Some would say the creation of an Arab state called Palestine in the land God gave to Israel is a fait accompli.
Palestine looks like a done deal when we listen to the President of the United States addressing the Prime Minister of the State of Israel as he did this week.
Among other things*, what Barack Obama said to the Israeli people – while manifestly unable to look Benjamin Netanyahu in the eye – was:
Yes, you have the right to protect yourself against Arab violence, but it is happening in the ‘Palestinian territories’ so we have to get back to the land-for-peace path so that “legitimate Palestinian aspirations” can be met.
To view the full press event go here (then come back).
Palestine looks like a done deal when, to receive military assistance that will enable the Jewish state to survive where Islam is ascendant and ever more brutal, Israel has no choice but to play along** with the global effort to create this state, knowing full well that no peace – only more war – is guaranteed down that road.
Palestine looks like a done deal when the European Union – where Jewish products and stores were once labeled ‘Juden’ – this week labeled Israeli-made products from the areas the world wants to turn into a Palestinian state as ‘not made in Israel’ but as ‘settlement products.’
Israeli government and opposition members slammed the action – recognizing it as a perpetuation of the anti-Semitic double standard the West consistently applies to the Jews in their historical homeland.
But the Obama administration airily dismissed Israel’s anger; approving the EU ruling and covering for Europe by saying the labeling is ‘not a boycott,’ because ‘settlements aren’t part of Israel.’***
Palestine looks like a done deal when infuriated television presenter Tim Sebastian yells at Israeli Minister Naftali Bennet that “more than 130 countries represented at the UN have recognized Palestine as a state, and you want the Palestinians to give up, forever, this idea of a Palestinian state! You’re too late, aren’t you! It’s way too late for this!!” (Conflict Zone – November 4, 2015).
Once upon a time there was Judea and Samaria – central parts of the land specifically designated by almighty God to be the everlasting possession of the seed of Abraham through the line of Isaac and Jacob – away from the line of Ishmael and Esau.
Nor were these names only in use in Bible days. As late as the 19th century and until the middle of the 20th, ‘Judea and Samaria’ was referred to by travelers, historians and archeologists, including Henry Tristram (The Land of Israel, 1865); Mark Twain (Innocents Abroad, 1867); R.A. MacAlister and Masterman (“Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly”); A.P. Stanley (Sinai and Palestine, 1887); E. Robinson and E. Smith (Biblical Researches in Palestine, 1841); C.W. Van de Velde (Peise durch Syrien und Palestinea, 1861); and Felix Bovet (Voyage en Taire Sainte, 1864). Even the Encyclopedia Britannica, as well as official British and Ottoman records until 1950, used the terms Judea and Samaria.
How Judea and Samaria became “Palestinian territories’ in the mind of Barack Obama and other world leaders; how the make-believe cause of the ‘Palestinians’ – for there has never been a Palestinian nation – and their outrageous demand to be given possession of Jewish land – for there has never been an Arab country in the territory they are demanding – became “legitimate aspirations” underscores just how far from honest brokering*** the United States has departed, and how deeply in denial of its own foundations the rest of the Judeo-Christian world is.
Let’s briefly take a look at the history of the areas today universally called the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank’****.
The ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank’ is the land where:
– Abraham walked when God said to him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” (Genesis 13:14,15) And where He told Abraham, “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” (Genesis 13, 17)
– Abraham’s grandson went to sleep with his head by a stone, and heard God say to him, “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.” (Genesis 28:13 emphasis added)
– Israel’s founding fathers – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – are buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– Joseph and his mother Rachel are also buried, in Shechem and Bethlehem respectively, in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– Joshua’s conquest of Canaan began with Jericho and Ai in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– The 12 Tribes worshiped the Lord for nearly four centuries at Shiloh in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– David the shepherd boy was born and grew up in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank’ and reigned there – first over the Tribe of Judah in Hebron for seven years and then for 33 years over all Twelve Tribes in ‘Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem’ in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’ (1 Kings 2:11)
– Solomon built his temple, and the glory of the LORD appeared inside the building as it stood on al-Ḥaram al-Sharif (Mount Moriah) in ‘Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem’ in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– Jesus Christ was born in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’ He died, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven from the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– According to Jews and Christians, the Messiah will come (Jews believe for the first time, Christians for the second) and establish His Kingdom in the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
– If the international community has its way then, according to Christian beliefs, when He returns, Jesus Christ will not come back to Jerusalem Israel, but to ‘liberated East Jerusalem’ in ‘liberated Palestine’ in what was once the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank.’
Christians who support the creation of ‘a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital’ should carefully consider the nature of the cause they are putting their words, and their actions, behind.
Palestine looks like a done deal.
But it is far from it.
Almighty God, who calls Himself the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, (not Islam’s Allah) has promised to bring the Jewish people back and to “settle” them in their “own land” (Isaiah 14:1). He has vowed that when He brings them back He will plant them in “the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 36:8; 38:8) which are the ‘Israeli-occupied West Bank’ and that they will “not be again pulled up from the land I have given them.” (Jeremiah 24:6; Amos 9:15)
He has sworn by Himself to do this. (Exodus 32:13)
Here on the ground, Israel is working valiantly to withstand the wall-to-wall manifestation of international hostility.
