Tuesday, December 18, 2012

How Much Longer Will God Tarry?

On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed the "Plan of Partition with Economic Union." Resolution 181 created a Jewish state and a Palestinian state out of the former British Mandate.

The Jews accepted the plan as offered by the United Nations. The Arabs rejected it. Then they tried to take all of Palestine by force. They failed.

On Thursday, November 29, 2012 -- exactly 65 years later -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the world body to forget the Arab rejection of its 1947 offer; overlook its five wars to annihilate Israel; and issue the Palestinians their long overdue "birth certificate."

The United Nations General Assembly happily complied and overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state. The body voted to grant "nonmember observer state" status to three separate geographical regions in Israel: the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and east Jerusalem. Never mind that these areas are led by two UN-recognized terrorist groups.

Though the vote was largely symbolic since only the Security Council can grant official United Nations recognition of a state, it effectively changes the complexion of the situation in the Middle East.

There never has been a state of Palestine. Even when their fellow Muslims in Jordan and Egypt controlled the West Bank and Gaza Strip from 1948 to 1967, they refused to establish a state for the Palestinians or even recognize them.

But now, by simply elevating the Palestinian Authority from the designation of "entity" and attaching the word "state" to its name, the UN has changed the PA's status in the world. Mostly, it's opened up several possibilities - none of which are good for Israel.

For instance, the new status may permit the Palestinian Authority to achieve standing with the International Criminal Court. That would allow the Palestinians to endlessly charge Israel and its government and leaders with "war crimes." And even if those lawsuits are unsuccessful, they will complicate Israel's international dealings and may even make it dangerous for Israeli leaders to travel to other, less hospitable nations for fear of arrest.

The United Nations' vote also signaled several other disturbing things: First, its overwhelming endorsement of the Palestinians' quest for independence; Second, its pronounced disregard for Israel's national security concerns; and Third, its lack of concern for the critical danger imposed on a long-time member state (Israel) by continuous terrorist attacks.

And all of this in view of the fact that Israel was actually created by the United Nations!

To its credit, the United States along with Canada, the Czech Republic, and six other nations voted against the resolution. However, 138 of the 193 nations voted to further complicate the Mid-East peace process, if not torpedo it altogether.

Though US Ambassador Susan Rice reminded the General Assembly that voting for the resolution "does not establish that Palestine is a state," PA President Abbas saw it differently. Immediately upon returning to Ramallah, he told a joyous crowd of 5,000, "Yes, now we have a state!"

But he didn't stop there. Abbas told the celebrants, "One day a young Palestinian will raise the Palestinian flag over Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the state of Palestine!"

Does that sound like the reasonable voice of a viable "partner for peace?"

Well, to make a long story short, even Hamas has jumped onto the bandwagon. They're claiming that their "victory" over Israel's "Operation Pillar of Defense" made the positive vote at the UN possible. Now, everyone's getting chummy and it looks like Hamas is going to make nice with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.

Israel's cabinet unanimously rejected the United Nations action. Then it went further. The Israeli government announced that it was proceeding with plans to construct 3,000 new apartments in east Jerusalem. And it's withholding $100 million in tax revenue it has collected on behalf of the PA. Since the Palestinians have an outstanding electric bill of $200 million owed to Israel, the Israelis are going to apply that money to the bill.

As you can guess, this has gone over like a lead balloon with the rest of the world. Even though the apartment construction project has been in the planning for several years, and the proposed site is vacant, under Israeli control, and not part of any existing agreements, the world is screaming bloody murder - and demanding that Israel back off.

Strangely, the announcements did not seem to dampen the Palestinians' jubilation at their newfound celebrity. And why should it? They've learned that all they have to do is sit back, relax, and let the world force Israel to do their bidding.

Just as the ancient prophets predicted.

But don't be fooled. God Himself figured this very thing might happen, so He made some special arrangements to protect His people. And He issued some ominous warnings to those who would mistreat the Jews. Let's just say it won't be pretty.

{Commentary from Hal Lindsey}

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