INTERNATIONAL December 2019 ISRAEL Kislev - Tevet 5780 & Christians Today Understanding Israel and world events from a Biblical perspective www.c4israel.org | [email protected] Israeli soldiers close the gate leading to the Island of Peace in Naharaim, northern Israel, on the border with Jordan, on 9 November 2019. This is one of the parcels of land of which Jordan did not extend the lease. | Photo: Flash90 Is Peace Gone Between Israel and Jordan? preservation of Jordan as the Hashemite Kingdom, and it gun battles between opponents of Abdullah’s regime who n Yochanan Visser Christians for Israel Correspondent in Israel opposes the ‘Jordan is Palestine’ concept,” Kahana wrote. are members of the Bani Hassan tribe, and regime forces in the city of Zarqa, Jordan’s third-largest city. Not only has the peace between Jordan and Israel turned “Israel further lends Jordan a powerful status on the cold, but it also looks to be on the verge of collapse. Temple Mount, sells its natural gas at floor rates and To divert attention from the many failures of his regime provides it with significant water supply, as well as to solve severe economic and social problems Abdullah Jordan recently ‘celebrated’ the 25th anniversary of its enables European goods heading to Jordan to pass uses the Palestinian issue to protect his rule over Jordan peace treaty with Israel by recalling its ambassador to the through the Haifa port and land crossings,” he added. which is home to a Palestinian majority and roughly 1.5 Jewish State. The move is highly symbolic of the state of million Syrian refugees who were taught to hate Israel. relations between Israel and Jordan, 25 years after the On the other hand Kahana claims that Jordan keeps the peace agreement was signed by the late King Hussein and tensions with the Palestinians from boiling over, and In March this year, the King made clear he sees himself as the slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin in the adds that this is particularly true when it comes to the the patron of Jerusalem, which he still seems to regard as a part of Jordan. “Jerusalem and the future of Palestine are a presence of former US President Bill Clinton. Temple Mount in Jerusalem. red line for Jordan. I don’t think I can make it any clearer… “Why is the climate acerbic? Because every public step In Israel, there are those like Ksenia Svetlova of Mitvim, As a Hashemite, how could I (possibly) relinquish Jerusalem? King Abdullah takes to signal warming ties with Israel The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, who That is impossible. It is a red line. (I say) a resounding no to will meet with scathing domestic criticism, to the point agree with Jordanian anti-Israel activists that the (relinquishing) Jerusalem,” Abdullah said at the time. deterioration in the relations between the two countries of rattling the throne,” according to the Israeli journalist. Jordan announced last year that it would not extend the is solely on the fault of the Netanyahu government which The Jordanian King is dealing with increasing opposition lease of the two parcels of land because of domestic allegedly misses every opportunity to increase to his regime, something that has been under-reported by opposition against the peace deal with Israel. At the same cooperation with the Hashemite Kingdom. both Israeli and international media. time, Jordan is careful not to end security cooperation with Ariel Kahana, writing for Israel HaYom, strongly disagrees Take, for example, what happened in Jordan when Israel because it fears an influx of Islamists from Syria. For with Svetlova and claims the cold peace has its protesters in Ramtha threw shoes (a very humiliating act this reason, both Jordan and Israel asked President Donald advantages. “Israel offers Jordan the strategic backing it in Muslim countries) and stones at giant billboards with J. Trump to keep some US Special Forces in southern Syria needs to deal with the threats it faces; it supports the photos of King Abdullah. The protests were followed by near the Jordanian border. 3 6 7 12 Are Israeli Settlements Illegal? Jewish Origins of Christmas Christiansti s forf r IsraelI l inin KoreaKo Bless Bethlehem Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel 2 December 2019 | Israel & Christians Today Kislev - Tevet 5780 Editorial Colophon Israel & Christians Today is the premier publication of Christians for Israel Fourth Beast with Ten Horns Mission Our mission is to bring Biblical understanding n Andrew Tucker in the Church and among the nations International Editor | Christians for Israel concerning God’s purposes for Israel and to The fourth beast with ten horns (Daniel 7) promote comfort of Israel through prayer and action. The past two months have seen some very significant geopolitical developments. Editorial Team The global landscape is changing Andrew Tucker dramatically, and a number of new global International Editor-in-Chief power blocks are emerging. [email protected] Since the exit of foreign policy hawk and Cathy Coldicutt regime-change advocate John Bolton, Managing