MY TURN: 'Firmly against barbarism'

Over the last four months the State of Israel has once again been fighting a war for its survival. No civilized person was untouched by the barbaric attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. With that in mind, as a precinct committeemen in the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, I wrote the resolution below for submission to the committee this month. For a committee that exhibits true Republican values and principles, public policy should never be far away and should always be loudly proclaimed. To that end, I drafted the attached resolution and also submitted it to this newspaper for the purpose of encouraging other organizations in Kootenai County to join the KCRCC in standing firm in our commitment and support of Israel. Any other organization may use its wording, but I hope all of Kootenai County joins me in lighting a candle in the anti-Israel terrorist darkness that is now swirling fiendishly in the Middle East.

KCRCC Resolution in support of Israel

To be submitted at the Feb. 27 meeting of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee

WHEREAS, Israel has been threatened with or engaged in war since the beginning of her existence. Her early history is well-documented in the Bible, where present and future wars are also predicted - and now Israel faces the conflict triggered by the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks by Hamas on the innocent peaceful citizens of southern Israel; 

WHEREAS, on Nov. 7, 2023, the editors of the American Magazine reported, “On Oct. 7, Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, torturing, raping and murdering over 1,400 innocent men, women, teenagers, babies and grandparents who were celebrating Simchat Torah. In the month since the attack, countries around the world have reported a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents,” and the United States has seen protests in favor of the Hamas action;

WHEREAS, a large population of Kootenai County Republican voters are Christians of many denominations, but all abhor and reject the brutal barbarity of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas; this Central Committee recognizes many Kootenai County citizens believe that God promised to keep Israel and has guaranteed her future existence. Moreover, Scripture declares that Israel shall be exalted to the head of all the nations (Deuteronomy 28:13);

WHEREAS, Christians are compelled to support Israel, even as we may question her present rebellions and blindness. Thus, we pray for her peace, and seek to bless her in every way possible (Genesis 12:3). We seek and demonstrate our love for God’s Chosen People by missionary effort and material support, especially during these times of war and strife;

WHEREAS, on Feb. 2, 2024, Pope Francis responded to more than 400 Jewish rabbis and scholars, stating that since October 7, 2023 the Holy Land “has been cast into a spiral of unprecedented violence … [which] has also produced divisive attitudes in public opinion worldwide and divisive positions, sometimes taking the form of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism … [Catholics recognize Israel as], the ancient people of the covenant, [and] reject[ ] every form of anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism, unequivocally condemning manifestations of hatred towards Jews and Judaism as a sin against God;”

WHEREAS, the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee supports Article XVII of the Idaho Republican Platform, which states, “The Idaho Republican Party believes in peace through strength, and that having and keeping the strongest military in the world is essential to preserving our liberties,” and that this Party supports “efforts to combat terrorism within the scope of the constitution, including the use of military force,” and that these principles require allies across the globe to join the United States in condemning the recent Hamas terror attacks upon Israel and its citizens;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee hereby states its categorical moral and political rejection of the brutal and barbaric attacks on the State of Israel and its citizens by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, and hereby publicizes that condemnation in order to affirm its firm moral and political stance against such terror and barbarism;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee Chair shall convey this Resolution to the Chairs of all Idaho Republican Party Central Committees and to all members of the Idaho legislature and the Governor, and to Idaho’s two federal Representatives and Senators with a strong recommendation to continue to provide the encouragement and resources needed to defend Israel, protect Jews and Christians in Israel, and to recover all hostages being held by Hamas in the current war.

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Art Macomber is the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee precinct committeeman for Precinct 407.