Disaster awaits if we don’t stand with the Jewish nation.

The moral backbone of the UK Government is once more being tested – this time on the crucial issue of whether or not we will stand with Israel in her time of need.

Stalked by terror and threats on every side, the Jewish state is potentially in as great a peril now as its people were under the Nazis, with an estimated 120,000 missiles pointed at Israeli cities by the Iran-sponsored, Lebanese-based terror group Hezbollah.¹

And supporters of this vile enemy of democracy have been allowed to march through the streets of London waving an intimidating flag featuring an assault rifle, and calling for the destruction of Israel!

De Ja Vu in Parliament

In the wake of a petition signed by over 10,000 people calling upon the UK Government to ban Hezbollah which Home Secretary Amber Rudd has promised to consider, a House of Commons debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was called on Wednesday.

It was perhaps aptly summed up by the sense of de ja vu expressed by one participant as ‘two-state solution’ mantra once more echoed through the chamber.

But Israel clearly still has friends in the UK who understand their predicament. Conservative member John Howell made the point that no lasting peace was possible if Palestinians continue to be indoctrinated to hate Jews and Scottish Conservative Ross Thomson called for a full ban on Hezbollah, adding that Israel was “truly a beacon of democracy in a troubled region”.

Israel clearly still has friends in the UK who understand their predicament.

Fellow Conservative Theresa Villiers added that glorifying terrorists was part of the problem, mentioning how 25 Palestinian schools had been named after them, and quoting PA leader Mahmoud Abbas as saying, “We welcome every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem.”

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt commended Labour’s new MP for Peterborough, Fiona Onasanya, for blaming man’s frailties rather than religion for causing these problems after she had referred to the UK Parliament’s motto, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain” (Ps 127:1) – inscribed into the stone floor of the central lobby and written in Latin.

Unfortunately, the general misunderstanding of Israel being the ‘occupying power’ skews the narrative in favour of the Palestinians, whereas in truth the Jews are entitled to every square inch of Judea and Samaria – and much more – according to the terms of the international treaty signed at San Remo in Italy in 1920.²

Need to Ban Hezbollah

The aforesaid petition, launched by Christians United for Israel (CUFI), follows the 18 June Al-Quds march through central London during which anti-Israel protestors carried Hezbollah flags.

The terror organisation is banned throughout the world – including by the Arab League – but only its military wing is proscribed in the UK. This provided the legal loophole allowing marchers to show their support for its political wing. Yet, by its own admission, Hezbollah does not differentiate between its political and military wings.

The general misunderstanding of Israel being the ‘occupying power’ skews the narrative in favour of the Palestinians.

“If Britain is to genuinely say ‘no to terror’ then all terrorist organizations must be banned without compromise,” says CUFI UK executive director Des Starritt. “Following the Arab League and the United States in proscribing Hezbollah is one simple step that the UK Government can take in ensuring that extremism will not be tolerated in this country.”

Indeed, what is so complicated about that?

The organisation shamelessly calls for the destruction of Israel and now has “more missiles below ground in Lebanon than the European NATO allies have above ground,” according to Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.³ “Hezbollah has placed these positions next to schools and other public institutions, putting innocent civilians in great danger,” he said.

In fact, Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot says “every third or fourth house” of southern Lebanon’s civilian population is being used as a human shield for terror activities.⁴

Meanwhile mortar shells have been fired across the Israeli border from the Tehran-backed Syrian army, increasing the prospect of global conflict, possibly also involving Russia.⁵ And Iran’s long-held aim of wiping Israel off the map was graphically demonstrated at the UN where a photo was shared showing their use of a Jewish ‘Star of David’ symbol as a target for a ballistic missile test.⁶

Our Fates Are Intertwined

It’s time our politicians faced up to the fact that the terror tactics we have recently witnessed in Manchester and London were first used on the streets of Israel. Now even Muslim London Mayor Sadiq Khan has reportedly sought help from Israel on security matters.⁷

The Bible says very clearly that if you bless the seed of Abraham, you will be blessed; but that cursing will bring judgment (Gen 12:3). In the days leading up to the Balfour Declaration of 1917, Britain ruled the waves and it was said that the sun never set on our empire. But in the last 100 years, during which we have repeatedly betrayed Israel, we have not only lost our empire, but have fallen into decadence and confusion.

Surely we are not suggesting that Israel deserves terror, but we don’t?

The terror tactics we have recently witnessed in Manchester and London were first used on the streets of Israel.

