Obama Did Israel Wrong

                On Christmas Eve, also the eve of Hanukkah this year, the Obama administration left Israel to stand by itself against the entire world. Barack Obama has not been a friend to Israel during the past eight years, but he stabbed Israel in the back last week. He made the Middle East situation for more difficult for the in-coming President Donald Trump, and he might have kindled the flames that will erupt into World War III. 

                Israel has been the only true, dependable ally of the United States in the Middle East for many years. Now the Obama administration has let our faith ally down. Last week the Security Council of the United States passed Resolution 2334 with Samantha Power, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, abstaining. It was an anti-Israel bill that the United States could have stopped but did not.

                Resolution 2334 basically condemns Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, considering them to be occupied territory. More importantly, it deems the western wall, one of the most sacred places in Judaism, to be occupied Palestinian territory.

                Israel Prime Minister claims to have “ironclad information” that Barack Obama was part of the formulation and the support for the UN Security Council resolution against Israel. Apparently, some of the information came from Arab sources and other members of the international community. Of course, the Obama administration is denying any responsibility for drafting or introducing the resolution, only of the decision to refrain from voting for it. “Because of its opposition to settlement activity and concern for what it could mean for the region, the US `could not in good conscience veto.’”

                Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu met addressed the weekly meeting of his cabinet in Jerusalem on Sunday and reiterated his staunch opposition to the resolution. He met with the “envoys of the 12 nations with representatives in Israel that voted for the resolutions” on Christmas Day. He later summoned the US Ambassador Dan Shapiro on Christmas evening “to explain why the US abstained in the vote on Resolution 2334, enabling it to pass 14-0, rather than vetoing it.” Mr. Netanyahu is reaching out to Mr. Trump and friends in the U.S. Congress for help in deterring “further potential Obama administration-led diplomatic action against Israel.” 

                President-elect Trump has promised to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and to strengthen the military alliance between the U.S. and Israel. Will he stay strong in his commitment to Israel? Only time will tell.

                A dozen or more years ago my friend and I were discussing the end-time prophecy about the battle of Gog and Magog and how this battle will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Ezekiel 38 tells us that heathen nations from the “north” will come against Israel “as a cloud to cover the land.” Jesus Christ appears and saves Israel.

                My friend said something about being grateful to know that the United States would always stand with Israel. I said that I was not so sure about the standing of the United States because I had never read or heard anything to support that point.

                I could not even imagine at that point how the United States would not be on the side of Israel. However, as I heard the words of Barack Obama and watched the way he sides with the enemies of Israel, I began to understand how it could happen. Now we have failed to stand with Israel on this resolution.

                I really hope that Mr. Trump can solve the problem before World War III begins. If he is unable to stop the damage, I hope that the United States stands firmly on the side of Israel because I know that God fights for Israel and no nation can go against God and survive!