Twenty years ago, peace in the Middle East was nothing more than a dream. Since that time, Israel has managed to make peace, first with Egypt and then with Jordan and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. And now discussions are underway with the Syrian government in hope that a peaceful solution can be achieved with yet another Middle East nation. This month’s article looks at the Syrian negotiations and concludes that events taking place today are in complete harmony with the prophecies relating to the latter days.
Negotiations with Syria
In an official Israeli government publication (taken from the internet) dated December 18, 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres laid down the ground rules for negotiations with Syria. “Negotiations with Syria will be renewed without preconditions, Prime Minister Shimon Peres said yesterday, spelling out a 10-point basis for talks which he said Israel and the United States had agreed to” and Syria has also apparently accepted.
- “We will start conducting negotiations without preconditions by us or the Syrians, by presenting concepts and ideas.”
- “The objective is important, not the way in which it is achieved. Negotiations can be carried out in different ways.” Peres said Israel would have liked to open the negotiations with a summit meeting with Syrian President Hafez Assad but this was not a precondition, just a proposal.
- The content of the negotiations and their achievements will determine their duration.
- “We differentiate between issues of contention,” like the border, and “those requiring resolution,” like security arrangements and water issues.
- Negotiations will be held simultaneously on all subjects.
- It is understood that an agreement with Syria would lead to the end of wars in the region. However, Peres said he excluded Libya, Iran, Iraq and Sudan in this context.
- A way must be found to turn the Golan Heights from an area of military confrontation into a center of economic cooperation.
- Israel has asked that the U.S. continue to play a central role in the negotiations.
- Peres also spoke of an “understanding” on the need to preserve peace on the Lebanese border.
- The negotiations should be less formal and more practical and carried out at the fastest pace possible, Peres said.
Progress is being reported
Although the talks are being held behind closed doors, the negotiating teams have briefed the government on positive developments in the talks with Syria. A January 8, 1996 official government report noted: “The Israeli team participating in negotiations with Syria returned to Israel Sunday and briefed Prime Minister Shimon Peres and other senior government officials on the progress of the talks.
“The team is headed by Foreign Ministry Director General Uri Savir and includes Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Professor Itamar Rabinovich, and Joel Singer, the Foreign Ministry’s legal advisor.
“Israel’s negotiators said Syria is prepared to accept Jerusalem’s proposal that an accord between the two countries would constitute the basis of a comprehensive regional peace in the Middle East. Savir and Rabinovich are reporting that the U.S. administration intends to increase its involvement in the negotiations.”
The government quoted Savir as saying Syria is interested in arriving at a peace accord before Knesset elections scheduled for October, 1996. Savir reportedly said Syrian President Hafez el-Assad is willing to exchange ambassadors with Israel and open the border between the two countries to tourists. As well, Maj. Gen. Moshe Ye’elon told government ministers that Syria has made a strategic decision to enter the peace process and supports accelerating talks with Israel.
Conditions conforming to Ezekiel 38
From a scriptural standpoint, there are several interesting aspects to these developments.
Latter-day prophecy clearly states that, prior to the invasion of Israel by the Gogian host, the land will be at peace with her neighbors. “You will say, ‘I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people — all of them living without walls and without gates and bars” (Ezk. 38:11 NIV).
Further, the matter receives much attention as people will be proclaiming peace. “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (I Thess. 5:3).
Third, a most interesting aspect of the above proposals is that Israeli Prime Minister Peres realizes peace will not be achieved with Iran, Iraq, Libya and Sudan. During the last days, as the Gogian host attacks Israel, it is clear these nations will be hostile to Israel and part of the final invasion of the land. Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan) and Put (Libya) — country names are from NIV — will be with the Gogian invader (Ezk. 38:5).
As we compare current events to prophecies for our time, we realize the accuracy of the word of God and how close it is to being fulfilled. We can only hope and pray that the day of their complete fulfillment will come quickly.
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