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Peace in the Middle East?The new Middle East peace process gets off to a rocky start as international pressure rises in an effort to bring peace to the region. Israeli and U.S. relationships are at their lowest level in years and the European Union is pushing to become more involved, a shift that could lead to fulfillment of critical end-time prophecies.by Rod HallIn spite of the worst rift between America and Israel in years, the long-awaited dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians, suspended since December 2008, finally gets underway in "indirect proximity talks." American Middle East envoy George Mitchell struggled to relaunch peace talks for more than a year. Hopes are that Israel and the Palestinians will find a pathway back to direct negotiations leading to a peace agreement within 24 months, which includes a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. Rocky startAmerica's deteriorating relationship with its longtime ally and the only democracy in the region was exacerbated by a bitter diplomatic feud that erupted during U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel. The Israeli government approved plans to build 1,600 new homes in a Jewish suburb located in east Jerusalem, which is an area Palestinians want for their capital. The Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "to make clear the United States considered the announcement a deeply negative signal about Israel's approach to the bilateral relationship (between U.S. and Israel) and counter to the spirit of the vice president's trip" ("Clinton Rebukes Israel Over East Jerusalem Plans, Cites Damage to Bilateral Ties," March 13, 2010). Reuters news agency revealed that "in unusually blunt language," Clinton called Israel's behavior "insulting." Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren was quoted as saying the relationship is in a "crisis of historic proportions" and at a 35-year low. "Israel's ties with the United States are in their worst crisis since 1975" ("Israeli Envoy Sees 'Historic Crisis' With U.S.: Report," March 15, 2010). The cooling and shifting U.S.-Israeli relationship coincides with an apparent deepening of Israel's international isolation. Anger is growing in Europe in the wake of Israel's suspected misuse of European passports to kill a Palestinian militant in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Britain responded by expelling from the country an Israeli diplomat suspected of being a member of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service. Reasons for optimism?In spite of the rocky start to negotiations some observers see reasons for optimism. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) gave its President Mahmoud Abbas the go ahead to take part in the indirect talks but warned they would pull out after four months if progress is not made. The Arab League, an organization of 22 Arab states, also provided an "umbrella" of support under which the PLO president can proceed. There is a growing role and professionalism with the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank, reducing violence and allowing Israel to gradually hand over some security duties and to remove some road blocks. The West Bank is experiencing improved economic activity and a building from the ground up of some institutions needed for self government. Also, for the first time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed to Palestinian statehood. And he imposed a 10-month moratorium on building Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, with the exception of east Jerusalem. Constant turmoilOver the past three decades there has been more than a half dozen peace initiatives between the Palestinians and Israel but none has resulted in peace, with violations occurring on both sides. Reciprocal violence has checkered Israel's nearly 62-year history. The most recent multiyear conflict was the "Second Intifadah," which means "shaking off" in Arabic. This Palestinian uprising of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence began in late September 2000. My wife and I had just arrived in Israel as the new conflict broke out. Large crowds at the airport were clamoring to leave the country. Jerusalem's old city was blocked by barricades and rifle toting Israeli soldiers. Israeli guards at road check points were on high alert. After a few days it became evident that a protracted conflict was developing and we felt it necessary to leave to ensure our safety. The Palestinians viewed this Second Intifada as an ongoing struggle for national liberation, justice and an end to Israeli occupation. But many Israelis considered it just another wave of Palestinian terrorism instigated and pre-planned by then PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat in response to his walking out on negotiations at the Camp David Summit in July 2000. U.S. President Bill Clinton had hosted two weeks of intensive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat. The two sides came closer to terms than ever before but no final agreement was reached. The four emotionally charged obstacles that divided them still remain: agreement on territory; the status of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount; the right of return of Palestinian refugees; and Israeli security concerns regarding violence, terrorism and safe borders. In 2004 the Second Intifada ended with Yasser Arafat's sickness and death in November. The Palestinians lost their momentum for the intifada and their internationally recognized leader for the previous three decades. The estimated loss of life from the uprising was 5,500 Palestinians, over 1,000 Israelis and 64 foreign citizens. The newly elected Palestinian PLO President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to end the fighting. Internal fighting quickly broke out between the two largest Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. Meanwhile Israel announced a unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in June 2004 and completed its withdrawal in August 2005 Palestinians dividedToday the deep division continues between Hamas and Fatah making a united agreement with Israel that much more difficult. Fatah was founded in 1954 by Palestinians who had been refugees in the Gaza Strip. Their founders included Yasser Arafat who became the most dominant leader of the Palestinians. In the early years of their revolutionary struggle Fatah conducted many guerrilla attacks on Israel. But they are no longer regarded as a terrorist organization by any government. They are still headed by