Dear friends of Israel:

On January 4, 2010 it was exactly four years since the former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fell into a coma after he had suffered a second stroke. This sad anniversary was a cause for Sharon’s former spokesman and close co-worker over many years, Ra’anan Gissin, to make public comments. He said that ironically Benjamin Netanyahu has turned out to be the political heir of Ariel Sharon, although the recent Premier once was one of his most vociferous critics. Gissin also noted that Netanyahu, like Sharon, moved to the center of the political map after becoming Prime Minister. In doing so, he has followed the “Sharon school of political thought” when he unilaterally froze the settlement construction and negotiated territorial compromise with the Americans before doing so with the Palestinians. “Those who claimed to be Sharon’s successors failed because the tsunami waves that came after his disappearance were too much for them,” Gissin said. “The tragedy is that his fiercest critics … have turned out to be his real successors. Netanyahu hasn’t formed a Kadima, but he has realigned his own party to the Center.” Israel’s recent Premier has taken this step in order to make the decisions he has to make regarding the negotiations with the Palestinians.

Other Sharon advisors said Netanyahu still had to prove himself before they would mention him in the same breath with their former boss. After the decision regarding the settlement freeze Netanyahu is now facing the same poisonous attacks from extremist elements in his party that Sharon did from him. The question is, however, whether Netanyahu will have Sharon’s courage and ability to understand that leadership has a price and whether he will “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk”. It remains to be seen if he will be a leader or a slave of his Likud party.

Dear friends of Israel:

When Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu traveled to the United States early in November 2009, the Israeli media virtually went wild because no one knew whether President Obama would receive him or not and what the two politicians were to talk about if a meeting were to take place. Netanyahu and Obama did meet, but they did not follow the usual procedure and appear before the press afterwards. This was the reason why the suspense in the Israeli media was further mounting. After his meeting with the Obama Prime Minister Netanyahu shortly explained that they had talked about important issues and that the results would become apparent later on.

When on November 25 the Israeli Premier announced that his government had decided to freeze the construction of settlements in the Palestinian territories, this dramatic decision could be crucial for the survival of the current government. This step probably was a crucial test for Netanyahu himself because he has always made the settlement construction a national priority. The decision to yield to the demands of the US President and to stop the settlement construction for the time being is more evidence that the strategic partnership between Israel and the United States is of great significance.

Dear friends of Israel:

The second event took place two days later, when Syria's Foreign Minister Muallem announced that Turkish and Syrian forces had just carried out maneuvers near Ankara. Muallem rightly called this an important development.

Dear friends of Israel:

The Goldstone report on Israel’s military operation in Gaza has caused a great stir. Israel has rejected the report outright because it is lopsided and biased and actually broadcasts the troubling message that international law has no effective response to offer states confronting terrorist threats.

Five years ago the Israelis removed about 8,000 settlers and their soldiers from the Gaza Strip because they were incessantly told that this measure would lead to the longed-for peace. However, things turned out differently. Gaza has become a hotbed of terror. During the last eight years over 8,000 rockets and mortars have been fired on Israel, and cities like Ashkelon and Beersheba were within reach of the barrage. One million Israelis were no longer able to lead normal lives because they had to live near bomb shelters.

Dear friends of Israel:

The government of Benyamin Netanyahu is so extreme in its political orientation that skeptics have expected it to break up very soon. However, in spite of conflicts among coalition partners from opposite political camps this alliance has a remarkable longevity. A possible explanation of this paradox is provided by an article in the Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post, with the telling title "Israel's new national consensus". In the introduction the author, Barry Rubin, mentions that this could be the most important article he has written this year, as Israel has entered a new era of thinking and policy. For the first time the old categories of Left and Right, hawk or dove are irrelevant under a new national unity government. How has this surprising development materialized?

Between 1948 and 1992 the consensus in Israel was that a peace with the Palestinians is impossible and most Arab states are striving for Israel's destruction. Later the Oslo agreement created a deep rift between the promoters and the opponents of a peace treaty. In 2000 the Camp David negotiations failed because the Arab side rejected the generous offers made by the Israelis. Since then, Israel has been seeking a new paradigm for a peace with the Palestinians, as the unilateral offers made by Ariel Sharon, Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni have led to nothing but renewed demands from the Palestinian side.

Dear friends of Israel:

During their meetings the politicians also talked about the Jewish settlements in the so-called West Bank and in East Jerusalem. In defiance of the American request that Israel stop all construction in Palestinian territories Prime Minister Netanyahu has just approved a building project in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu obviously wanted to demonstrate that Jerusalem will not be divided again and that the Jews have a right to erect buildings everywhere – not only in Jerusalem, but also in the West Bank. Concerning the Jewish settlements in the latter area Netanyahu declared that it would not be acceptable if a future Palestinian state were "judenrein" (free of Jews). The Jewish settlements in the West Bank could become a measuring stone for the willingness of the Palestinians to accept a peaceful coexistence with their Jewish neighbours.

