SLIDES

The History and Future of Israel and the Middle East

Part 7

Introduction

To review, the five major events that are causing Israel and the Middle East to be in turmoil are:

1.  God put enmity between Satan and Israel.
(Genesis 3:15)

2.  Ishmaels’ descendants, the Ishmaelites, were prophesied to constantly cause Israel problems, do not exist today as a nation or people. However, their descendants continue to cause problems as they were absorbed into the Arab nations.

3.  Israel’s title deed to the land promised by God to Abraham and His descendants forever is found in Genesis 15 continues to demonstrate that the land belongs exclusively to Isarel and the Jewish people. In the Old Testament God reiterated to Isarel at least 18 times that In the Old Testament that He gave the land to them as an everlasting possession.

4.  Jacob received the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant instead of Esau. The descendants of Esau, the Edomites, have constantly caused Israel problems along with the Ishmaelites. In Psalm 83:5-8 we find that the Ishmaelites and the Edomites made a covenant with other peoples and nations at that time to destroy Isarel.

5.  God changing Jacob’s name to Israel. From him, the first Jew, came the 12 tribes and the nation of Israel.

I.   The History of Israel and the Middle East

B. From the Birth of the Messiah to the Birth of Israel

Remember there are four prophesied distinct periods in God’s plan for Israel during the diaspora as part of the Leviticus 26 and Land Covenant found in Deuteronomy 28 - 30. They are dispersion, preservation, restoration, and reconciliation. These distinct periods cover a period of approximately 2000 years. These periods prophesied by Moses in Deuteronomy and fleshed out in secular history contributed to Israel History and her becoming a nation after 1900 years. We have discussed the dispersion and the preservation aspect of God’s plan for Israel in the diaspora. Now, we are going to continue our discussion lesson on the restoration aspect of God’s plan for Israel in the diaspora from our last lesson.

Restoration

The Nation of Israel Reborn

On May 14, 1948, Israel was reborn a nation after being absent from the land for 1900 years. The rebirth of the nation of Isarel fulfilled different prophecies including Isaiah 66:8-9.

8 “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?

Can a land be born in one day?

Can a nation be brought forth all at once?

As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.

9 “Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?”

says the Lord. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the

womb?” says your God.

The fulfillment of this prophecy and the prophecies about the regathering of Isarel from all over the world to return to Isarel are some of the most profound prophecies ever fulfilled.

Another profound prophecy that began to be fulfilled in 1948 but continues to be fulfilled today. It concerns the desert.

Isaiah 35:2 - The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Israel, a country known for its remarkable innovations, has made significant advancements in desert agriculture. Despite challenging conditions, such as arid climates and limited water resources, Israeli expertise has transformed barren landscapes into productive farmland. Here are some key developments:

1.     Drip Irrigation: Simcha Blass, an Israeli engineer, invented drip irrigation, a groundbreaking technique that delivers water directly to plant roots. This method significantly reduces water wastage and allows crops to thrive even in arid regions. Farmers worldwide now use drip irrigation to maximize water efficiency and minimize waste.

2. Hydroponics and Aeroponics: Israel has pioneered soil-less cultivation methods like hydroponics and aeroponics. These systems allow plants to grow without traditional soil, relying on nutrient-rich water solutions or mist. Hydroponics and aeroponics are particularly effective in desert environments where soil quality is poor.

3. Precision Agriculture: Israeli farmers utilize data-driven approaches to optimize crop production. By monitoring soil moisture, temperature, and other factors, they tailor irrigation and fertilization precisely to each plant’s needs. This precision ensures better yields and resource conservation.

4. Heat-Resistant Crops: Researchers in Israel focus on developing crops that can withstand extreme temperatures. These heat-resistant varieties are essential for adapting to hotter climates. For example, fruit orchards face challenges due to high temperatures, and Israeli scientists work on solutions to help these orchards thrive.

Several years ago, some Israeli scientists found several olive seeds that were estimated to be about 2000 years. They nurtured the seed for some time and then planted some of them. The result is that there is now a variety of olives that grow that have not existed for 2000 years.

Israel’s tech industry is one of the leaders in the world. Israel has made great advancements in the area of water desalination and many other areas.