Speaking of the future glory of Zion, the Prophet Isaiah wrote: “For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined” (Isa 60:12).

And it’s also worth noting that former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has urged support for Israel on the basis that “if it goes down, we all go down”.

He argues that the Jewish state is at the cutting edge in the battle between militant Islam and the West and, in a Times article, concludes: “Israel is a fundamental part of the West which is what it is thanks to its Judeo-Christian roots. If the Jewish element of those roots is upturned and Israel lost, then we are lost too. Whether we like it or not our fate is inextricably intertwined.”⁸

Notes

1 IDF: Hezbollah has forces in ‘every 3rd or 4th house’ in Lebanon. World Israel News, 22 June 2017.

2 See elsewhere on this site for details.

3 See note 1.

4 Ibid.

5 Avni, B. Why Iran and Israel may be on the verge of conflict – in Syria. New York Post, 27 June 2017.

6 Halon, E. The target for Iran’s recent missile test? A Star of David. Jerusalem Post, 28 June 2017.

7 E.g. See here and here.

8 Aznar, JM. Support Israel: if it goes down, we all go down. The Times, 17 June 2010.

Arab ACE card trumps anti-Israel campaign.

As genocide is being committed against Christians, Yazidis and even ‘dissident’ Muslims across the Arab world, the international finger of criticism continues to point at Israel.

The latest example is a UN report urging swift action to oppose and end Israeli “apartheid”.¹

Thankfully, my Christian Friends of Israel colleague David Soakell has produced an ‘ace’ card exposing all this nonsense with a timely series of testimonies from Arabs which I have aptly titled Apartheid Claims Exposed (ACE).²

He tells us that Israeli Arabs – both Christian and Muslim – are risking disapproval from their own communities by volunteering for the Israeli Defence Forces in increasing numbers, disproving the lie that Israel is a racist, apartheid state (non-Jews are not obligated to serve in the IDF).

Powerful Testimonies

One Muslim female soldier said: “I wanted to enlist because it is my duty to serve and protect my country.” And she is even allowed weekly visits to her family during the Ramadan fast, so there is no difficulty with her practising her religion in the Jewish state.

Ibrahim Bari, an African Muslim refugee, went public with his testimony, saying: “In the army, I made friends for life [and] would do everything to defend Israel.”

Elinor Joseph, an Arab Christian serving in the IDF, says: “This is my country. When I see the [Israeli] flag waving in the wind I get excited.”

Another Arab-Israeli soldier, Monaliza Abdo, adds: “I came to serve my country and my home.”

And Major Ala Wahib, the highest-ranking Muslim in the IDF, asks: “Is Israel inherently racist – an apartheid state? Well, do you think that such a country would tolerate a person like myself getting to the position I am today? Someone who has not only fought alongside Jewish soldiers, but now trains them too? ...I do not serve in the army to kill people – I serve in it to save people. When Hamas fires rockets, or Fatah encourages stabbings, we are here to protect the lives of all Israeli citizens, Jewish and non-Jewish.”

Israeli Arabs – Christian and Muslim – are risking disapproval from their own communities by volunteering for the IDF in increasing numbers.

Protection and Rights

Adam Ram has also decided to “break the silence” by standing against the slander and constant defamation of Israeli soldiers. A Bedouin serving as a combat soldier in Hebron, a particularly tense area, he says: “The war is against all Israelis, regardless of who you are, because when a terrorist leaves his home with a knife, planning on murdering a soldier or a civilian, he does not care if his victim is a Jew, a Muslim or a Christian…As long as you hold a blue Israeli ID card, you are a fair target.”

Furthermore, Palestinians he has met on the streets see them as their protector, preferring them to the failure that is the Palestinian Authority which, incidentally, contributes just 10% of the cost of medical care for Palestinians treated in Israel – the rest is paid by the Israeli taxpayer.³

“As opposed to Daesh and other Islamic regimes, Israel is democratic and extends rights even to those who are not citizens of the state,” Adam adds.

Contrast this with the blatant discrimination against non-Muslims in much of the surrounding Arab world, where even Muslim women do not share the rights of their menfolk.

Meanwhile a group of North African journalists from Muslim Arab countries, visiting the Jewish state as guests of the Foreign Ministry, have described their first impressions of Israel as “appearing Western and free” and as “an opportunity to see the real Israel without the media acting as a middle man”.⁴

Disproportionate Criticism

Even if all this criticism of Israel was justified, it is out of all proportion to the reality that exists in the region. The tiny Jewish state has had to suffer wars and rumours of wars on a constant basis since she emerged once more onto the world stage as a new nation in 1948.

The world, particularly in the shape of the United Nations, is largely silent as terror stalks the streets of Jerusalem but at the same time condemns the Jews for allegedly stealing land not their own.

Even if all this criticism of Israel was justified, it is out of all proportion to the reality that exists in the region.

The sabre-rattling of Israel’s enemies involves guns, knives, rockets, missiles and even the threat of nuclear weapons. But more than anything it is a battle for truth in the midst of ferocious spiritual warfare which demands the engagement (in prayer and other ways) of all who love the truth, perfectly revealed in our Messiah Yeshua. And we must stand up for Israel against such shocking bias that is so transparent it demands a rewriting of history.

Anti-Semitism Continues

Accusing Israel of being an ‘apartheid’ state is just the latest in a long line of anti-Semitic attempts to invoke the wrath of a world effectively rebelling against the God of Israel, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah.

First there was identity theft, as Yasser Arafat invented a ‘Palestinian’ nation where Jews were once known as Palestinians. Then the Jews were accused of stealing ‘Palestinian’ land they had inhabited for thousands of years, which God himself had given them according to the Scriptures, and to which they even acquired an international legal right through a treaty signed at San Remo on the Italian Riviera in 1920.

And now, in raising their protests during the recent Israel Apartheid Week, students have abandoned their inquiring minds in pursuit of a vendetta of lies and propaganda against the only democracy in the Middle East.

Open their eyes, dear Lord!

Notes

1 Produced by the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, according to World Israel News, 15 March 2017.
2 CFI’s Watching over Zion newsletter, 9 March 2017.
3 Ibid.
4 United with Israel, 16 March 2017

No peace in Paris: Middle East conference more likely to be a powder keg.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a problem that is going to disappear with a wave of a magic wand from the world's politicians. It's an age-old dilemma that has spiritual roots and a spiritual solution.

Representatives of 70 nations will descend on Paris on Sunday for a global conference to promote a "two-state solution" as the way to lasting peace in the Middle East. It's a 'peace' they plan to impose on Israel, who will not even be there!

And the fear among Jews is that whatever is agreed in France will be used as the basis for a UN Security Council resolution that would permanently divide Israel and create an Islamic Palestinian state.

Denying Reality

But the nations are merely engaging in another distraction – a denial of reality – that does not begin to address the issue. Just three weeks ago the UN passed a resolution declaring that Israel is illegally 'occupying' much of the land to which it is historically, and biblically, entitled – including the Temple Mount, Western Wall and the Old City itself (every inch of east Jerusalem, in fact), which have been part of Judaism for thousands of years. And Britain, to its shame, voted for this!

In re-writing history and making a mockery of justice and fairness, the United Nations has become a sick joke as it brazenly continues to back the Palestinian narrative that would drive Israel into the sea. Their spokesmen have been quoted over and over again saying that they only want such a state as a launch pad for ridding the region of Jews altogether.¹

The nations are merely engaging in another distraction - a denial of reality.

Roots in Anti-Semitism

The response to the truck-ramming attack in Jerusalem which killed four Israeli Defence Force soldiers² says it all. Arab Palestinians took to the streets and social media to celebrate and, in Gaza, the ruling Hamas terrorist group praised the attack as a "natural response to the Israeli occupier's crimes". People in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority-controlled 'West Bank' were seen festively handing out sweets to mark the occasion.

According to the PA, the murder of Israeli youths is sanctioned by Islam! The official PA daily said the killer "died as a Shahid" (that is, a martyr for Allah). And the Authority will now reward the terrorist's wife with a lifetime monthly allowance of £627 ($760 or 2,900 shekels). And this in a territory led by Mahmoud Abbas – a so-called 'moderate'.

No, the problem is not the settlements, or Jewish communities, built on disputed land claimed by the Palestinians. The root of this enduring conflict is anti-Semitism, currently in the shape of Islamic fundamentalism. Actually, Israel is entitled under international law to Judea and Samaria (currently known as the West Bank), courtesy of the San Remo Conference of 1922 in the aftermath of World War I.

In fact, it was around this time that a 'two-state solution' was first tried when, with the stroke of a pen, the British Government handed over a major portion of the territory originally earmarked for Israel to the Arabs – the country now known as Jordan. So why is there a need for further division?

The root of this enduring conflict is anti-Semitism, currently in the shape of Islamic fundamentalism.

The Trump Card...

