by Faith Brown
The recent ceasefire negotiations brought to mind an article which I had saved, written by a Christian journalist, Eric Hoffer. Hoffer was a self-educated social critic and philosopher who wrote a weekly column for the San Francisco Examiner, which was later syndicated nationwide.
His column, entitled “Israel Stands Alone,” impressed me greatly when I first read it in the Wilmington News Journal some years ago. After you read the following excerpts, I think you will understand why I saved it.
“The Jews are a peculiar people. Things permitted to other nations are forbidden to the Jews.
Other nations drive out thousands, even millions of people, and there is no refugee problem. But in the case of Israel, the displaced Arabs have become eternal refugees. Other nations, when victorious on the battlefield, dictate peace terms. But when Israel is victorious, it must sue for peace.
Everyone expects the Jews to be the only real “Christians” in this world! No commitment to the Jews by any government, including our own, is worth the paper it is written on.
The Jews are alone in this world. If Israel survives, it will be solely because of Jewish efforts and Jewish resources. Yet, at this moment, Israel is our only reliable and unconditional ally. We can rely more on Israel than Israel can rely on us.
I have a premonition that will not leave me: As it goes with Israel, so will it go with all of us. Should Israel perish, the Holocaust will once more be upon us. Israel must live.”
Believe it or not, this article appeared in newspapers on May 29, 1968!