These are just a few examples  of many blessings the world has received from the Jewish people to include doctors, Nobel Prize winners, and, of course, forgiveness of sin and eternal life through faith in Jesus the Messiah because of His’ sacrificial death on the cross  as promised in Genesis 12:3. To Abraham God said about him and his descendants, “Through you all the nations of the earth will be blessed.”

1948 Arab Israeli War

Following the announcement of an independent Israel, five Arab nations—Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon—immediately invaded the region in what became known as the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. May 14, 1948 - The rebirth of the nation of Israel which numbered 620,000 Jewish people. (Today the population of Isarel is 7, 800,000 Jews and 2,692,000 non-Jews.)  Israel told the Arabs that they could stay and live in the land.  The Arab nations surrounding Israel which numbered 80 million told the Arabs living in the land to leave because they were going to drive Israel into the sea and then they could come back to occupy the land.  The Palestinians went to the West Bank.

On May 15, 1948, when the Arab nations attacked Israel, Israel was outnumbered 40 to 1 but because God had His hand on the

situation there was a cease fire was announced in 1949.

Israel ended up with more land than they were given by the

UN.  The Arab nations would not absorb the Palestinians who left Israel and were living on the West bank in poverty. They are still there today and many live in a refugee camp that has existed since 1948.

Arab-Israeli Conflict

Throughout Israel’s long history, tensions between Jews and Arab Muslims have existed. The complex hostility between the two groups dates all the way back to ancient times when they both populated the area and deemed it holy. Both Jews and Muslims consider the city of Jerusalem sacred. It contains the Temple Mount, which includes the holy sites al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, which is the 3rd holist site in Islam,  and more.

Much of the conflict in recent years has centered around who is occupying the following areas:

• Gaza Strip: A piece of land located between Egypt and modern-day Israel.

• Golan Heights: A rocky plateau between Syria and modern-day Israel.

• West Bank: A territory that divides part of modern-day Israel and Jordan.

Conflict Between Jews and Arabs

Numerous wars and acts of violence between Arabs and Jews have ensued since the 1948 Arab Israeli War. Some of these include:

• Suez Crisis: Relations between Israel and Egypt were rocky in the years following the 1948 war. In 1956, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser overtook and nationalized the Suez Canal, the important shipping waterway that connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. With the help of British and French forces, Israel attacked the Sinai Peninsula and retook the Suez Canal. 

• Six-Day War: Israel made a preemptive strike in June 1967 when intelligence showed they were going to be attacked.  Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in six days. After this brief war, Israel took control of the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and Golan Heights. These areas were considered “occupied” by Israel.

• Yom Kippur War:  In 1973 Egypt and Syria launched air and ground attacks against Israel on the Holy Day of Yom Kippur. This caught the Israeli army off guard. The fighting went on for two weeks, until the UN adopted a resolution to stop the war. Syria hoped to recapture the Golan Heights during this battle but was unsuccessful. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, but Syria continued to claim it as territory. Israel’s motto was “Never Again,” but October 7, 2023, the IDF was caught off guard again.

One of the battles was in Golon Heights at what is called the Valley of Tears today. Syria sent 2000 tanks to destroy Israel’s tank force which was only 200. Israel was outnumbered 10 to1. After three days, Israel miraculously won the battle and defeated the Syrians. Today there is a memorial on that site.

• Lebanon War: In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon and ejected the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This group, which started in 1964 under the leadership of Ahmad Shukeiri until 1967. In 1967, he was replaced by Yahia Hammuda. Yasser Arafat occupied the position from 1969 until his death in 2004. The PLO declares that all Arab citizens living in Palestine up to 1947 to be called “Palestinians,” focused on creating a Palestinian state within Israel. The PLO has been replaced by the Palestinian Authority (PA) led by Mahmood Abras in 1997.

• First Palestinian Intifada: Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank led to a 1987 Palestinian uprising and hundreds of deaths. A peace process, known as the Oslo Peace Accords, ended the Intifada (a Arabic word meaning “shaking off”). After this, the Palestinian Authority formed and took over some territories in Israel. In 1997, the Israeli army withdrew from parts of the West Bank.

