New PA Government Rejection means Hudna False Peace!
March 15, 2007
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Since its inception I have been torn between three different ways that the prophesied biblical false peace, prior to the attack of Antichrist (See Archive Prophecy Update Whole Numbers 62 to 69), could come to pass, either by (1) Negotiations, (2) A “Forced” Peace, or (3) a Hudna Truce. Most teachers of prophecy are of the opinion the Bible teaches a false peace will be in place when the Antichrist surprises Israel by a vicious attack from the north. Based on what has happened since Hamas became the majority in the Palestinian Authority government, it now appears to me the time of false “Peace and safety,” found in I Thessalonians 5:3,4, will be a hudna.
I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Hamas definitely wants a long term hudna to be ready to play a major part in a final ten Arab nation war against Israel. They would like to have a seven or ten year hudna agreement declared with Israel.
It is possible they might get Islamic Jihad, al-Aksa Martyr’s Brigades, and Fatah to agree to a Hudna with Israel for a while, thereby giving all of the groups a breather to prepare for future combat.
According to Umdat as-Salik, hudnas with a non-Muslim enemy should be limited to 10 years: “if Muslims are weak, a truce may be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) made a truce with the Quraysh for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud” (’Umdat as-Salik, o9.16).
A peace treaty with Israel seems to be out of the question for Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and al-Aksa Martyr’s Brigades, but a Hudna (truce) is not a peace treaty, merely a time when a temporary lull of “peace and safety” can be experienced by both sides in the conflict. A genuine peace treaty as we understand one does not seem be possible, as the following two articles from the Jerusalem Post Staff and Haaretz seem to indicate.
Begin Article Number One from Jerusalem Post
‘Israel will not deal with the Palestinian unity government’
JPost.com Staff, AP and Sheera Claire, THE JERUSALEM POST
March 15, 2007
Rivals Hamas and Fatah formed a long-elusive Palestinian Authority unity government Thursday, hoping to lead the Palestinians out of international isolation, but were immediately rebuffed by Israel which said it would not deal with the new coalition.
A draft of the coalition platform posted on Hamas and Fatah Web sites calls for continued observance of a truce with Israel but falls short of Israeli, US and European requirements that the new government recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous peace deals.
The platform includes only a vague pledge to “respect” past peace deals, falling short of explicit recognition
of Israel.
It also affirms the Palestinians’ right to resist and “defend themselves against any Israeli aggression.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the program falls short of requirements.
“Unfortunately the new Palestinian government seems to have said no to the three benchmarks of the international community,” he said. “Accordingly, Israel will not deal with this new government and we hope the international community will stand firmly by its own principles and refuse to deal with a government that says no to peace and no to reconciliation.”
As Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh presented the list of ministers in his new cabinet to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, thus concluding the formation of the new Hamas-Fatah coalition, Knesset members expressed reactions ranging from virulent opposition to enthusiastic praise.
Likud MK Yisrael Katz came out harshly against the unity deal and called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to sever all contact with Abbas, since the new government’s platform calls to continue the armed struggle against Israel, Israel Radio reported.
In Katz’s words, it has once again been proven that Abbas and Hamas are one unit, at least as far as the struggle against Israel is concerned.
According to a description of the unity government’s platform on two Hamas Web sites, “The government confirms that the resistance is a legitimate right for the Palestinian people … halting resistance depends on ending the occupation and achieving freedom and [the right of] return and independence.”
Katz declared that this was essentially a call to obliterate the State of Israel.
MK Zevulun Orlev (NU-NRP) seconded this sentiment, saying that “this government’s unity is a unity based on continued terror and the Hamas objective of destroying Israel.”
Orlev added that the Israeli government should take a firm stance against transferring funds to the PA and should encourage the international community to stop all PA funding, as well, until they show a “real intention” for peace.
Begin Article Two from Haaretz
PMO: New PA platform ‘flies in the face’ of international demands
By Haaretz Service and Agencies
March 15, 2007
The platform of the new Palestinian unity government, which according to Hamas advocates continued violence against occupation, is a step backward from the peace process and “flies in the face” of the international community’s demands, the Prime Minister’s Office said Thursday.
“Instead of recognizing Israel and renouncing terror the emerging Palestinian government has decided to spring backwards,” said David Baker, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office.
“This is not what we were hoping for and flies in the face of the international community’s demands of the Palestinians. Once again, they haven’t provided the goods,” he added.
According to excerpts from the new government’s platform, published Thursday on two Hamas Web sites, the new government will continue to support “resistance” until the occupation ends, as well as uphold call for the right of return
for Palestinians refugees.
The new government will also “respect” previous agreements with Israel, as stated in the Mecca agreement that led to its formation.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas on Thursday presented the final cabinet list to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, a day after the two agreed on the make-up of the new government, ending weeks of arguments over the candidate for the powerful interior ministry post.
” I have handed over to the president the candidates for the new coalition.
He has accepted that,” Haniyeh said. “We are optimistic the government will open a new era.”
In the first Israeli response to the government’s platform, a senior official called it a major step backward for peace prospects, and said Jerusalem would lobby the international community not to work with the new government.
The Quartet of Middle East peace brokers – the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia – has called for the new PA government to abide by three demands: recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence and agreement to honor previous accords.
Haniyeh said Thursday, however, he has received signals that the Europeans are ready to work with his new government, but acknowledged that winning U.S. and Israeli support would be difficult.
“No doubt there is a different position by the American administration and the Israelis,” he said. “We are going to do what we can to support national unity, and to remove the siege and to maintain relations with the international community.”
The full cabinet line-up will be submitted Saturday for parliamentary approval.
According to Hamas, the new platform states that, “The government confirms that the resistance is a legitimate right for the Palestinian people.”
It goes onto say that, “halting resistance depends on ending the occupation and achieving freedom and [the right of] return and independence.”
Nonetheless the platform states, “The government abides by the protection of the higher national interests of the Palestinian people, and the protection of its rights … on the basis of that, respects international resolutions and agreements signed by the PLO.”
The new government, Hamas says, also recognizes that “the key to security and stability in the region is in the ending of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, recognition of the right to Palestinian self-determination.”
To that end, the manifesto states, “the government will work with the international community to end the occupation, and to return the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
The platform also touches on one of the key sticking points in negotiations between the two sides – the issue of Palestinian refugees.
According to Hamas, the government “holds fast to the rights of Palestinian refugees, and the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their land and belongings.”
But, said the Israeli official, “anyone who looks carefully at the document will see that there is a regression on a number of important issues.”
He noted the platform’s call for the return of Palestinian refugees to Israel and its affirmation of the Palestinian right of resistance against Israel.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official government statement has not been released, said the language is even tougher than the original Palestinian power-sharing deal reached in Mecca last month.
“This is not a step forward. It’s a step backward,” he said.
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