The Paris Conference, like the recent UN resolution, could well make things worse for Israel and render peace even less likely by encouraging terror groups to believe they have the backing of world powers.

This would be a profound tragedy, however, especially for the nations involved. There will undoubtedly be further battles for Israel, but in the end they hold the 'trump' card – and I am not referring to the incoming US President.

Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, will return to his beloved Land – and the nations who scattered his people and divided up his Land will be put on trial. But the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem will be restored (see Joel 3:1f).

Jesus will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and will be king over the whole earth (Zech 14:1-9).

Come, Lord Jesus!

Notes

1 For this and other information in this article, I am indebted to David Soakell's 12 January 2017 newsletter, Watching Over Zion, produced weekly for Christian Friends of Israel (CFI), as well as to official PA TV, 8 January 2017.

2 This included three young women aged 20-22, one of whom, Yael Yekutiel, was a Facebook friend of my CFI colleague David Soakell, who described the 20-year-old officer as "full of light and life" who "seemed to love everyone and everyone loved her." David himself narrowly missed being a victim of a suicide bomb back in 2002.

2016 was a turbulent and difficult year by most accounts. How can believers position themselves wisely as we move into 2017?

The New Year 2017 started very much as the old year 2016 ended, with the battle for Brexit growing in intensity. The resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers shook the Whitehall political establishment – or so it was reported. But did he jump or was he pushed? Clearly Sir Ivan could not have led Britain's negotiations to leave the EU successfully when he had a clear preference to remain within the European Union.

Sir Tim Barrow, the new British ambassador to the EU. See Photo Credits.In biblical terms, the principle that can be applied to such negotiations was clearly stated by Jesus, "Whoever is not with me is against me" (Matt 12:30). In this instant, it would certainly not have been in Britain's interest to have negotiations led by a man whose heart was not in the task of achieving a successful outcome.

Theresa May moved swiftly to replace him with another career civil servant who has publicly committed himself to Brexit. Sir Tim Barrow was British Ambassador to Russia from 2011 to 2015 and while in Moscow he established his reputation as a keen negotiator who will give support and advice to our politicians in the coming months of talks in Brussels.

Greater Problems to Come

The Brexit battle is by no means over and may be expected to grow even more intense as the date for triggering Article 50 approaches. But there are much greater problems on the horizon for the coming year, with the turmoil in the Middle East increasing by the day and the threat of terrorism right across Europe a constant anxiety.

The good news is that the threat of terrorist attacks in Europe initiated by ISIS may be diminishing now that the border between Syria and Turkey has been closed, due to Turkey's reaction to ongoing ISIS' atrocities against soft civilian targets (such as the New Year attack upon a nightclub in Istanbul).

The Brexit battle is by no means over and may grow more intense as the date for triggering Article 50 approaches.

These attacks have hardened Turkish public opinion and strengthened the military determination to close the long border with Syria. The effect of this is to deny ISIS direct access to the West and reduce its capacity to recruit and to infiltrate its fighters into Europe. But European nations must face the threat of terrorism for some while yet, as unknown numbers of terrorists may have already come in through flows of refugees, in addition to 'home-grown' militants radicalised on European soil.

Trump Incoming

The great unknown in all this, of course, is what the Trump Administration will do in the Middle East. The policy of the Obama Administration has been disastrous. They clearly backed the wrong side in arming the so-called 'moderate' Muslim rebels in the Syrian civil war. This allowed Russia to intervene on behalf of President Assad which has turned the war in his favour. But a negotiated peace is not in sight. The rebels will never agree to Assad remaining in power and he will never agree to their demands.

A further complication is the involvement of the Kurds, who have proved to be a useful ally in fighting ISIS in Syria, but they will never be acceptable in Arab areas due to centuries-old hostility.

Obama's policy has been primarily aimed at destroying ISIS. This led to US acceptance of Russian military intervention and the reversal of its opposition to Assad who is backed by Iran – an implacable enemy of the West whose stated aim is the destruction of Israel.

Will Trump continue this policy, particularly in view of his friendly attitude towards Putin? But Trump has also declared unswerving support for Israel. If he carries through his declared aim of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv up to Jerusalem, 'the eternal capital of Israel', this could well cause the whole Israeli-Palestinian dispute to explode.

If Trump carries through his declared aim to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the whole Israeli-Palestinian dispute could explode.

UN Resolution 2334US Secretary of State John Kerry, who delivered a blistering speech against Israel in the aftermath of the recent UN vote.