Dear friends of Israel:

Zechariah, the penultimate prophet of the Old Testament, mentions two times that God will again choose Jerusalem. The first statement can be found in the first chapter of his book (verse 17), and the second one in chapter two, verse 16 where the prophet proclaims: “And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” It is interesting that immediately after this verse the prophet describes Satan’s attempt to thwart this plan of the Lord. The same happened when Jerusalem was first chosen. In the first book of Chronicles, chapter 21, verse 1 we read: “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” Besides the book of Job these two texts are the only biblical reports where Satan is mentioned by name and where he personally appears. We may conclude that Satan is alarmed whenever God’s plans with Jerusalem are involved.

In 1^st Chronicles 21 Satan was able to tempt David, but in doing so the divine election of Jerusalem was made apparent. By God’s merciful intervention the angel of death was stopped on Ornan’s threshing floor. This was the very place where David instructed his people to build the Temple of the Lord, although the people of Israel paid a heavy penalty for David’s sin. Seventy thousand people died of the plague (see verse 14).

Dear friends of Israel:

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians seems to head towards a two-state solution. Quite a few Christians, think that this development is contradictory to Bible prophecy and must therefore be stopped through prayer. However, the proponents of this view overlook the fact that according to the Bible this conflict will be only resolved when Jesus Christ will return in power and glory.

The Bible tells us that prior to this event the Middle East Conflict will apparently be solved. In chapter 38 of his book the prophet Ezekiel mentions three times that Israel will live in tranquility and security. Since the Jews have started to return to their homeland, politicians have tried to work out such a temporary peace. Until now they have not succeeded in finding a permanent solution of the problem. Now the United Nations are obviously convinced that the two-state solution will lead to the longed-for peace. This belief is mainly promoted by the nations, not by Israel. However, it is obvious that Israel is being pushed in this direction, even from inside. Even the new government is affected by this, although it is trying to prevent such a development.

Dear friends of Israel:

Obama has already demonstrated that he knows perfectly well how to use the language of diplomacy. However, it remains to be seen whether his words will be followed by deeds. This was the message given by Yehia Mussa of Hamas, when he said: "Nice words are not as important as deeds. All Arabs agree that he can prove his sincerity by supporting the Palestinian cause."

Dear friends of Israel:

It will be no later than during Netanyahu's first visit to the U.S. that it will become obvious whether he is able to convince President Obama and his administration that his approach is more realistic than the former one. However, one thing is already evident: Due to Israel's dependence on the United States the Israeli government can only pursue a policy that is accepted and supported by America. In this context President Obama has announced that unlike the Bush administration his government will not rely on unilateral actions, but rather focus on a consensus with the EU, Russia and the United Nations. This is why the direction of his policy is already foreseeable. It will be difficult for Netanyahu to convince Obama that the approach of his new government is more appropriate for solving the upcoming problems.

Dear friends of Israel:

The view from the Mount of Olives is one of the most famous vistas in Jerusalem. What an overwhelming sight a traveler must have seen, walking from Bethany via the Mount of Olives and getting a first impression of the city and the Temple! The disciples were also mightily impressed by this scenery. This is why one of them said to the Lord: “… see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Mark 13:1-2).

Until now archaeologists have not found a single stone of the actual sanctuary. They only excavated the remains of the enclosing walls which King Herod had erected in order to enlarge the courtyards of the Temple. Today the visitor standing on the Mount of Olives can see the golden cupola of the Muslim Dome of the Rock in the middle of the Temple Mount, exactly on the place where the Temple once was. Photographs and picture postcards showing this scenery may be offensive to many people. However, we can have the same assurance as Jesus when he made the above statement, and we can also say: There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. In that context we may ask the same questions as the disciples: When shall these things be? What shall be the signs when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Dear friends of Israel:

There are many points in favor of a national-unity government because it might be the best solution in view of the many threats that Israel has to face. Whoever might lead the new government, its configuration will be affected by the threats represented by Hamas, Iran and other dangers from the Arab and Islamic world. Of course the relationship with the United States, the EU and the rest of the world will also be of importance. However, it is obvious that the daily barrage of Southern Israel with rockets from Gaza is a more pressing problem that has to be finally solved. It is interesting to note that the residents of the regions under constant fire have predominantly voted for the right-wing parties.