President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas was formed in Gaza in 1987 by the Muslim Brotherhood with the goal of establishing an Islamic state in "Palestine." From 1993 to 2005, Hamas carried out many suicide bombings in Israel. They have never acknowledged Israel's right to exist and are still considered a terrorist organization by most nations. Hamas won the last Palestinian general election in the Gaza Strip in 2006. In a brief Palestinian civil war in 2007, Hamas completely ousted Fatah from Gaza. The Palestinian Authority was effectively split in two, with Hamas in complete control of Gaza and Fatah in control of the West Bank. Hamas continues to refuse to sign an Egyptian reconciliation proposal agreed to by Fatah. Hamas ended its truce with Israel in 2007 by firing homemade rockets from Gaza into Israeli territory. Eventually Israel responded by forcibly entering Gaza and the three-week Gaza war ensued killing 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israeli soldiers. About a year ago, Israeli tanks rumbled out of a devastated Gaza Strip accompanied by a volley of rockets. Today Hamas is beginning to regain its strength but Gaza remains in tatters. No reconstruction has begun and Israeli and Egyptian blockades are in place in the poor and crowded territory of 1.5 million Palestinians. Hamas opposes current peace efforts of America and the "Quartet"—the United States, Russia, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations. The Quartet envoy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, told Ynet News that Hamas "can either be part of this process or they can carry on in a position of isolation" ("Blair: Words Won't Create Trust," March 11, 2010). Some Israelis are concerned Hamas may violently overtake the West Bank as it did Gaza, if a new Palestinian state is created. On the other hand, if peace efforts fail The Economist magazine suggests, "mistrust between Palestinians and Israelis will rise, perhaps even sparking another intifada (uprising) like the one that erupted after talks at Camp David failed in 2000" ("More Than Just a Charade?" March 11, 2010). Jerusalem—center of controversyThe recent diplomatic feud over Netanyahu's refusal to stop building in east Jerusalem reflects the emotionally charged controversies that surround the city. Netanyahu says he will never allow the partitioning of the city. Yet the annexation of east Jerusalem by Israel after the 1967 Mideast War has never been recognized internationally. The Palestinians complain that the growing settlements take up more and more of the land they want as their capital and make partition increasingly difficult. Today, nearly 180,000 Israeli settlers live in east Jerusalem. The Old Testament prophet Zechariah predicted how troublesome Jerusalem would become. "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples…a very heavy stone for all peoples" (Zechariah 12:2-3, emphasis added throughout). Jesus Christ's predictions and Old and New Testament prophecies reveal that Jerusalem will eventually be divided again, violently traumatized, with at least part of it falling under the rule of non-Israeli gentiles (Luke 21:20-24; Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 11:1-2). EU more involvedThe current peace efforts are likely to continue the "road map" for peace that was first outlined in July of 2002 by the Quartet. The EU, Israel's largest trading partner, is taking a more active role in the peace process as reported by NewEurope. EU Parliament President Jerzy Buzek met with Palestinian President Abbas and reinforced their commitment. "We are active in the Quartet and advocating a particular solution. We are also active by being in contact with both sides...and the EU is the biggest humanitarian aid supplier in the region" ("Palestinian Leader Tours Brussels, Paris," Feb. 24, 2010). The EU's new Lisbon Treaty created the diplomatic office of high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. In December Catherine Ashton became its director. She made her presence felt in a trip to the Middle East that included a visit to Gaza, as reported by the British newspaper The Guardian. "Israel faced new international pressure…with a visit by Lady Ashton, the European Union's new foreign policy chief. "Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, asked Ashton for EU intervention to put pressure on Israel to freeze building in the settlements and Jerusalem. Earlier she held talks in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan…" ("Israel Faces New Pressure as Lady Ashton Visits Gaza," March 18, 2010). Since her trip she has called for the settlements to stop. The EU has "condemned" them as "illegal" and undermining peace efforts. Persuasive peace broker will comeWith America's cooling and shifting alliance with Israel and the EU becoming more involved in the peace process, is the stage being set for the fulfillment of critical end-time prophecies? Peace efforts over the past three decades have time and again revealed how complicated and intractable the multisided, emotionally charged divisions can be. At times they appear to defy human ability to solve. Bible prophecy reveals that a leader with supernatural capabilities will arise, probably from Europe, and usher in a pseudo peace in the region. Armed with persuasive verbal skills, his manipulative and sly beast-like craftiness will be empowered by the evil spiritual force that can sway world governments and institutions (Revelation 13:2-8; Matthew 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4). The prophet Daniel describes this cunning leader. "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive…through his cunning, he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in prosperity" (Daniel 8:23-25). Daniel also describes this leader as the "king of the North" and shows his forceful military intervention in the Middle East and rule from Jerusalem (Daniel 11:40-45). A group of 10 nations, probably from Europe, will give their power and authority to this "beast" for a short time leading to his world dominance for 42 months (Revelation 17:11-14; 13:7-8). But Jesus Christ will intervene to put down this ruler and his armies (Zechariah 14:12; Revelation 19:11-21). And at long last, Christ will begin His rule from Jerusalem ushering in a thousand years of peace on earth (Zechariah 14:16; Revelation 20:2-3; Isaiah 2:2-4). WNP
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Other Articles by Rod Hall
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Keywords: U.S. and Israel Palestinians Europe and Israel
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