flat out banned any ‘bad-news’ cables, and made it known at all levels that we were only to produce ‘good-news stories’ about our [host] country.” The host country was a U.S. ally. (Jeremiah Jacques, U.S. envoys only reporting the good news, September 20, 2009.)

Although Mr. Netanyahu was merely restating his previous position, the timing “threatened to undermine Mr. Mitchell’s latest efforts to restart peace talks,” wrote the Washington Times, which also stated that “The status of East Jerusalem is the most explosive issue dividing Israelis and Palestinians.”
According to the Washington Times, “Mr. Obama issued a surprisingly pessimistic assessment of peacemaking prospects, saying the United States couldn’t force its will on Israelis and Palestinians if they weren’t interested in making the compromises necessary to end their decades-old conflict.” (Stephen Flurry, Netanyahu stands firm on Jerusalem, April 25, 2010.)

The proposed deal involves Iran swapping low-enriched uranium for a higher-enriched uranium from Turkey for a medical research reactor. The deal, however, allows Iran to retain enough of a uranium stockpile to build a bomb. The Washington Times summarized it this way: “[T]he nuclear deal gives Tehran the diplomatic cover needed to pretend it is cooperating with the international community while nonetheless pursuing its nuclear ambitions.”
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has “outmaneuvered” President Barack Obama, says the Washington Times, which noted that Mr. Obama’s diplomatic overtures in recent months have resulted in just one thing—a resurgent Iran. Over the last year or so, Iran has tripled its stockpile of enriched uranium, purchased key weapons components, broadened control over its proxies and strengthened its influence over Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. “In short, the vacuum of U.S. power in the Middle East is being filled by Tehran’s expansionist Islamic radicalism,” wrote the Times. (Ahmadinejad outmaneuvers Obama, May 23, 2010.)

America’s weakness is on clear display according to retired Admiral James Lyons, who wrote a piece for the Washington Times last week. “President Obama’s growing image of ineffectiveness and weakness” is evident both at home and abroad, Lyons wrote. ...
Sixty-two percent of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track according to a recent survey. The rest of the world can see this too. “Signs of instability amid a growing perception of American weakness are everywhere,” the Washington Times wrote earlier this month. “Allies and friends are beginning to hedge their bets, distancing themselves from us.” ...
“America is heading toward a colossal defeat in Afghanistan,” wrote the Washington Times. “Unless there is a dramatic change in policy and leadership, the United States will suffer the most calamitous military setback in its history—one that will mark the end of the American moment, the loss of superpower status in the eyes of the world.” (American weakness on full display, June 27, 2010.)

“America has death camps,” wrote Jeffrey Kuhner in the Washington Times on Thursday, referring to America’s abortion clinics. ...  Kuhner illustrated how this “state-sanctioned infanticide” is symptomatic of our national sickness.... (America’s ‘death camps’, January 23, 2011.)

The Washington Times called the Egypt-Israel peace treaty “the cornerstone of stability for the Middle East.” ...
Jeffrey Kuhner wrote in the Washington Times that losing Egypt as an American ally would “be one of the most dramatic and devastating foreign-policy defeats for the United States in decades. It also will be a significant victory for the forces of radical Islam—a blow that threatens to undermine American interests across the Middle East.”
Kuhner wrote that if Egypt goes Islamic, it will “reverberate across the entire region. The balance of power will tip irreversibly into the hands of Muslim hard-liners.” (Muslim Brotherhood wants to revoke peace pact with Israel, February 5, 2011.)

“The Obama administration has turned down a plea from Syria’s democratic opposition to step up diplomatic pressure on President Bashar Assad, who has violently repressed peaceful anti-government protests,” wrote the Washington Times on Thursday. (Turning a blind eye toward Syria, April 17, 2011.)

“While every individual has a different tolerance for the drug,” the Washington Times reports, “experts agree that ingesting more than 500 mg a day can result in anxiety, irritability, headaches, sleeplessness, diarrhea and other health problems” (January 17). (Stephen Flurry, A Better Pick-Me-Up Than Coffee, March 2012.)

