An Impossible Dream 

Two-state solution will only bring ongoing conflict and divine judgment

Alarm bells are ringing for our nation in the wake of the new government’s foolish decision to apply sanctions on Israeli products from the so-called West Bank.

Deep in the mire

Not content with our shocking recognition of the non-existent state of Palestine, we have now dug ourselves deeper into the mire by further inflaming jihadist warmongering as we encourage them to believe that Judea and Samaria is their rightful territory.
 
Most of today’s leaders follow the mantra that Israel is breaking international law by settling in the ‘West Bank’, but this is the poisonous fruit of political propaganda. For the plain truth is that all the land ‘from the river to the sea’ rightly belongs to the Jewish state courtesy of the San Remo international treaty of 1920 and the subsequent British mandate to prepare Israel for statehood. (Quite apart from the more important issue of God’s covenant).
 
Judea and Samaria (the heart of Israel) was illegally annexed by Jordan in the 1948/49 War of Independence – a move recognised only by Britain and Pakistan – with this stolen property then handed over to the Palestinian Authority. God’s word on the subject is that he will bring judgment on the nations who scattered his people and divided up his land (Joel 3:2).

Aid from Esther

My wife and I were discussing Britain’s betrayal while on holiday as we followed Scripture Union’s Bible reading notes on the Book of Esther and couldn’t help noting its relevance for today. Haman’s wicked plot against the Jews came back on his own head, causing his advisers and his wife Zeresh to say: “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him – you will surely come to ruin!” (Est 6:13)

All the land ‘from the river to the sea’ rightly belongs to the Jewish state courtesy of the San Remo international treaty of 1920 and the subsequent British mandate to prepare Israel for statehood. 

And Isaiah said something very similar: “For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you [Israel] will perish; it will be utterly ruined.” (Isaiah 60:12) Again speaking for Israel, the prophet further adds: “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.” (Isa 41:11)
 
Haman wanted to destroy the Jewish people, as do the jihadists of today. I concur with the sentiments of Israeli government spokesman Doron Spielman, urging Britain to “reclaim its historic courage and stand beside us in the fight against evil” (Daily Mail, September 10, 2026).

Dream or nightmare?

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that Israeli plans over settlement could ‘imperil or end’ the dream of a two-state solution. But it’s an impossible dream, as persistent efforts to offer ‘land for peace’ have proved. And the pursuit of that dream has turned into a nightmare for God’s chosen. Gaza is the latest example, with Israel pressured by world leaders to withdraw in 2005, after which they came under constant bombardment ultimately leading to the mass slaughter of October 7^th, 2023.
 
Israel’s response may be seen as genocide by their enemies, but they are only attacking “those determined to destroy them”, as they did in the days of ancient Persia (Est 9:2).
 
There is a sense in which our support for those who hate the Jews is comparable to St Paul’s persecution of the early Christians. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the risen Lord told the would-be apostle. (Acts 9:5)

War and Grace

The Confessing Church of pre-war Germany were profoundly persecuted because they stood foursquare against Hitler’s antisemitism.

Paul Schneider literally refused to ‘bow’ to the swastika during a prison parade for which he suffered grievous torture.

Among their leaders was Paul Schneider, who made it his business to “defend the purity of Christian truth”, according to author Don Stephens in his inspiring book War and Grace (Evangelical Press). In the same way that Mordecai, Esther’s guardian, refused to bow to Haman, Schneider literally refused to ‘bow’ to the swastika during a prison parade for which he suffered grievous torture. And yet he continued to preach the gospel to fellow inmates through the bars of his cell.
 
I note that Schneider was also involved with mission to the Jews and on one occasion urged: “Do not deceive yourselves; you cannot participate in Jesus’ glory and victory unless you, for his sake, take up the holy cross and go with him along the path of suffering and death.”

Taking a stand

We are living in days not too dissimilar to pre-war Germany. A Confessing Church is emerging among Anglicans and others refusing to bow to worldly compromise over sex, Israel and other hot topics. Taking a stand for truth on these issues will cost us dearly – perhaps our lives, as it did for Paul Schneider.
 
Are today’s Western Christians prepared for the persecution this would provoke? Are we prepared to be part of a Confessing Church honouring those who have gone before us to prepare the way for our Messiah? We need to make up our minds about whether we are for or against the purposes of the God who sent Jesus to rescue us from our sins.
 
Choose this day whom you will serve. (Josh 24:15)

Charles Gardner

image - Kinnereth (Sea of Galilee), Israel (Wikipedia)