Those who sow with tears
11 September 2020
A weekly reflection on current global affairs concerning Israel and
the Jewish people from a Biblical perspective.
The number of countries looking to build relations with Israel grows. Today it was announced that Bahrain has joined UAE in “normalising” relations with Israel. Such agreements are destroying the myth that Arab and Muslim states cannot have strong formal friendship with Israel.
This past week Serbia and Kosovo signed documents in the Oval Office in the presence of US President Trump, in which – in addition to a wide range of other seemingly largely disconnected matters - both agreed to move their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem. The EU - predictably - responded by warning Serbia and Kosovo (both aspiring EU members) that they could undermine their EU membership hopes by moving their Israeli embassies to Jerusalem.
This is predictable, because the official and deeply-entrenched EU position has always been that Israel’s reunification of Jerusalem is illegal – further evidence of Europe’s deep resentment of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem. In the meantime, there are reports Malawi will move its embassy to Jerusalem, and Chad is considering some form of representation in Israel’s capital (recent suggestions that Chad had agreed to move its embassy to Jerusalem were subsequently denied by the Chad government).
The Palestinian leadership continues to condemn the normalization of Israeli-Arab relations. No-one seems to be listening - except Iran and Turkey. This is tragic, the Palestinian leaders are missing a huge opportunity to advance the cause of their people.
Anti-Semitism continues to grow, worldwide. This is a deeply disturbing trend which we need to fight vigorously. And yet there are encouraging signs of hope, as the stories about Bassam Tibi and Ali Drabu show.
Israel continues to be plagued by two crises: as the Corona virus continues at alarming levels, the government is considering a new lock-down, and there is no end in sight to the political crisis in Israel that has effectively shut down the government.
As Israel and the Jewish people head towards the High Holy days, it is good to remember that the path to peace is through suffering. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” A lesson we all need to learn.
The Editorial Team - Israel & Christians Today
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