On the 1^st of May, the internet giant Google officially recognized a Palestinian state by adopting the name 'Palestine' in place of the previous 'Palestinian territories' on its Palestinian search engine. The name change follows last November's bid by the Palestinian Authority to have 'Palestine' granted observer status at the United Nation's General Assembly. Since then the Palestinian Authority has pursued a unilateral approach to the recognition of a Palestinian state, requesting full membership of UN agencies and bodies, even as the peace negotiations with Israel falter. Now President Abbas has written to several international organizations and groups, pressuring them to indirectly recognize a Palestinian state by changing the name from 'Palestinian territories' to 'Palestine'.

Quote: “Palestinians in general seek recognition for the state they are trying to establish and the adoption of the name Palestine. Israel considers any formal use of the word Palestine as pre-judging the outcome of currently stalled peace talks. In much of Israel's official terminology the West Bank is referred to as Judea and Samaria.

Western companies may be quick to adopt the name 'Palestine' so as to be seen to be 'even-handed' and encouraging peace in the Middle East. But in reality they are adding fuel to the fire of an already troubled conflict. For the Palestinian Authority repeatedly refers to 'Palestine' in its propaganda as encompassing all of Israel-proper, from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean sea. The day after President Mahmoud Abbas made his impassioned speech before the United Nations General Assembly in 2011, calling for global recognition of a Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority was broadcasting a map of the proposed 'state', with Israel nowhere to be seen. And a day following the launch of the Annapolis peace process in 2007, Fatah was once again broadcasting a map of 'Palestine', with the pattern of Yasser Arafat's keffiyeh covering the entire region. Abbas knows that whenever he says 'Palestine', his English speaking audience will automatically hear the words, 'the territories occupied during the Six Day War', while his Arabic audience will hear something entirely different.

Of course we know that the goal of the establishment of a Palestinian state has little to do with the aspirations of the Arab people living in the region. Rather its ultimate goal is the destruction of the state of Israel, as we have already seen. The name 'Palestine' was originally given to the region by the Romans in an effort to erase any vestment of Jewish culture following the diaspora. The name was actually derived from Israel's ancient enemies, the Philistines, who were Greek Phoenicians that settled along Israel's coast in Old Testament times. So there is no ethnic 'Palestinian' identity as such, and thus no valid claim to an independent Arab state in the region of 'Palestine'.

I thought the quote by the BBC was interesting, acknowledging that Israel refers to the 'West Bank' as 'Judea and Samaria', the ancient Bible names for this region. For the Bible states in Zechariah 14:2 that at the time of the end, Israel's enemies “shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem”. I believe that time is upon us. International pressure is mounting on Israel to concede Judea and east Jerusalem for a Palestinian state, with or without peace. World politicians foolishly believe that the establishment of 'Palestine' will somehow bring about peace in the Middle East. As if Islamic hatred of Israel and the Jewish people will somehow be appeased by this noble gesture. In reality the establishment of yet another Islamic state at war with Israel will ultimately lead to Armageddon. The Bible predicts that at the time of the end, the nations of the world will be gathered together against Jerusalem to do battle. But praise God it won't end there. Because at that time Israel's Messiah will return to defeat the armies of the Antichrist and to set up His everlasting Kingdom. What a day that will be be!

Zechariah 12:9-10
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Just as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt and comforted them, so the Lord Jesus Christ will reveal Himself to His earthly people. And praise God that what they meant for evil in rejecting and crucifying Him, God meant for good, to the saving of much people alive (Genesis 50:20). For through His sacrifice upon the cross, all who believe on Him for the forgiveness of sins have everlasting life. As Isaiah 53:5-6 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”. Have you trusted in Him for the forgiveness of sins? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Jeremiah 33:16
In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Source BBC