In late December, 1993, many Israelis highlighted April 13, 1994 on their calendars. This was to become one of the most significant dates in their modern history.
According to the much publicized agreement between Yassir Arafat and Yitzak Rabin, this date would mark the completion of troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the city of Jericho. In turn, this date was to herald the beginning of true Palestinian self-rule in portions of the occupied territories. The peace accord called for a scheduled four-month withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area. The withdrawal was to commence December 13 and conclude April 13.
To date, that withdrawal has yet to begin, let alone conclude.
Since the peace accord was signed in late December, anything but peace has come to the land. As reported by The Middle East Magazine, January, 1994, since the accord was signed: “Violence in the occupied territories has escalated into indiscriminate beatings and deaths by shooting becoming almost a daily occurrence. By last count, twice as many Arabs as Jews have died, but neither side is blameless.”
Since the publication of that January article, deaths have multiplied, culminating with the Hebron massacre in late February. An American-born medical doctor, Baruch Goldstein, fired his assault rifle at a congregation
of Palestinians worshiping in Hebron, killing at least 40 people before the crowd killed him. This massacre set off another wave of violence which saw windows smashed, cars overturned and at least three killed and 50 wounded.
Have these events jeopardized the peace accord? To the Jews living in Israel, the answer is “No!” To the Palestinians, the answer is a definite “Yes!”
The Jews
To Jews living in Israel, the peace process must continue despite the setbacks that it has suffered. The New York Times reported February 27, 1994 that a random survey of Jews in Tel Aviv indicated: “the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were not in danger of collapse, and most in the survey went so far as to predict that the massacre of the Palestinians would have the same therapeutic effect on the accord as did the shelling of the Sarajevo central market in forcing NATO to make its ultimatum of removing the guns surrounding the hills of Sarajevo.”
The Palestinians
To the Palestinians, the peace accord has become nothing more than a skeleton. The New York Times reported the feelings of Mr. Arafat’s lieutenants on the peace settlement and the progress that has resulted since early December. The February 27, 1994 issue quoted Faisal al-Husseini: “People don’t believe in this peace process anymore nor in our ability as Palestinian negotiators taking part in it to deliver tangible gains that would relieve the misery of everyday life under occupation. We have not suffered under 27 years of Israeli occupation for a peace that means a Jewish settler can walk into a mosque at dawn and shoot to death unarmed men kneeling to worship their God.” The March 6 issue quoted another of Mr. Arafat’s lieutenants, the leader of the Fatah faction, Salim al-Zreii: “The time has come for Palestinians to take up arms against Israel.”
Cotton candy
This peace accord can be compared to cand cotton candy in the hand of a small child. If the cotton candy is to last longer than a few fleeting minutes, then immediate action must be taken by someone in an authoritative position. Today, that comparison is more applicable than ever.
With each passing day, the optimism of peace coming to the land continues to melt. The optimism is further dashed once we realize that the nations that comprise the Middle East are procuring cluster bombs instead of the tools of peace. The title for this review was taken from an article in the January, 1994 issue of The Middle East Magazine contrasting the peace plan with the build up of armaments in the Middle East.
Mid-East arms buildup
Another Middle East nation is attempting to join the nuclear club. “Syria has taken delivery of its first reactor, a 27kW research reactor from China. Construction of a reactor building and related facilities is under way at a site 30 kms southeast of Damascus, and the reactor should be installed within a year” The Middle East Magazine, December, 1993.
Although Syria is claiming that this reactor will be utilized for nothing more than peaceful purposes, both the United States and Germany have suspicions that it will be used for other means. According to the article, both of these governments have “refused point blank to supply Syria with equipment, citing fears that the output might have applications in atomic weapons programs.”
The winner of the arms procurement race year-to-date is, by far and away, Iran. “Recently, a deal of up to $4 billion is reported to have been signed with Russia for 30 more MiG29 fighters, a similar number of MiG31 interceptors, two dozen Su-24 long range ground attack planes and 12 Tu22 long range bombers. On the ground, Iran has acquired large quantities of T-72 tanks and some high technology gear to complement the ground forces.”
Our hope
As Bible students, we watch Israel and the events around her that herald the return of our Master. We understand that both the apparent move toward peace and the great conflict between the nations will take place in the land. As our Lord moves the pieces into place, our job is to watch and be ready for the call to the judgment seat of Christ.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One