All eyes are on Washington today as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes his first visit with President Trump. During his campaign Donald Trump was enthusiastic in his support of Israel, our nation's only democratic ally in the Middle East. One would think that the greeting of the Prime Minister today would be greatly different from those times under the previous Administration where the relationship between President Obama and the Prime Minister could be described as "cool" at best.
Several topics will be addressed at today's meetings. One such topic will be the belligerence of Iran after the nuclear treaty has been signed. At the time of its signing both Donald Trump and the Israelis declared that the treaty was bad for Israel, bad for America, and bad for the world. Yet the Iranians laughed all the way to the bank with palettes full of American taxpayer dollars. Since that treaty was signed - by the way, without Congressional approval as required by the Constitution - Iran has developed and tested long range ballistic missiles, has threatened U.S. Naval ships in the Persian Gulf, and has declared with braggadocio that they could destroy Israel in a matter of minutes. The Iranians have also stepped up their presence in Yemen and in Syria, and their financial and military backing of both Hamas and Hezbollah continues. The Iranians have let the world know that they desire to be the "king makers" in the Middle East. What should be done to begin to curtail this rogue nation who will soon have access to a nuclear weapon? Should the Trump Administration reinstate financial sanctions against Iran? Should steps be taken to refreeze Iranian assets? What steps should the United States take to assure Israel of our guarantee of their security? How I would love to eaves-drop on that conversation in the White House today.
A second subject will be the continued building of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, known to us as the West Bank. The question remains as to whom does this area belong? If you remember your modern-day history of the Middle East, you know that what the Jordanians called the West Bank was captured from the Jordanians in the Six Days War of June 1967. (This June will make the 50th anniversary of the liberation and unification of Jerusalem as Israel's capitol city). Furthermore, the Israeli army defended that area when the nation was again attacked in the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Israel claims that territory as the right of conquest. The Palestinians, under the tutelage of the Jordanians, claim that Israel merely occupies land that rightfully belongs to them. And thus the debate has been waged since 1973. And so, Israel has built dozens of new communities in Judea and Samaria and also in East Jerusalem. If you remember this past December the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution, over the abstention of the United States, that declared such settlement communities to be a violation of United Nations past resolutions and to be illegal, and that Israel must walk away from the West Bank to the agreed upon pre-1967 lines. Israel's response was to continue building settlements. Although President Trump has not been crystal clear in how he viewed those Israeli settlements, I am confident that that discussion will take place today in the White House. It is important for both nations that there be clarity in this issue.
A final topic that, in all likelihood will be discussed, is of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Talks have been started and stopped dozens of times over the past years; most times the stoppage has been the result of the Palestinians desiring a "little bit more" from the Israelis. Here is the $64 million question: Can there be an effective two-state solution? Would an independent Palestinian State really remain at peace with Israel, or would the situation in Gaza - which Israel disengaged from in 1995 - become a reality on Israel's eastern border? Could it be possible for Israel to be a united Jewish-Arab state and still remain a recognized Jewish State? (That might be difficult as the Arabs would suddenly become the majority population). President Trump has indicated that he would like to negotiate a peace settlement of some kind. Perhaps a businessman, who is used to making deals, will have more success than politicians.
Friends, we know that the Bible declares there will be a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian question. In fact, there are two solutions, one following upon the other. The first solution is that of the Antichrist who, according to Daniel 9:27, will enter into a covenant with Israel that will last for seven years. But, as the people of Israel will discover, the Antichrist does not have the welfare of the Jewish people in mind, only his international ambitions. At the end of the seven years, the second solution will be presented. This is recorded for us Zechariah 14. Jesus Christ will return to Jerusalem to establish His throne and to reign over the world from there. Only then will the people of Israel know true peace. What a glorious day that will be!
Before I leave the subject of Israel today, I want to share some exciting news. Another Dead Sea Scrolls Cave has been located. This is number 12. The cave had been looted - how long in the past no one knows. But there was abundant evidence that scrolls had been hidden in this cave as well. The many times I have stood at Qumran and looked across that deep chasm into the mouth of Cave 4, I have often wondered how many more hidden caves contain even more scrolls. Perhaps this discovery of Cave 12 will spur others to explore even deeper.
As I have shared many times in the past, keep your eyes upon the Middle East, especially upon Jerusalem. That city is right in the center of the world, placed there in importance by God Himself. (Read Ezekiel 5:5). God is not finished with His people. Let's pray that our President and his team will understand the value of standing with Israel. There are times when one can and should be critical of some of Israel's policies, but we can never walk away from Israel.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment