Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said in response to these riots at a UN meeting (perhaps the UN Security Council) by saying at the meeting to other UN representatives: "Hamas is continuing to instigate violence against Israel as rioters today used firebombs and other means in attempts to damage the fence and infiltrate our sovereign territory. I call on all UN officials to condemn Hamas for encouraging violence, promoting instability and for the despicable act of exploiting women and children by placing them in harm's way." According to the Israel Nations News article Danon to UN: Condemn Hamas for encouraging violence on April 21, 2018 about 3,000 Palestinian Arabs sought to approach the fence border of Gaza with Israel on Friday, April 18 (which was the day before Israeli Independence Day). and these protesters (among other things) burnt tires there and used flying kites with firebombs attached to them over the fence into Israel to start fires there. These fires were put out by Israeli soldiers on the Israel side of the border and the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) according to the article "used riot dispersal methods and opened fire on the rioters in accordance with the rules of engagement." These protests were publicly encouraged by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas (who some of the west before called a partner for peace with Israel) gave approval to the riots and protests calling them "peaceful resistance". On Friday, April 18th the UN Special Envoy for the Peace Process Nicholay Mladenov forcefully criticized Israel after the deaths of some Palestinian Arab teenagers in the riots. Mr. Mladenov did not mention at all the Arab violence that forced Israel to defend itself against the riots on her border and attempts to invade it by some of the rioters. Mr. Mladenov said on Twitter in this regard: "It is outrageous to shoot at children! How does the killing of a child in Gaza today help peace? It doesn't! It fuels anger and breeds more killing. Children must be protected from violence, not exposed to it, not killed! This tragic incident must be investigated."
In view of all these events of the historic and possibly prophetic 70th anniversary of Israel as a restored nation (which restoration is abundantly prophesied for the started last days before Jesus' Second Coming to earth in God's Word the Holy Bible) I would encourage the reader to as some as possible, if you haven't already, to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father through Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. To trust in the Lord Jesus Christ means to in our heart believe and confess to God in Jesus' name in prayer that we personally are sinners in His sight and we want to trust in Jesus to be the One to pay for all our sins in God's sight when Jesus died on the cross and shed His divine blood for our sins, died, and then on the third day later rose from the dead to enable us to have eternal life and restored relation with God through Him. If we have or do soon in this way according to God's word the Holy Bible trust in Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour we do not need to worry any more about spending eternity in hell then the lake of fire or even that we will be left behind on earth before that to face God's wrath on the then so far unsaved people and the tyranny of the Satanic Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea and his associate the False Prophet during the 7 year tribulation or 70th week of Daniel as in Daniel 9:27. This tribulation period will be right after the rapture or catching up to heaven of all true Christians of all nations by faith in Jesus and by God's grace. If we trust in Jesus during the remaining time of this Church Age of Age of grace we will also be assured of a blessed eternal home in heaven, a spiritual and immortal body to life forever from the time of the rapture and to gladly see, worship and in an unburdensome way serve God and Jesus in the New Jerusalem, New Earth and New Heavens forever and be part of God's restored or redeemed spiritual or heavenly people from all earthly nations or ethnic groups the Church for all eternity.
