Mr. Netanyahu Goes to Washington

Politicians have been talking Mideast peace for decades. Will true, just peace ever come to this war-weary part of the world?

This week in Washington, President Barack Obama hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in talks about a range of issues, including peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and the nuclear threat from Iran. On Monday they emerged from talks all smiles. But some see tensions below the surface, resulting from competing agendas.

President Obama has, for the first time, stated that the creation of a Palestinian state is in the interests not only of the two sides, but also those of the United States. Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to declare his acceptance of the "two-state solution," but has expressed his willingness to engage the Palestinians in an immediate resumption of peace talks. Hanging over the diplomatic activity is the long shadow of Islamic fundamentalism, from Iran with its nuclear ambitions, to violent Islamic groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas, now in control of the Gaza Strip. Both these groups reject the existence of the Jewish state, and call for its destruction.

Plans call for Washington visits by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in the coming weeks. These leaders share Mr. Netanyahu's concern about the rise of fundamentalism, but see a different solution: create the Palestinian state soon, to put an end to Palestinian grievances and shut down the breeding ground of support for the fundamentalists. But Mr. Netanyahu may have different priorities; as he sees it, every time Israel has given up territory, the fundamentalists have come in and taken advantage.

Politicians have been talking Mideast peace for decades. The list of initiatives over the last four decades is lengthy, and none has ever really succeeded. The latest, the so-called "Road Map" sponsored by the United Nations, the US, the European Union, and Russia, has been violated by both sides. Talks have never lead to real security for Israel, nor to prosperity and freedom for the Palestinians. Both sides are wary and distrusting.

Will true, just peace ever come to this war-weary part of the world? I was in Israel recently, and couldn't help but notice how often I saw plaques in the religious places of differing faiths. Those plaques record an exhortation from the Bible: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." That's from Psalm 122, which goes on to say "Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces."

Is that just a hope? Just wishful thinking? The prayers of many faiths are apparently not being answered, since the future of Jerusalem remains one of the thorniest issues confronting would-be peace makers.

But these commentaries are about Good News! And, believe it or not, there will be good news for the conflict-wracked Mideast. Peace will indeed come to Jerusalem, and to the rest of the Middle East, but not by human negotiation. Divine intervention will bring true, lasting peace—though only after humanity has tried everything, and failed.

Yes, the future of Jerusalem and of the peoples of the Middle East, both Jewish and Arab, is full of hope! Bible prophecy makes that very plain. Things unimagined lie in store, as our Creator sets His hand to solve the conflict and finally makes Jerusalem a city of peace. It's really going to come!

For GN Magazine, I'm Ralph Levy.