U.S.-Based Ministry Leader Applauds Israelis' Actions in Lebanon, Gaza
by Chad Groening
July 13, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The head of a Minnesota-based pro-Israel ministry says she is pleased that Israel self-defense forces are on the move in Lebanon to attack terrorists responsible for kidnapping two Israeli soldiers, an action that followed the kidnapping of another soldier in Gaza. Jan Markell, founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries, believes the ongoing military operations in Lebanon and Gaza have become necessary because of the Israeli government's past appeasement policy. She says Israel "actually traded one or two soldiers for as many as a couple thousand Palestinian terrorist prison inmates."
That policy was a mistake, Markell asserts. "You start appeasing even once, and these thugs get the idea that they're going to get away with it again and again and again," she insists, which is why she feels Israel cannot afford to agree to any more prisoner exchanges with Islamic terrorists.
Israel must pursue one policy in dealing with Hezbollah and Hamas, the Olive Tree Ministries founder contends. "The only thing that works with Islam is blowing them to kingdom come. It's time to go in with force," she says.
Markell is pleased that the Israelis have apparently halted their recent policy of appeasement, but she questions the resolve of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who she describes as "a complete dove" who "would love to smoke a peace pipe and join hands and sing Kumbayah and get along with the whole world."
Meanwhile, the pro-Israel spokeswoman notes that the Israeli people are naturally "very, very disturbed" over the fact that some of their country's soldiers are not only prisoners but have been killed in the last few weeks. Now that the Israeli forces have already gone into Lebanon, she says, "the question is, really, how much of an incursion into Lebanon will it be?"
In any event, Markell feels Israel is wise -- and well justified -- to be taking aggressive military action against terrorists in Lebanon and Gaza. She says she expects it will take weeks to clear out the terrorists.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