The vote last month in the United Nations Security Council condemning Israel's policy of settlements in disputed territory has highlighted the Arab-Israeli conflict. Obama's refusal to exercise the USA's veto allowed the almost unanimous vote against Israel (see the article by Charles Gardner elsewhere in this issue). The USA's decision was defended in a critical speech by John Kerry a few days later.

Sadly, Britain also voted in condemnation of Israel, once again breaking all the promises we made in the 1920s when we agreed that the whole land from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea would be a Jewish homeland. Winston Churchill was the Colonial Secretary at the time and he stated explicitly that the Arab part of Palestine would be East of the River Jordan in what is now known as 'Jordan' and the west would be Israel. This was officially and formally approved by the League of Nations on 22 July 1921 – the original 'two-state solution'!

There were only 600,000 Arabs living east of the Jordan at that time and they would be peacefully absorbed into Israel, as they are today in northern Israeli towns such as Nazareth where they have Israeli citizenship and vote for Arab MPs in the Israeli Parliament. Churchill stated on 30 March 1921:

It is manifestly right that the scattered Jews should have a national centre and a national home to be reunited, and where else but in Palestine with which for 3,000 years they have been intimately and profoundly associated? We think it will be good for the world, good for the Jews, good for the British Empire, but also good for the Arabs who dwell in Palestine and we intend it to be so; they shall share in the benefits and progress of Zionism.¹

Sadly, Britain also voted in condemnation of Israel in the UN vote at the end of December.

Zechariah 12 on the Horizon?

If Donald Trump carries out his promises to Israel and the USA becomes the first nation to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel established by King David some 3,000 years ago, and the vast injustice that has denied Jews the right to their own land for the past 2,000 years – it may embolden Israel to annex the whole land in accordance with the League of Nations' declaration.

This would no doubt bring strong protests from the Arab nations with the support of all the anti-Semitic nations of the West. This would look very much like the kind of scenario envisaged in Zechariah 12, when all the nations gather against Israel. Jesus himself warned that "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains" (Matt 24:7-8). Jesus also said that "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24). Are we approaching that time?

The Prayers of Believers Are Vital

Jesus told his disciples "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7) but he also told them to watch and pray - and in particular to discern the signs of the times, so that no-one is caught by surprise.

Despite this warning, 2017 is likely to bring many surprises, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe, as the great shaking of the nations spreads across the face of the earth (in particular opening up cracks in the European Union). But Britain is likely to find the exit from the EU to be easier than expected and, provided the right decisions are made by our politicians, we may expect to see God's blessing upon the nation and the economy faring better than expected.

Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray – and to discern the signs of the times.

Much is dependent upon the prayers of believers – genuine, heartfelt, persistent intercession is the only thing that will truly protect and change the nation in the turbulent days that lie ahead. Will Christians study the word of God and understand the times, so that they know how to pray? And will they commit their time to faithful prayer? The future of the nation depends upon our response.

References

1 Quoted in Fromkin, D, A Peace to End All Peace. Phoenix Press, London, 2003, p519.

Echoes of 1930s as May government betrays Israel.

A UNESCO resolution was passed yesterday denying the Jewish claim to Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

The resolution, which passed with 24 votes in favour versus 6 against (with 26 abstentions), re-classifies Temple Mount in exclusively Muslim terms and fails to acknowledge its significance to Jews.

Whilst it acknowledges Jerusalem as significant to three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), the section on Temple Mount omits any reference to Judaism or Christianity and uses only Arabic place-names,¹ effectively re-writing several thousand years of history.

The resolution on 'Occupied Palestine' is in its second draft form (the first draft was voted on in April, with a similar result). Having now passed through the UNESCO committee stage, it will go to the Executive Board for approval next week. Unsurprisingly, it was tabled by several Arab states, including Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan, no doubt acting on behalf of Hamas. Interestingly, several heavyweight nations with supposedly positive relations with Israel also voted for the resolution, including Russia and China.

International Condemnation

The resolution's blatant defiance of the historical and archaeological record and its clear anti-Israel (many have already said anti-Semitic) bias has caused quite a stir, both in Israel and internationally. This morning Israel froze all co-operation with UNESCO until further notice, with Education Minister Naftali Bennett arguing that the vote will only encourage further terror attacks on Jews.²

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also criticised the resolution, describing UNESCO as an "absurd theater" and saying "To say that Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall is like saying that China has no connection to the Great Wall of China and that Egypt has no connection to the Pyramids".³ Israeli President Reuven Rivlin responded to the result: "No forum or body in the world can say that there is no connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem. A body that does so is simply humiliating itself."⁴

The Western Wall of Jerusalem remains one of the most hotly contested spaces in the world.Further afield, Bulgarian Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova has signalled her clear disapproval of the motion, saying that it threatens to undermine the organisation's activities,⁵ which are supposedly to work for global peace and security. Criticism has also come at UNESCO from lawmakers at all points on the political spectrum, as well as pro-Israel lobbying groups worldwide.