This week a bill passed its first reading on the floor of the Knesset establishing the country’s name as the “State of Israel” and further confirming its flag, symbol and anthem.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry cadets will tour West Bank settlements [sic] and learn how to defend their legality, as well as hear lectures on Judaism and tour the City of David archaeological site in East Jerusalem [sic], officials said Sunday, in a rightward shift for the country’s diplomatic corps.
And the national movement to extend Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria continues to gain ground.
Indeed, while the world might be determined to spawn Palestine in Israel’s biblical heartland, neither the LORD God of Israel nor the nationally restored people of Israel appear inclined to cooperate.
Bible-believing men and women know how, and to whom, victory in this battle over the land will come.
Just how to spiritually and physically participate in this struggle is the increasingly urgent challenge confronting us as Christian Zionists today.
With the heightened intensity of the battle it is a question demanding a response.
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*. Encapsulated, Obama told Netanyahu:
– Your security is one of my top priorities because it helps secure the United States. (Obama, like Bush and Clinton and Bush before him, pay lip service to protecting Israel’s security. But it is precisely because of decades of unchanged American foreign policy in the Middle East that the security of Israel is still an issue!)
– Although you’re upset with us for – as you believe – enabling Iran to pursue nuclear weapons, we’ll get over this tiff and help you ensure they don’t.
– Yes, the lands all around you are in chaos (something for which failed US foreign policy under my administration is of course not to blame) so let’s come up with an understanding that will help us blunt ISIS and the Hizb’allah.
**. Netanyahu, in Washington with a long shopping list for US military assistance, tells Obama: “I also want to make it clear that we have not given up our hope for peace … and I remain committed to a vision of peace of two states for two peoples, a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state.”
***. It’s long, long past time for the United States to have the decency and courage to stop referring to itself as an ‘honest broker’ in the Israeli-‘Palestinian’ conflict!
It’s disputed territory. There is no international law that says it is ‘Palestinian’ land. On the contrary, there is law still on the international statute books, as passed by the League of Nations and upheld in the founding Charter of the United Nations that says the disputed territory is meant to be part of sovereign Israel.
And yet, when Jews build in settlements the United States condemns Israel and insists that Israel is putting obstacles in the way to peace. But when Arabs build in the same territories there is no reaction from the USA.
****. The territory in question was called the West Bank for a mere 19 years in all of history – this during the Jordanian occupation the international community deemed illegal. Because it was not sovereign territory taken from another nation, it is Israeli-administered, not Israeli-occupied.
As our Lord has told us, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
The last promise and the last prayer of God’s Holy Bible: “…Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Hello Stan: Another great article – The Truth. The world will not see, because they love
darkness rather than the light ( Yeshua ). John 3:19 . The Bible says to pray
for those in authority 1 Timothy 2:1-5. I believe we should pray for a
Nebuchadnezzar experience for King Obama. Daniel 4:28-37
Stan, you refer to the denial of the Judeo-Christian world regarding their foundations… That couldn’t be truer. Let me ask the question: Why would any pastor of any western ‘evangelical’ church, deliberately and consistently refer to Israel as – ‘Palestine’?! Churches and pastors, who, just one short decade ago would not have thought of standing against Israel, now do. After repeatedly hearing a pastor from a nearby Pentecostal church do this very thing (refer to Israel as Palestine), I was finally provoked to the point of addressing the issue. Having heard him do this, in person, on a variety of occasions, and then when randomly choosing to listen to one of his online sermons, I heard him do this yet again, I sent a question asking him why, when referring to Israel, he chose to call it Palestine? His response was evasive and politically correct to a T, even using an online definition of ‘Palestine’! So I pursued. I shared that after carefully mulling over his answer, I wondered if, in light of his answer, he then saw Israel as the occupier? I received another evasive answer after which he questioned why I was asking him this in the first place! I again explained where I was coming from (as I had in my initial email); said that thus far I had found his answers vague and impersonal, which had surprised me and served to heighten my curiosity. I mentioned that just a simple yes or no answer would be the simplest reply, and ended my email with this: “So the question remains: Do you, Pastor M___, then see Israel as the occupier?” I never heard back from him. His silence screamed louder than any answer he could have given!
This is a picture of most, if not all, ‘evangelical’ church/denominational leadership here in North America – here in Canada – today. May I venture to suggest that it is this new brand of ‘Christian’, which undoubtedly ousted our Israel blessing PM, Stephen Harper, and voted in the new child Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau! I’ve heard it said that Canadians did not vote for a prime minister – they voted for a boyfriend!! What has Canada done?! May God have mercy!! And praise His Holy Name! He is greater than all that is happening – there in The Land, and all around the world. It is His plan that is unfolding – bringing Messiah’s return ever nearer! And so we can stand firm in the knowledge that Palestine is NOT a done deal. Palestine does NOT win. Am Yisrael Chai! And they always will! It has been written thus! Praise to the God of Israel!
Blessings to you Stan! Keep up the good work.