On May 14, 2018 the official opening of the newly renovated US Embassy in Israel in Jerusalem took place. The location was that of the former US Consulate in Israel in Jerusalem that will be upgraded to the US Embassy in Israel. This will be a transfer officially and practically in part for now from what has been the location of the US Embassy in Israel for many years in Tel Aviv. This new US Embassy location and that of the former US consulate in Jerusalem is in the Arnona district of south Jerusalem in what is called West Jerusalem but close to the dividing line with so-called East Jerusalem. This new location at the former US Consulate location in the Arnona area of Jerusalem is only a temporary location in Jerusalem of the US Embassy there. The renovations and upgrades for this stage of the US Embassy in Jerusalem cost between $300-400,000 according to US President Donald Trump. He decided to first move the US Embassy to this temporay location because it could be done in three to six months from the time of public announcement of intention which was in December 2017 to realization. This would be in contrast to about ten years and about one billion dollars in order to build a full new US Embassy in Jerusalem that would include sufficient security features to protect the embassy staff and building from any militant Islamic or other violent anti-Israel and anti-American violent or terrorist acts. This new embassy will still be built and the beginning stages are already taking place but it won't be ready for several years to house any United States Embassy staff in Israel. The next stage after this initial United States Embassy in Israel move to Jerusalem will be to build a major addition to the existing location to expand the US Embassy in Israel in Jerusalem. This expansion is expected to be completed by the close of 2019. The date of the official Embassy moving of May 14, 2018 was chosen because it is the so-called secular 70th anniversary of the founding and retoration of Israel as an independent state. The secular anniversary means this anniversary date is based on the anniversary according to the western solar calendar from the date in 1948 when Israel got their independence, as it turns out from the last Gentile nation that had jurisdiction over it which was the United Kingdom with its British Mandate that started in 1917 towards the end of World War 1 when the Ottoman Empire centred in what is now called Turkey was one of the main nations of the losing side of that war. There were a large contingent of American officials that were present in Jerusalem to witness and some to speak at the official opening of the new American Embassy in Jerusalem. US President Donald Trump was not present at the opening ceremony but he was quite clear he approved of the move and sent a pre-recorded message praising the move that was played at the official embassy opening ceremony. The official US delegation was led by US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and also included US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, US Middle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt, senior advisors to President Trump for the Middle East area Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump (a daughter of US President Donald Trump) and about 40 US Senators and Congressmen including Senators Ted Cruz, Lindsay Graham, Mike Lee and, Dean Heller, congressmen Joe Wilson and Ted Deutch, Florida Governor Rick Scott, former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and year 2000 US election Democrat Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Lieberman. Also in the delegation were Jewish and some evangelical Christian religious leaders including well known US evangelist and Bible teacher John Hagee who gave a well thought out and comprehensive closing prayer at the opening ceremony. The US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, US special envoy to the Middle East Jared Kushner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are some of the politicians who gave major speeches at the opening ceremony as well as the pre-recorded message of US President Donald Trump that was played to the audience at the ceremony. There was a very upbeat tone to the speeches, some music and prayers at the presentations and by the people attending the US Embassy move to Jerusalem official opening ceremony or celebration.
The decision of US President Donald Trump to make the committment to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was announced at a public including televised live ceremony from the White House in the American capital in Washington DC. US Vice President Mike Pence was standing with and approving the action of US President Donald Trump at the televised official announcement of US Embassy move last December (2017). There was a bi-partisan act passed by both parties Republican and Democrat of Congress in 1995 called the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act that was approved clearly by most members of both parties to move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. From when it was passed every six months it came up for a decision by the sitting US president whether to put it into law or further delay it. Although some US Presidents since 1995 besides current US President Donald Trump promises to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem according to this bill none of the previous US presidents followed through. This was probably because they knew such as decision would upset the so-called Palestinian Arabs and their leaders that the United States and other western or world powers were trying to persuade to made a peace agreement with Israel since 1995. Such a US embassy move was also thought to result in upsetting other Arab and other Muslim nations, or leaders and many of their people who want the Arabs to have control of so-called East Jerusalem, that includes the Temple Mount and Western Wall and all the old city of Jerusalem, as the future capital of their state. This division of Jerusalem between East and West Jerusalem goes back to the Oslo Accord and so-called Road Map to Peace initiated by former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who was killed in 1995 and was a setback to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. At that time the Palestinian Arab counterpart in the peace process was Palestinian Authority and Fatah leader the late Yasser Arafat.
Some of the comments by leading United States political or other officials on the movement by United States of their embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at the 70th anniversary on the western solar calendar from the founding of Israel as a restored nation is as follows: United States President Donald Trump (who initiated the move to realize the already supported act of congress (and US senate to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem): President Trump said: "On December 6, 2017, at my direction, the United States finally and officially recognized Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Today we follow through on this recognition and open our embassy in the sacred land of Jerusalem. The United States will always be a great friend of Israel and a partner in the cause of freedom and peace." President Donald Trump also said in his recorded message given at the US Embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem official opening: "President Donald J Trump keeps his promises." and: "The United States remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement." Vice President Mike Pence said on and about this occasion: "God decided Jerusalem was the capital of Israel more than 3,000 years ago during the time of King David."
Dallas Texas pastor Robert Jeffress who gave the opening prayer of the official American embassy in Israel in Jerusalem opening ceremony said beforehand of the prayer he would give: "In that prayer, I'm going to be recounting God's history of faithfulness to His people the Israelites. I'm going to be thanking God for the strong leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, who is absolutely determined to protect Israel. And I'm also going to be thanking God for our President Donald Trump, who had the courage to do what no other US President had done, and that is to officially recognize Jerusalem and to move the embassy. This is another example of promise made, promise kept."
