Interview with: Vivienne Myburgh, ICEJ SA
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Support of the Jewish people’s right to return and live in the nation of Israel (geographically, the Promised Land) is often a conflicted matter for believers. A complicated history, biased media reports, a humanitarian crisis, and misguided denominational positions have confused many Christians – but one must have an accurate, biblical understanding. To offer clarity on this, we spoke to the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem SA (ICEJ) who have extensive knowledge and experience in the Holy Land.
Q. The global spotlight has been on Israel, most notably concerning ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. What are your thoughts on the matter?
This is not a new battle and people often don’t know the history, which means that they cannot understand the present reality. The battle started against Abraham and his descendants, ever since God initiated an eternal and unconditional covenant with Abraham. The promise God made to him and his descendants included a defined piece of land. The enemies of God cannot wage a war against Him, but they can against His covenant people, land, and nation.
Psalm 83: 2-3 spells out this ancient battle in no uncertain terms. The hatred is illogical, as the Jewish people have been under attack throughout the ages. In recent years the Muslim nations have become the biggest perpetrators of attacks against Israel and Jews worldwide. There are 56 Muslim states today and the majority do not accept the existence of a Jewish State. Sadly, old lies are being revived again and they are leading to an increase in antisemitic attacks, which are on the increase.
The ‘Palestinian issue’ was an invented narrative in the 1960s by Yasser Arafat (an Egyptian) who worked closely with the Russians who supported the PA as a ‘liberation organisation’. The Arabs were offered a state of their own in 1947 and they rejected it (as they have with numerous offers since then). When Jordan controlled the so-called West Bank (actually Judea and Samaria), the Arab refugees lived in worse conditions than when under Israeli authority, and there was never a call for a Palestinian State.
It is important to note that historically there has never been a Palestinian state. Palestine was a British Mandate area from 1917-1948 where Jews and Arabs were both referred to as Palestinians. The Balfour Declaration—which stated that the British would administer the Palestinian mandate area until a Jewish homeland could be established there—was confirmed and ratified by the League of Nations in 1920 at San Remo.
The Palestinian refugee crisis could have been solved many years ago by the Arab nations, but there is absolutely no will to do so. Palestinians suffer under a corrupt leadership whose interest is to keep instilling a hatred for Israel and to keep their people in poverty. The tactic to destroy Israel has developed into one that aims to use demographics and population control to destroy the Jewish state.
This is not a new battle and people often don’t know the history.
Q. Why has the ANC government been decidedly outspoken against Israel and pro-Palestine?
It is extremely sad that the ANC has continued to side with the enemies of Israel. They have been hijacked by a minority group in South Africa who have played on the emotions around Apartheid and the past, thus finding fertile ground for the lies of an anti-Israel narrative. Of course this brings our country no blessing, as the God of Israel declares that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse (according to the original Hebrew: hate, insult, or devalue) Israel will be cursed (cut off from God’s blessing).
The judgement against our Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng because he expressed his support for Israel, according to his Biblical beliefs, is an example of how far we have slid down this path. ICEJ initiated a petition in support of his right to religious expression and handed over 150 000 signatures to the President’s office in June this year.
Q. Many Christians and churches feel torn between support for Israel VS compassion for the Palestinians. What is your advice for believers?
We have compassion for the Palestinians living under leaders such as Hamas (a recognised terrorist entity) and the Palestinian Authority who perpetuate the abuse of their own people in their efforts to destroy Israel. The irony is that many Arabs/Palestinians would far rather live under Israeli rule than under that of their own leaders – but they cannot safely verbalise this. Their leaders can choose peace with Israel, but continue to rather choose hatred and violence. To support a two-state solution is actually to go against the covenant that God made with Israel and thus essentially undermines the very character of God Himself.
Q. ICEJ has been working with the Jewish people and the nation of Israel for 41 years. How has this work evolved over the years?
A Christian Embassy was established in Jerusalem in 1980 in response to threats from various Arab nations of an oil embargo on the nations who keep their embassies in Jerusalem (after Israel passed the Jerusalem Law). All 13 embassies acquiesced and relocated to Tel Aviv – so rejecting Jerusalem as the beloved capital of the Jewish people. As a ministry we are called to comfort Israel and to minister to her through practical support. Our work has also included mobilising and supporting Jews wanting to make Aliyah. In the early years this was largely from Russia and has since evolved to helping large groups from Ethiopia and other nations around the world.
It is extremely sad that the ANC has continued to side with the enemies of Israel.
Q. What are some of the key projects that ICEJ is spearheading in Israel?
Funding Aliyah (the return of the Jews to Israel) and a number of holocaust survivor homes in Haifa has been two of the main programmes we have been involved with extensively. An interesting group who have been making Aliyah presently is the Bnei Menashe Tribe from India. Since Israel allowed the resumption of the Bnei Menashe Aliyah in 2012, over 2400 have arrived in the second wave and almost half of them have been sponsored by the ICEJ.
The Bnei Menashe community has approximately 6000 members still living mainly in Manipur and Mizoram, in northeast India. They were officially recognised as “sons of Israel” in April 2005, when Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar ruled that the Bnei Menashe come from Manasseh, one of the ‘lost tribes’ exiled from the northern kingdom of Israel some 2700 years ago. Our support for the return of the Bnei Menashe is based on God’s promises to gather the Jewish people back in the Historic Land of Israel, and in this particular case to “bring your descendants from the East” – Isaiah 43:5. We are also very involved with integration programmes, especially for the Ethiopian Jews who have many challenges coming from a very different environment.
Q. How can one get involved in the work of the ICEJ?
Sign up to receive our newsletters for updates, information, and events. Like our Facebook page and please share our posts. You can also invite us to speak to your church or small group and you can become a church liaison for us with your local church.
Finally, you can directly bless Israel by supporting any of the various programmes we fund. Our South African bank details are:
Friends of the Embassy in Jerusalem
FNB Cheque account: 62730234672
Branch: 250655
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Date published: 18/06/2021
Vivienne Myburgh is the National Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) Branch in South Africa. Visit www.icej.org.za for more information.
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