No doubt you have already seen the photos that were released regarding
Friday's meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S.
President Barack Obama. Between Netanyahu's cold, angry stare, and Obama's
tense, reciprocal glare, I don't know which was worse. Considering the
obvious animosity which exists between the two leaders, not to mention their
diametrically opposed viewpoints regarding how to move forward in the
so-called Middle East peace process, I honestly don't know how they even
managed to remain in the same room with each other, much less sit down to a
meal together, and hold two hours plus of discussions. The atmosphere must
have been absolutely electric. I would imagine that most of that expensive
food was left uneaten. Who could possibly peacefully eat under such
conditions, while your worst critic is sitting across the table from you?
Then again, most politicians are pros when it comes to civility, political
correctness and diplomacy. They will smile for the cameras, even while they
are holding their breath and gritting their teeth.

Since President Obama gave his much-anticipated speech last Thursday,
criticism has indeed been strong. Powerful Republican politicians, as well
as many other American pro-Israel supporters, have been quick to pounce on
President Obama, due to his firm stance regarding what he believes must be
done in order to achieve peace in the Middle East. The position he has
adopted is obviously not popular with these people, and never has been, but
what other fair, equitable solutions are there? Continued occupation is not
an option. Neither is a Palestinian State that is so divided in a physical
and geographical sense that it isn't really even a state, and thus cannot
function properly.

Many people no doubt realize that returning to some semblance of the
pre-1967 borders may be the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, but it is a very bitter pill to swallow for Jews and pro-Israel
supporters alike. That is why no one is currently offering to lead the way,
other than Obama himself, and his supporters within his administration.
Obviously, that does not include Dennis B. Ross, who is Israel's favorite
American son and loyal mouthpiece.

While the liberal, pro-Jewish press has been quick to heap scathing
criticism upon Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not
received equal treatment. So I must ask, why not? It should be clear to
everyone by now that Netanyahu has driven the last nail into the coffin of
the Middle East peace process. He drew a very firm line in the sand when he
declared the following points:

1. he will never accept pre-1967 borders.

2. he will never recognize the Palestinian right of return.

3. he will never deal with the Palestinian government as long as Hamas is a
part of it.

Based on those remarks, going forward, it is an illusion and a deception to
even refer to it as the Middle East peace process. Don't kid yourself. There
is no peace process. It is dead in the water, and has been for some time
now. The Palestinians obviously realize this, which is why they now intend
to approach the United Nations General Assembly in September. The Israeli
leadership habitually says that they have no peace partner. It seems to me
that based on Netanyahu's remarks, the Palestinians have the right to say
the very same thing. As long as both sides are so adamant in their
positions, any form of further discussion is absolutely futile at this
point. It would just be more years of fruitless, empty talks which contain
no real substance, and which would lead to nothing concrete.

So what comes next?

If it weren't for the one remaining hope -- perhaps a false hope -- that the
Palestinians have in the United Nations General Assembly, I wouldn't
hesitate to say that the potential exists for a sudden, steep climb in the
level of violence against Israel. In retrospect, intifada number one and
intifada number two might be insignificant compared to what a third intifada
might be like; because it would be fueled by a total loss of hope on the
part of the Palestinians.

If thousands of Palestinians were willing to mass on Israel's borders a week
ago -- even at the risk of facing death -- imagine if many thousands more
did the same thing, or worse. If the Tunisians, the Egyptians, the Syrians,
the Yemenis and the Bahrainis have been willing to rise up against
oppression, why not the Palestinians? Who knows. If they don't get what they
want from the United Nations come September, anything could happen, and
probably will.

I am reminded of some verses that were written by the Old Testament Prophet
Zechariah where he writes the following:

"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 . . . In that
day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is
feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David
shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to
pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come
against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they
shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as
one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one
that is in bitterness for his firstborn . . . In that day there shall be a
fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
for sin and for uncleanness."
Zechariah 12:2-3, 8-10, 13:1, KJV

While certain modern Bible teachers claim that the previous verses are
describing our current time, and the situation in the Middle East, I am not
so certain of this. I am more inclined to believe that they are referring to
the time of the Roman occupation during the First Century, and more
specifically, to the siege against Judah and Jerusalem in 70 AD by Roman
General Titus -- the son of Emperor Vespasian -- which I discuss in a number
of my articles.

There are two key hints in the previous verses which make me believe that
this is so. These hints appear to be prophecies concerning the Crucifixion
of Jesus Christ, and the spiritual Salvation which would result from His
Death.

Please notice that Zechariah states "and they shall look upon me whom they
have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only
son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for
his firstborn." In my view, that clearly seems to be a prophecy concerning
the sufferings of Christ.

Zechariah also writes that "there shall be a fountain opened to the house of
David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness". As
all Christians realize, there is only one fountain, or one source, for
cleansing us from our sins and uncleanness, and that is Jesus Christ. As
Jesus Himself stated in the Gospel of John:

"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who
it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him,
and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir,
thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast
thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave
us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall
thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a
well of water springing up into everlasting life."
John 4:10-14, KJV

But my point in sharing the verses from the Book of Zechariah with you is to
say this: Just as Jerusalem became a burdensome stone and a major problem
for the Romans due to the belligerence of the Jews -- so much so that the
Romans ultimately smashed Jerusalem to bits  in 70 AD -- modern Israel and
Jerusalem once again weigh heavily on the minds of many politicians, both in
America and abroad. Despite effort after effort, the years and decades pass,
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved, and the level of
hostility towards Israel continues to grow. Benjamin Netanyahu is certainly
not doing his nation a favor by publicly displaying such belligerence and
obstinacy. He is an incorrigible hawk who is set in his ways, and he needs
to move out of the way before it is too late.



Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23
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