Envoy to the Middle East of United States President Donald Trump and daughter of the president Ivanka Trump said on the US Embassy move occasion in a tweet: "I am honored to join the delegation representing @POTUS, his Admin & the American people at this momentous ceremony commemorating the opening of our new US Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. We will pray for the boundless potential of the US-Israel alliance & we will pray for peace." On the occasion of the United States Embassy in Israel move to Jerusalem the special media advisor Ory Rinat for United States Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and son-in-law of President Trump Jared Kushner said: "This is an incredible moment, really made possible by the courage by the courage of President Trump, making this decision, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, recognizing the reality that Jerusalem is the capital, and relocating the embassy just six months later. In 1995 Congress passed the bipartisan act calling for this move. Many presidents promised to do this, many candidates promised to do this. President Trump made it possible. And this really is his delivering on a promise, but delivering on a promise made by the US Congress, by candidates and presidents past. And just six months after announcing the recognition and the plans to move the embassy, we're proud to have the embassy open today." Special media advisor for Jared Kushner Ory Rinat responded about the effect this might have on Arabs and other Muslims when he was asked by the media by saying: "I think it's important to know, this is a recognition of reality. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, it's the home of its parliament, its President, its Prime Minister, and has been for seventy years. But this isn't a determination of final borders. A lot of the final-status issues are left to be negotiated between the parties."
New United States National Security Advisor John Bolton said the moving of the United States embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem would make peace between Israel and the Arabs easier in saying: "It's a recognition of reality. If you're not prepared to recognize that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that's were the American embassy should be, then you're operating on a completely different wavelength. ... I think recognizing reality always enhances the chances for peace."
Orthodox Jew and previous United States Senator and 2000 Democratic Nominee for Vice President to 2000 Democratic Nominee for President Al Gore Joe Lieberman said on the occasion of the US Israeli embassy move to Jerusalem: "Baruch Hashem (Praise God). What can you say, this is a life story. I worked on this in the Senate in 1995 with a lot of other people from both parties. ... At the beginning ... this was 1995, the Oslo Accord was in 1993 ... President Clinton was worried about upsetting the 'prospect for peace'. But that was always wrong, because the embassy was going to be in west Jerusalem, and it was unfair to Israel, our close ally, not to have our embassy in their capital. So Baruch Hashem (Praise God) President Trump has done it. It will not affect any hopes for peace, which we all continue to have. But it will be another step towards saying to the world on behalf of the strongest country in the world: 'Israel is here to stay, and its capital is Jerusalem.'"
At the opening ceremony of the new location of the American Embassy in Israel at Jerusalem United States Ambassador to Israel and an Orthodox Jew David Friedman spoke at length saying: "On this exact day 70 years ago, at almost this exact time, David Ben Gurion declared Israel's independence. Just 11 minutes later, President Harry Truman caused the United States to be the first nation to recognize the reborn State of Israel. He later regretted he waited so long. 70 years since that memorable event, almost to the minute, the United States finally takes the next step: a step awaited, voted upon, litigated, and prayed for for all these years. Today, we open the United States embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. Today's historic event is attributed to the vision, the courage, and the moral clarity of one person to whom we owe an enormous and eternal debt of gratitude, President Donald J. Trump. Today, we keep our promise to the American people, and we extend to Israel the same right that we extend to every other nation, the right to designate its capital city. A capital city, I should add, which houses all three seats of government, with a 3,000 year old history dating back to the time when King David made Jerusalem the capital of ancient Israel. Jerusalem has inspired Americans since well before the founding of our republic. John Winthrop, in 1630, as he approached Massachusetts Bay, spoke of his quest to build the 'new Jerusalem' as a City on a Hill', a phrase expanded by President Reagan to be a 'Shining City on a Hill.' The United States established its consulate in 1844, 104 years before the birth of the State of Israel. And President Lincoln, relaxing for the first time in years as the Civil War came to an end, told his wife Mary that it was finally time for hit to take some rest. And he expressed his hope and desire to visit the holy city of Jerusalem."
