Trump Peace Proposal
Pres. Trump promised a peace proposal in early 2018. He gave some of the Arab leaders a preliminary proposal (more than 90 pages) in early Dec. 2017, but at the time of this writing (as far as I know) he hasn’t issued an official proposal.
Some of the terms in Pres. Trump’s preliminary proposal have leaked (no right of return; PA self-government in part of Israel, but no PA military; PA will get some land in the Sinai instead of land the PA wants in Israel, etc.). Others terms have been kept confidential.
It has been reported that what some leaders say in public is different from what they say in private. The situation is fluid and constantly changing. But this article contains my understanding of what I have read up to this time.
As a candidate for Pres. of the U.S., Mr. Trump promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some said he would never do it. Some said he would start WW III, if he did, etc.
At some point, Pres. Trump realized that every effort to negotiate a peace treaty failed for three reasons: 1) Possession of Jerusalem; 2) PA refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish nation; and 3) The UN, U.S., EU, Arab nations and others were giving the PA hundreds of millions of dollars per year with no strings attached.
Concerning Jerusalem, on Dec. 6, 2017, Pres. Trump decided to keep his promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. He understood that this would cause turmoil, but he believed the turmoil would eventually subside and the door would open for peace negotiations.
Concerning PA recognition of Israel as a Jewish nation, Pres. Trump decided the PA would never recognize the existence of Israel as a Jewish nation; so he decided to seek the recognition of the Arab League instead. Recognition of Israel’s existence as a Jewish nation by the Arab League would make PA rejection meaningless.
Concerning the hundreds of millions of dollars that are being given to the PA with no strings attached, Pres. Trump decided that one reason the PA keeps refusing to sign a peace treaty is because the PA doesn’t want the influx of money to stop. Pres. Trump decided that it is foolish to keep giving the PA large sums of money without getting something in return. Why agree to a peace treaty, if the money is going to be reduced or stopped?
When Mahmoud Abbas learned what is in Pres. Trump’s preliminary proposal he went ballistic. He abandoned the peace process. He rejected Pres. Trump as a fair negotiator. He walked away from the negotiating table.
He spent part of his millions of U.S. dollars traveling around Europe searching for anti-Israel allies. Most told him he would get nowhere without the U.S. and Pres. Trump.
Pres. Trump said Mr. Abbas must return to the negotiating table and stop refusing to negotiate or he (Pres. Trump) will shut down the PA office in Washington, the U.S. will not have anything else to do with the PA, and the U.S. will give the PA no more U.S. money. Pres. Trump even threatened to try to cut off the PA’s income from other nations and entities.
Pres. Trump thinks it will take time, but the PA will eventually change their mind. If they don’t, Pres. Trump will continue the peace process without any input from the PA. It appears that he may already have the approval of the Arab League to do this.
Anyway, the PA has abandoned the peace process, but most of the remainder of the Arab League hasn’t. Most want to get past Pres. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move on with the peace process in exchange for U.S. and Israeli help in dealing with Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
It has been reported that Egypt is actually downplaying Pres. Trump’s decision, and one government official has asked some of the media to convince the Egyptian people to accept it.
Jordan is struggling with Pres. Trump’s decision on Jerusalem, but many think Jordan will come around.
Pres. Trump said his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will cost Israel. The Arabs want to hear what this means.
This writer is not suggesting that Pres. Trump will betray Israel, but Pres. Trump needs to be very careful about this. The Bible clearly teaches that what nations do to Israel as the Tribulation Period nears will come back on them (Obad. 1:15).
Concerning Israel, Prime Min. Netanyahu knows that Israel will be called upon to make some painful concessions. He wants the government in Gaza replaced with a government that can control the terrorists and be a reliable peace partner.
He wants a phased agreement that will gradually change things over a period of time (not all at once; could it be 7 years?). He is refusing to give up Jerusalem and Israel’s right to defend itself.
God alone knows the future. But it looks like Pres. Trump will continue to develop his peace proposal; Mr. Abbas is probably on his way out; the 1967 borders are no longer a factor; the Arab League is ready to recognize the existence of Israel as a Jewish nation; the Arab League is ready to make peace; it is ready to establish a regional government in Gaza; it is ready to do what is best for the Palestinian people instead of the terrorists in Fatah, Hamas, etc.
It must be understood that Pres. Trump’s peace proposal is not the treaty that will begin the Tribulation Period. But his proposal will have the potential to morph into a peace treaty that will gain global acceptance and be confirmed by the Antichrist. That would begin the Tribulation Period.
Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com