As you have probably heard, a couple of days ago President Trump followed through on his promise to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem and officially recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. This move has been met by almost unanimous condemnation from leaders around the world. This is, of course, no surprise.
The Palestinian Authority said that the US can no longer be a mediator in the peace process. Jordan’s King Abdullah told the American president his decision would have “dangerous repercussions on the stability and security of the region.” Saudi Arabia said this is a disappointment. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed that it undermines the chances of peace. Turkey said this has crossed the red line.
It is interesting that the European leaders have not been supportive of this at all. Prime Minister Theresa May said this move is “unhelpful.” In a statement she said,
“We disagree with the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement.”
The German government does not support this position, because the status of Jerusalem is to be resolved in the framework of a two-state solution, according German Chancellor Angela Merkel. French President Emmanuel Macron was the first EU leader to call out Trump’s action, saying that any decision on the ancient city’s status had to be settled through negotiation. He also called for calm and restraint.
Even the Pope put in his two cents worth. Pope Francis also spoke out, saying from the Vatican,
“I make a heartfelt appeal so that all commit themselves to respecting the status quo of the city, in conformity with the pertinent resolutions of the United Nations.”
The Vatican’s official stance supports a two-state solution to the religious and territorial conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly praised the Trump administration’s move.
“Thank you President Trump for today’s historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The Jewish people and the Jewish state will be forever grateful,”
In the recognition, he added,
“[It] reflects the president’s commitment to an ancient but enduring truth, to fulfilling his promises and to advancing peace… There is no peace that doesn’t include Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
It is true that there will be a lot of struggles and violence in the Middle East, but isn’t this the norm? Isn’t this the status quo the the Pope says he wants to see continue?
Let’s face the facts, there has been no peace without Jerusalem being the Capital of Israel. I am happy with what President Trump has done. He has shown leadership and courage. Sadly, we have not had an America President with the courage to deal with this issue. I believe this is the type of leadership that the Middle East really needs. We don’t need someone who will kowtow to the bullies, that is going to bend and give in simply because the Arabs are going to throw a fit. We know that Muslims create havoc by burning things, destroying things, and killing, when they don’t get their way.
What Does The Bible Say About Jerusalem?
Jerusalem is called “the city of God.”
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalms 46:4)
The Bible says that it is a city chosen of God:
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. (2 Chronicles 6:6)
Six times the Bible calls Jerusalem a holy city:
And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. (Nehemiah 11:1)
And (5 other times)
Of all the places in the World, God has chosen Jerusalem as the place to put His name.
Jerusalem is called the city of perfection and of beauty. It is called the joy of the whole earth:
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? (Lamentations 2:15)
It is called the throne of the LORD:
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)
The first time we hear of Jerusalem it is in Genesis, where the priest, Melchezidek, is the priest of Salem. Salem is Jerusalem.
We learned more about this city when God told Abraham to take the son that he loved and offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. This was a test of the faith of Abraham. You can imagine how hard it was for Abraham to obey the Lord and offer the son for which he had longed for so long as a burnt offering. In essence, God asked Abraham to take the most precious thing in his life, his beloved son, and trust Him. He asked Abraham to give his son back to Him.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
Mount Moriah is what we know today as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has been the historical Capital of Israel all the way back to King David. In our day we have seen God keep His promise to restore Israel to the land. The nation is not even seventy years old, and it is flourishing. God has blessed Israel immensely. It is only fitting that Jerusalem be its Capital.
I believe that God will bless the United States if we continue to honor Israel. This is what the Bible promised in Genesis.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)
God has promised to bless those who bless Israel, the children of Abraham. I believe that one of the major reasons God has blessed our nations in spite of our sin is, blessing Israel has been the guiding light of our foreign policy. If we continue to bless Israel, God will continue to bless our nation.
The Muslim response
I can assure you that since it is Friday, you will see more violence in the streets of the Middle East. This is the day that Muslims go for their weekly prayers. They hear the preaching of their imams, who will incite them to violence. I am sure that there will be violence all around the world.
The question that our leaders fail go answer correctly is, Why do Muslims respond the way the do? The reason is, their scriptures, that come from an Arab, a descendant of Ishmael, claim that it was not Isaac who was offered, but Ishmael. They believe the covenant of Abraham belongs to to the Ishmaelites, to the Arabs. They believe that the Jews are trying to steal their birthright. This is why they fight over Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
We will see rioting in the Muslim world because of what President Trump has done. They will do what they do best, throw a temper tantrum and destroy and kill. They see that no matter how hard they try, things don’t go their way. The reason is, they are not worshiping the true God of Heaven. The true God, Jehovah, will bring about His will.
Arabic Indoctrination
The Arabs in the region are trying to indoctrinate their children to the extent that they pretend there is no such thing as Israel as a nation. A French private school in Lebanon issued an apology for breaking the law. In one of their geography classes they gave out a map of the region to their 4th graders. The map had Israel on it, which is a violation of the law in Lebanon. It should say Palestine, not Israel.
It you get a map of the region in the Arab countries you will not find Jerusalem on it, they call it Al-Quds. The Arabs want to remove everything that identifies with Israel. This is why they don’t want the international community to recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. If we follow the historic evidence, it makes it difficult for the Arabs to sell the lie they are trying to sell.
Two State Solution?
Again, I support fully President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital. Yes, there will be havoc and problems, but let’s face it, the old way of dealing with the issue of Middle Eastern peace has not worked.
I believe the two state solution is an impossibility. I am for every diplomatic attempt to bring it about, but it is impossible, not because if Israel, but because of the Palestinians. Israel has, on many occasions, been very accommodating, and has tried to work with the Arabs to this end. Every time the Arabs have had the opportunity to have an official state, they have turned it down. They will not negotiate with Israel because they don’t want Israel to exist.
Israel would be happy for the Arabs to have their own state and share the land peacefully. Israel has bent to the pressure the international community to give the Palestinians more and more land in exchange for peace. Each time they do it, instead of peace, the Palestinians use the land to launch more attacks against Israel. I think it is time to find a new way to deal with the Middle Eastern situation.