One thing Israel determined beforehand concerning the observance of the opening ceremony of the new American embassy in Israel in Jerusalem was that Members of the Knesset or the Israeli National Parliament would not be invited. Although this might sound ironic that they wouldn't be invited to such a significant and positive occasion for Israel there was a reason. This decison was reported, among other places, in an article in Arutz Sheva or Israel National News in an article with the title MKs will not be invited to US embassy transfer ceremony and reported initially on May 3, 2018. The writer of the article offered the thought that it could be for security reasons so that this opening ceremony of the American Embassy in Israel in Jerusalem wouldn't be an even more tempting target for a Islamic terrorist attack by Arab or other Muslim terrorists. This concern had been heightened by the recent actions of opportunism that could have led to more security concerns about Islamic terrorist actions on previous visits by US President Donald Trump such as the apparently unauthorized initiative of the MK (Member of the Knesset) Oren Hazan to take a selfie picture of himself with US President Trump. Another Israeli action leading up to the opening ceremony of the new American embassy in Israel in Jerusalem was one that ensured that the new American embassy in Jerusalem could go ahead in the chosen immediate location in Jerusalem in the Arnona district and on time for the opening date on the 70th anniversary on the western solar calendar of the British granting Israel independence on May 14th 1948. This decision was made by the Israeli supreme court only weeks before the opening date to throw out of court some objections by some Israeli citizens in the Arnona district of Jerusalem to stop the opening of the new embassy apparently launched by a group called Ir Amin who were opposed to the building a new security wall around the new embassy and the possible building of a new or reconstructed road from the embassy that could serve as an escape route from the embassy in case of any emergency such as a terrorist attack. The Israeli supreme court ruled against both cases to obstruct the American embassy move stating that the fact that the embassy move was of national importance and in the national interest of Israel and that the previous decision of the Israeli Finance Minister to back the US Embassy move to this new Arnona Jerusalem location was sufficient grounds to demonstrate that.
The response of the Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to the United States moving their embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was given on Jerusalem Day the day before the opening ceremony of the new American embassy in Jerusalem. Mr. Rivlin then said: "Tomorrow the United States will transfer its embassy to Jerusalem. This is a significant and admirable step on the part of our oldest friend. A brave step by President Trump, who said and did, promised and also delivered. And following it, following the United States, embassies from other countries will be brought to Jerusalem. The diplomatic siege on Jerusalem was been broken. This is how it should be. It is a good time to implement the government's decision that was made 11 years old and to transfer all the government units to Jerusalem, in a nice and orderly manner. In the same breath we must remember that Jerusalem is a microcosm of our ability to live here together, religious, secular and haredi, Jews and Arabs. The unity of Jerusalem is also a committment to equal treatment for all residents of Jerusalem - this is our test, this is our test of sovereignty."
On the day and during his speech in the opening ceremony of the new United States embassy in Israel in Jerusalem Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following suitable remarks according to an article Netanyahu: Trump made history from Israel National News:
"We have not better friends in the world" to the US representatives gathered for the new American embassy in Jerusalem ceremony. "You stand for Israel and you stand for Jerusalem. Thank you!"
"Dear friends, what a glorious day. Remember this moment! This is history."
"President Trump, by recognizing history, you have made history."
"All of us are deeply moved. All of us are deeply grateful."
Prime Minister Netanyahu recalled some of his early childhood which was in the Arnona district of Jerusalem in saying to the mostly United States representatives at the new American Embassy in Jerusalem: "My mother told me, 'You can't go any further." This was near the border (with so-called East Jerusalem that was probably then in Jordanian hands.) It was sniper explosive fire."
Prime Minister Netanyahu then went on to say: "That was then. This is now. Today the embassy of the most powerful nation on earth, our greatest ally, the United States of America: today its embassy opened here."
