continued from page of $200 ….

continued from page

of $200 – $300 million. Estimates of Iran’s support of Hezbollah in Lebanon are in a similar range. Overall, Iran’s support of terror over the years has been tens of billions of dollars.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, now U.S. Ambassador to Israel, noted in testimony last year to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “When you’re dealing with Iran, you’re not dealing with a rational economic player. You're dealing with an evil, malign government that funds its evil and malign activities first.”

Despite being among the top 10 oil producers in the world, per capita GDP in Iran, per the World Bank, is $4,500.

Clearly, economic development of their own country, and prosperity and well-being of the Iranian population, is not a priority for the Iranian regime. Terrorism and murder are.

And the same is true of their terrorist clients. The hundreds of millions annually funneled to Hamas have been directed to fund infrastructure to attack Israel, not to improve the quality of life of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

In her remarks at the Democratic Party’s convention, Vice President Kamala Harris said, “I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself,” and then continued, “At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating.”

Terrorists will always murder as long as they see hope in achieving their deadly objectives. The vice president may have said nice words at the convention about recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, but what message did she send to the Hamas murderers, who precipitated all of this, by boycotting the Israeli prime minister’s speech to Congress several weeks ago?

The message that our pastors wanted to bring to Israel this October was their adherence to the words in the Book of Deuteronomy that “I have placed life and death before you, blessing and curse, and you shall choose life.”

Israel, since its founding in the ashes of the Holocaust 76 years ago, has been about choosing life.

The Abraham Accords, signed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco along with Israel, were about Arab nations joining with Israel to choose life and prosperity in the Middle East and worldwide.

But the terrorists want death.

The USA must stop giving them credibility. It’s the only way to a better world for all.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS. COM