Anti-Semitic Agendas

In broader context, the resolution represents the next stage in the Arab bid to delegitimise Israel and erase her claim on the Land, from the top down, through a concerted effort within the UN. The text of the resolution repeatedly refers to Israel as 'the occupying Power' and nearly exhausts the thesaurus with its cries for Israel to relinquish her presence and authority in the West Bank: it 'deplores', 'condemns', 'decries', 'disapproves of' and 'deeply regrets' Israel's authority over the contested areas, condemning "continuous Israeli aggressions" and "provocative abuses", with no mention whatsoever of Palestinian terror activity.⁶

Linguistically, it builds on the vote in 2010 to refer to various holy Jewish sites in both Muslim and Hebrew terms (with the Muslim term coming first, of course), e.g. 'al-Haram al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs' and 'Bilal bin Rabah Mosque/Rachel's Tomb' ,⁷ this time removing Hebrew terminology altogether.

The resolution on 'Occuped Palestine' is more than just a failure to acknowledge the Jewish claim on Temple Mount – it is a deliberate erasure of it, a bald-faced attempt to rewrite history in favour of contemporary Islamic agendas. It is the latest in a string of distorted, anti-Semitic judgments to emerge from the UN, adding to the international effort to demonise Israel's presence in the West Bank and her claim on Jerusalem.⁸

The resolution is the UN's latest bald-faced attempt to rewrite history against Israel and in favour of Islam.

Dangerous Games

But, thankfully, it is not all bad news. Aside from Russia, no European state voted for the resolution this time around, thanks to recent Israeli diplomatic efforts to improve relations with other Western countries. Israel's ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, has commented that the vote shows a loss of key Palestinian support ground in Europe (particularly significant is France's shift from leading the anti-Israel vote to abstention), compared to the vote on the resolution's first draft, in April of this year.⁹ It's not much, but it's a start – we are not yet at the stage of global war on Israel, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38.

God clearly states in Scripture that "I will bless those who bless [Israel], and whoever curses [Israel] I will curse". This promise has never been rescinded – it is as true today for modern individuals and nations as it was for ancient empires.

As Hatikvah's excellent documentary 'Abraham's Vision'¹⁰ helpfully unpacks, the Hebrew words for 'curse' differ in this verse. God promises to 'ârar' [bitterly curse] those who 'qâlal' [make light of, despise, treat with contempt] Israel. This includes the least form of mockery or denial.

Those who voted for the resolution are treading on dangerous ground, for "it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31). Thankfully, Britain voted against it!¹¹ But we should not be rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of the Arab nations eventually getting their just desserts – we should be praying that God brings them into a full knowledge of the truth, about him and his people – and we should be standing up for this truth ourselves.

Thanks to Israeli diplomatic efforts, no European state voted for the resolution.

The Way to True Peace

UNESCO's mission is to build peace "in the minds of men and women". As its behaviour stands in such stark contrast to this goal, we must learn that we cannot rely on international institutions of 'peace' and 'justice' to promote the truth worldwide. Only those whose minds are being renewed by The Truth himself - Jesus Messiah, who makes "one new man" out of Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:15), dissolving centuries of enmity - can show the world the pathway to true peace. And we don't have to be international diplomats or UN officials to do that – it starts where we are, with those immediately around us, today.

References

1 The Western Wall is mentioned only twice in the whole document, both times in quotation marks and after the Arabic name Al-Buraq, suggesting lesser legitimacy. The phrase 'Temple Mount' is missing from the entire document, replaced 15 times with the Islamic name Al-Ḥaram Al-Sharif.

2 Hoffman, G. Bennett suspends Israeli cooperation with UNESCO after Temple Mount vote. Jerusalem Post, 14 October 2016.

3 Ravid, B and Khouri, J. UNESCO backs motion nullifying Jewish ties to Temple Mount. Haaretz, 13 October 2016.

4 Ibid.

5 Sharon, I and Arhen, R. UNESCO chief pans her member states on anti-Israel Jerusalem resolution. Times of Israel, 14 October 2016.