Of course not everyone approved of the United States embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem. It was viewed decidedly negatively in the Arab and wider Muslim world especially. Palestinian and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas on the occasion of the United States embassy move to Jerusalem at a meeting of the Palestinian Authority leaders at their current capital in Ramallah said of this new American embassy: "a new American settlement outpost in Jerusalem." Mr. Abbas stated concerning the American acknowledgement of Jerusalem as Israel's capital: "the United States is no longer a mediator in the peace process - the removal of Jerusalem and the refugees means an American slap (in our faces)." Mr. Abbas proclaimed three days of mourning for the Palestinian Arabs in respose to the United States embassy move. The response of the Cairo, Egypt based Arab league was also quite negative. The deputy secretary general of their organization for Palestinian Arab affairs Saeed Abu Ali said: "ways of countering the illegal decision by the United States to move the embassy to Jerusalem" would be what they would concentrate on. He said the Arab League would gather: "at the request of the state of Palestine." Also before the US Embassy move some Muslim nations especially Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates together donated a quarter billion dollars to the Palestinian Authority as a first step to: "renovate and fortify" Muslim sites in Jerusalem which they would especially include the Muslim mosques such as the Al-Aqsa mosque and Dome on the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
One other Muslim leader who, as usual, had a very negative reaction to the American Embassy move in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as he does against anything that doesn't further his own power and the advance of militant Israel was Turkey's Islamic fundamentalist leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish President Erdogan said about the American embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem: "With its latest step America has chosen to be part of the problem, not a solution, and lost its mediator role in the Middle East peace process. We are rejecting once again this decision which violates international law and which is against UN resolutions." Turkish President Erdogan referred to the American embassy move as: "very, very unfortunate." and that it: "will increase tensions and ignite an even greater fire between communities. The international community must do its part as soon as possible and take swift action to put an end to Israel's increasing agression. The establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is the only way for lasting peace and stability." Israeli deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely said in response to the above and other responses of Turkey and its leader Erdogan to the American embassy move to Jerusalem and Israel's self defence by Hamas backed riots at Israel's border with the Gaza Strip: "We have (in current Turkey) a complex story with a leader who is trying to create votes in the Turkish public and in the Muslim world at the expense of Jerusalem and his relations with Israel. We strongly condemn Erdogan's words. We certainly blame him as someone who commits war crimes and is the last who can preach morality to a democratic and human rights-preserving state like Israel. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely however did affirm that Israel wanted to maintain some diplomatic relations with Turkey: "Turkey is important because of a number of reasons including air routes - almost all the flights passing from Israel to Europe and the Far East pass over Turkey - there is economy, tourism and other components. We are not quick to fold up the flag and are not talking about removing the diplomatic echelon, but rather about diplomatic relations that are facing raucous arguments, but not a crisis resulting in a removal of relations." Hotovely went on to say about Turkey and Israel's diplomatic relations with is in saying: "We speak harshly against Erdogan's word straightforwardly. He is a man who supports Hamas, and whoever supports Hamas is doing something that supports all the killing going on in Gaza. For us, Erdogan is part of the problematic factors and not part of the stabilizingf factors, but we have to understand that there is a great price for severing relations with an important country such as Turkey. When you think about the distant future, and not just about the latest argument, you have to remember that there is value to Israel-Turkey relations and that it is easiest to throw it all away. We're not in that situation."
Some of the reaction in the west and the rest of the world to US President Donald Trumps's decision to move the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem was also negative according to a BBC article "Jerusalem: Trump move prompts negative world reaction" and other BBC, Israel National News or other articlces. For instance UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said concerning the US Embassy move: "(it) would jeopardize the prospect for peace for Israelis and Palestinians." He also said about Jerusalem and the Israeli- Palestinian peace process that is was: "a final status issue that must be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties". He also said that the peace talks must: "take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinians and the Israeli sides". The Roman Catholic leader Pope Francis said on this matter: "I cannot silence my deep concern over the situation that has emerged in recent days. At the same time, I appeal stongly for all to respect the city's status quo, in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions." Also China and Russia on behalf of their nations and leaders expressed concern or disapproval of the US Embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem. Previous US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk (who I believe is Jewish himself) and who at one point was involved for the United States in trying to get an Israeli Palestinian peace solution expressed his disapproval and concern for the Middle East peace process from the US government under current US President Donald Trump moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. He indicated he thinks that former US President Bill Clinton didn't want the embassy move, that the Israeli prime minister was against it and that US presidents since 1995 continuing to block this resolution from going into effect since 1995 showed they were against it. Mr. Indyk made this statement even though in 1995 the US Congress voted by a large margin with many congressmen from both parties in favour of the move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from my home country of Canada also expressed his disagreement of the American Embassy move to Jerusalem and of the concurrent violence by Palestinian Arabs on the Gaza side of the border fence with Israel and the many injuries and some fatalities among them. He called in response for all this Middle East activity an independent (perhaps from the United Nations) probe of the violence along the Israel-Gaza border particularly in regard to the injury