The Art of the Deal

“You know, Emmanuel, I can be tough with Bibi.”

So word is coming that President Trump is prepared to “pressure” Benjamin Netanyahu, if the Israeli leader doesn’t get onboard with the latest American peace plan for the Arab-Israeli conflict.

According to a report in the Jerusalem Post:

“Senior administration officials have said the president’s Middle East peace plan includes several significant provisions that will pose political challenges to the Israeli premier. And now Channel 10 is reporting that Trump has told France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, that he is prepared to get ‘tough’ with Netanyahu if necessary.”

Well.

At the UN last month, Trump followed the game plan of previous U.S. leaders, committing himself to the disastrous two-state solution. He intends to unveil “his plan” by the end of the year.

Now, look, none of us know what really goes on behind the scenes. It’s possible that Trump is just using this as a ruse, and is coordinating everything with Netanyahu.

But there is an important point to remember: the bestselling author of the Art of the Deal probably does not have a biblical worldview, especially when it comes to ancient land deeds and covenants. I doubt seriously he takes seriously the “title deed” nature of Israel from the Bible.

So it’s equally possible he means exactly what he is saying in public: a “peace plan” is forthcoming and by golly, people better get behind it. Trump reportedly has cited his moving of the embassy to Jerusalem as a sort of debt that Netanyahu owes him.

This wouldn’t surprise me.

Trump has said that Israel would have to “pay more” now that he has done some positive things for the Jewish state.

What this all tells us is that earthly governments are never the long-term solution. The best we can hope for in the short term is that an American president is not hostile to Israel—as Obama was.

Trump appears to be falling into the same trap past presidents have: they all have felt they could solve what is in reality unsolvable from a human perspective.

The West can “push” Israel all it wants. But in the end, only the Lord of History brings the best deal.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com

Molech is Hungry

More violence was unleashed at the Gaza Strip border this past week, all of it fomented by the evil Palestinian Authority/PLO. It is astonishing how little they care about human life. Except their own.

About 15,000 protestors showed up at the security fence, throwing hand grenades and IEDs at Israeli soldiers. Four approached the fence in an attempt to get through, and were shot and killed.

Does anyone care about the four killed? They were human beings, living and dying in a squalid area of the world. A bleak life, under the heel of the PLO, compelled them to shove themselves into the Hamas meat grinder, which is never full.

These are the so-called “return marches,” in which the Palestinians are still demanding the “right of return,” claiming that millions of descendants of refugees from the 1948 and 1967 wars are entitled. From a report by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, we can see how pathetic this has all become:

“The riots and the violence of the “return marches” are becoming formally institutionalized and organized. The organizers reported that in addition to the incendiary balloon-launching group, the tire-burning group and the so-called “night harassment group,” two other groups would be established: the “bow and arrow group,” which would shoot burning arrows at IDF soldiers; and the “smokescreen-production group,” which would make it difficult for the IDF to operate against the demonstrators.”

Both Israel’s prime minister and defense minister have issued the usual condemnations and pledges of reprisals. Everyone knows the drill.

Further to the report:

“An exceptional event occurred near the al-Bureij refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip when rioters placed an IED on the security fence. It detonated and set fire to the fence, creating a large gap. About 20 Gazans tried to enter Israeli territory through the gap in the fence. Most of them returned to the Gaza Strip because of IDF fire. Some tried to approach an IDF post. An IDF force shot and killed them. Others took their bodies and returned with them to the Gaza Strip. The ministry of health reported that four Gazans had been killed (Facebook page of Ashraf al-Qidra, October 12, 2018). At least three of those killed were apparently operatives of Hamas military wing, since their bodies were wrapped in Hamas military wing flags for burial and senior Hamas figures attended their funerals (Palinfo Twitter account, October 13, 2018). The IDF spokesperson said killing them prevented an attack on Israeli civilians and security forces, adding that no Israeli casualties

had been reported (IDF spokesperson, October 12, 2018).”

This is madness.

The ancient demons are still hungry for souls.

I grieve for those lost Palestinian lives. Those people who will never know a peaceful day. In my personal situation, I live in a rural area, on a farm. Every evening I sit outside with my dog and look at the view. I can listen to music or read. Whatever I want.

Can you imagine living in the hellhole of Gaza? I cannot.

Please, wherever you are this week (and beyond!), pray that harmony and peaceful hearts and minds come to the Palestinian people.

I love history, and as a Christian, I think about how Jesus has been, is, and will always be waiting for all to come to Him. Whether it’s Sumerians, Chinese, the Inca, modern people…each soul is precious to God. Let’s pray that God will break the evil that grips Gaza. That people will stop murdering each other. That each person can have a place where he or she can go and be peaceful, even for a short time.

Father God, please bless and heal the people of Gaza. Turn them from the evil that controls them and hates them. Please, Father, send your Son to them. Amen.

Jim1fletcher@yahoo.com