A piece in the Washington Times caught my attention this week. It centered on a subject that the Trumpet has commented on from time to time—the emasculation of men and boys by Anglo-Saxon media. ... let me quote some insightful text from that Washington Times article (August 1).... (Ron Fraser, The Descent of the Anglo-Saxon Male, August 6, 2012.)

The Trumpet Weekly is a news brief including digests of our top articles from theTrumpet.com, along with significant excerpts from mainstream sources like the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the Washington Times. (Stephen Flurry, December 29, 2012.)

Here is what Judge Andrew Napolitano wrote in the Washington Times: “Mr. Obama has argued that he can kill Americans whose deaths he believes will keep us all safer, without any due process whatsoever. No law authorizes that. His attorney general has argued that the president’s careful consideration of each target and the narrow use of deadly force are an adequate and constitutional substitute for due process. No court has ever approved that.” Napolitano points out that this practice violates state and federal laws, executive orders prohibiting assassinations, language in the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. (Gerald Flurry, The War Against the Constitution, April 2013.)

Here is what Judge Andrew Napolitano wrote in the Washington Times: “Mr. Obama has argued that he can kill Americans whose deaths he believes will keep us all safer, without any due process whatsoever. No law authorizes that. His attorney general has argued that the president’s careful consideration of each target and the narrow use of deadly force are an adequate and constitutional substitute for due process. No court has ever approved that” (Feb. 7, 2013). (Andrew Müller, Why Does the Environmental Protection Agency Need Its Own SWAT Team?, February 2014.)

“The battle of wills between Beijing and Washington over a China-sponsored development bank for Asia is turning into a rout,” wrote the Washington Times. “The Obama administration has found itself isolated and embarrassed as its top allies lined up this week to join the proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.”  (Robert Morley, China’s New Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and U.S. Blowback, April 3, 2015.)

Here are the articles referenced on today’s show.... Washington Times: “121 murders attributed to illegals released by Obama administration” (Stephen Flurry, Trumpet Daily, Trumpet Daily: Police Chief: Officers Under Attack Should Kill the Assailants, June 22, 2015.)

The world essentially closed ranks and turned its back on America. “The battle of wills between Beijing and Washington over a China-sponsored development bank for Asia is turning into a rout,” wrote the Washington Times. “[T]he Obama administration has found itself isolated and embarrassed as its top allies lined up this week to join the proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank” (March 18). And sadly, it was America’s most important ally that led the defection. (Robert Morley, Deathblow to the Dollar, July 2015.)

Is East Ukraine about to blow? ... “It seems the mask of a cease fire has come off in East Ukraine, wrote the Washington Times. “The violence is flaring as the Minsk peace process stalls with each side looking to exploit the lull in the fighting to reinforce positions and prepare for the next phase of the conflict. … [T]he situation … appears to be heading back to full-scale war.” (Week in Review: China’s Troubled Economy, A Call for EU Army, Iran Laughs At U.S. Threats, Obama’s Clean-Energy Dream, and More, August 15, 2015.)

The United States currently spends about $220 billion per year on interest. The Washington Times reports that payments on the national debt are expected to rise from around $220 billion to $755 billion in the next 10 years. It could be much worse than that if interest rates go up. (Stephen Flurry, Christmas Comes Early in Washington, D.C., November 10, 2015.)

On September 16, the Washington Times reported, “Three days after John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, U.S. Intelligence officials told President Lyndon B. Johnson that they had confirmed that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald had recently traveled to Mexico City to visit both the Cuban and Soviet embassies, according to a half-century-​old briefing memo, declassified on Wednesday.” (Gerald Flurry, Cuba: A Threat to America, November-December 2015.)

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And so this list of quotes come to an end.



PCG trusts The Washington Times and has never bothered to note to their readers who happens to own this newspaper.

Arutz Sheva Promotes Hamas Propaganda Film

Arutz Sheva is a right wing Israeli media outlet that caters for national religious Israeli Jews. It is often quoted by the COGs such as PCG, UCG and LCG and it is never criticized by the COGs. The COGs trust Arutz Sheva.

On August 12, 2015 Arutz Sheva released an article which mentioned a Hamas propaganda movie about the 2014 war. The Hamas propaganda movie even includes English subtitles.

