So Much for a Peace Partner...

PA Carries out Ahmadinejad’s Threat and Wipes Israel Off Map
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

The Palestinian Authority has carried out Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s threat to “wipe Israel off the map” and literally has done so by displaying maps of “Palestine” covering all of Israel at the same time its leaders talk about “two states for two people.”

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah movement that controls the PA in Judea and Samaria, has in effect established a “one-state” solution in Fatah offices and in Palestinian Authority schools and offices.

The Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) has documented that professional unions and private PA groups display maps showing a rifle and a quill over “Palestine,” from the Lebanese border in the north to Eilat in the south and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.

The maps have been circulated at the same time Abbas campaigns for international recognition of the Palestinian Authority based on the borders of Israel as they existed between 1949 and 1967, during which time Jordan, which had been mandated by the United Nations to rule part of Judea and Samaria, took over and occupied the entire region, including large swaths of Jerusalem, after the War of Independence in 1948.

Jordan surrendered the areas in the Six-Day War in 1967, later relinquishing all claim to it, and Egypt and Syria did the same in Gaza and the Golan Heights respectively.

The maps declare Abbas’ intentions of making what is often termed the “1967 borders” (actually armistice lines that were never recognized) the temporary outline of a would-be Palestinian Authority country, even though – as PMW noted – U.S. President Barack Obama has criticized such maps as a security threat to Israel, in the same category as the threat from terrorist groups who want to destroy Israel.

"I will never compromise when it comes to Israel's security,” he told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in 2008. “Not when there are still voices that deny the Holocaust. Not when there are terrorist groups and political leaders committed to Israel's destruction. Not when there are maps across the Middle East that don't even acknowledge Israel's existence."

Nevertheless, the PA’s version “Palestine,” as illustrated on the map with a rifle and quill, was displayed last week at a meeting of the General Union of Palestinian Writers, PMW reported.

The Palestinian Authority has embedded in its school system the ”one-state” idea of a Palestine – without Israel – for years. As far back as 2003, school posters have displayed the Palestinian flag over a map erasing Israel.

The policy has continued unchanged despite statements by Abbas to President Obama that the PA has ceased anti-Israel incitement. Earlier this year, a map was hung in the principal’s office in a PA school which erased Israel and replaced it with "Palestine", with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) flag flying over Israel.



Baruch atem b'Shem, Yeshua

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?

Just look around. The whole world and many of those living here seem to be perplexed and trembling, as if in great distress and pain, and appear ready to crumble at the seams. Many people are hurting, and are taking notice as never before. Even those who had never before paid any attention are now wondering, "What in the world is going on?" I wrote the following article about two months ago - offering my thoughts concerning the situation today.

Don



All around this world we see people who are suffering in so many ways. Many people are reaching out for help, and asking the question, "What in the world is going on?" Their lives are in a state of turmoil with uncertainty all around them. They see their hopes and dreams vanishing right before their eyes. Many are concerned about their children’s future, and what might be in store for them.

People just don't know which way to turn in a world that seems to be falling apart and ready to self-destruct at any moment. Most don't realize, or they refuse to believe, that we are now living in the days just prior to Jesus' return. My heart and prayers go out for them.

Today we see storm clouds gathering all around Israel with nations committed to destroy her and the Jewish people. We hear of feverish negotiations and schemes underway to further divide Israel and Jerusalem - the apple of God's eye. The nations involved seem to be obsessed in their efforts to divide Jerusalem, with many determined to destroy Israel – that the name of Israel be remembered no more. Sadly, the USA is forcefully leading the way toward those efforts.

God has warned in Zechariah 12:2-3 KJV, "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

Jerusalem has now become the burdensome stone the prophet Zechariah wrote about over 2500 years ago. From those Scriptures, we know that God has promised to destroy every nation attempting to go against Israel. The KJV uses the words "cut in pieces". Just look around, and you will see those pieces beginning to pile up on the cutting room floor - not only here, but worldwide.

As never before we are seeing unprecedented levels of earthquakes, killer tornados and storms, floods, famine, violence, unemployment, volcanoes, bankruptcies, disease, moral decay, a world on the brink of war, and so much more. Recently there was a devastating oil well disaster near our shores that is growing more serious with each passing day. That oil gushing forth non-stop day and night will very likely destroy beautiful coastal areas, wildlife, marine life, and the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people for decades, or more.

We are told in Scripture that all of those things would happen in the last days. Their frequency and intensity will increase as the Day of the Lord draws near. That is exactly what is happening. However, those who know the Scriptures should not be surprised or alarmed.

I personally believe Scripture is telling us that Jerusalem is God's "line in the sand", and when crossed, His fierce wrath and judgment will be unleashed on this unbelieving world. What we are witnessing today may be early warnings of God's wrath - as crossing that line in the sand becomes closer to reality. In spite of all that is happening today, the world hasn’t seen anything yet. It’s only the beginning, and will become much worse.

However, all born-again believers can take comfort in knowing we serve a great God. With the world crumbling all around us, with turmoil everywhere we look, and with Israel surrounded by armies seeking to destroy her, we know that our Sovereign God is in control and holds tomorrow in the palm of His hand. He has a plan, and has declared the end from the beginning. Nothing will happen in this world without His knowledge and permission.

We must watch what is taking place with Israel and Jerusalem. They are God's time clock - a clock that is rapidly ticking to usher in the final end time events leading to Christ's return. What a time to be alive to witness those events unfolding just as Scripture foretold!

In these last days I choose to be a watchman as explained in Ezekiel 33:6, ready to sound a trumpet warning…and ready to share the saving gospel message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2; 1 Cor. 15:1-4) while there's still time. I'll do that for as long as I have life and breath, or until Jesus returns for us.

Until that great day arrives, we must trust Him, we must lean on Him, and by faith know that we know He will care for His own as He has promised. Then, in all things, lift up His Holy Name, sing praises to Him, and thank Him - for His return is very near. Hallelujah!

Watch, pray, and keep looking up!