This has been a very interesting week for those of us who follow closely what God is doing in the Middle East. Certainly, not given the media coverage that was warranted, was the visit this week of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House. In many of the major US daily papers, coverage was relegated to the inside pages and to only a column or two; while most television news outlets buried the story deep within their newscasts, choosing to focus upon the automobile industry and new emission standards and the credit card reform.
As one would guess, two agenda items dominated the discussions between the Prime Minister and our President: what to do with a nuclear Iran, and how to create a two-state solution with the Palestinians. On the subject of Iran, President Obama said that he favored increasing international sanctions against Iran, primarily in limiting and taxing Iranian imports of gasoline and other fuels (seems the Iranians have the oil but do not know how to refine it). He said that he would give the Iranians until the end of the year to dismantle their nuclear capabilities, but the way he expressed it really leaves the threat open-ended. Meanwhile, Israel sits with a target on its back. Will Israel do a pre-emptive strike as it did against Egypt and Syria in 1967? They certainly are preparing for such a strike. The Israeli Air Force has been doing practice runs from Israel to Gibraltar and back, even doing in air refueling. That is the distance to Iran. And the Israeli Army is deploying a new anti-missile shield to protect them from missiles launched from Iran. [Just this morning, May 20, the Iranians successfully launched a missile capable of delivering a warhead some 2000 miles, meaning that all of Israel and our Middle East military bases would be vulnerable.]
On the second issue, that of the "two-state solution," President Obama said that this was the only way to insure peace in the Middle East. And pressure is now being applied to Israel to yield to this solution. In addition, the European Union, Russia, and now China have joined in singing that same song. The Israeli Prime Minister is not biting on that hook. I believe he has some strong reservations about how the Palestinians would govern themselves. And this is not without evidence, just witness what has happened in Gaza. His solution is to help develop the Palestinians through economic means and through other forms of service. Yes, the Palestinians need to govern themselves; and they are doing that today in Jericho, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and in other predominately Arab communities. Many Palestinians do not want to live under Palestinian rule; they, too, have seen what has happened in Gaza.
The Prime Minister leaves today, I believe, having stood his ground with the President. I believe he has the support of the majority of the Israeli people. Yes, dialogue needs to continue between Israel and each of her neighbors. What is needed is a peace, not a peaceful truce.
It behooves us, as Christians, to continue praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Real peace is coming in the person of the Messiah Jesus Christ. Oh may He come soon!
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