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BLOG 463
March 9, 2020

WISE ON THE MIDDLE EAST

Each week Robert L. Wise, Ph.D., explores the Middle Eastern situation, ranging from Egypt through Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the surrounding area. Wise first traveled to Israel and the neighboring countries in 1968. Two of his sons taught in Jordan and Lebanon universities. Wise presents an objective view of the behind the scenes situation in these countries.

THE LATEST!

And why didn’t you hear the results of the Israeli elections on television?

Well, there’s a reason.

Here’s the latest. A full 68 hours after the polling stations closed and exit polls predicted a surge for Likud and its right-wing bloc, the Central Elections Committee on Thursday confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party as the largest after Monday’s general election, with final results giving it 36 seats to rival Blue and White’s 33.

Netanyahu had won 58 seats, three short of a majority needed to form a coalition.

Sorry, It’s not all over.

After three elections there’s a continuing effort to retire the Prime Minister. Because of indictment on corruption charges, Netanyahu couldn’t break through even with a nudge from President Trump. Sorry. Netanyahu had won 58 seats, three short of a majority needed to form a coalition. There’s no headlines because there’s no story.

Now here’s something you really can sink your teeth into! I have a new book just out.
82 DAYS ON OKINAWA has been proclaimed as an unforgettable firsthand account of the Pacific’s war’s greatest Battle. The book has been released by Harper-Collins under the name of Col Art Shaw and Robert L. Wise.

I met 96-year-old Col. Art Shaw in my wife’s congregation. Hardly looking his age, the Colonel is now 100-years-old. He confided that for the scope of his long life, he had never talked about the war. I kept asking questions and the story flooded out.

On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, the Allied Army fleet descended on the Japanese island began the most vicious struggle of World War II. The Army expected an 80% casualty rate. Then a Major, Art Shaw was the first American soldier to step ashore. Becoming legendary for its brutality, the struggle was a fight to the death for the Japanese. The U.S. Army’s 361st Artillery Battalion killed 37,763 of the enemy.

The confrontation was the last major battle of World War II as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to an unconditional surrender on the part of Japan. Art shared with me the details of what he saw and experienced. I have tried to write both the spirit and the facts of this horrendous struggle.

You can find 82 DAYS ON OKINAWA at your local book store or on Amazon. I believe reading this story will give you a new confidence in America and the values that have made this country the land of the free. You will recover new conviction about our country’s great democracy.

You might find my collection of Holy Land experiences to be helpful.
BIBLE LANDS: An illustrated Guide to Scriptural Places
Barbpir books Publishers