Syria has become the last Arab League member to officially recognize a Palestinian state, as the deadline for a United Nations vote on the issue draws near. The Syrian foreign ministry announced that “Syria recognizes a Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, and on the basis of the preservation of Palestinian legitimate rights”, and that they “will view the Damascus office of the PLO as an embassy upon the publication of this statement”. The development comes just days after the Arab League announced its backing of the UN vote, a move which is likely to increase pressure on Europe and the US to accept a resolution recognizing a Palestinian state.

Quote: “Nabil al-Arabi, Arab League secretary-general, said on Thursday that the group had agreed to “submit a call to the member states of the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state”. The league, he added, would press both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to support “full membership of a Palestinian state” at the global body.

The EU is deeply divided on the issue, with nations such as Spain, France and Norway all but guaranteeing to vote in favour of the establishment of a Palestinian state, while others like Germany and Italy are strongly opposed to unilateral measures. A veto by the United States in the Security Council could prevent a yes vote from becoming binding, but popular support in the General Assembly would constitute a massive diplomatic victory for the Palestinians and would put immense pressure on Israel and the US to make further concessions to the Palestinian Authority and to Hamas. It would essentially undermine Israeli sovereignty in east Jerusalem and send the message to the world that terrorism pays. Western leaders have been trying to convince the Palestinian Authority to tone down the wording of any proposed statement so they would be able to support it, but it is difficult to see how this could be done. For the EU and US were the ones who originally set the two year deadline for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and neither have recognized Israeli sovereignty in east Jerusalem. They can object in principal to the establishment of a Palestinian state in the absence of a lasting peace agreement, but they cannot object to the establishment of a state itself in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, because they have supported the idea wholeheartedly.

The Bible has been proven to be one hundred percent accurate in relation to its end-time prophecies. Here are just some of them. We have witnessed the regathering of the Jewish people to their homeland from over one hundred countries of the world after nearly two millennia of exile (Jeremiah 116:14-15, Ezekiel 27:13, Zephaniah 3:20). We have seen the nation of Israel reborn in a day (Isaiah 66:8), and survive against incredible odds. We have seen the ancient Hebrew tongue revived as a modern language (Zephaniah 3:9). We have seen Israel fill the face of the world with fruit, and the deserts blossom as the rose (Isaiah 27:6, 35:1). The Lord promised He would do all these things, and they have come to pass in our lifetimes. The Bible also accurately predicted the current political and military alliances of many countries thousands of years before they even existed (Daniel 8, Ezekiel 38:1-6, 17). It also predicted that in the last days, the status of Jerusalem would become an international concern (Zechariah 12:3), that the Temple would be rebuilt (Revelation 11:2), and that the city would be divided again (Zechariah 14:2). While some of these things have not happened as yet, as we have seen before, preparations are well underway for the rebuilding of the Temple and the international consensus is that Jerusalem must be divided.

I have friends who tell me that the Bible is just a book of myths and fairy stories, that it cannot be trusted. Well, how much evidence do you need? What are the odds of just one of these prophecies coming true? If the Bible has been shown to be completely trust-worthy in relation to these 'little' prophecies, how much more can it be trusted in relation to the 'big' ones? Jesus Christ is coming back again. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you had your sins forgiven? Have you trusted in Him for salvation? God loves you so much that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ into the world to bear the punishment for your sin upon the cross (John 3:16). And all who believe on Him shall have everlasting life (John 5:24). Why don't you turn away from your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source Haaretz, Financial Times