The Arutz Sheva article not only mentioned the movie but even embedded the entire movie in the Arutz Sheva article. You could watch that whole Hamas propaganda movie on Arutz Sheva's article. I find myself baffled why they should choose to do so.

Hamas is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organization. Why is Arutz Sheva publicizing this propaganda movie by such an organization?

I was reluctant to mention this before. But at the same time many within the COGs are reading articles by the COG organizations that quotes this media outlet without ever criticizing them. Those within the COGs and those formerly associated with Armstrongism deserve to be informed of this fact about Arutz Sheva.

PCG's Demonization of Transgender People

Normally people are born male or female. But reality is so hard to define in simple black and white ways. There are transgender persons.

What Scientists Say About Transgender People

Let's check and see what medical scientists have to say about this transgender people.

Let's try the American Psychological Association.

A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder. For these individuals, the significant problem is finding affordable resources, such as counseling, hormone therapy, medical procedures and the social support necessary to freely express their gender identity and minimize discrimination. Many other obstacles may lead to distress, including a lack of acceptance within society, direct or indirect experiences with discrimination, or assault. These experiences may lead many transgender people to suffer with anxiety, depression or related disorders at higher rates than nontransgender persons.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people who experience intense, persistent gender incongruence can be given the diagnosis of "gender dysphoria." Some contend that the diagnosis inappropriately pathologizes gender noncongruence and should be eliminated. Others argue that it is essential to retain the diagnosis to ensure access to care. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is under revision and there may be changes to its current classification of intense persistent gender incongruence as "gender identity disorder." ("Is being transgender a mental disorder?" American Psychological Association.)

Let's try Britain's National Health Service (NHS).

While biological sex and gender identity are the same for most people, this is not the case for everyone. For example, some people may have the anatomy of a man, but identify themselves as a woman, while others may not feel they are definitively either male or female.
This mismatch between sex and gender identity can lead to distressing and uncomfortable feelings that are called gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is a recognised medical condition, for which treatment is sometimes appropriate. It is not a mental illness. (NHS, Gender dysphoria.)

What causes gender dysphoria? Here is part of what the NHS have to say about that.

Gender development is complex, and there are many possible variations that cause a mismatch between a person’s biological sex and their gender identity.

Hormonal problems

Occasionally, the hormones that trigger the development of sex and gender may not work properly on the brain, reproductive organs and genitals, causing differences between them. For example, the biological sex (as determined physically by the reproductive organs and genitals) could be male, while the gender identity (as determined by the brain) could be female. (NHS, Gender dysphoria - Causes.)

So we see that it is possible for one to be born with male genitalia and yet have a brain with a female gender identity. It is possible for one to be born with female genitalia and yet have a brain with a male gender identity. Gender dysphoria is a recognized medical condition and it is not a mental illness. Let us keep those facts in mind.

Violence Against Transgender Americans

Furthermore transgender people in the United States have endured widespread discrimination and are often targeted for violence.

For a few transgender Americans, this has been a year of glamour and fame. For many others, 2015 has been fraught with danger, violence and mourning.
While Caitlyn Jenner made the cover of Vanity Fair and Laverne Cox prospered as a popular actress, other transgender women have become homicide victims at an alarming rate. By the count of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, there have been 22 killings so far this year of transgender or gender-nonconforming people — including 19 black or Latina transgender women.
The toll compares with 12 last year and 13 in 2013, and is the highest since advocacy groups began such tallies a decade ago. (Associated Press, Homicides Of Transgender Women In U.S. Reach Alarming High, November 23, 2015.)

So far 22 transgender Americans have been murdered this year.

And because of widespread hostility against transgender people they also have a high rate of suicide.

Since January of this year, a transgender person was murdered somewhere around the globe every 29 hours. Additionally, trans people are statistically at a much greater risk to commit suicide; the rate of suicide in the general population is under 10 percent, yet within the trans community it is over 40 percent. Dr. Alex Abramovich, a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, says, "Transphobia leads to suicide. End of story." (Derrick De Lise, Transphobia Leads to Suicide -- End of Story, Huffington Post, December 11, 2015.)

There is even a helpline, Trans Lifeline, dedicated to helping transgender people from not committing suicide. That is how severe this problem is among the transgender community. Clearly they need support, not demonization and condemnation.

