Israel and Palestinian Authority Antagonism Continues

“Israel on Saturday froze NIS 500 million ($127 million) in Palestinian tax revenues collected on Ramallah’s behalf, in response to the Palestinian Authority [PA] filing a request to join the International Criminal Court earlier this week”—a move intended to allow the PA to prosecute Israel for war crimes (Times of Israel, January 3, 2015). This followed a UN Security Council no-vote on a Palestinian resolution for statehood (Reuters, December 31, 2014). PA President Abbas has threatened to return to the Security Council repeatedly until it recognizes Palestine (Reuters, January 5, 2015). The EU recently chided Israel and the PA over recent actions and encouraged them to return to the two state solution (Associated Press, January 6, 2015). 

Tensions and tempers continue to flare between Israel and the Palestinian authority, illustrating the need for a “strong hand from somewhere” to intervene and create some type of temporary peace—something the two groups appear to be incapable of bringing about on their own. Bible prophecy reveals that a future European Beast power, led by Germany, will be that “strong hand” as the king of the north (Daniel 11:40-43).  Students of Bible prophecy understand the need to “watch” the Middle East and Europe for signs that will indicate the return of Jesus Christ is near.

For more about end-time events, be sure to read our informative article, “Who Will Invade the Middle East?”