There was no humanitarian aid on board, according to the IDF. It appears that the whole purpose of the trip was to provoke Israel, and to make them look bad.

Unlike the incident on the Mavi Marmara in 2009, there was no need of force, and the ship was taken without incident, and brought to the port of Ashdod, where police and immigration authorities processed the ships passengers.

The spin has already begun, with passengers claiming that they were “attacked” by the Israeli Defence force. Considering that there was no force required, and no injuries sustained, such a claim is an obvious exaggeration, and a provocation. They were ordered to change course, and when they refused to do so, the IDF had no choice but to board and take control of the vessel.

“Victoria Strand, a Stockholm-based spokeswoman for the campaign, told AFP the Estelle, a 174-foot (53-meter) schooner, came “under attack” shortly after the Israeli vessels approached it. Dror Feieler, an Israeli activist aboard the ship, was quoted by AFP as saying the ship was “attacked at 10:15 a.m.”

The IDF has a different view of the day’s activities;

“A short while ago, Israeli Navy soldiers boarded the Estelle… The boarding was carried out in accordance with international law, with directives of the Israeli government and after all attempts to prevent the vessel from reaching the Gaza Strip were made, both via direct contact and through diplomatic channels, but to no avail,” the IDF said.

It added: “As a result of their [the activists’] unwillingness to cooperate and after ignoring calls to change course, the decision was made to board the vessel and lead it to the port of Ashdod.”

The Navy “took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the passengers. After boarding the vessel by IDF soldiers, who did not need to use force, the passengers were attended to and offered food and beverages,” the IDF said in the statement.

Haters of Israel won’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

For the life of me, I can’t understand how these haters of Israel get so much publicity, and how so many people take them seriously. Common sense, and the facts, seem to have no place in the main stream media’s reporting of anything that happens in the Middle East. There is only one real answer, and it is found in the bible;

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Zechariah 12:3

While the context of Zechariah 12 is the Day of the Lord, and Armageddon, the process of making Jerusalem a “burdensome stone” began a long time ago, at least as far back as 1967, though the truth is that the Arabs had made their first attack against the tiny nation of Israel, immediately after it was declared a state, in 1948. Even further back the Palestinian Arabs supported Hitler in World War 2, and assisted in rounding up Jews for execution.

So, according to Zechariah 12:3, who is responsible for making Jerusalem a “burdensome stone”? It’s the Lord God, isn’t it? Here, and in other parts of Scripture He says that He will bring the nations of the world against Israel. This is a judgment against Israel, but an even greater judgment against the nations of the world.

God has said, over and over again, that he has given the land, formerly known as Canaan, then Israel, and now Palestine, to the descendants of Jacob, the people we know today as Jews and Israelis. Armageddon is a judgment against those who don’t believe the bible.

12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Isaiah 27:12-13

When He says “beat off” he means literally that Israel’s enemies will be beaten-off in battle, a battle that they will start. I think this is a reference to the Psalm 83 war, but it probably also means the Ezekiel 38-39 war, where God will personally intervene.

The area that they will be beaten-off of will stretch from the Euphrates river, in Iraq and Syria, to the “Stream of Egypt” which is the Nile. I believe the evidence is that the branch of the Nile referred to here is the Tanitic branch. The older Pelusian branch dried up long ago, and now the eastern-most branch is the Tanitic. This will extend Israel’s territory to the place where they lived for hundreds of years as slaves of the Pharaohs. That would be poetic justice.

18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. Isaiah 19:18

While Isaiah 19 is specifically a reference to the Millennial reign of Christ, I believe Israel will take this territory before the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble”, the Tribulation, begins. God is going to bring the children of Israel back to the land, and as rational people, they won’t all come as long as they think the Muslim threat is real and imminent. The nations God says He is going to “beat-off”, in both the Psalm 83 war, and the Ezekiel 38-39 war, are almost all Muslim today.

This is why God says He will bring back the last remnants of Israel at the end of the Gog and Magog account;

25 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; Ezekiel 39:25

That little comma, between the phrase “the captivity of Jacob” and “and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel” is a time period of at least seven years. The final seven years missing from Daniel 9:24-26, which is the “week” from verse 27, that the Antichrist confirms his “covenant” for.

For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. Isaiah 34:8

If you believe that the land of Israel belongs to the Palestinians, you are an unbeliever. Many people, claiming to be Christians, are taking up the cause of the Palestinians, in spite of the facts. Don’t think that if you call yourself a Christian, that the God of Christianity cannot bring His righteous wrath against you. God looks at the heart, and has no interest in the labels we give ourselves. If you don’t believe His Word, including the parts about Israel, you are none of His!

1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; 2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. Zephaniah 2:1-3

In this little passage from Zephaniah, which is a clear pre-tibulation rapture passage, we see that the meek of the earth are commanded to “work his judgment”. This does not mean picking up the cause of the Palestinians. God has clearly stated that the land from Egypt to the Euphrates will belong to Israel. This is God’s judgment. Anyone who says that Israel has no right to build settlements in Jerusalem is working against God’s judgment. They will not be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Acts 24:14

Paul has just defined a biblical Christian for us.  Christians believe all things which are written in the law and the prophets, as well as the New Testament.

But what does the bible say about the plight of the Palestinians? It actually has something to say;

14 Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 12:14-17

The god of the Qur’an, has more in common with the god Baal, than he does with the God of the bible. The Palestinians today are 99% Muslim, and if they don’t abandon their false god, and turn to the God of the bible, they will not only be driven from that land, but, in the Tribulation, and Armageddon itself, they will be removed from this planet. Those who do follow the God of the bible, Jesus, will be able to live as brothers and sisters with the people of Israel!

The controversy of Zion has been set up by God Himself, as a trap for His enemies. The activists on the Mavi Marmara, and the Estelle, and all the anti-Israel activists all over the world, have fallen for a trap, and if they don’t repent, they will perish. Either way they will glorify the God of the bible, Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha Mashiah)!