Mosab Hassan Yousef Interview with BBC

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the eldest son of a founder of the militant Palestinian movement Hamas. He grew up with privileged access to the inner circle of the Palestinian leadership. He was captured and tortured by the Israelis but then decided to become a spy for the Israeli secret service Shin Bet. Over ten years he became one of their most valuable intelligence assets. His life under threat, he embraced Christianity and now lives in America. He tells Zeinab Badawi how he feels about being regarded as a traitor to his family, his people and his faith. View the video at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8675568.stm

The 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli Wars

On May 15th 1967, while the citizens of Israel was celebrating their Independence Day, a large armada of Egyptian tanks and units moved into the Sinai Peninsula and deployed into offensive positions along the Israeli Border. Egyptian President Nasser has expelled the UN observers in the Sinai region, closed the straits of Tiran and signed a military pact of aggression with Jordan and Syria. He also took the bold step of announcing a war for the “liberation” of Palestine was underway, dared Israel to strike back if it can and promised to wipe Israel from the map of the world.

The wars that shaped Israel and the Middle East are still there, old wounds that never really heal. Our only hope is to look to the future and hope for peace and tolerance. The Israeli people and the Arab people for the most part are ready for it. Thus strides such as the “Bridge over the Wadi” (يداً بيد - جسر عبر الوادي‎; , יד ביד - גשר על הוואדי‎) are taking place where people want to live in peace. So let us strive to show the best in humanity, love our neighbor as ourselves and let us pray that God grants peace to that region.