What Does Israel Have to Be Thankful For?

What Do Israel Supporters Have to Be Thankful For? 

You may be surprised that many American Jews living in Israel continue to celebrate Thanksgiving. As American Christian Zionists who are based in Israel, we also enjoyed time with family, good food, and fellowship yesterday in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

As Israel finished another tumultuous week, with two bombings in Jerusalem, a car ramming in Beersheva, and the kidnapping and killing of an Israeli Druze boy in Jenin, I began wondering what Israel could have to be thankful for. As our organization is one of the representatives of those who call themselves pro-Israel, I also began to wonder what pro-Israel Christians have to be thankful for this year. 

What Does Israel Have to Be Thankful For? 

After more than three years, and four undecided elections and no government, Israeli elections finally produced strong, conservative results. Benjamin Netanyahu, a veteran conservative politician who is known for standing up to Israel’s enemies whilst forging unbreakable ties to the international community, won the most votes and received the mandate to form a coalition government. 

The Religious Zionist Bloc, headed by Betzalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, came out of the election as the third largest party. Ben Gvir and Smotrich are both staunch supporters of Judea and Samaria, and part of their agenda in joining Netanyahu’s coalition is to strengthen the Jewish people and communities of Israel’s biblical heartland while also showing a strong front to terrorism and violence in Israel. 

After two years of being closed to foreigners, Israel is now fully open to visitors – no testing, vaccinations, or other requirements are in place. Being a tiny country, and reliant on tourism, this is good news for Israel’s struggling economy. It took a few months, but we personally experienced the effects of Israel being open. Tourists and visitors to Israel are officially back! 

What Does the Pro-Israel Community Have to be Thankful For? 

While this may sound strange, the hostile Biden Administration’s relationship with Israel is actually a good thing for the pro-Israel community. When a pro-Israel administration is in power, it causes Israel-supporters to become complacent. When an administration is not so friendly, it inspires us to rise up and stand more strongly with the land and people of the Holy Land. 

In addition, Christians who have a love for Israel should be thankful for several things: 

• Israel is once again open for everyone to visit. 
• Israel is a place where God’s word is coming alive and prophecy is being fulfilled. 
• The restoration of God’s Kingdom is beginning to take shape in Israel, and we have the opportunity to participate. 

What Do We Have to be Thankful For? 

Here at HaYovel and The Israel Guys, the last three years were tough. For an organization that relies on international volunteers coming to Israel to serve the Jewish farmers of Judea and Samaria, operating while Israel was closed was difficult. 

However, just in the last six months, our operations have exploded! Since June 2022, we have hosted 200 volunteers from all over the world to experience Israel’s Biblical Heartland, harvest grapes for the wineries of Judea and Samaria, and plant nearly 3,000 trees! 

For 2023, we already have nine volunteer programs scheduled, and hope to see 300-500 volunteers join us! We’re also planning to plant 20,000 trees (yes; you read that number correctly). 

We also continue to make a major impact through our educational media. From our tiny studio on the Mt of Blessing, The Israel Guys are reaching 120,000-150,000 viewers every month. A few months ago we released the six-part Temple Mount series, which reached more than 350,000 viewers! 

Amidst rising tension and violence in Israel, the most anti-Israel US Administration in recent history, and the growing worldwide anti-semitism and Jew-hatred, there is still much for us to be thankful for. 

God is actively working in Israel on a daily basis, and those who believe in His word have the opportunity to participate. The choice is up to us. Will we join the enemies of Israel, or will we stand with the restoration of His Kingdom?