6 The full text of the resolution can be read here.

7 See Wikipedia's page on UNESCO.

8 Since 2013, Israel has been condemned in 45 resolutions from the UN Human Rights Council (nearly half of all the country-specific resolutions it has ever passed). See here.

9 Ahren, R. Outrageous as it may be, UNESCO's Jerusalem vote has a silver lining. Times of Israel, 14 October 2016.

10 Previously published as 'Blessing, Curse or Coincidence? Vol 1', see here.

11 Other countries voting against were Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the United States.

Despite today's handshake between Abbas and Netanyahu, the Palestinians continue to make land claims that defy international law.

Amidst the ongoing conflict over land allegedly occupied by Israel, what is the truth and why is there so much confusion? The Bible is quite clear about it: the Jews were promised this land (significantly more than they presently occupy) thousands of years ago (Gen 17:8). But even on a political level, Israel has every right to this much fought-over real estate. It's just that politicians have agendas, along with short memories.

The Two-State 'Solution'

PA president Mahmoud Abbas, at the United Nations, has called for a Palestinian state based on the borders proposed in the 1947 UN Partition Plan¹ – borders the Arabs rejected outright at the time. So how likely is it to satisfy them now? Their real problem – then and now – is the existence of a Jewish state.

The 1947 UN plan recommended the land being divided to create independent Jewish and Arab states existing alongside one another. Even this was a betrayal of Jewish aspirations, for they had originally (through the 1920 Treaty of San Remo, which has never been superseded) been promised a much larger area including the land now known as Jordan.

The real problem the Palestinians have is not borders - but the very existence of a Jewish state.

But in a compromise designed to appease the wrath of dissenting Arabs, Britain imposed a 'two-state solution' by granting the region east of the Jordan River to the Arabs. It duly became known as Jordan. But memories are short, and there was soon talk of a further 'two-state solution'.

Nevertheless, the Jews accepted the UN offer despite the fact that it represented only a fraction of the territory originally promised them. Yet the Arabs rejected it, and are still seen by many as the victims.

Core Obstacles to Peace

Now Abbas calls on the UN to declare 2017 "the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people" [emphasis added]². But since when did it belong to the Palestinians, who did not exist as a people in 1947? In fact, Jews from the region were more likely to be known as Palestinians then.

Following the War of Independence in 1948, Jordan (not the PA) illegally took control of Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. But when threatened with annihilation by surrounding Arab countries in 1967, Israel won an astounding victory in just six days and duly re-captured this disputed territory, which was certainly never 'Palestinian'. Now Abbas is claiming that Jewish settlements in these territories are an obstacle to peace.³

But as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu put it, the conflict is not about settlements. "If the Arabs had said yes to a Jewish state in 1947, there would be no war, no refugees, no conflict. And when they finally say yes to a Jewish state, we'll be able to end this conflict once and for all."⁴ Or as he told the UN, the core of the conflict is the "persistent Palestinian refusal to recognize the Jewish state within any boundary"⁵ [emphasis added].

As to the PA's demand that a Palestinian state be free of Jews, Mr Netanyahu described that as "ethnic cleansing", adding that "the concept of ethnic cleansing for peace is absurd".⁶

Even US President Barak Obama has got himself in a muddle over this, referring to Israel's persistence in occupying "Palestinian land", which is patently not the case, even in international law.⁷

Netanyahu has described the PA's demand that a Palestinian state be free of Jews as "ethnic cleansing".

Taking on Western Bias

Meanwhile the Israeli leader invited his PA counterpart to address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and told him: "You have a choice to make. You can continue to stoke hatred, as you did today [at the UN], or you can confront hatred and work with me today."⁸ However, Bibi was uncharacteristically upbeat about the future. Citing growing relationships with countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and even among Arab nations, he predicted that delegates would soon get calls from their leaders with a short message: "The war against Israel at the UN has ended."⁹

But he was scathing about the General Assembly bias displayed last year when they passed 20 resolutions against his democratic state versus just three for the rest of the world where human rights violations abound.¹⁰

Britain was also taken to task by the PA president in his address at the UN for issuing the so-called Balfour Declaration in 1917, which promised to do all it could to create a homeland in Palestine (as the region was then known) for the Jewish people.¹¹ In fact, Abbas has threatened to sue Britain over this declaration, which he claimed had reaped catastrophe, misery and injustice for his people.