• Second Palestinian Intifada: Palestinians launched suicide bombs and other attacks on Israelis in 2000. The resulting violence lasted for years, until a cease-fire was reached. Israel announced a plan to remove all troops and Jewish settlements from the Gaza strip by the end of 2005.

• Second Lebanon War: Israel went to war with Hezbollah—a Shiite Islamic militant group in Lebanon—in 2006. A UN-negotiated ceasefire ended the conflict a couple of months after it started.

• Hamas Wars: Israel has been involved in repeated violence with Hamas, a Sunni Islamist militant group that assumed Palestinian power in 2006. Some of the more significant conflicts took place beginning in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2023-2024, and the one they are involved in now that started on October 2023 when Hamas slaughtered over 1200 Israelis and foreigners.  240 people were taken hostage. Many Americans and people from other countries were part of this number of hostages taken. In October 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Hamas following a surprise deadly assault launched from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Iran War: On Saturday, April 13, 2024, Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles toward Israel. Miraculously, all were destroyed by the Israeli defense systems, the US, and Jordan. Several people received shrapnel wounds from one destroyed drone. Israel probably responded on April 18, 2024. Iarel has not taken credit what happened. We really don’t know exactly what happened.

The Two-State Solution

Many countries and many US Presidents have pushed for more peace agreements in recent years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had supported the two-state solution but has felt pressure to change his stance. Netanyahu has also been accused of encouraging Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas while still backing a two-state solution.

The United States is one of Israel’s closest allies. In a visit to Israel in May 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Netanyahu to embrace peace agreements with Palestinians. And in May 2018, the U.S. Embassy relocated to from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Palestinians perceived as signal of American support for Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Palestinians responded with protests at the Gaza-Israel border, which were met with Israeli force resulting in the deaths of dozens of protesters.

Today many nations no longer support Israel because of the war in Gaza. The US continues to send mixed signals about their support of Israel. 

I had a conversation with an Arab at Hebron in 2018. He told me that God thrust the Jews out of the land in AD 70. He said the Arabs had been there since about 600 AD.  I said that was correct. He said now the Jews are displacing us from our land. I then asked him who they displaced in AD 600 with no response. I said the Jews were kicked out because of disobedience to God, but the land is theirs as promised in the eternal Abrahamic Covenant in the Torah.  The Tanach, the Old Testament, teaches that after the dispersion, they would return never to be plucked out again. I said they are here to stay. We shook hands and agreed to disagree.

Since biblically Israel has an eternal right by an eternal covenant to live in the land, the consequence of the nations that divide the land as seen in Joel 3:1-2 should also be considered by those wanting a two-state solution.  Let’s also look at it another way.

As Alan Dershowitz, former professor at Harvard Law School,  said in an interview in IsraelUnwired.com on March 27, 2024,  “… The Jewish people have nowhere else to go. This has been proven time and again – before, during , and after the Holocaust. There is only one place that the Jewish people can turn to that will open its doors to the Jewish people in a time of need – the Land of Israel under the sovereignty of a Jewish State. David Ben-Gurion’s Law of Return was perhaps the greatest achievement for the security of the Jewish people since the destruction of the 2nd Temple.

The Arabs who claim that Israel has conquered their Land indeed have a claim – a very weak claim.  … However, if one listens to what the Arabs say, both in public and on the street, they generally don’t talk about their claim to the Land. They talk about Al Aqsa – a religious symbol, and they talk about killing Jews and driving them into the sea. 5% of what they say is about Land. 95% is about killing Jews, holy wars, and taking over the world.

A two-state solution, a non-starter that is now rejected by more than 80% of Israel’s Jewish population, presupposes that there is a land dispute between two legitimate parties that requires compromise on both sides. But that supposition is incorrect. It’s not about land for the Arabs. It’s about winning the holy war. And for the Jewish people, it is about land. But it is also about having no other option. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, and other areas in the Middle East have more empty land than Montana. Anyone who claims the so-called “Palestinians” have nowhere to go needs to look at a population and geographic map of the Middle East.

There is only room for one sovereign country between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. The Arabs know this too. It is just a one-hour drive to go from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. We must face the facts and not just spout empty slogans like ‘two state solution’ and ‘compromises for peace’ that lead to nothing but more terror and dead ends…