Critical moves have been made over the past few days in the European Union and the UN Security Council, both involving the Palestinians, and both having potentially significant impact on Israel.

First, the European Union (EU) voted very strongly in favor of backing Palestinian statehood.  They claimed that the resolution “should go hand in hand with peace talks.”  Reality is more likely that Palestinian statehood will lead to stronger denial of the existence of Israel, not to peace talks. The EU resolution is not binding, but does push the issue of Palestinian statehood further down the road.

The EU made a second very significant move as well when they announced that Hamas was officially removed from the EU terrorist list.  While the Palestinians continue to threaten to bring Israel before the International Criminal Court for war crimes in the latest Gaza conflict, Hamas adheres to a charter that threatens to wipe Israel off the map, while no longer being designated a terrorist organization.  Here is a one-minute clip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response:

Meanwhile, yesterday an official draft proposal was submitted to the UN Security Council for recognition of Palestinian statehood.  Reportedly under pressure from Arab nations, Jordan (a member of the UN Security Council) submitted the draft proposal.  The 15-member council could vote on the resolution as early as today.  One of the stipulations is that Israel withdraw from the West Bank by the end of 2017.

The resolution could be adopted with 9 affirmative votes, however, the US is one of a handful of permanent members on the UN Security Council, and has veto power.  American officials have steadfastly pledged to veto the resolution.

Though Israel has agreed to a two-state solution, the Palestinians refuse to recognize Israel as a nation.  Israeli Minister of Intelligence and International and Strategic Affairs, Yuval Steinitz, stated:

“The Palestinians made sure to remove any mention of Israel’s status as a Jewish state from the draft, which means this is not an act of peace, it’s an act of war… If the PA continues to incite against us, against our existence, against the Jewish nation, if it [continues to] take unilateral action, we need to respond not just in the international sphere but also in the Palestinian sphere and to consider, if there is no other choice, dismantling the Authority.”

Things continue to heat up in the Middle East, just as Scripture said they would in the last days.  We are watching it play out right before our very eyes!  So, while you celebrate Christmas, please remember that the One whose birth we celebrate will soon return to redeem those who call upon Him.  The stage is being set!