On Thursday the 29^th of November the United Nations plans to vote on whether or not to grant 'Palestine' Observer Status at the UN General Assembly.

The date marks the 65^th anniversary of the adoption of UN Resolution 181, which called for the establishment of a Jewish and a Palestinian Arab state in the region of 'Palestine', a resolution which was initially accepted by the Jewish people but rejected by the Arab states. Last year President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority submitted a proposal to the UN Security Council to have 'Palestine' admitted as the 194^th UN state. That request, spurred on by by both EU and US leaders pushing for a two-year deadline resolution to the conflict, was only narrowly defeated. This time support for the admission of 'Palestine' as a non-member observer state is virtually guaranteed in the UN General Assembly, with a two-thirds majority already recognizing a Palestinian state in one form or another.

Quote: “The result of the vote, which will be held on the 65th anniversary of the historic UN partition vote in 1947 that divided Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state, appears to be a foregone conclusion, with at least 150 of the 193 General Assembly members already committed in favour. Despite intense last-minute pressure from Israel, the US and Britain, some European states including France appear willing to join those voting yes. The US Congress froze $200m (£125m) in Palestinian aid last year when a similar move was made at the UN Security Council. Some Israeli leaders have suggested punishing the Palestinians by crippling the finances of the Palestinian Authority or annexing West Bank territory.

It's difficult to know exactly what will take place on November 29^th. Last year President Abbas' request at the United Nations did not receive the backing of Hamas, which still refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist. And it is doubtful that they will support it this time. Hamas has been significantly strengthened by the recent elections in Egypt, which swept the Muslim Brotherhood into power. The recent fighting between Israel and Hamas, and the truce negotiated by Egyptian President Morsi, have also given Hamas an air of importance before this crucial vote. There is no doubt, if there is to be any functioning 'Palestinian state', Hamas will need to be dealt with one way or another.

I think it is kind of ironic that Israel is the only thing that is actually preventing a full-blown civil war from breaking out between the two opposing Palestinian Arab factions. Abbas actually needs Israel to keep Hamas in check. And it is also ironic that it is Hamas, the terrorist organization that is so vehemently opposed to the existence of Israel, who are the ones preventing a 'Palestinian' state from being realized. But I think in a way that this is all the Lord's doing. The Lord Himself said He would overturn, and overturn, and overturn it, until He come whose right it is (Ezekiel 21:27). Sometimes we get discouraged and upset when we see Israel's enemies fighting against them. And rightly so, because the nation of Israel are God's earthly people, and they have a divine right to be in that land (Ezekiel 37:22). But we can't always see the reasons why God allows certain things to happen. And we sometimes forget that God is still in complete control of events, and that He is working everything out according to His plan. Of course dark days are still ahead, and the Jewish people will yet go through a time of tremendous suffering (Daniel 12:1). But it is through this period of suffering that God will ultimately bring about the redemption of the nation (Zechariah 12:10).

When we look back to Calvary, we are able to see how the Lord is able to bring great joy out of tremendous suffering. For it was through the rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah of Israel that the Lord was able to bring to us life and peace (Isaiah 53). God made His soul an offering for our sin. It is only through His sacrifice on the cross that we can have eternal life and peace with God. Have your sins been forgiven? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source Asia News, Inner City Press