of a Canadian doctor among those were injured by Israeli crowd control measures against the rioters at the Gaza fence with Israel. Mr. Trudeau did not directly criticize Israel concerning the violence but he also did not directly mention Hamas as the agent inciting the rioters to violence against Israel. Mr. Trudeau said: "Canada deplores and is gravely concerned by the violence in the Gaza Strip that has led to a tragic loss of life and injured countless people. We are appalled that Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Canadian citizen, is among the wounded - along with so many unarmed people, including civilians, members of the media, first responders, and children." He also said: "We are doing everything we can to assist Dr. Loubani and his family, and to determine how a Canadian citizen came to be injured. We are engaging with Israeli officials to get to the bottom of these events." About the violence at the Gaza border in general Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau said further: "Reported use of excessive force and live ammunition is inexcusable. It is imperative we establish the facts of what is happening in Gaza. Canada calls for an immediate independent investigation to thoroughly examine the facts on the ground - including any incitement, violence, and the excessive use of force. Canada stands ready to assist in such an endeavor. We will work closely with our international partners and through international institutions to address this serious situation." However some of the above statements by Mr. Trudeau did not give the right impression of the situation. For instance Israel and the United States have asserted that the Israeli soldiers (IDF) used restraint at the border with Gaza when they were faced with sustained efforts to break down the border fence and invade Israel as well as attacks on Israeli forces from the Gaza side of the border. During the long-running riots there were frequent times when Israeli (IDF) soldiers were attacked with guns and different explosives including grenades, pipe bombs and fire bombs. These are not consistent with peaceful protests. Senior Hamas leader Mohammed Al-Zahar admitted that about 50 of the 62 fatalities among the rioters were active Hamas members. Prime Minister Trudeau was criticized for his comments on the Gaza violence by different Canadian Jewish organizations and their leaders. For instance their group said: "The prime minister's statement does not condemn Hamas for inciting violence and its armed struggle to invade Israel. Hamas, recognized by Canada as a terrorist group, is determined to enter Israel in order to harm civilians by breaching the security fence and through tunnels." Simon Weisenthal of Canada CEO Avi Benlolo also said: "While we despair about loss of life, Canada should steadfastly condemn Hamas for inciting violence and for attempting to enter a sovereign nation to carry out terrorism. It's disappointing that our prime minister (Justin Trudeau) did not condemn Hamas in his statement."
As might be guessed there was also a mostly negative response to the United States move of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The European Union urged the: "resumption of a meaningful peace process towards a two-state solution." They also said: "a way must be found, through negotiations, to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states, so that the aspiration of both parties can be fulfilled." EU foreign policy leader Federica Mogherini said the US Embassy move statement: "had a very worrying potential impact." She also said on the matter: "It is a very fragile context and the announcement has the potential to send us backwards to even darker times than the ones we are already living in. The worst thing that could happen now is an escalation of tensions around the holy places and in the region because what happens in Jerusalem matters to the whole region and the entire world." French President Emmannuel Macron described US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital as: "regrettable". Mr. Macron also urged international efforts towards Middle East to: "avoid violence at all costs." A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel commented on Twitter about the US Embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem that Germany: "does not support this position because the status of Jerusalem can only be negotiated within the framework of a two-state solution." United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Theresa May said about the US Embassy in Israel move to Jerusalem decision that is was: "unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region." She said: "The British embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it." She elaborated: "Our position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and longstanding: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. In line with relevant (UN) Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories." British opposition Labour Party foreign affairs critic said the US embassy move was: "reckless" and was a: "hammer blow" to the Middle East peace process. She also said: "He (US President Donald Trump) is setting it (the Israeli-Palestinian peace process) back decades." However three, all Eastern European members of the European Union who are generally more supportive of Israel, prevented a European wide condemning statement of US President Donald Trump's US Embassy move in Israel to Jerusalem by their vetoing such a planned consensus statement according to the EU Observer article "EU gagged on 'fundamental' shift in Middle East."
However there were some nations in the world that not only agreed with the United States move of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem but also promised to follow the American lead. Some have already done so. These countries are mostly from either Eastern Europe or Latin America. So are these nations are primarily Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay in Latin America and the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary in Eastern Europe. In the month of the American Embassy move to Jerusalem in May 2018 Guatemala and Paraguay also moved their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem with ceremonies involving their heads of state and other leaders and Israeli leaders present at the official embassy moves to Jerusalem. The Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has taken action to expedite the move of the Czech embassy in Israel to Jerusalem but he is being resisted by some senior elements in the foreign ministry there. There is also some hindering factors in Romania from their nation moving their embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Although the government or at least governing party which in their case seems to be somewhat to the left wing and led by Prime Minister Viorica Dancilla is strongly in favour of such a move, there are some other right wing parties and the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis that continue to oppose it and Mr. Iohannis demanded the resignation of Mrs. Dancilla for her recent advocacy of their embassy move to Jerusalem according to an article "Romanian president demands PM resign over Jerusalem embassy move" in Israel National News.
