There’s a lot going on in the world. Paris is burning, Iran is arming, and that whole Russia-Ukraine thing is still raging. But the Biden Administration just had to take the time to express how “deeply troubled” it is by a few more Jewish houses being built.

The remark was made by US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller in response to Israel’s approval of 5,700 new housing units in existing Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria. This kind of “natural growth” was supposed to be covered by the so-called “Oslo Accords,” but Miller nevertheless called it an “impediment” to peace.

Jewish homes, on historically Jewish lands. That’s what the White House is raising the alarm over.

The words of the Psalmist (2:1) never rang so true:

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?”

When we read it in Scripture we tend to see it through a prophetic lens. Some divine phenomenon. But now that we are living in the midst of it, the question takes on an incredulous tone. Why do the nations rage? Is this a joke? A few Jews building homes on barren hilltops that belonged to their ancestors is cause for urgent UN Security Council sessions and White House handwringing? Is this really the most pressing matter of the day? Why do the nations rage?!

Member of Knesset Amit Halevi (Likud) had the perfect, biblical response to Miller and all those so “deeply troubled.”

“When Israel builds in Shiloh and Beit El, in Dotan and Jerusalem, this is Israel returning home. The vision of the prophets is being fulfilled. I certainly don’t need to explain to Americans what is Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Shiloh and Beit El. Many cities in the USA bear these names,” said Halevi from the Knesset podium late last month.

“When we, the Jews, return to Judea and Samaria, we return justice and truth to the world. When we return to Jerusalem and Hebron, we strengthen pure faith in the world at large,” he continued.

“This is clear to every American who has read the Bible and knows the Old Testament,” stressed the Israeli lawmaker.

If the nations want to be outraged, Halevi noted that there are plenty of good reasons:

• Iran’s quest to destroy Israel and dominate the Middle East;
• Rising antisemitism against Jews in New York and London (among other places);
• Rampant anti-Israel incitement in Palestinian schoolbooks (teaching kids to hate).

“About these things, my American friends, we should all be troubled, and work vigorously to prevent them,” said Halevi. “But you shouldn’t be troubled when things go according to plan,” he added in reference to the fact that God’s Word clearly foretold the resettlement of the Land of Israel by the Children of Israel.