For anyone who wants to read about suicide I would suggest the National Suicide Prevention Helpline. Their phone number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Clearly this is a severe problem that needs urgent attention. Clearly transgender people need help. Clearly vilifying them will only add fuel to the flames of this terrible problem.

PCG's Demonization of Transgender People

Unfortunately PCG has shown no interest in understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of such people.

Instead these transgender people are vilified and condemned by PCG as "gender confused," "deviants," "perverted men," having a "disease," having "a mental illness" and "immoral".

Any attempt to accommodate the concerns and interests of transgender people by authorities are belittled, condemned and portrayed in a most alarmist way.

Sometimes they are portrayed in a hostile manner as a financial burden to the public. The possibility that such help will allow transgender Americans to lead happier lives is not side lined.

It is sometimes insinuated that such measures will somehow "spread" or somehow "trick" people into thinking they are transgender when in fact this is impossible.

At times PCG has even promoted the "bathroom predator" myth against transgender people. Joel Hilliker alluded to this idea in a November 7, 2007 article. But this myth used to demonize transgender people is complete nonsense.

The possibility that there are biological reasons for transgender people being who they are is never admitted. At the most this possibility is mentioned only to be dismissed.

It is terrible that PCG should talk of this vulnerable minority in such a dehumanizing and harsh way. In reality transgender people are targeted for murder and experience high rates of suicide.

I found about 22 PCG articles dating as early as 1998 of PCG articles demonizing transgender people. This included articles written by Joel Hilliker, Ron Fraser, Phillip Nice, Stephen Flurry, Brad MacDonald, Dennis Leap and Robert Morley. There is also a tweet by Brent Nagtegaal relevant to this topic.

It is terrible and wrong for PCG to vilify transgender people in this way. They are a numerically small minority and because of widespread prejudice against them are particularly vulnerable to suicide. And unfortunately transgender people have often been forced to endure so much hatred.

While PCG's 1% insist on getting three tithes from their followers they tell their followers to be fearful and loath transgender people, a vulnerable minority. No good can come from such venomous and misleading rhetoric.

It is shameful and terrible that PCG should add fuel for the fire instead of helping in this dire situation.

For anyone who wants to read more about suicide I would suggest the National Suicide Prevention Helpline. Their phone number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

11,299 Palestinians Injured in October-November 2015

What a terrible situation. In October-November 2015 102 Palestinians and 17 Israelis were killed. 11,299 Palestinians and 169 Israelis were injured. We need peace now.

Oct-Nov 2015: 102 #Palestinians and 17 Israelis killed. 11,299 Pals and 169 Isrs injured https://t.co/c7BZZZ70YH pic.twitter.com/5R84vDQjgw

— OCHA oPt (Palestine) (@ochaopt) December 14, 2015

How dare the COGs tell us there is no hope for peace until Christ comes. We need peace now.

Israeli Passengers Force Two Palestinians Out of Airline Flight

From the twitter account of Elizabeth Tsurkov.

2 Palestinian passengers were removed from an @AegeanAirlines flight after Israeli passengers refused to let the flight take off w/ them.

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 5, 2016

The Israelis stood up en masse, preventing the flight's take off. Airline gave the Palestinians hotel for the night & flew them the next day

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 5, 2016

The Israelis also demanded that the crew security check the cabin again. The crew refused & told the Israelis they can get off the plane.

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 5, 2016

This was on an Aegean Airlines flight on Monday from Greece to Israel. The Palestinian passengers arrived on a flight today

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 5, 2016

Link to a report in Hebrew about the racist Israeli passengers incident https://t.co/sxMuOwCuq6

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 5, 2016

Why didn't any of the Israeli passengers stand up against this racism & say that they won't let the flight take off w/o the Palestinians?

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 5, 2016

Here's one Israeli who was most unimpressed.

Won’t be flying @aegeanairlines as they now grant Israeli passengers the right to have non-Jews kicked off of planes https://t.co/ZrDKlaGIJ0

— David Sheen (@davidsheen) January 5, 2016

Saudi Arabia Executes Shia Cleric Nimr al-Nimr

It is saddening to hear that Saudi Arabia had executed Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Shia imam in Saudi Arabia. I think this execution was a terrible move. It should not have been done.

