SINCE the beginning of 2013 people have been asking what these new times might bring in the Middle East region, specifically with the instability in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, and looming Iranian nuclear ambitions.
Secular folk wonder if the reinstated US President will pursue a stronger Middle East strategy. Will Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu PM Select be more flexible to US and EU demands? Or can Benjamin Netanyahu even create and maintain a government? Will Netanyahu and his cabinet give the order to attack Iran or Syria or will there be instead a civil war in Israel between the religious and the secular?
Many individuals who read and/or believe in the Bible question if we are near the end times, however, this is not exclusive to Christians and Jews as Muslims and some of the public in general, dispute the significance of the occurrences.
As for the direction of the US Middle East ‘peace’ policy and Israel’s new government, we don’t have to wait long to find out. Benjamin Netanyahu is rapidly negotiating partners for his coalition and President Obama is slated to be in the region in March. No one is wasting any time in getting organized for the new year’s challenges.
In the meantime, others pondering Biblical prophetic scriptures wonder if this world is teetering on the brink of total disintegration. Many question if the current US President is the antichrist (known as the beast in the Book of Revelation), the king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences of the Book of Daniel. Some popular magazines and web sites have already used the term and image of the President as a ‘messiah’ to purportedly cryptically further flame the theories. While others question if Israel’s paramount security threats along with their inner secular/religious strife is an advanced sign to the attack of Gog and Magog in the Book of Ezekiel, or the gentiles treading the holy city under foot in the Book of Revelation (existence of international forces policing or maintaining order in Israel).
Nowadays though, the statements above may seem like a joke or insanity to many people, but millions of others treat prophecy very seriously, maybe it secretly, and for that reason alone should not be ignored by the unbelieving. Therefore, all these events and potential events dramatically raise alarms to those who watch for the ‘end times’ while they debate whether they should prepare for the worse.
A couple things are for sure. The world is a much more dangerous place. Armies are rapidly modernizing, building and rebuilding in China, Russia, North Korea, and in the Middle East, and Christians and Jews worldwide are definitely being persecuted more often (America is no exemption).
So does this mean anything?
Based on the current conditions, I perceive four things could possibly happen. First, the Israelis will try to settle the secular/religious disputes by negotiation as the modern Israeli does not predominantly display physical-violence tendencies among themselves particularly while in danger from external forces.
Second, there is a chance of a massive, coordinated attack on Israel from joint Arab and Muslim extremist militias and terrorists, reinforced by Russian, North Korean and maybe Chinese weapons and advisors similar to the scenario in the Book of Ezekiel, chapter 38. Although, in order for this to occur, the Arabs would need to stop fighting themselves, and Russia, China and North Korea would have to have a contingency plan for USA intervention and Israeli retaliation that includes a nuclear confrontation on multiple fronts.
Third, there could be a collapse of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon and/or a surprise Israeli preempt strike on Iran (which is what the US President wants to avoid and rumored why he is coming to Israel). Israelis fighting against either Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon or Iran could hypothetically, immediately plunge the Middle East into a regional war, combined with international forces, in which both Israel and the Arab countries sustain severe and traumatic destruction similar to references in the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 34, 35, parts of 36, and 38:8. That is, if, the Arabs can stop fighting each other long enough to concentrate on Israel.
Four, nothing happens. Or actually to be precise, exactly more of the same despairing state of affairs, attacks and retribution that have plagued Israel ever since they reemerged as a country, and the contentious conditions that have haunted the Middle East region for millennia. And unfortunately till now, circumstances haven’t altered despite who the Caesar, Prefect, Proconsul, King, Sultan, Sheik, Prime Minister, President, General, Diplomat or leadership was. In fact, if someone does overcome the monumental odds and obstructions between the regional feuds, beliefs, religions, traditions and cultures, and does succeed in creating a peaceful Middle East region, maybe that is when we should be concerned about the ‘end times’.
Now, returning to the Obama and Netanyahu peace initiatives. I haven’t included the Palestinian National Authority (PA) because, it appears for them, not inflicting the Israelis with terrorism is concession enough and no other compromises are needed. In addition, along with world demands the PA has great hopes the US is going to force Israel into more gestures and concessions.
As a result, a lot of pressure is building against the Israelis to do something. Politicians are already spinning concessions in a positive light. Surprisingly, some have changed their view and want to recognize the PA, while others talk of a State of Palestine without the right of return or strong military capabilities. Even so, I do want to point out a couple of things. There is no way, once Palestine becomes a state, to relinquish their right of return or to refuse them to have a comprehensive military. It isn’t legal and won’t stand up in court indefinitely to refuse a United Nation’s recognized country, their sovereign rights. Besides, once Palestine is a state, Russia and China who are on the Security Council will (allegedly) vote or change their vote so all Arab Palestinians can return, and might even (allegedly) fully arm the State of Palestine in order to annoy the Israelis and the Americans and try to push them out of the region altogether.
In conclusion, conditions in the region are getting worse and the colossal task of restarting the ‘peace talks’ is a mighty undertaking. I know, for a fact, that the majority of Israelis sincerely do want some kind of arrangement that will ensure their security along with the Palestinian Arabs living nearby. Nevertheless, the chaotic environment, and the lingering historical mutual disdain related to bloodlines, failed talks, promises and bloodshed perpetually complicates the Middle Eastern quagmire.
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Don Davis has over 20 years experience in analytic research particularly regarding Israeli, Middle Eastern culture, behavior and historical patterns. Don is based in Israel, from where he monitors and evaluates worldwide information on finance, technologies, industries, and the military/political environment for a US consulting company.