I firmly believe that a major contributing factor to the prosperity of the United States has been our relationship and support of Israel.

Genesis 12:3 clearly depicts the benefits of supporting God’s people.

“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

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For years, Israel has been a critical ally to the U.S. in the Middle East, where hostility toward the Israeli people has been rampant. And now all indications from the Obama administration suggest that President Obama is abandoning our steadfast relationship with Israel despite their partnership in democracy in the region.

Obama’s incessant push for a nuclear deal with Iran was perhaps the tipping point for ongoing relations with the Israeli people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal with Iran “a bad mistake of historic proportions,” as reported in a July Fox News article.

“Iran is going to receive a sure path to nuclear weapons. Many of the restrictions that were supposed to prevent it from getting there will be lifted,” Netanyahu said before a meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister in Jerusalem. “Iran will get a jackpot, a cash bonanza of hundreds of billions of dollars, which will enable it to continue to pursue its aggression and terror in the region and in the world.”

While it’s true that some of the nuclear restrictions remain in place for the next 25 years, time does not dismay Iranian leadership in their vow to destroy Israel. Following the deal which involved the U.S. and five other countries, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, taunted Israel with a threat of colossal proportion.

Referencing the 25-year time frame in an Iranian state-run media report, the Ayatollah predicted the extinction of Israel by the end of the deal’s terms. “I’d say (to Israel) that they will not see (the end) of these 25 years,” said the Ayatollah, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. “God willing, there will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years.”

But there is no new news here. Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Iranian leadership has sought its destruction and referred to the U.S. as the “Great Satan” for our support of the Jewish people.

Obama’s disdain for Israel is very troubling. Following the wave of violence where innocent Israelis were being stabbed in the streets by anti-Semitists, the Obama administration accused Israel of participating in terrorism while acting to protect their people.

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“Individuals on both sides of this divide are – have proven capable of, and in our view, are guilty of acts of terrorism.” State Department spokesperson John Kirby told reporters following the spike in violence as reported by Kellan Howell in the Washington Times.

I believe in many ways the U.S. is now experiencing the repercussions of abandoning our support of Israel. Our next president must work diligently to re-establish our bond with the Jewish state.

Our future hangs in the balance.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.