EU - Peace Yes, But No Settlements
The European Union intends to press for peace and reject Israeli moves to expand West Bank settlements, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) Sven Koopmans told Israeli journalists in Brussels as he dismissed Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s call for the EU to cease criticizing Israel’s settlements and handling of the Palestinians.
Koopmans was responding to a question from journalists about whether he would back off following Cohen’s statement.
Looking perturbed, he said, “the conflict is an international conflict. There should be a peace agreement that includes many international partners– that is obviously an international solution. I represent the EU, which wants to contribute to that solution, working with everyone.
“I try to bring together the EU and its various parts on concrete projects and initiatives,” Koopmans said. “The EU is not just by far the largest trade partner of Israel… we are also by far the largest donor to the Palestinians. We always want to strengthen ties with Israel and with the Palestinians where possible and within parameters.
“Yes, I am the EU leader for the peace process,” Koopsman said, but the problem is that, “frankly, there is no Middle East peace process. I have been asked by [EU Foreign Minister Josep] Borrell and the EU foreign ministers: Can the EU have a more substantive role in developing a peace process?
“We believe in security and stability for Israel and the Palestinians in a future independent Palestinian state and for the whole region.”
A February 13 joint statement issued by the EU, the Saudis and the Arab League […] supported peace negotiations and rejected Israel’s latest announcement regarding new settlement building.
-www.jpost.com, 21 February 2023
Arno's Commentary
The aim is peace, but that has proven to be unrealistic. Why? Recall the Oslo Agreement. Disputed territories were subject to negotiations: the PLO would renounce terrorism and acknowledge Israel’s right to exist in peace. That never happened. Subsequently, the Oslo Agreement can be considered null and void.
How does all this relate to the rest of the world, particularly the European Union? First of all, Europe is the continuation of the Roman Empire; subsequently, the last Gentile world superpower. They have an important voice when it comes to the Middle East, and especially Israel. They, as virtually the rest of the world, agree to Israel’s existence, but vehemently oppose Israel establishing towns, villages, cities, and farms in any of the so-called “Palestinian territories.” Problem: there is no such thing as Palestinian territory. Granted, Arab-Palestinians have lived in some of the towns and villages in Israel for many centuries, but nothing has ever been established that would be noticed by the industrial world. Israel, however, did.
We are led to the question: what is the real reason for the world’s opposition to Jews settling their land? The answer is found in the invisible world, where millions, trillions, even quadrillions of demons are in charge of planet earth. They incite the leaders against the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Under no circumstances must the prophecy to the Hebrews, which contains the geographical promise from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates, be fulfilled.
What will happen in the future? Joel 3:2 answers: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
