God's Chosen Land
(Signs of the Time - May 2002)
We are living in the very last days before the coming of Christ and continue to watch with great interest the developing events.
In recent months, the enemies of Israel have continued to wage a senseless parade of suicide bombers which has provoked Israel into a massive attempt to root out the terrorist infrastructure. As a result, the situation is extremely bleak with the outlook for a peace settlement highly improbable. Today, it seems as if the entire world is morally (and quite possibly soon to be physically) against Israel. Europe is seething at Israel for its raids into Palestinian territories. Even its staunchest ally is pressing Israel hard to ease up on the incursions. Yet at the time this issue goes to press, there seems to be no relief in sight to the escalating violence and bloodshed.
While we cannot always understand the events that transpire, we know two things with certainty. First, watch Israel. God will continue to work out His plan through His chosen people. And second, God is in control. While it may appear to unbelievers that the events currently taking place are out of control, we know that God is working out His purpose through them.
The current stance of the Israeli government has had a significant outcome. Not only has it united that Arab world, even to the point of Saudi Arabia setting out a plan for peaceful coexistence, but it has strained Israel’s relationship with its long-standing friends.
Strained relationship
The “war” in Israel has created
many disputes among the Israeli cabinet. As reported in Stratfor
on-line: “Within the cabinet left-serving members, primarily Foreign
Minister Shimon Peres, have been moved aside for rightists more to the
liking of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Obviously, serious tensions
have developed over the course of the war. Sharon appears to have had
substantial support for the initial phases of the current operation.
There was a general consensus in Israel that radical steps had to be taken
to stop the suicide bombings.
“Peres undoubtedly wanted to see the operation winding down by the time Powell [U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell] arrived. For Peres, no purely military settlement is possible, and any military operation must segue into diplomacy. From his viewpoint, alienating the United States would be extremely dangerous. Clearly, Peres’ arguments inside the decision-making nexus of Israeli policy had become sufficiently divisive that Sharon was prepared to shift the structure of the inner Cabinet rather than deal with the division.
“Sharon has a very different view of the situation. He is not convinced that there is a danger of a break with the United States. Sharon was undoubtedly struck by the fact that more than a week would elapse between the time Powell’s trip was announced and his actual arrival. For him, this was a clear signal from the United States that, while it was bowing to international pressure for a peace mission, it did not regard such a mission as urgent. Put differently, Washington was content to see Israel complete its military operations successfully.”
In order to provide Israel as much time as needed, Colin Powell delayed his arrival in Israel by traveling through Morocco, Egypt, Spain, and Rome before heading for Israel. In the interim, Israeli leaders did nothing that would make his visit easier. Being told a week in advance that Powell was coming, Israel was expected to begin a military withdrawal from Palestinian areas. Instead, Israel gave no sign that it intended to comply. Once Powell entered Israel, the incursions continued in an unabated firestorm rather than starting to wind down. Israel did make some minor amends to the U.S. by pulling out of 22 small towns and villages. However, in a further incursion, a convoy of 15 Israeli tanks briefly entered the West Bank town of Tulkarem, and troops there arrested a 24-year-old Palestinian woman who, according to Israeli radio reports, was suspected of planning a suicide attack.
The New York Times reported April 11, 2002: Instead of rebuffing American demands for a withdrawal, Israeli President Ariel Sharon said that the United States and other nations should not “put any pressures upon us.” And as the visit of Powell approached, Israel’s security cabinet formally decided to continue the military operation rather than withdraw. It acted after a suicide bomber struck, killing eight passengers and tearing apart a bus near Haifa, on the coast. Four of the dead were soldiers.
Growing attack?
Along Israel’s embattled northern
border, more missiles and mortar bombs were fired from Lebanon, despite
American efforts to persuade Syria to restrain the militant group Hezbollah.
The attacks injured no one but created fears of a widening conflict, further
complicating Powell’s difficult mission.
Palestinian families have been hiding in their homes as Israeli patrols round up their men for questioning. Israelis, despairing of the Palestinians’ unwillingness to recognize a Jewish state, have been avoiding cafes, parks and malls for fear of suicide bombers.
When these events of the last days are consummated, we will be able to look back and see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. But living in the midst of the developing events, we can only watch them with fascination and pray the time will be short.
Even so come, Lord Jesus.
George Rayner