Editor under President Trump, the US is [email protected] pursuing a policy of non-intervention in Marloes van Westing the Middle East. The US sudden pull-out from northeast Syria in October gave International Communications Manager Israeli citizens of different political stripes demonstrate outside the Knesset, Israeli Parliament, [email protected] room to Turkey to move in and wipe out to demand the creation of a unity government on November 18, 2019 Kurdish populations. Notwithstanding Ian Worby, Bryce Turner, Rita Quartel, the various US initiatives to support Israel Each needs Moscow, and the Kremlin Israel and Iran could easily be sparked and James Patrick, Marie-Louise Weissenböck in its negotiations with the Palestinians knows it. Chaos in the super-continent descend into a massive conflagration, and Marijke Terlouw (e.g. the move of the US embassy to could usher in an era of a much stronger devastating Israel and other countries in the Russian role in northern Eurasia, though region. Israel is already girding for a war Scripture references: THE HOLY BIBLE, Jerusalem, and the latest policy it would have a more limited scope than with the Islamic Republic and has carried NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® announcement that the US no longer that envisioned among the Kremlin elites.” out hundreds of strikes against Iran-linked Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, considers Israeli settlements to Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved contravene international law), many in In the meantime, on Israel’s northern targets in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. A single worldwide. Israel are sceptical of how far Israel can border, Lebanon is imploding. Facing miscalculation during one of those airstrikes rely on this Administration. massive protests, the government has could draw retaliation by Iran, Oren wrote C4I Offices in a column recently published in The Turkey, in fact, is emerging out of all of resigned, and the country has fallen into Atlantic. “Israeli troops, especially in the Christians for Israel International this as a major player in the region. Even economic and political crisis, with (at the north, have been placed on war footing. Leon Meijer, Chairman President Trump is flirting with President date of writing) no sign of a new Israel is girding for the worst and acting on Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer, President Erdogan, whom he calls “a hell of a government yet. This could open up a the assumption that fighting could break Rev. Cornelis Kant, Executive Director leader”. At the same time, Erdogan met in vacuum to be filled by Hezbollah. With an out at any time. And it’s not hard to imagine P.O. Box 1100 | 3860 BC Nijkerk, October in Sochi with Russian President arsenal of tens of thousands of rockets how it might arrive. The conflagration, like The Netherlands | Tel: +31 33 422 0405 Putin, who is no friend of the West. As and missiles, Iran’s proxy Hezbollah is so many in the Middle East, could be [email protected] | www.c4israel.org commentator Con Coughlin has committed to Israel’s destruction. ignited by a single spark.” This might sound observed, “the two countries have agreed Europe, as usual, turns a blind eye to these The English Edition of Israel & Christians Today like scaremongering, but Oren is not alone to work together on the post-conflict dangers and is persisting in its policies is published by the following English speaking in warning of the possibility of large-scale carve-up of Syria, one that is designed to which run counter to Israel’s interests. branches: conflict in the region. bolster the interests of both Russia and One of those is its determination to Christians for Israel - Australia Turkey at the expense of the Syrian Kurds impose the two-state solution, based on Of course, we don’t know how all of this is Ian Worby, National Leader who were, until recently, regarded as vital the ‘1967 lines’. The other is Europe’s going to play out, but the kings of Daniel 7 PO Box 1508, Springwood allies of the US and other NATO member commitment to the Joint Comprehensive may be emerging. Possibly we are seeing Queensland, Australia 4127 states in the fight against ISIS.” Plan of Action (JCPA) with Iran, and policy the gradual fulfilment of the prophecies Tel: +61 402 277 930, [email protected] of downplaying Iran’s nuclear program and www.c4israel.com.au International relations analyst Emil in chapters 38 and 39 of the book of Ezekiel Avdaliani recently observed that Russia fostering economic relations with Iran. concerning ‘Gog and Magog’ – which, one Christians for Israel - New Zealand could emerge from the chaos in Eurasia as This is problematic to Israel because Iran – way or another, will involve Russia, Bryce Turner, National Executive Director the dominant player: “The geopolitical in coordination with its proxies close to Turkey and Iran, as well as Libya (Put) and PO Box 12 006, Penrose, landscape is changing fast across the Israel’s borders, such as Hezbollah, Hamas Sudan (Cush), moving against Israel.