We wait for the inevitable joining of Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accords, but even now there is much fruit. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are one of the original signers to the Accords, and have just made a truly remarkable announcement. They will begin teaching the Holocaust in both elementary schools and high schools. This follows the first Holocaust Museum in an Arab country in 2021 in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capitol.
United Arab Emirates to Become First Arab Country to Teach Holocaust History in Schools – Holocaust history will be added to the UAE school curriculum — making it the first Arab country to offer such an education. The UAE embassy in Washington credited these developments to the Abraham Accords, the landmark agreement negotiated by the Trump administration and signed by Bahrain, Morocco, and the UAE in September 2020. Bilateral trade between the UAE and Israel increased tremendously after the Abraham Accords, building strong economic ties on top of normalized diplomatic relations. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan visited the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem in September with three other Emirati ministers. Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan called it a “momentous occasion.” The Times of Israel (TOI) reported in November that work on a Holocaust curriculum for Emirati primary and secondary schools was underway after bin Zayed’s visit to Yad Vashem, completing a remarkable evolution for a country that once “blacked out Israel from world maps and globes.”
More than all the immediate benefits and accomplishments of the Accords, ultimately I believe this is part of Yehovah’s plan to include Arabs in the salvation of Yeshua, our Messiah. When Arabs get saved they usually recognize God’s favor in the restoration of Israel. They are so blessed to find that they are “grafted in” to Israel. This is exactly Yehovah’s plan.
“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.” Romans 11:11 NLT
This effect is seen world wide, but is most provocative when Israelis see their own neighbors entering into the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Jesus. Ultimately its leads to the salvation of the Jews themselves. This is the “one new man” of Ephesians 2:11-18. Hallelujah!
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray for abundant rain.
Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)
The Cartoon View from Israel
10 08 2023There is sharply contrasting news as viewed from Israel, compared with U.S. media. This is a particular problem for American Jews. Today I am sharing the view of an honored Israeli cartoonist who started publishing his satirical cartoons for the Jerusalem Post in 1973. Yaakov Kirschen represents an insiders perspective of Israel news.
Today’s Dry Bones cartoon lampoons the bumbling attempt by President Biden to impose himself as a mediator between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed (aka MBS). There has been very fruitful back channel Israel/Saudi cooperation for several years based on mutual goals. MBS needs Israel to augment his tourist plans for Neom, his Red Sea resort. Joe Biden needs distractions away from his growing legal problems, and also needs political victories for the 2024 election.
The two countries are very close to an agreement, but Biden is inserting a demand on Israel that will kill the deal. He insists on the failed “two-state plan” to be included. Israel will never agree to that plan because it threatens the very existence of Israel. This is a classic example of Joel’s prophetic warning.
For Joe Biden, it is a win-win situation. If Israel agrees, he claims credit. If Netanyahu turns it down, he becomes the scapegoat. Biden can claim he tried. However, the deciding factor is the eternal promises of Yehovah God that He will restore all of the land to Israel. It is the dividers of the land that will be judged.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for seasonal rains.
Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)
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Tags: Abraham Accords, Dry Bones, Israel, Jerusalem, Middle East, Saudi Arabia
Categories : Israel Commentary