Just days after President Mahmood Abbas of the Palestinian Authority addressed the United Nations General Assembly calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state, Fatah Central Committee Member Abbas Zaki told Qatar television that this was only a step towards the “greater goal” of the destruction of the state of Israel. In his interview with Al-Jazeera, Zaki remarked that even President Abbas knows this, but doesn't publicly state it as it is not “acceptable policy” to do so. He urged those who wanted to 'wipe Israel out' to keep it to themselves and not reveal their true intentions to the world.

Quote: “The settlement should be based upon the borders of June 4, 1967. When we say that the settlement should be based upon these borders, President [Abbas] understands, we understand, and everybody knows that the greater goal cannot be accomplished in one go. If Israel withdraws from Jerusalem, evacuates the 650,000 settlers, and dismantles the wall – what will become of Israel? It will come to an end. If one says that one wants to wipe Israel out... C'mon, it's too difficult. It's not [acceptable] policy to say so. Don't say these things to the world. Keep it to yourself. I want the resolutions that everybody agrees upon. I say to the world, to the Quartet, and to America: You promised, and you turned out to be liars.

While the PLO does recognize Israel's right to exist, Fatah and Hamas as member organizations do not, and are still plotting its downfall. The only thing the parties disagree on is how this ought to be accomplished. Hamas believes that waging Islamic jihad against the Jewish state is the only way it will be destroyed. Fatah is willing to employ 'peaceful means' until Israel is too weak to defend itself. But both will support the establishment of a Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, for both recognize it as being just a stepping stone towards Israel's destruction. As Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar said last year...

Quote: “We have liberated Gaza, but have we recognized Israel? Have we given up our lands occupied in 1948? We demand the liberation of the West Bank, and the establishment of a state in the West Bank and Gaza, with Jerusalem as its capital – but without recognizing [Israel]. This is the key – without recognizing the Israeli enemy on a single inch of land. This is our plan for this stage – to liberate the West Bank and Gaza, without recognizing Israel's right to a single inch of land, and without giving up the Right of Return for a single Palestinian refugee. Our plan for this stage is to liberate any inch of Palestinian land, and to establish a state on it. Our ultimate plan is [to have] Palestine in its entirety. I say this loud and clear so that nobody will accuse me of employing political tactics. We will not recognize the Israeli enemy.

This is why President Abbas resolutely refuses to recognize Israel as a 'Jewish state'. He has no problem with there being two states in 'Palestine' so long as they are both 'Palestinian' in character. He hopes that the 'right of return' for Palestinian refugees will help bring this about. But he will not recognize the Jewish state because that would mean admitting defeat on the 'greater goal' of Israel's destruction as a nation. Unfortunately the Western world rather foolishly believes that this process will bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. As you can see, nothing could be further from the truth.

It's very interesting that the name Hamas in Hebrew (חמס) means violence. Hamas now occupies part of the territory once held by Israel's ancient enemies, the Philistines. Fatah occupies the territory of Judah and Samaria, and has its headquarters in the plain of Ono, the place mentioned in the Bible where Israel's enemies sought to make a 'peace pact' with them with the intention of preventing the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6:2). It seems that history is repeating itself. As we have seen, difficult days lie ahead for the nation of Israel and for the world. While the Bible does indicate that there will come a time of peace between Israel and its enemies, it will be short-lived. And that for the three and a half years following, there shall be a time of “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”, Matthew 24:21. That time is drawing near. No wonder the Bible calls it the “time of Jacob's trouble”, Jeremiah 30:7, for the division of the land will be a clear indication to Israel's enemies that its destruction is at hand. But God will allow all of this to take place in order to bring men to an end of themselves. Only when the nation has nowhere else to turn, will they look to the Holy One of Israel. Then the people will say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”, Luke 13:35. And the Lord Jesus Christ shall return and save Israel from its enemies, and establish an everlasting kingdom which shall never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44).

Just as Joseph revealed himself to his brethren and comforted them concerning what they had done to him, so will the Lord Jesus Christ comfort His people Israel in the day they are reconciled unto Him. As Joseph said, “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive”, Genesis 50:20. The Jewish nation rejected their Messiah at His first coming. But what they meant for evil, God meant for good, and through His sacrifice on the cross many people have been saved from their sins (Isaiah 53:11, Matthew 1:21). Just as Joseph's brethren wept over how they had treated their brother, so the nation of Israel will weep over what they did to the Lord Jesus Christ. And “they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn”, Zechariah 11:10. But what a day that will be, when Israel comes to acknowledge the Lord Jesus as their Messiah! As Paul says it will be nothing less than life from the dead (Romans 11:15).

Jesus Christ is coming back soon. Are you saved? Have you trusted in Him for salvation? He bore the punishment of your sins upon the cross of Calvary. He gave His life for you, so that your sins might be forgiven. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source MEMRI, Hudson