by Rabbi Marty Waldman

Sunday – January 15, 2017 – seventy nations gathered in Paris, France, to attempt a kick-start to the “peace” process that has utterly failed for the past 24 years. Hoping for some “wind in the sails” from the United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 passed on December 23, 2016, to restart the “Two State” Oslo Accord solution for a Palestinian State, the seventy nations were somewhat disappointed. Neither of the two key players was present – Israel or the Palestinians! Some of these national leaders would like nothing better than to divide the Land of Israel in order to reduce Israel’s land size. Did I say “reduce”? Some of these leaders intend to support the destruction of Israel. At any rate, the Paris gathering is being called a dismal failure.

UN resolution 2334 resolves to declare any land that Israel won in the 1967 (6-day) war illegal for Israel to own or possess. Therefore, the resolution attempts to clarify and solidify the term “occupied” territories by asserting Israel’s illegal occupation of those lands based on International Law. The so-called “occupied” territory of East Jerusalem includes the Jewish Quarter and the Kotel (Western Wall) found within the walls of the Old City. The most sacred and holy Jewish places in the world would be off-limits to Jewish people. If the international community were able to enforce UN resolution 2334, Jews would no longer be allowed to pray at the Western Wall. Hundreds of thousands of Jews would no longer be allowed to live in Eastern Jerusalem, including the Jewish Quarter within the Old City walls. The proponents of UN resolution 2334 were hoping that the 70 nations gathering in Paris would compel the international community to enforce this anti-Israel resolution. But, their hopes were bitterly disappointed.

What man gives, man can take away! On the surface one might think that the UN body of leaders who adopted the formation of Israel’s borders in 1947 could also change the borders of national Israel today. Not so – declares PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu rightly believes that the G0D of Israel deeded the Land of Israel to the people of Israel. In fact, the borders of this land originate from, and are often reiterated in, Scripture. Followers of Yeshua (Jesus) should not succumb to fear over decisions made by the UN or the gatherings of nations, but we should be compelled to pray. Pray as the prophet Daniel prayed when he realized that Jeremiah’s prophecy would be fulfilled in his generation. (Dan.9)

Psalm 2 declares:

Why are the nations in an uproar, the peoples grumbling in vain?…He who sits in heaven laughs; Adonai looks at them in derision.

Let’s pray like Rav. Shaul (Apostle Paul):

Brothers, my heart’s deepest desire and my prayer to God for Isra’el is for their salvation! (Rom.10:1)

Let’s pray like Moses:

Arise, ADONAI! May your enemies be scattered! Let those who hate you flee before you! (Num.10:35)