Comment By Torchlight

Middle East Cauldron

Failure to reach agreement at the much-publicized Arab 'summit' conference at Rabat in December last was a major disaster from the Arab point of view. The refusal of 13 Arab states to make a firm commitment of troops and material to aid the countries on the front line against Israel was a great disappointment to President Nasser of Egypt, causing him to walk out of the conference in disgust. In Beirut the failure of the Rabat conference was described as, "the most disastrous in Arab history. For the first time, the kings and emirs, presidents and revolutionary leaders found themselves so divided that they could not even produce a soporific communique to try to preserve the impression of Arab unity". Colonel Kazafi, the Libyan leader, said, "Let the Arab people, from the Atlantic to the Gulf, know that the Rabat conference ended in failure". No doubt further efforts will be made by President Nasser to persuade his immediate neighbours to join in a military alliance against Israel but the prospect of unified action by other Arab states seems to be ruled out for the present.

Any satisfaction derived by Israel at this disarray among her Arab neighbours is offset by the knowledge that it brings no nearer the solution of her own problems. The defence of her extensive borders is a continual strain on her military forces and a crippling burden to her economy. It is estimated that her war effort is costing �1,200,000 a day. It is also obvious from various statements by Israeli spokesmen that there are increasing fears that the Great Powers will attempt to impose a Middle East settlement which will be to her disadvantage. There was strong reaction last month to an alleged "peace plan" which included the re-partition of Jerusalem. Mrs Meir, the Israeli Prime Minister, said that it would be "treasonable" for any Israeli Government to accept such terms. "After all that has happened, we are asked to go into something like this, to start all over again as though it were 1948. Israel will

not accept this. We are not going to commit suicide", she said. There is. grave concern among the supporters of Israel that she is being pushed into an increasingly isolated position.

Following the disagreement of the Arab Heads of State at Rabat to find a basis for concerted action against Israel there was an emergency meeting of the Arab guerilla organizations at Beirut. These commando groups, including El Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, pledged themselves to a new and intensified wave of attacks against Israel positions inside and outside Israeli-held territory. This brought an immediate warning from Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan that if Lebanon did not stop Arab guerillas opening a "third front" against Israel from its territory it would suffer the consequences. In a broadcast, General Dayan said that he hoped the Lebanese would realize what awaited them.

In Britain there were Press reports that an Arab terrorist organization was plotting to drug and smuggle Jewish millionaires out of the country with their wives and families. Several prominent businessmen were named and it was planned that they would be held to ransom for thousands of pounds to help to finance the El Fatah war effort. At the time of writing this is the frightening picture of Middle East politics. The situation is deteriorating; no 'one appears to have any influence with either side.

Since the famous Balfour Declaration of 1917 the "Jewish problem" has baffled world statesmen. No solution to it has been found. The "Jewish problem" can be understood only against the background of Biblical prophecy. Neither Israel herself nor the Great Powers can solve it. Alas, when at last a settlement seems in view it will be discovered that the deliverer is a wolf in sheep's clothing-Antichrist. His seven year covenant will prove but "a scrap of paper", part of the plan to destroy her. But a covenant-keeping God sits in the heavens and watches as the nations rage. In the hour of Israel's extremity, "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer" (Romans 11.26), and, repentant and purged, she will greet her once-rejected Messiah with the glad words, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 23.39).

It can readily be seen that Middle East conditions are shaping towards this outline. In our understanding of the prophetic word, the Rapture of the Church will precede the short and terrible reign of Antichrist. The article beginning on page 18 deals with the early phase of our Lord's promised return which is the immediate hope of the believer. This imminent event should be continually in our thoughts, comforting, purifying, and urging us to labour in the Lord.

"E'er may the hope of Thy return be calling,

With trumpet note to work, to watch, to pray;

Soon work shall cease; for, see, the night is falling;

Haste to the labour while 'tis called today".

unknown | Feb 1970
Comment By Torchlight