Friday 24 April, 2009

Middle East

But Israeli peace will come in two stages…

By Charles Gardner

The emphasis on alleged injustices perpetrated by Israel – highlighted by this week’s UN-sponsored anti-racism conference in Geneva – comes at a time of ongoing pressure, both from the European Union and the new American administration, for a so-called ‘Two-State Solution’ in which a Palestinian state would exist side by side with Israel.

But the question has to be asked as to why it is top of the agenda when there are so many other pressing international issues. For example, the terrorist conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq, or the prospect of Iran becoming a world nuclear threat. And what about the starving millions in Africa, especially in beleaguered Zimbabwe, or even the dire economic crisis that affects us all? And there is even ‘climate change’, which so many consider the ultimate potential disaster.

What is so urgent about carving up more land that was rightfully and legally set up by a United Nations vote in the first place?

Whatever it is, keeping it at the top of the agenda depends upon ongoing sympathy for the cause of the Palestinians, and so the anti-Israel media keep stoking the fires with endless stories to have you believe the Jews are the bullies rather than the victims.

The Israelis have come under much fire for alleged war crimes committed during the recent Gaza conflict with the general consensus among the world’s politicians being that they used a disproportionate amount of force. But this flies in the face of the truth, which is that rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza for years (since 2002), terrorising and traumatising its citizens in the process.

If Israel was guilty of acting disproportionately, it was that for years it did nothing at all – in the interests of living at peace with its neighbours and not provoking further violence. It was disproportionate patience if anything, waiting an incredible length of time before deciding to defend its homes.

Not only that, but it also compromised its military edge by warning Hamas where they were going to hit, urging families to vacate targets. Had Hamas afforded innocent Israelis the same decency? Of course not… How disproportionate!

Meanwhile the EU has threatened Israel with “dire consequences” if it does not agree to the ‘two-state solution’. And America is also pushing for it, though this isn’t just President Obama’s initiative as George Bush had been hoping to get agreement on this before he left office.

But the new Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu is not likely to bow easily to such pressure. In fact their controversial new Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has told members of his party that the peace talks with the Palestinians have reached a ‘dead-end’. At his swearing-in, Lieberman said Israel was not bound by understandings made at last year’s Annapolis conference, to which President Obama responded by saying the U.S. expects Israel to live up to commitments made there.

Leaders like Mr Netanyahu are profoundly aware of their country’s ancient heritage under God; that they are living in the ‘Promised Land’ which is rightfully theirs by divine decree as well as by international agreement in the 20th century.

Ancient prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel predicted a re-gathering of the Jews after they had been scattered among the nations – neither event having yet taken place. Sure enough, after Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD, the Jews were dispersed throughout the nations, as predicted. And the word of the prophet stood the test of time through the centuries, with Ezekiel writing: “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’

And this is exactly what has happened with Israel becoming a nation once again in 1948 – in fact three million Jews have returned to the land from more than 100 countries since then. And they have come from the north, south, east and west, just as Isaiah foretold.

So why are they being pressured to give up what is rightfully theirs – both in the providence of God and by international agreement?

And will it make a jot of difference if they do? Will there be peace in the Middle East? Not likely because, as Israel’s politicians argue, it will only serve to provide a launching pad for terrorism right on the doorstep of their capital and, in any case, Hamas (not to mention Iran) have no intention of living at peace with Israel as neighbours. They don’t believe they have a right to any of the land they currently occupy in the first place. And as for Iran, they have made it plain that they wish Israel “wiped off the map”.

A two-state solution, therefore, is no solution. How about looking to God’s solution, clearly outlined in the Bible with a perfect plan for every individual and nation?

As St Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Here (in receiving the Spirit of Christ) there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”

Actually, the ancient predictions of the prophets have a double application in that Israel’s restoration is seen as a ‘two-stage solution’, so to speak. In other words, it would be both physical and spiritual. For the seers foretold that, sometime after they were re-gathered to the Promised Land, the Jews as a whole would at last recognise their Messiah – “the one whom they had pierced” (Zechariah) – at which point they foresaw a mass return to the God of their fathers. (Such a move is already gathering pace – see our Special Report on the story of Michael Howard’s son). And the Second Coming of Christ, the Prince of Peace, would finally end centuries of conflict. Come, Lord Jesus!

Picture: Jerusalem (courtesy stock.xchng)