A government needs to treat its religious and ethnic minorities with respect and care. How can the Shia of Saudi Arabia believe that their government is for them as well when something like this occurs?

The people of Saudi Arabia deserve peace. But this execution has made that harder to maintain.

I shudder to imagine how this execution will taint the current political situation. Already protesters in Iran had ransacked the Saudi Embassy and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan have cut ties with Iran in retaliation. This execution has needlessly poured fuel on the fire.

This execution itself and the decision to do such an inflammatory thing is a threat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I hope those in power within Saudi Arabia realize this soon enough.

PCG Blaming Palestinians for Their Own Deaths in 2014 War

When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict PCG tells a very simple, black and white story. One side is good. One side is bad. One side viewed as white and is supported. One side is excluded from the white race and is opposed and vilified.

PCG sticks to this simple script even in describing the thousands of Palestinians who died in the terrible and tragic war that occurred in Gaza in 2014.

Most of Israel’s Jewish citizens viewed Operation Protective Edge as a just war. It was careful and precise, aimed at limiting civilian casualties as much as possible. But that goal was made far tougher by Hamas’s efforts to maximize Palestinian casualties in order to evoke global outrage against Israel. (Joel Hilliker, Israel vs. the World, January 2015.)

Note how Hilliker talks of "Israel’s Jewish citizens" thus disregarding the thoughts and opinions of Palestinians who happen to be citizens of the State of Israel. Whatever views they may have are carefully ignored. They are of no concern to Hilliker and are excluded from even being discussed.

So Hilliker praises Israel's strikes against Gaza in 2014 as "careful and precise, aimed at limiting civilian casualties as much as possible." But how true is this claim? What research did Hilliker do in making this claim from his perch in Edmond?

And is Hilliker talking about those who are targeting or those who are targeted and those who are near the targeted area? What about those who live in the targeted area? Even if the military strike is accurately targeted it is reasonable to assume that people living in the area be most fearful and afraid. They would be afraid for not only themselves but of their family relations and friends. It would be no comfort for such people to know that the military strike is so accurate when one lives nearby. And how would they protect the mental well being of their families and children who should happen to witness they things personally?

Hilliker accuses the Palestinian civilians who died of being placed by Hamas in the targeted area thus reliving the State of Israel for any responsibility for their deaths. But how true is this claim? Hilliker never went to Gaza to verify this claim. Hilliker never took a look at what happened on the ground to verify this claim.

After Hilliker's article was published the United Nations released a report (Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict) discussing the conduct of the war. Here is some of the information mentioned in this report.

According to NGO figures, 241 women were killed inside their homes, which means that about 82 percent of the 2014 female fatalities occurred in homes, compared to 46 percent of the male fatalities. See also B’Tselem: Black Flag and the infographic “Families bombed at home, Gaza, July-August 2014” based on preliminary figures on casualties in July: http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/201407_families (in 72 incidents of bombing or shelling, 547 people were killed, including 125 women under the age of 60 and 29 people over the age of 60. (p. 66.)

So 241 Palestinian women violently died at home during the war. Are we supposed to believe that they all just stayed at home wanting to die for propaganda reasons? Are we supposed to believe they all just ignored the possibility that their own homes would be bombed and just stayed there? Are we supposed to believe that all 241 Palestinian women just happened to be living in homes used by armed fighters and rocket sites?

The percentage of women killed was significantly higher in 2014 (20.2 per cent of civilians) in comparison with the conflict in 2009 (14 per cent), calculated based on conservative NGO figures (B’Tselem quoted in A/HRC/12/48, p. 90). See also: PCHR, Through Women’s eyes, 2014, which indicated that about 10 per cent of the civilians killed as a result of the 2008/09 escalation were women, whereas this figure rose to about 20 per cent in 2014. (p. 66.)

Are we supposed to believe that the Palestinian men simply wanted their women to be killed by Israeli bombs as a propaganda stunt? Can this be believed?

370 of the children killed were reportedly killed inside their homes, i.e. over 66 per cent. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR), 22 May 2015 up-date to a complaint submitted concerning large-scale destruction and damage to family houses in the Gaza Strip with associated profound loss of life and injury to Palestinian residents, during Israel’s military operation between 7 July 2014 and 26 August 2014, 30 September 2014, original complaint available at: http://lphr.org.uk/legal-projects/gaza-accountability-project/. An infographic published by B’Tselem based on preliminary figures on fatalities as a result of “families bombed at home” in July shows that out of 547 persons killed, 250 were minors. B’Tselem, Families bombed at home, Gaza, July-August 2014, at: http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/201407_families. (p. 66.)

Are we supposed to believe that all those 370 Palestinian children without a single exception were living in homes that were rocket sites or that housed armed fighters? Are we supposed to believe that their mothers left them at home to be killed by Israeli arms deliberately? All 370 of them?

In addition, in a number of instances, ambulances are reported to have been prevented from evacuating the wounded from areas where the IDF was operating (in Beit Hanoun, Khuza’a, Qarara, Shujai’ya and Beit Lahiya). According to the Palestinian Human Rights Coalition, 407 Palestinians died as a result of delays in the delivery of medical aid. (p. 119.)

What a terrible state of affairs! How terrible war is. Can Hamas be blamed for these delays in accessing medical aid? All of them? Were all these 407 deaths of Palestinians part of some massive conspiracy by Hamas for making propaganda against Israel or the brutal result of what happens in war? Are we supposed to just blame one side for all 407 deaths? This seems to be what PCG want us to believe.

PCG's disregard and denigration of the deaths of Palestinian civilians in this war is merely a symptom of British Israelism. This doctrine causes PCG to support the State of Israel for racist reasons. PCG thinks the Jews are white like themselves. But this doctrine causes them to be blind to other nationalities that they do not view as part of "the birthright nations". Oh, what folly British Israelism produces.

Rather it would be better to advocate for peace so that all can live in peace. May peace soon come to the Holy Land.

PCG Fear Mongering of a Third Intifada Since 2005

The second intifada is often stated to have ended with a summit in February 2005.

Some consider the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on February 8, 2005 to be the end of the Second Intifada, when President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed that all Palestinians will stop all acts of violence against all Israelis everywhere and, in parallel, Israel will cease all its military activity against all Palestinians anywhere. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Roadmap for peace (however, the violence did not stop the following years). (Second Intifada, Wikipedia.)

Since then PCG has been constantly fear mongering about a third intifada. They have done so since 2005.

A July 28 Wall Street Journal article highlighted Israel’s concern over the future of Israel: Israel is preparing its forces “for what is feared to be a full-blown ‘third intifada,’ during or soon after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza .…” Israel’s Gaza pullout is supposed to be a step toward peace, yet it will more likely prove to be the beginning of another intifada!
Palestinian leaders agree that a third intifada is on its way. “Palestinian leaders openly warn that another terror war is on the horizon—even if they assert that it would be the fault of the Jewish state alone” (ibid.). (Israel Concedes the Gaza Strip: Still No Sign of Peace, August 1, 2005.)

Former Labor Party Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami is worried about what the Palestinians may do next: “A unilateral retreat perpetuates Israel’s image as a country that runs away under pressure,” he stated. “In Fatah and Hamas, they will assume that they must prepare for their third intifada—this time in [the West Bank].”
What was supposed to be a step toward peace will more likely prove to be the spark igniting another intifada. (Joel Hilliker, Israel's Bleeding Would, November 2005.)

Global intelligence think tank Stratfor reported its sources as saying that if America or Israel try to block Muslim donations, Hamas plans to launch a third intifada (February 14). Reports by the Middle East Newsline indicate that the armaments for another intifada, or worse, a strike for East Jerusalem, are pouring into the Palestinian territories. It reported that Hamas has been accumulating a huge arsenal of weapons, and that “Hamas, flushed with funds from Iran, has been pressing families and armed factions to join the military” (February 17). Will Israel soon be a victim of this armament build-up? (The Consequences of an Iran-Financed Hamas, February 21, 2006.)