In summary the recent events in or involving Israel this year have great international and probably last days bible prophecy significance. All of the events of the western calendar and Jewish lunar calendar 70th anniversary of Israel as a modern nation and the celebrations and this years Jerusalem Day being just one day before the official movement date and opening ceremony of the new American embassy in Israel are significant. So are world reactions including the violence by Palestinian or possibly other Arab or Muslim terrorists at the Gaza border with Israel and Israel acting in self-defence to protect their border and general negative other western or world reaction to the US Donald Trump American embassy move and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the supportive action of several countries of the American embassy move by their promising or following through with moving their nations' embassies in Israel to Jerusalem. These actions and counteractions from different nations and their leaders or organizations or world organizations such as the United Nations or that of major religions such as Roman Catholic leader Pope Francis has probably intensified the thoughts or positions of many citizens of many countries in support or against Israel and their claim to territory including Jerusalem in the Middle East. From a biblical Christian viewpoint these American actions and world countermeasures probably mean the false peace in the Middle East and probably for the world in general of the Antichrist or he who causes abomination or the beast out of the sea or man of sin etc is much nearer in both time and preparation. Although I still personally believe the Antichrist will come out of Europe as the revived Roman Empire rather than America or the Middle East, as I explain more in the web page the 70 weeks of Daniel under web section Israel and Bible Prophecy, I do believe President Trumps' decision could still be a further major aspect of the ultimate false Middle EAst or wider peace agreement (covenant) that the Antichrist will use elements of (confirm) as in Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5.
Therefore I would urge the reader, if you haven't already done so, to as soon as possible trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour that he died for all our sins on the cross and rose again to give us a restored relationship with God the Father and an assured eternal home in heaven and be part of His eternal family the Church (called out of the world people). If you have done or do this as soon as possible you can also be assured you will be taken to heaven with the rest of the true Church with our Lord Jesus Christ when He comes for His Church at the rapture or catching up to heaven of the Church as in Gospel of John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, Philippians 3:20-21 etc. and that you won't be left behind on Earth for the darkest hour of Earth and its inhabitants in the tribulation. This darkness in the tribulation over all the earth then and even into the heavens will be due to the greatest demonstration of the devil's power through short lived world government under the Antichrist and false prophet and other anti-God leaders and God's judgment on this Antichrist world system and its leaders and people especially that continue to neglect or reject personally becoming reconciled to God through admitting we are sinners in the sight of the one true and living God the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ and continuing to neglect or reject His way of salvation for people of all nations through personally placing our faith or trust in His Son Jesus Christ for salvation, forgiveness, justification, gift from God of His perfect righteousnes and eternal life. I would therefore based on these recent and continuing to develop world events consistent with God's prophetic word the Holy Bible urge you to trust in the Lord Jesus as soon as possible if you haven't already so you can enjoy Him and His eternal blessings and rule with Him at least in the Messianic or Millennial Kingdom for 1000 years when He comes to defeat the Antichrist and ungodly world system at Jesus' Second Coming in glory to the Earth as in Revelation 19, Matthew 26:62-65 etc. and not be left behind on Earth after the preceding rapture of the Church to face the world tyranny of the Antichrist for 7 years in the tribulation or time of God's wrath and at Jesus' second coming to judge the world and possibly face God's eternal judgment in hell or the lake of fire after that which we all as sinners deserve before a God who is also perfectly holy and righteous even in the New Testament. There will be opportunity for many to be saved in the tribulation who are now living on Earth now and miss the rapture but it will be in the most dire situation and worse than in many places on Earth now to trust in or live for the true God and will often involve martyrdom. This opportunity to be saved in the tribulation for those who miss the rapture will be primarily for those who haven't heard a clear presentation of God's way of salvation or gospel through faith in Jesus Christ in this current Church Age or Dispensation from Pentecost to the Rapture according to 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. So I urge you to use these recent events in or involving Israel this year to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour as soon as possible if you haven't already and be prepared for a blessed eternity even if you might have to give up more of the world's indulgence for what is left of this present Church Age or Age of grace.
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Part 11 Israeli Palestinian Conflict
Part 1 Israeli Palestinian Conflict