Tipping Point Quick Hits (11.16.23)

March for Israel, Biden-Xi summit, and volcanic eruptions

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What’s Next? Our Latest Book

I know I’ve mentioned it quite a bit lately, but if you haven’t already, please order a copy of the paperback version of our new book What’s Next? Israel-Gaza War.

It’s on Amazon (finally) and it’s a great book to share with your family and friends. This paperback is definitely something you can hand out and discuss over the holidays as the news continues to ramp up in the Middle East. You can order copies of What’s Next here.

Thank you, again, for all your prayers and support!

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Tens of Thousands Gather for Israel March

Several Jewish organizations planned a “March for Israel” Tuesday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to show support for Israel in its war against Hamas. With an estimated 290,000 people ,the march ended up being one of the biggest Jewish gatherings in American history and provided a bipartisan endorsement of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Speakers included Republican and Democratic leaders alike, according to the Associated Press:

Overlooking a sea of Israeli and U.S. flags, the top Democrats in Congress — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jefferies — came together on the stage with Republicans Mike Johnson, the House speaker, and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. They joined hands as Schumer chanted, “We stand with Israel.”

A variety of speakers denounced the Hamas attack and the broader expansion of antisemitism around the world. Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the marchers in a video from the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and called antisemitism in the wake of the attacks “an embarrassment to all civilized people and nations.”

He also said, “No one will break us. We will rise again.”

The demonstrators arrived from all over the country. Some held Israeli flags and posters showing the names and photos of Israelis who had been taken hostage in Gaza. The march occurred under heavy security. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser deployed the National Guard to help police, who were dispersed throughout the crowd, according to Homeland Security:

The Homeland Security Department designated the march a “level 1” security event, the highest classification in its system and one usually used for the Super Bowl and other major events, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The designation means the event required substantial law enforcement assistance from federal agencies, the officials said.

The FBI and Homeland Security sent a joint bulletin to law enforcement officials in Washington warning about the potential for violence or an attack inspired by the Israel-Hamas war, the officials said. But the bulletin said clearly that federal officials haven’t identified any “specific, actionable threat” to the march, they said.

However, some accounts are now emerging of antisemitism shown toward march participants by bus drivers. A delegation of 900 people organized by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit has reported that many of its members missed the rally because of the refusal of drivers who were supposed to take the group from the airport to the National Mall.

Fox News reports it this way:

“The buses that were hired to take over 900 participants from Dulles International Airport to the site of the march failed to appear, delaying the arrival of many in our group,” read a statement from the Detroit federation that was circulated by the Jewish Federations of North America. “We have learned that this was caused by a deliberate and malicious walk-off of drivers.”

If that’s true, those bus drivers should be fired immediately. William Daroff, one of the organizers of the event, said from the stage that the bus company had promised to take action against the drivers who walked off.

I’m saddened (but not surprised) to see a very successful display of solidarity with Israel marred by antisemitism. As we mentioned in yesterday’s Tipping Point Show, the growing intensity of worldwide Jew hatred is setting up the events of the Tribulation. These are the birth pains Jesus talked about.

But I’m hopeful and encouraged by the show of support by these marchers in Washington, and the bipartisan support from politicians. At the same time, I know some Democrats are increasingly divided about Israel’s response to the brutality of Hamas, and President Biden has been asking Israel to show restraint.

My prayer continues to be that Israel can destroy Hamas while minimizing the deaths of civilians, while also recognizing that Hamas continues to hide in civilian areas, using innocent women and children as shields. If this is not an example of pure evil—and why Hamas should be defeated—I don’t know what else is.

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Biden and Xi Summit in San Francisco

For the first time in a year, President Joe Biden and Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping met yesterday for a summit between the two countries. Both leaders are struggling. Biden’s poll numbers continue to be low and some House Republicans are arguing that he shouldn’t be meeting with Xi at all. At the same time, Xi has faced mass protests in China over his handling of COVID while the country is going through a significant economic slowdown.