The UK’s formal recognition of the Palestinian state on 21st September was matched by 20 other nations, including France, Belgium, and Australia. Now, over three quarters of United Nations members recognise Palestine, though the US, Israel, Italy and Germany do not.
For decades, the question of Palestinian statehood has been at the heart of one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. A conflict which in recent years has taken on horrific proportions. Diplomatic efforts have stalled, and tensions are high as the Gaza war threatens to engulf the region.
The UN advocates a “two state solution” for the Middle East, in which a state of Palestine would exist alongside the state of Israel.
The Palestinian Authority supports the two state solution. Hamas and other militant Palestinian factions, together with their main sponsor Iran, reject it as they do not recognise Israel’s right to exist. Israel has supported it in the past, but does not currently. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned the UK’s decision, claiming that it is encouraging terrorism and insisting a Palestinian state “will not happen”.
So, what happens now? Some are optimistic that the recognition of the state of Palestine will bolster the Palestinians’ position in peace negotiations and bring the goal of the two state solution closer; others believe it will achieve little. It is certainly escalating the friction between Israel and other countries.
The answer is clear: we just do not know exactly what comes next. More positively, we do know where all this will eventually lead. The horrors we see today are signs that Jesus Christ is going to return and do away with the depravities of human society.
Speaking about our days in general, Jesus said: ‘[There will be] distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world… then they will see the Son of Man [Jesus] coming in a cloud with power and great glory… when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near’ (Luke 21:25-31).
Writing about Israel in particular, the prophet Zechariah was clear that they will get to the point where all the world is against them, and they will be attacked and defeated. ‘For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile…’ (Zechariah 14:2).
It’s at this point that God will intervene: ‘Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east’ (vs. 3-4).
The ultimate result? ‘The Lord will be king over all the earth’ (v. 9).
When Jesus ascended to heaven, angels promised that he will return to the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem (Acts 1:11). His worldwide Kingdom will be ruled by God’s laws, a perfect world of justice, no more oppression and food for all, which you can read about in Psalm 72.
This perfect world will come, because God always keeps His promises. If we embrace the hope of the Gospel, we can look beyond today’s crises and hope to be there. Jesus told us to be aware, to be ready:
When these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near… Watch yourselves… stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:28, 34, 36).
How to prepare? Read your Bible!
Andrew Hale