By HAROLD KELLER

Wednesday morning, I was listening to a radio talk show, and the question of the day was: “Who should America side with in the Middle East battle between Palestine and Israel?” I understand how some people can be confused, but I don’t understand President Bush’s seemingly soft stand against Yasser Arafat, the leader of the PLO.

I’m proud to say that I voted for President Bush and have admired his hard stand and actions against the terrorists in Afghanistan. However, it puzzles me that at times he almost condemns Israel for their actions against the terrorists of Palestine.

Back to the question of whose side America should be on. Really, it’s not a hard decision, if you profess to be a Christian. I was in Lafayette on Sunday and attended Bethel Crossroads Cathedral. Before pastor Jeff Ables’ main message, he shared what God has to say about the trouble in the Middle East. He read from Psalm 122:6-9. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces. For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, ‘Peace be with you.’ Because of the house of the Lord, our God, I will seek your good.”

He said that America has prospered because we have always sided with Israel. Now is not the time to get soft on her enemies.

During a national radio talk show last week, the host had a guest defending the actions of Israel’s prime minister, Ariel Sharon. One of the questions was, “Do you think America will ever be threatened by terrorists as Israel has been?” His reply was, “What did you consider Sept. 11?”

Because of the terrorists acts of Sept. 11, President Bush and America responded as only we could. Israel is responding in the same way. We should support her efforts to defeat all terrorism.

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational group. Call him at (985) 652-8477.