By Bart Peacher

Carolyn and I just returned from Washington DC after participating in one of the major pro Israel gatherings in the world. It is called AIPAC, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is a lobbying group for pro-Israel policies to the US Congress and the Executive Branch.

It was hosted in the Washington Convention Center with a record crowd of about 16,000 folks, the largest in the history of AIPAC. Most of these were Jewish which placed us Christians in the minority, we approximated 300 to 400. While representing less than 3% of the crowd we felt honored that pro Israel Jews wanted us there to help them speak to our government for continued and growing support for Israel-US relations.

The crowning event took place in a 16,000 seated meeting room, when the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivered a live address to AIPAC. This happened on March 2, 2015 a day before he presented his case to Congress on the Iranian nuclear deal. Barak Obama and John Kerry have been negotiating along with the P5+1 group of nations on this issue.

Although BiBi and most at the convention believe an Iran with a nuclear enrichment program is a life and death issue for Israel and the world, he saved the substance of that subject for Congress and used most of his time with us praising the United States for being a historically great ally to Israel. He went on to say that he and the US President’s relationship was strong and that America and Israel was family. Then he mused that even families have disagreements from time to time. He did however lavish praise for Barak Obama.

It could be argued that he went a bit overboard with the extol in that the Obama Administration has resisted Israel with respect to standing firm with Iran, wasting precious time in extending deadlines, easing Iranian sanctions, moving from demanding zero number of enrichment centrifuges to talk allowing thousands, pressing Israel with the ridiculous notion to return to the pre 1967 borders, and has on occasion shown open disrespect for the Prime Minister.

Not sure if this is true but a recent article from JNN read as follows.

President Barack Obama threatened to shoot down Israeli planes in 2014 if they were sent to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, according to reports attributed to a Kuwaiti newspaper. The Bethlehem-based news agency Ma’an cites Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida. NAl-Jarida reports that the threat from the White House forced Israeli PM Netanyahu to cancel the planned attack. An Israeli minister on good relations with the Obama administration reportedly tipped Secretary of State John Kerry to the plan and that Obama vowed to shoot down the planes when they crossed over USA-controlled airspace in Iraq.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister acted and spoke like a true statesman. He could be considered the greatest head of state currently in the world. His address the next day to Congress strongly supports that notion when every word he uttered was a firm reminder that when Israel says “never again” they mean never again!

Besides Netanyahu’s addresses to the AIPAC convention and then Congress, we spent the next few days at dinners, lectures, video sessions, speaking on Capitol Hill with Senators and House Representatives on behalf of Israel, and having plain ole fellowship with Jews and Christians alike.

While sitting in their respective offices, Bart asked a repeated question to Congressmen Mulvaney, Scott, and Graham. The question was, with respect to the White House’s input to the P5+1 negotiation with Iran, is this a treaty process or not? If not considered a treaty then why? We received differing answers!

A President can make treaties but, per the US Constitution, it is by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and requires concurrence from 2/3 of the Senate before becoming legal. Bart was told that the Supreme Court ruled that all foreign affairs are the responsibility of the President only. Wow, if that is true then what constitutes a treaty? We always viewed treaties, by nature, as agreements with foreign nations!

Congress is somewhat fighting back and is in the process of submitting a bill, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (S.615), authorizing them to review and approve any agreement by the President before implementation. We also urged the Congressmen that we visited to back this bill.

Bart got to personally speak to God’s plans for Israel and the world with some of the Jewish lecturers. They were pleasantly surprised to hear what Bart shared from the Scriptures! Both we and they were richly blessed.

After sitting through a documentary movie called Beneath the Helmet – From High School to the Home Front, which is about five Israeli boys graduating from school and entering the IDF, we had the privilege of meeting one of the main characters. He was a unit Commander that Bart spoke with and took a picture. Both were amazed when Bart showed him a picture from the Gaza conflict where Bart was sitting amidst some IDF soldiers. The soldier to the left of Bart was one of the Commanders best friends! This was a God connection for sure. We will try to get this movie link on our website for your convenience.

Bart and the unit Commander

The last affair we attended was a formal event where the Green Family, owners of Hobby Lobby, hosted a few honored guests in downtown DC with dinner and live music by Michael W Smith. This was to introduce a new project to Washington DC and cities across the nation called ‘Museum of the Bible’. Please visit this website for more information on this timely and important venture: http://museumofthebible.org/

Bart at Gaza with the Commander’s friend

We were very thankful and deeply honored to attend these events. Our Lord continues to open doors for us. We do want to thank Ambassador Earl Cox and AIPAC National Council Member, Robin Rowan for hearing from God and nudging us to attend. Once registered, Robin worked to get us internally linked up.

Genesis 12:2-3 has surely proved true for us at ‘It Is Time Israel’ and we know it is true for you too!

With all the turmoil and fear blanketing the earth, we know that our God is sure and He has a plan for Israel and the world. The Scriptures reveal His plan is to save and restore Israel and mankind for life eternal, through the Jewish Messiah.

Isaiah chapter 60 highlights quite well what is in store for natural Israel.

We believe it may be the time for her, as a nation, to begin turning back to God as the Gentile nations watch and receiving their long prophesied promises.

Ezekiel 28:25-26

25 “Adonai Elohim says, ‘Once I have gathered the house of Isra’el from the peoples among whom they are scattered, once I have shown my holiness in them as the Goyim watch, then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Ya‘akov.

26 They will have security when they live there, building houses and planting vineyards; yes, they will live in safety, once I have executed judgments against all their contemptuous neighbors. Then they will know that I am Adonai their God.’”  CJB

May God bless us all in Yeshua Messiah, creating a One New Man with both Jews and Gentiles!

We love and thank you all for your support of Israel, Bart Peacher