Unrepentant of his earlier remarks to the UN, Interim Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has reportedly doubled down on his call for a two-state solution to the European Union on Monday.
“Over the past year, there [has] been a positive change in our work with the Palestinian Authority. We are working with them and helping their economy develop,” he stated. “In my speech at the UN General Assembly, I expressed once more my commitment to the two-state solution.”
Last month, Lapid came under intense backlash for his speech to the United Nations in which he advocated for dividing the land of Israel via a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
“An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel’s security, for Israel’s economy, and for the future of our children,” the Israeli caretaker Prime Minister insisted to the General Assembly. “Despite all the obstacles, still today a large majority of Israelis support the vision of this two-state solution. I am one of them.”
According to a recent poll, Lapid’s claim, that “a large majority” of Israelis are in favor of a two-state solution, is wildly inaccurate. The Times of Israel, reporting on the survey’s findings, noted that only “31% of Jewish Israelis think [the] next gov’t should push for such a peace deal with the Palestinians, with nearly 60% opposed.”
The Bible sends a stark and prophetic warning against nations and people that seek to divide the nation of Israel and, specifically, its capital Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:3 states: “And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
A two-state solution advocates for the dividing of Jerusalem, with the east portion of the city being given to the Palestinians for their state capital.
Lapid’s Controversial EU Meeting
Additionally, Lapid’s comments on Monday, re-expressing his commitment to the division of Israel, occurred during highly controversial talks with the “European Union – Israel Association Council”, which have not convened since 2012.
Association Council meetings were supposed to be conducted on an annual basis beginning in 2009, however, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discontinued the talks in 2012 due to the EU’s unrelenting condemnation of Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria.
“This Council has not convened in over a decade – for the wrong reasons,” Lapid asserted. “The fact that we are convening it now corrects a historic mistake.”
The current interim leader of the Jewish State has not only advocated that his own country be divided but now he has also taken a decidedly nonchalant attitude toward nations which question Israeli sovereignty.
Mike Pompeo, who became the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit an Israeli settlement in Judea and Samaria, in 2021, underscored that nations who refuse to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the land are endorsing a “false narrative that is the very beating heart of modern antisemitism.”
Lapid’s ’Shameful Deal’ With Lebanon
Another disastrous initiative by Lapid surrounds an agreement with Hezbollah-run Lebanon.
Danny Danon, who formerly served as Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, strongly condemned the move.
“The Lapid-Nasrallah deal is a shameful deal that will damage the power of israel in every possible aspect,” Danon warned. “Many sections of the media are encouraging the shameful agreement but it is important that the public knows the facts.”
Here are some claims that were heard and presented by Lapid’s reformers as “profit” for Israel, but in practice they are a surrender to Hezbollah and Lebanon.
1. “The agreement brings to an end a decade of territorial dispute” – In reality, israel gives up all disputed territory to Lebanon, after the Lebanese changed their original position from Line 23, and created a fictitious southern border line (point 29 which contains the Kanah Field, and no part of Shark Field). The demand now turns out to be a trick for the needs of negotiations, meaning they demand more ‘in a successful method’ in order to close the original demand which is Line 23, so that it will look like the Lebanese have “agreed”, when in fact the Lebanese have received their full demand.
2. “Israel gives up the Kana reservoir, and financial distribution” – In reality, this is the part of the gas reservoir found in the israel area (less than 10%), i.e. not the relative part of the amount of gas in the reservoir, but only the small part of the geological structure that exists on the Israeli side – by the way, not sure that gas exists in it at all.
3. “The float line will be anchored and known internationally” – we never talk about the movement of the float line, the border starts from a point that exits from the shoreline, but splits into the disputed area about 10 km west into the sea. So that in every situation, the line of the guardians would remain in place.
4. No mention in the agreement to profits from oil production – no mention of oil production, if operations at sea allow deeper drilling worth billions of dollars.
5. israel you can start producing gas from a shark reservoir – There is no dispute that a shark is found entirely in the economic waters of Israel. For comparison, it’s like Israel saying that it now “can” build apartments in Tel Aviv.
What Should Christians Think?
Biblically, we know that we as Christians have a responsibility to support and pray for Israel, regardless of the actions and positions of the country’s government.
Psalm 122:6-9 KJV – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”
Praying for Israel is especially important considering Israel’s upcoming elections this November, and just like the United States, there is much at stake for Israel. Ultimately, we know that it is God who “removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21), and no matter the outcome, things are moving precisely according to God’s timeline of the “last days” laid out in Scripture, which culminates with the salvation of Israel and second coming of Christ (Zechariah 12:9-10).
Romans 11:25-27 KJV – “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, And shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.”
As Pastor Jack Hibbs recently reminded Christians, everything we are seeing take place in this world, no matter how distressing, “is actually catching up to what the Bible has been saying all along” would take place in the time prior to the return of Christ.
