Successor of Mahmoud Abbas Has Been Appointed

The PA’s Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein a-Sheikh was officially appointed as the Secretary of the Executive Committee in the PLO. This appointment filled the void created when Sa’eb Erekat (who died from Covid complications a year and a half ago), and this officially establishes a-Sheikh as the designated successor of Mahmood Abbas, the 87-year-old President of the Palestinian Authority.

Is Peace Possible? Part 3: Dividing the Land

Creating a territorial link connecting the West Bank and Gaza would divide Israel in half.

One key development that has not been reported is the fact that the Palestinians demand a “territorial link” connecting the West Bank and Gaza.

What does this mean? It would literally divide Israel into two parts.

The PLO released a statement through its news agency Wafa and stated a “territorial link connecting the West Bank and Gaza is crucial to the integrity of the Palestinian state”, and was a prerequisite for peace.

The Bible says in Joel in 3:2:

I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.

Notice one of the reasons for the gathering of the nations for judgment is dividing My land.  As I said in an earlier blog piece,

This land was given to the Jews as an eternal homeland. As nations try to divide this land, remember what God says in Deuteronomy 32:8-9:

When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.

According to this passage, it is the nations’ borders that are based on Israel, and not vice versa. From a Biblical perspective, altering Israel’s borders is an expression of rebellion against God who established the borders of Israel.

As the passage continues in verses 13-18 of Joel 3, it says, “Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow — For their wickedness is great.” Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. The Lord also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.” And it will come to pass in that day That the mountains shall drip with new wine, The hills shall flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; A fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Acacias.

As the nations continue to pressure Israel into trading land for peace, unknowingly they are fulfilling this prophecy of dividing the land – and thereby sealing their fate.

Until next time…