Gaza And Jericho

Bible history features both Gaza and Jericho in terms of both judgement and blessing.

Samson plucked up the gates of Gaza and carried them to Hebron, but it was at Gaza also that he died with the Philistines in the house of Dagon: and it was on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza that Philip the evangelist brought the message of salvation to the seeking Ethiopian. Jericho, destroyed by Joshua, became the city of the curse; yet Emmanuel brought rich blessing as he passed through Jericho on His way to Calvary.

Jericho lies about seventy-five miles east of Gaza, and there is no close association between them in the Bible narrative. But it is fascinating to see these two familiar Bible names thrust to centre stage in current Middle East affairs. The link between them has been brought about by Israel's selection of the Gaza Strip and a small area centred on Jericho as enclaves of Palestinian self-rule. More than 700,000 Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, but the Jericho enclave has only a small population. With a million Palestinians in the West Bank area still under full Israeli occupation and control, the present political experiment is on a very limited scale, but has important significance.

The transfer of these areas to Palestinian rule was at first scheduled for December 13, 1993, but in the event had to he deferred until May 1994. The Israeli security forces then withdrew and thousands of trained Palestinian personnel took over. Yet Yassar Arafat, official Chairman of the new administration, remained in Tunis and exercised his authority from there. It was not until the 11th July that he stepped on to Palestinian land for the first time. Dropping to his knees, he kissed the sandy soil. A crowd of 70,000 welcomed their leader as a wave of euphoria swept through the Gaza Strip. His visit to Gaza was brief, followed by a helicopter flight to Jericho where his welcome was of course on a smaller scale. Then he returned to his Tunis headquarters.

The crucial test for the Palestinians will he their ability to administer the territories over which they have now been given control. Arafat is said to have little administrative skill, being reluctant to delegate authority and inexperienced in civilian government. Israel has promised to extend the

Palestinian self-government area to include the whole of the West Bank, but this development will depend on proved success in managing the affairs of the Gaza and Jericho enclaves.

Of major importance to Israelis the extent to which Arafat police and security forces can effectively contain certain Islamic groups which are opposed to the concept of limited Palestinian self-rule. They would be satisfied with nothing less than an independent Palestinian State embracing all the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hamas, the main extremist group of this kind, came to an agreement with Arafat that for the time being they would not attack his forces; but they do not scruple to pursue terrorism against Israeli targets. About 5,000 Jewish settlers live in the Gaza Strip and 3,000 Israeli soldiers continue in protective service around their communities. If despite all these precautions there is an unacceptable level of terrorism, this may well delay Israel's agreement to extend self-rule to other parts of the West Bank.

A massive programme of financial and economic aid is needed to improve housing and employment in the Gaza Strip, and to repair the infrastructure which had been so seriously damaged by years of civil disturbance. Arafat

will retain the support of the Gaza Strip Palestinians in the degree to which he is able to raise their standard of living.

With this experimental concession to Palestinian aspirations the so-called Middle East Peace Process grinds slowly forward. Diplomatic activity continues under pressure from the United States to bring about adjustment with Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Self-interest will continue to govern negotiations between Israel and each of these near neighbours. Some temporary accommodation may be arrived at, but the prophetic Word seems to indicate their deep hostility to Israel in the final end-time crisis. As for example in Ps. 83:4-7: "They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent... The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagarenes; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre". Thankfully we remember that God has the last word. "That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth" (v.18).

The above was written before negotiations began between Israel and Jordan.

unknown | Nov 1994
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