Israel's self-defeating, anti-religious tendencies no longer surprise me. When Israel was founded in 1948, although created out of a Zionist ideal and not a religious one, the country once again became a homeland for the Jewish religion. Many, if not all, Jews believed that it was the will of G-d that brought the Jews home after almost 2000 years in exile.

This idea hit its zenith upon the blowing of the shofar at the Western Wall when the Temple Mount was recaptured during the Six-day war in 1967.

Since then, however, it seems that everything the Israeli government has done since has been with an anti-religious zeal that mocks the faith of the Jews. I'm not saying that Israel should be a theocracy, but just because it is a democracy, it can still reflect the values of the overwhelming majority of it's people. Israel is not the United States. The history of this country is vastly different than that of Israel, whose people had just come out of the Holocaust.

Today's news just struck me in the heart. According to the Jerusalem Post, the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan is planning to erect a fifth minaret on the Temple Mount. I know most people today are ignorant in regards to the Mount, so just to update:

The Temple Mount is the site where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. It is where G-d instructed that the holy Temple be built (both times). It is also to where each Jew faces as he prays. Furthermore, it is considered the absolutely most sacred spot in Judaism (Boro Park be darned).

I mention that because followers of Islam have increasingly attempted to remove any and all traces of Jewish history from it. There propaganda techniques have been quite successful and have caused a lot of ignorance worldwide to flourish.

So, it was with an unbelievable amount of chutzpah that after securing Israel's control over the most holy Jewish site, that the government would turn around and relinquish control of it to the Muslim-controlled Waqf.

Because of the unquestionably stupid, shortsighted and traitorous act, the Jewish people must sit idly by as the Mount becomes even more settled by the "religion of peace". No wonder the Arabs believe us to be weak. The Islamofacists won't even allow a non-Muslim to enter Mecca. But not only do we allow Muslims access to our holiest place, we hand them over the deed!!!

To me, it appears that the Arabs no longer need to fight wars against the Jews. We seem intent on committing religious suicide all on our own. As far as I'm concerned, Israel has truly lost her way. America is slowly going down that same path. Clearly, it is happening throughout Europe and soon it will happen here in the States.

I'm not saying this because I think the Democrats are leading us there (which I believe they are). No, that really goes without saying. But even the current administration is showing signs of weakness that have given the liberals hope. It amazes me that the President has forgotten the reasons why he won the 2004 election. He should stop for a minute and learn from Israel's mistakes. Americans really don't care about labels (Democrat, Republican). They just want someone they can trust to keep them safe and secure. They want someone who will lead when necessary and get out of the way at other times. Americans certainly don't want to be led by those who are perceived as weak on defense and they don't want to be told what to do by rich out-of touch politicians. Americans want fairness in race, religion and business and do not want to be subjugated by unelected judges who have spent very little time in the "real" world.

Okay, enough of my soapbox.

I love Israel. As a nation and as a people. Watching it slowly crumbling is just agonizing.