In the early 1960s Syria was firing rockets and missiles from the Golan Heights into Israel, and that eventually contributed to the 1967 Six Day War. Israel sent in troops, captured the Golan Heights and vowed to never give them back.
For several weeks, Russia and the U.S. have supposedly been working on a peace treaty to end the civil war in Syria. They even circulated a draft copy of a treaty in mid-April of this year.
Israel’s leaders were stunned to learn that the first sentence of their draft treaty to end Syria’s civil war says Israel will have to give the Golan Heights back to Syria.
On April 17, 2016, Prime Min. Netanyahu held a cabinet meeting on the Golan Heights where he vowed that the Golan Heights “will forever remain under Israeli sovereignty.”
On April 18, 2016, the U.S. State Dept. said, “The U.S. does not consider the Golan Heights to be part of Israel.”
Syria, Iran and Hezbollah started celebrating. They believe Israel will have to give the Golan Heights back to Syria or the U.S. and Russia might go to war and force Israel to give them back.
On April 21, 2016, Prime Min. Netanyahu and several Israeli military leaders went to Russia. Mr. Netanyahu stood next to Vladimir Putin and said, “The strategic plateau (Golan Heights) will always remain part of Israel.” He further said:
We cannot return to the days and times when our villages were shot at from the Golan Heights, therefore, whether within the framework of an agreement or without one, the Golan Heights will remain part of (Israeli) sovereign territory.
The way I understand it, Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Putin it doesn’t matter what the U.S. and Russia put in their treaty—Israel will not withdraw from the Golan Heights.
It is important to understand that we are talking about a draft copy of a treaty and not a final copy. The opening sentence could be omitted; the present negotiations could fall through without producing a treaty. Or they could drag on for months and not be a problem—for a while.
But this writer wonders if Russia and /or the U.S. will be given authority to enforce a treaty. Would Russia use her newfound power in the Middle East to assist Syria in an effort to retake the Golan Heights?
Is something shaping up that will lead to a war between Syria and Israel or perhaps instigate the prophesied battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39? It is cause for concern.
Here is more, but it is along a different line. In March 2016, Pres. Obama traveled to Cuba. Raul Castro who has gone to the airport to greet other dignitaries didn’t go to the airport to greet Pres. Obama.
In April 2016, Pres. Obama traveled to Saudi Arabia and King Salman who has gone to the airport to greet other dignitaries or sent members of his royal family to take his place didn’t do any of this for Pres. Obama.
He was obviously expecting Pres. Obama because he sent the governor of Riyadh. And, in addition to that, the TV cameras that are usually there to show the arrival of dignitaries were absent on this occasion.
Pres. Obama could be reaping a harvest for what he has done to Prime Minister Netanyahu over the last seven years (Obad. 1:15). His ugly habit of snubbing our best ally appears to be coming back on him.
One more thing: My good friend Mike Hile sent me a link to a video about some unusual activity at Yellowstone National Park. It is only about 4 minutes long and many may want to watch it. The link is:
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck