Saudi Pressure

Many of us who know the Bible know how much God hates anyone who divides the land given to Israel by Him. Here is what we see in Joel 3:2:

 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for what they did to My people Israel. They have sent My people out among the different nations, and have divided up My land. (NLV)

Hamas and other terrorists all want to do both to Israel, not just divide their land but see Jews scattered among the nations again. So when I read that Saudi Arabia wants Trump to create a path to a two-state solution I pray that he resists. We learn more about this push in an article from World Israel News:

Saudi Arabia is seeking guarantees from the Trump administration that final-status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will be renewed in the near future, concluding no later than five years from now and culminating in the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to a Yedioth Ahronoth report published Thursday morning.

Five years? So they want it done after Trump leaves office. They’re not fooling anyone on that timing. The push coincides with a visit to the US to finalize a deal to sell fighter jets to the Saudis:

On Tuesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, where the two discussed Riyadh’s request to purchase dozens of advanced F-35 fighter jets, efforts to reboot nuclear talks with Iran, the administration’s Gaza peace plan, Saudi investment in the United States, a security treaty between the two countries, and Saudi Arabia’s plans to launch a civilian nuclear program.

And it also occurs when Trump is pushing for Saudi Arabia to support a peace deal with Israel without prerequisites:

Trump and bin Salman also discussed the possibility of Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords, with the president pressing the de facto Saudi ruler to publicly commit to a peace deal with Israel without preconditions.

Their leader wouldn’t commit to that, but did mention the abhorrent two-state solution:

During a joint press conference that day, bin Salman said his country wants “to be part of the Abraham Accords,” but declined to make any firm statement on the possibility of peace with Israel, saying only that Riyadh needs to “secure a clear path [to a] two-state solution.”

Behind the scenes bin Salman appears to be open to having direct dealings with Israel:

While publicly bin Salman has been reticent on the issue, in private he laid out specific conditions for establishing formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Five Year Timetable

The article mentions that the Saudis want the Palestinian state in place in five years:

According to the report, bin Salman asked Trump for American guarantees that a Palestinian state be established in no more than five years.

He wants the creation of the state as a good faith gesture for joining the Abraham Accords:

Bin Salman reportedly framed the guarantees as a concrete expression of American support for a “pathway” to Palestinian statehood.

It is noted that such a Palestinian state is part of the Trump ceasefire deal:

The administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan referenced support for an eventual “pathway” to a Palestinian state, but provided no details or timetable.

Interestingly, bin Salman actually cautioned Trump to not use security forces from Muslim nations:

The Saudi prince also used his private meeting with the president to warn him against forming the newly mandated International Stabilization Force with soldiers from Muslim nations, arguing that Muslim troops would not be willing to confront Hamas if needed. So far, the Trump administration has sought moderate Arab and Muslim states to contribute troops to the peacekeeping force, which would be tasked with demilitarizing the Gaza Strip and disarming Hamas.

In my opinion, that is a good thing and makes total sense. But with so much antisemitism abounding and with the vast majority of these Muslim nations not even acknowledging Israel even exists I highly doubt using any of them to enforce Gaza peace will work. So I have a novel idea. How about Israel just take the territory back and run it? Crazy, right? Oh and it’s actually Biblical not only from Joel 3:2 but from a prophetic standpoint as seen in Zephaniah 3:4-7:

For Gaza will be left empty. Ashkelon will be laid waste. Ashdod’s people will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be pulled up by the roots. 5 It is bad for the people who live by the sea, the nation of the Cherethites! The Word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines. I will destroy you so that no people will be left living in you. 6 The land by the sea will be open fields, a place for shepherds and fences for sheep. 7 The land by the sea will be for those left of the people of Judah. They will let their flocks eat there. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. For the Lord their God will care for them and return their riches. (NLV)

The Biblical perspective is needed especially when these world leaders keep throwing around plans that go against it. And it lets us know how to intercede for God’s chosen people and we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.