Israel at War: Week 107
In the midst of seeking to obtain peace with Hamas, Joel Rosenberg notes an important fact in his book “Enemies and Allies.” He writes, “It is a fallacy-and a dangerous one-to believe that peace between Israel and the Arab states is enough. Anyone who truly cares about peace in the Middle East must care about finding a compassionate, practical, and workable answer to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people” (p. 306).
President Trump’s 20 point plan has a very significant, glaring weakness: it does not allow Israel to defeat and disarm Hamas, and it provides a pathway to a two state provision. One that Israel will not and cannot accept.
President Trump views the Gaza conflict as a ‘nuisance’ and wants it over quickly. But for Israel it’s an issue of national survival. That cannot be understated or ignored in negotiating the peace to end the Israel-Hamas War.
Somehow Israel’s aims and objectives are either ignored or missing in peace negotiations with Hamas. Those three objectives that Prime Minister Netanyahu listed are clear and necessary. First, to destroy and dismantle Hamas. Second, to disarm Hamas. Third, to prevent Gaza from ever being a threat to Israel again. He succinctly said, “This is a war of good against evil, of light against darkness, and light must win.” That purpose statement and primary objective from Israel’s viewpoint must be brought to the forefront of any peace negotiations. Otherwise, the murderous Hamas terrorists will live to continue threatening and attacking Israel.
No wonder God says in Zechariah 12: 2-3, “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” God takes the city of Jerusalem, the land of Israel, and the survival of the Jewish people very seriously. The nations leaders, including President Trump and his envoy Steve Witkoff, should act and negotiate accordingly.
