Paul Calvert's Reflections On The New Year's Toast With Benjamin
Netanyahu

All year I have been waiting in anticipation for my invitation to the Government Press Office's New Year's Toast with Benjamin Netanyahu. This would be my first year of attendance, so I was very excited, although not sure what to expect.

It was held in the Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem and even before I entered, I could see the security measures, with barriers set up outside, stopping cars from parking near the hotel.

I went inside and met another fellow journalist who is also a Christian, working in Christian media in the United States. We had to have our names checked, show our ID's and go through metal detectors, before we were allowed to go into the room. Even the palm of my hand was dusted for explosives, but all was ok and we were in.

Paul Calvert's Reflections On The New Year's Toast With Benjamin
Netanyahu

The evening started with food and drink just before the main event. The head of the Press welcomed everyone and welcomed all the guests who would be speaking or playing music and then the Prime Minister of Israel arrived. Many pictures were taken and then he was welcomed up onto the stage, with security very close by.

His first announcement was that he was in a good mood, which gained a laugh from the listening journalists. All throughout his press conference you could hear a sense of humour.

He wished everyone there a Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas and then came the serious side of his message, offering his deepest condolences for the terror attacks that had taken place, firstly in Turkey and secondly in Germany. He said that the murder of a diplomat was always considered, even in ancient times, the breach of all knowns.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Talking about the possible terror attack in Germany, (it wasn't known at the time if it was an attack), he mentioned that it may have claimed the life of an Israeli citizen too. He went on to say that we are seeing the terrible tragedy of the suffering of civilians and expressed that he had asked the Foreign Ministry to expand Israel's medical assistance to the civilian casualties of the Syrian tragedy, specifically in Aleppo. He shared they are prepared to take in wounded women and children and also men if they are non-combatants; he wanted them brought to Israel and taken care of in hospitals. He said that it was being explored as we speak.

Then the floor was opened up to the journalists to ask their questions. My new found Christian friend asked a question. Within his question he said that Christians want to share their support for Israel. That many Christians in America pray for Israel and pray for the Prime Minister and for all the leadership in Israel.

Paul Calvert's Reflections On The New Year's Toast With Benjamin
Netanyahu

Prime Minister Netanyahu shared that he deeply appreciated the support they have from Christian friends around the world, in North America and South America. He said that it is a developing and interesting situation. In Europe and Africa, he had visited four countries and was astounded by the degree of empathy. They said, "The children of Israel. You represent the children of Israel." That tells you something. He went on to say that they are finding the same thing in Asia now too and in unlikely places, so they deeply appreciate the constancy of that support and the expansion of that support.

The Prime Minister went on to say that his message on fighting terror is from the book of Joshua. "It says, 'Be strong and of good courage.' That's how you fight this thing. The most elementary thing is strength and courage. Strength is not enough, but courage is the most important quality, because it guarantees, I think the Romans said this, 'Courage is not the only quality, but it guarantees the others, because if you don't have courage everything else is meaningless.' You have to have great courage and determination to fight this evil." CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.