Stan , thank you so much for this last article . You are able to express what a lot of us feel , and you do it so well. I have a heart for the Jewish people , and a love of Israel. My heart aches to see what is happening now. All I can say is come Lord Jesus come.
I pray constantly The Jewish people, and for peace for their land. God Bless you, your family and your ministry . Roma
I find it amazing that the God of Israel has factored into scripture the beginning and the end and He in his ultimate wisdom understood all the variables of the hearts of all men and the spiritual wickedness residing in the political high places of all the peoples, nations, and government leaders of this age. Surely he will exalt the lowly and humble and bring the arrogant, high and mighty to their knees. The wicked who do not repent will fall. The humble who are trusting in God’s Word and His Coming Kingdom shall not fall when God shakes the corrupt foundations of this world.
The nations that walk contrary to God’s covenant in these days will be the recipient of God’s wrath / judgment. The cup of trembling that Israel was made to drink for 2000 years will be passed to all nations that do not bless Israel and are fighting against God’s Work. The wicked are God’s instruments of judgment. God raised up enemies to Israel when they walked contrary to His Word. The world is walking contrary to God’s Word now and God is allowing enemies to bring forth judgment upon the Gentiles nations.
Isaiah 66: 15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord will be many. .. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues: and they shall come, and see (comprehend) my glory. (Remember Israel is God’s Glory) Matthew 25:31
Stan, it appears all too true that nations will continue to disregard the declarations of the Almighty G-d, therefore also true that nations, like the United States, will pay for their folly in overlooking the plain truth of G-d’s promise to Avraham in Genesis 12. Please now that many American Christians stand firmly with you, and with Israel, and we will stand firm! G-d bless you, my friend, for your insightful articles and your stand for the truth! Ahava b’ Yeshua!
for me, reading G-d’s Word which is the only truth and even from Genesis 1..the Genesis 12:3 shouts out from the beginning that the land is The Jews and it is forever. The warnings from G-d thruout the scriptures is clear and no one will have an excuse. To be against Israel and the Jews is to be against Almighty G-d. We see the fulfillment of scripture unfold as for the first time in history all those nations surround Israel..they lose soon. To be told by Almighty G-d that they are cursed and yet on they go thinking they can do as they like. WE know scripture says, when Israel becomes a nation that HE said we are the generataion that will see HIM..Glory !! Paul tells us in Romans we owe them a debt and Salvation comes thru the Jews..I will continute to bless and suport them and wonder how anyone can’t love them as they have blessed the whole World.. G-d richly bless you Stan…and so we stay in the Word and pray..Shalom
God has smitten the World with blindness. Don’t try to open their eyes. They never will see again, till the LORD Jesus Christ will return and everyone will see Him coming in His Glory.
It is so obvious that the peolpe of this world, don’t want to believe the truth. They are lying for so long now, that they now believe their own lies. Now they can’t see the truth anymore, even we they try.
Threfore : don’t be surpised and don’t be scared or afraid. Your Father in Heaven knows this situation before it started. He knows you and he knows also Obama or any other ungodly power. Didn’t He create Obama too. How powerful is Obama? Very limited! Limited by our Father. Come Lord Jesus and show the World your Glory.
Hi Stan, thank you very much for keeping us up to date with the latest developments concerning Israel. We find your blog very informative . We have always loved Israel and now we love it even more. We know that they will triumph! How the world can pretend that Palestine has more right to possession over the land when all the true history books and archeological findings has proven that the Israelites belong there, baffles us. Can people really just speak “air” and so many believe it? Do you think that Joshua’s reticence to deal with all the enemies in the promised land so many years ago (when God had commanded it) has any affect on the continuous dispute today?
An extremely well composed article Stan. As you say, it is astounding how ignorant the modern Western Governments and many of the peoples of these nations are, as to the rights of the people of Israel. The God of Heaven has made it quite clear in the Holy Scriptures (The Bible) that the nation of Israel does have His divine blessing in relation to the lands that Israel has a right to. Also you mentioned the International Statutes support the rights of the territorial State of Israel which dose require that the nations that instituted these statutes to support the terms and conditions stated and to make sure they are protected. Politics is corrupt when we take a look at the global perspective these days, as the deception, lies and corruption being played out is absolutely disgraceful, including in the West where they claim to be moral and possessing integrity. Dirty deals are everywhere! But the scriptures have foretold of these eventualities. Thanks for the article as it is a wonderful talking point for me.
Thank you for your amazing insight and perspective Stan…
It makes me angry that the rest of the world doesn’t realize this,but then I remember we have an awsome God who is able to accomplish all that he has promised! All the world will know it is by His hand..Where men fail God is able to fulfill His promise to His people! All the glory is His!
Keep up the good work Stan. You and all your family are in my prayers daily.
God bless,
Kath
Thanks for another excellent representation of TRUTH. Noël
Shalom Stan.
After being in Israel several times and a great lover of the land and the people, I can really understand what Genes 12:1-3 stands for and what it means. I really appreciate your articles. What a difference between your writing and what we read in the “Lamestream: media. Keep looking up as I can hear the footsteps of the Messiah and they are getting louder