But Mr Netanyahu countered that if he went ahead with such an action, "he should also sue Cyrus the Great for letting the Jews come back to Israel to rebuild the Temple, and organize a class action suit against Abraham for buying a parcel of land in Hebron".¹²

Lessons from Ruth

We must pray for greater understanding – amongst politicians, writers and clergy – of the principle that blessing the Jews is the key to individual and national prosperity (Gen 12:3). Palestinians and other enemies of Israel would save their beleaguered peoples so much heartache, poverty and strife if only they would buy into this principle – so well understood and practised by the biblical Ruth.

As a Moabite, Ruth was seen as a 'foreigner', yet she blessed her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi in staying by her side for her return to Judah (not Palestine) after losing her husband and sons. As Boaz put it, she had left her father, mother and homeland to come and live with a people she did not know. And his prayer for her was: "May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge" (Ruth 1:11f).

Blessing the Jews is the key to individual and national prosperity.

As with Ruth, who came from present-day Jordan, most Palestinian leaders are also foreigners from various Arab lands in the region (for example, PLO founder Yasser Arafat was Egyptian). The idea of Palestinian nationality is a political invention of recent times to provide an excuse for driving out the Jews. But we praise God for the growing number of Arabs and Palestinians who are being reconciled with their Jewish brothers through the atoning death of Jesus on a cross just outside Jerusalem.

Pray that eyes will continue to be opened to the wondrous truth expounded by Paul in his letter to the Gentile Ephesians, reminding them that they were once "separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility..." (Eph 2:12-14).

References

1. Posselt, I. Abbas calls for Palestinian state based on 1947 borders. Bridges for Peace, 23 September 2016.
2. United with Israel, 23 September 2016.
3. JNN Newsletter, Arutz-7/Jerusalem News Network, 11 September 2016.
4. United with Israel, 25 September 2016.
5. United with Israel, 23 September 2016.
6. See note 3.
7. Obama told the UN: "Surely, Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel, but Israel recognizes that it cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land." Arutz-7/JNN Newsletter, 27 September 2016.
8. See note 1.
9. Jerusalem Post/JNN Newsletter, 24 September 2016.
10. JNN Newsletter Newsletter, 24 September 2016.
11. See note 1.
12. See note 9.

Prophecy given by David Noakes at the Intercessors for Israel Conference, Jerusalem, January 2003. It was specifically addressed to the nation of Israel and was accepted by the ministers and leaders to whom it was given in 2003. We are publishing it having tested it ourselves. However, we also encourage you to weigh it thoroughly yourself too. 

Strengthen my people in the knowledge of their God and of his Word. Bring to them the whole Counsel of God that they may not be taken by surprise or deceived in the days to come.

Do not fear Islam for this principality shall not prevail. It has thrown down the gauntlet of challenge to the God of Israel and I have accepted the challenge.

This power will be put to shame and destroyed for I have taken the battlefield. Stand with me and fight for I am with you to overcome. Islam will fall, but not at once for the cup of iniquity is not yet full to the brim. There will be a lengthy struggle and it will involve many nations.

Do not fear the conflict or the hardships. There will be shaking and upheaval and turmoil but I have warned you in advance in my Word that this will be so. In the battle set your eyes on Me and remember that this is not your lasting home. Your destination and your inheritance is in the Kingdom cut out of the Rock without human hands and in the Eternal City that has unshakeable foundations whose Builder and Maker is God.

Comfort yourselves with the knowledge of this truth and let your encouragement come from Me alone. Do not fear the wars that must yet come but rather fear the peace that will finally result. It will not be My peace but a counterfeit peace inspired by the spirit of Babylon.

Prepare my people for these days with the knowledge of my revealed truth. Teach them the whole Counsel of God and pray that they and many others will not be deceived in the time before the 'lamb of peace' is revealed in its true colours as the 'dragon of destruction'.

The strategy of the adversary is to wear down by continual attrition to the point where in the weariness of conflict that desire for rest will make your people willing to accept a false peace which will prove in its working to be the deadliest weapon of all. Your nation will desire this peace and the world will desire to impose it upon you but do not be deceived. Prepare my people to watch and pray and keep alert: strong in the knowledge of the whole revelation of my Word until I come, for only then will your nation receive true security.

About the author: David Noakes was a solicitor in London until he joined Clifford Hill’s ministry in 1984. He has been part of the Prophetic Word Ministries/Prophecy Today team since that time, although he has also exercised an independent ministry speaking at conferences both in Britain and overseas. He has visited Israel many times and until recently was chairman of Hatikvah Film Trust, working with Hugh Kitson making films about Israel. He is a well-known Bible teacher with an established ministry and remains an official advisor to Issachar Ministries (Prophecy Today UK's parent charity).