Page 88 - Signs of the End

52 THE SIGNS OF THE END

Netanyahu defeated Peres, who had been the chief architect of
the Oslo Accords, and signaled to the world that Israel wanted the
brakes applied to the wholesale dismantling of the Land in favor
of the Palestinian Authority. This was not welcome news to the
Clinton Administration and the powers that be in Europe and the
UN, along with the Arab states, who all wanted a speedy recogni­
tion of some kind of Palestinian state. The election of Netanyahu,
however, was generally welcomed by evangelical Christians in
America and Europe who believe in the prophetic future of Israel,
as indicated in the Scriptures.

Netanyahu had written a book entitled A Place Among the
Nations, which laid out his viewpoints of the history of Israel and
the Jewish people, and their struggle to establish a secure home­
land in the midst of a generally hostile Arab population surround­
ing them. It is remarkable that the book was very difficult to get in
America, and appeared to be suppressed by the overwhelmingly
antagonistic media and political arena.

An internal problem that dogged the Netanyahu administra­
tion was the fact that, in order to maintain his thin coalition major­
ity, he had to work with the ultra Orthodox faction, the Shas Party.
They were greatly upset about the success of the Messianic Jewish
evangelism that is being conducted in Israel, with thousands of
Jewish people, including native Israelis (sabras), believing in Jesus
and the promised Messiah of Israel. This Orthodox Party was con­
tinually putting up proposed laws outlawing evangelistic and mis­
sionary activity. This, in turn, caused considerable consternation
among the evangelical Christians in America and elsewhere who
are the best friends Israel has, aside from the Jewish communities
in the Diaspora (a term for Jewish people still in dispersion).

A new election was called, and Netanyahu was defeated by the
Labor Party candidate, Barak who, at this writing, is somewhat
unknown to most people outside of Israel. He is a highly decorat­
ed military hero who is considered to know what the minimal
defense requirements are for the security of the nation. However,
he seems eager to conclude a peace agreement with the PLO,
including some kind of political autonomy for the Palestinians,
and considerable chunks of land on the West Bank, along with an
official presence in Jerusalem. Time will tell how this will work