In any event, whatever difficulties Hamas now faces, there are no signs of capitulation either by it, or by the Palestinian populace that elected it. The daily newspaper Al Hayat Al Jadida quoted a senior Hamas official, Hassan al-Saif, “as warning of a ‘third intifada,’ or violent uprising, should the conflict over the new unit bring down the Hamas government” (USA Today, May 14). (The West Backs Down Over Hamas, May 16, 2006.)

Now that the latest round of violence is currently afflicting the Holy Land since October 2015 PCG thinks a third intifada will prove their tapestry of prophecies to be true. This is a vain hope because Gerald Flurry and his PCG are but false prophets.

The Plight of Israeli Peace Groups

Recently I read Popular Protest in Palestine: The Uncertain Future of Unarmed Resistance, a book discussing protest rallies by Palestinians in the West Bank against Israeli occupation. The authors went to the Holy Land in 2011-3 to discuss and research the state of the situation there.

One disappointing thing I read in this book is that apparently there is widespread ignorance and apathy within Israeli society about what happens in the West Bank and Gaza and about what the Palestinians demand from the Israeli authorities. Chapter 7 discusses Israeli peace groups and how difficult it is for them to reach out to the Israeli public.

Here is what one Israeli activist said to the authors of this book stating that many Israelis are not aware that the West Bank is not legally regarded as a part of the State of Israel.

He prefaced his remarks by observing that Israeli society had no idea about the OPT [occupied Palestinian territories]. Sometime prior to our interview he had made a presentation to a class of former soldiers, he had been shocked that half of them thought the OPT was part of Israel. (Marwan Darweish and Andrew Rigby, Popular Protest in Palestine, 2015, Chapter 7.)

In several Palestinian villages in the West Bank the Palestinians there have held weekly protests on Friday against the Israeli occupation and opposing the construction of the Wall. But they are little discussed in Israeli society. Here is what one Israeli Jew who participates in these protests said about how Israeli media covered those protests.

It is not so much that the protest actions are delegitimised, it is that they are virtually non-existant for the Israeli public. There is no reporting of the Friday protests [by Israeli media.]

Here is what one woman associated with Machsom Watch had to say about apathy among the Israeli public.

There was the second intifada - nothing came out of that and the buses being blown up. Now the buses are not being blown up and still nothing comes out of it. Israelis are comfortable with the situation. ... People look the other way - it tears me to pieces seeing the conditions in the West Bank and then going into a shopping mall in Tel Aviv ... I can get so angry. I bug people ... people live with it.

Somehow I had never before imagined that Israeli Jews viewed the situation in this way.

Darweish and Rigby also mention that the Palestinians of the West Bank are quite fearful of the Israeli settlers. They quote one Palestinian activist mentioning that adults accompany Palestinian children to school when their path should happen to be near the settlements.

Our aim is to reopen roads, encourage work in agriculture, and accompany children to schools and shepherds to the fields. (Chapter 5.)

It was sad to see that the Palestinians are so fearful and afraid of the settlers. Accompanying children to school because of fear of settlers is not a sign of anti-Semitic hatred, but of genuine fear.

We must always that the current situation is not inevitable and it can be corrected. Today in fact. We cannot wait until Christ returns. Appropriate decisions to make peace need to be made now. We need peace now.

Israeli Troll Exploits Double Murder in Tel Aviv to Demonize Israeli Leftists

So a Palestinian goes into a bar in Tel Aviv and murders two people. What a ghastly and terrible attack.

And what happens afterwards? At least one Israeli decides to blame it all on Israeli leftists and hopes that they were killed by the murderer.

"I pray that the injured [in TLV attack] are from @BtSIsrael traitors...leftist garbage are to blame 4 all attacks" pic.twitter.com/LJlm78cyqB

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 1, 2016

What ghastly behavior. What a terrible way to respond to this act of murder.

This is just one example of how hateful the rhetoric toward leftists in Israel has become. Actually wishing that we'd get shot.

— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) January 1, 2016

"BtSIsrael" refers to Breaking The Silence. Why would this person be so furious at Breaking The Silence? Discover the controversy.

Ultimately this wave of violence is a symptom of the severe political crisis. Policing cannot put an end to this chronic state of violence since they are unable to address the political turbulence that fuels this violence. Only political solutions will end this terrible cycle of violence.

May peace soon come to the Holy Land.