Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
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By Peter Nathan
ince the creation of the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, some 73 years ago, diplomats and politicians have sought to bring peace to Jerusalem and the surrounding area. Yet, during that time, the nation has seen numerous wars, acts of terrorism, and civil disobedience—resulting in much loss of life. Peace has been elusive. It may not then be a surprise that the biblical psalmist encouraged us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, now as vital a need for this place as ever (Psalm 122:6). The irony, of course, is that the name of the city in the Hebrew language simply means “city of peace”—the city of peace needs us to pray for what is supposed to define it. What is going on? The Abraham Accords, a diplomatic breakthrough negotiated during the administration of United States President Donald Trump, were named for the biblical patriarch Abraham. He was the father of two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, who were in turn the progenitors of the Arabic and Jewish peoples. These accords have allowed Israel to establish diplomatic relations and normalize ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, together with other Islamic countries throughout the Muslim world, for the first time since Israel’s inception in 1948. Driven by a deep-seated hatred, much of the Arab and Islamic world has denied the right of the State of Israel to exist. Before the Abraham Accords, Israel had only been able to enter into peace accords
12 Tomorrow’s World | July 2021
with Jordan and Egypt. Other states have not yet established formal diplomatic relationships with Israel, but through the Abraham Accords, their acceptance of Israel’s presence in other ways conveys the same message. For instance, Saudi Arabia allows the Israeli national airline, El Al, overflight rights to reach the Persian Gulf countries. Recently, the UAE has made a US$1 billion investment in Israel’s Tamar offshore gas field. Technological partnerships with Arab financiers are blooming in Israel, while the beaches of the Gulf states have become popular for Israeli tourists. Self-Identity Politics? But the Abraham Accords are not the only changes affecting Israel. Other changes in relationships are taking place between states in the area. As revolutionary as the Abraham Accords may be, they are part of a larger picture of shifting relationships. With the United States scaling down involvement in the area, Russia and China are seeking to fill the vacuum. This is causing a realignment of interests between the various states in the region. Within Israel, a political stalemate appears to be continuing after its fourth election in two years. Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is struggling to gain enough support to form a new government, yet no other politician or political party appears to have any better chance. Netanyahu’s problems as leader of the Likud party reflect the seismic movements and realignments taking place throughout the Middle East,
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