The Abraham Accords – Explanatory Notes
It came unexpectedly. Israel and the United Arab Emirates concluded a bi-lateral agreement under supervision of the United States of America. This is quite exceptional because Israel maintains only diplomatic ties in the Middle East with Jordan and Egypt. The deal is called “The Abraham Accords” after the common ancestor Abraham of both Jews and Arabs.
However, the following should be noted.
Peace is better than war. Every right-minded man will agree with that. Unless peace talks are held as another form of warfare, during which you try to achieve goals you cannot attain militarily because you are too weak. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.
“Peace is better than war.”
There is no reason why Isaac’s offspring (ancestor of the Jewish people) and Ishmael (ancestor of the Arabs) should not be able to interact in a friendly manner. They had the same father – Abraham – but different mothers, respectively Sarah and Hagar. One received the Covenant, the other God’s blessing. Read Genesis 17:15-22. The Bible calls Isaac the son of the promise, and Ishmael the son of the flesh. These two boys buried their father Abraham together. Read Genesis 25:9-10.
Islam has always been the blocking factor to bring about peace with Israel. About ‘Jerusalem and Islam’ I write extensively in chapter 7 of my book “Why Jerusalem”. In my opinion there can be no question that a nation like Israel that was under Muslim domination once, would ever return under religions that were considered to be a bypassed station by Islam, like Judaism or Christianity. Or that the third holy city in Islam – Jerusalem – would be in Jewish or Christian hands. In the Middle East conflict it is ultimately not a question whether a Palestinian State will be established on the West Bank of the river Jordan, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It involves the whole of Israel and the whole of Jerusalem. Allah will not settle for less. Yes, once the whole world will be under Allah. That is what he has promised through his prophet Mohammed.
“These peace accords in no way imply that these Islamic states recognize that Israel has the right and is entitled to be an independent Jewish State.”
For the devout Muslim there are only two possibilities: you either live in the house of war, or you live in the house of peace. The house of peace is where Allah rules. The house of war is where Allah does not rule. So, if there is any mention of “peace” talks with Israel, the devout Islamist means: the peace of Allah. That is what Israel is offered, but it means that the entire territory of Israel returns in the lap of Islam. And then there can be a second-rate existence as second-rate citizens – dhimmis – in relative freedom for Jews or Christians living there. But if you want to know what that relative freedom means, you should take a look at that in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan and other countries in south-east Asia, the former Soviet republics that are all Islamic, in large areas of Africa, the Middle East, et cetera.
These peace accords in no way imply that these Islamic states recognize that Israel has the right and is entitled to be an independent Jewish State. They only accept the fact that this is momentarily only the political reality. The same goes for the peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan.
What will happen when Donald Trump is not re-elected in the USA? It seems to be very likely that Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States of America. What will his policies in the Middle East hold? If it is more of the same as it was under Barack Obama, then Israel is in for an uncertain future.
The Old Testament prophets warn Israel time and again not to seek refuge in political alliances with the surrounding powers of their days, like Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, et cetera. The prophet Jeremiah says in chapter 6:14 and 8:11 “Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace.” Similarly, Ezekiel 13:10 when he warns against the false prophets.
“The Bible talks of wars that will affect the Middle East. Prophecies, not yet fulfilled until the present day.”
The Bible talks of wars that will affect the Middle East. Prophecies, not yet fulfilled until the present day. Like for example Isaiah 17:1-2 which speaks of the total destruction of Damascus, the capital city of Syria, which you can see from the Golan Heights in Israel. Or Isaiah 19:16-17 in which Egypt will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand of the Lord, because of the terror the land of Judah will bring to Egypt. Or Psalm 83, with a first ring of nations around Israel with Assyria in the background – who jointly and unanimously say: “Come, let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.” Or Ezekiel 38 and 39, with a second and wider circle of nations around Israel (Syria and Egypt are no longer mentioned here!) that want to wipe Israel off the map. With Turkey and the former Soviet republics and Russia in the background? An Islamic holy war, a jihad, against Israel? And Zechariah 12 and 14 in which finally all nations, one could say in our days: The United Nations, will try to lift that troublesome rock called Jerusalem.
In short:
- Israel does well to never let her guard down. All of a sudden everything can change.
- However: peace is better than war.
And one day this will be the political reality, like Isaiah 19:23-25 says: “In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”
May the Prince of Peace come soon!
