Saudi Arabia wants to normalize ties with Israel

A recent report claimed that Saudi Arabia wants to normalize ties with Israel, though it will take time and hinges on the US meeting demands.  Published: DECEMBER 6, 2022 17:4   By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Saudi Arabia is looking to normalize ties with Israel, although it will be a while before this ever properly manifests, Israeli news outlet i24NEWS reported Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) and Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Khalid Bin Salman await ahead of their meeting with the US Secretary of State at Irqah Palace in Riyadh on February 20, 2020. (credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The article cited Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Abdel al-Jubeir, who recently spoke to senior American Jewish leaders. There, he guaranteed that Israeli-Saudi normalization will happen eventually, but stressed that it will take time.

In addition, in a meeting with US officials visiting Riyadh courtesy of the Washington Institute, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman listed three main demands that must be met for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords and normalize ties with Israel, according to i24NEWS. 

According to the report, these demands did not include anything about the Palestinian conflict or requests for Israel. Rather, they hinged entirely on the US, specifically affirming a US-Saudi alliance, proper weapons supplies to the kingdom as if it were a NATO country and allowing Riyadh to have a restricted civil nuclear program.

Saudi-US ties flounder amid Biden administration, OPEC oil cuts

These requests by Saudi Arabia for the US come amid strained ties between Washington and Riyadh. 

While the Biden administration had always been less warm towards the Saudis compared to their predecessors, relations suffered after OPEC decided to cut oil production by two million barrels per day in early October.

With energy prices already high due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this sparked outrage in the US and several politicians, including the Biden administration, condemned OPEC.

Saudi Arabia’s request for weapons supplies as if it were a NATO country also comes several months after the US declared Saudi Arabia’s neighbor and occasional rival, Qatar, a major non-NATO ally.

Saudi track for normalization with Israel

Saudi Arabia would be the latest Arab nation to normalize ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords, following the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco signing on in September 2020. 

Since then, there has been speculation over whether Saudi Arabia would follow suit. Since then, there has been progress, and Israeli officials have reportedly visited Saudi Arabia for secret talks – with then prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu even reportedly secretly meeting with Mohammed bin Salman. However, Saudi officials have long stressed the need for a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict before considering it.

This has been an ongoing development since the efforts of former President Donald Trump to bring about Peace in the Middle East.  This is not surprising to Bible Students as we fully expect to see this development based on Bible Prophecy that has foretold the alignment of Nations in the “latter days”.  The Bible describes a King of the North and a King of the South Geo-political Alignment of Nations in the last days prior to the last battle of mankind and the intervention of Christ to established God’s Kingdom on Earth Forever.  We read of this in Daniel Chapter 11:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

You can read more about this in this article: Alignment of Nations in the Latter Days

Europe’s Anti-American itch

Europeans have only themselves to blame for their industrial and strategic failings.

European officials are trying to blame the greedy Americans for the Continent’s current funk | Pool photo by Susan Walsh/AFP via Getty Images

Published: NOVEMBER 30, 2022 6:13 AM CET  BY MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG

BERLIN — It’s gotten cold in Europe, the economy is tanking and the natives are getting restless. There’s only one answer: Blame America.

Pointing across the Atlantic has long been a favorite diversionary tactic for Europe’s political elites when things start to get dicey on the Continent.

Whether it’s the war in Ukraine (Washington shouldn’t have expanded NATO), natural disasters (too many American SUVs fueling climate change) or the demise of French as a lingua franca (cultureless Hollywood), America is inevitably the culprit.

In the latest instalment of this tedious tradition, European officials are trying to blame the greedy Americans for the Continent’s current funk, accusing them of placing the mighty dollar über alles, stooping so low as to even take advantage of the war in Ukraine.   

“The fact is, if you look at it soberly, the country that is most profiting from this war is the U.S. because they are selling more gas and at higher prices, and because they are selling more weapons,” a senior European official vented to my POLITICO colleagues last week.

Sobriety, however, is not a quality one could safely ascribe to the anonymous accuser.

Leaving aside the fact that Ukraine would have collapsed months ago if the U.S. hadn’t stepped in, the direct impact of Russia’s war on America’s $26 trillion economy from the sale of natural gas and arms is a droplet in a bucket.

For one thing, the U.S. exports less than 10 percent of its natural gas production. In 2021, the value of those exports was about $27 billion. While Europeans are understandably upset that their gas prices are four times what they are in the U.S., no one told them to make themselves dependent on Russian gas or to switch off perfectly functioning nuclear power plants (in fact, Washington told them for years not to).  

The accusation of supposed war profiteering from weapons is no less hollow. Of the roughly $30 billion in military assistance the U.S. has so far provided Ukraine, the bulk of the equipment has been donated.  

While American defense contractors stand to benefit from replacing stocks and from stronger demand for arms among NATO allies, so too should their European counterparts.

Yet therein lies the rub: European firms should benefit as much as Americans, but don’t. The main reason is that Europe has underinvested in its defense industry.

Yet another article that highlights a growing Anxiety in Europe about the United States of America.  The Bible says that at the time of the end Europe and America will be on opposing world political outlooks.   So, there must be a break down in the past relationship between Europe and America for Europe to move into the sphere of a new relationship with Russia as the Bible Predicts and has done so for over 2500yrs in Bible Prophecy that is continuing to be played out in Current World Events.   This article highlights yet again the fulfilment of Bible Prophecy spoken 2500 years ago.  The Bible reveals that The EU will become a SUPERSTATE with a dominant FEDERAL GOVERNMENT described in the Bible as a Beast System due to its amalgamation of different countries and peoples into one State with one Voice.  Along with this development we expect to see Russia become more involved in Europe with links to a combined army, yes NATO will come to an end and Russia will end up militarily linked to this EU ARMY.  But Russia will never join the EU as Putin will never give up Russia’s sovereignty.

So WATCH this development as it is a sure sign that we are living in the last days before Christ’s Return.  

This EU SUPERSTATE will along with Russia enter into a final conflict with Israel and the Middle East.  Germany is the key country in what Bible Prophecy refers to as the land of “Magog”.

They are spoken of militarily as the “King of the North”.  Together the Bible says that Russia and the EU will invade the Middle East in the Last Days.  So Bible Students expect to see Germany and France taking a greater role in leading Europe.  It is also interesting to see Germany taking greater control of a continent they tried to take by war and failed.

Yet again we see in Todays News Headlines words that show how the Nations are fulfilling the latter day alignment of Nations as Prophesied by the Bible. 

See this article to learn more about this and the latter day prophecies of the Bible.

See this article for more on this subject: WHAT IS NEXT FOR EUROPE

Europe’s US Anxiety

The Continent is right to feel uneasy about the direction of American trade and foreign economic policy.

The challenges we now face can only be met if the U.S. works with its allies and partners in Europe and Asia | Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2022 4:00 AM CETBY IVO DAALDER

Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, is president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and host of the weekly podcast “World Review with Ivo Daalder.”

While spending the past week in Brussels, Berlin and London, meeting with European Union, NATO and other government officials, I was struck by a pervasive anxiety regarding the United States, particularly if polls predicting a Republican win in the midterm elections prove accurate.  

Across the board, I heard two concerns: One was focused on how Washington’s growing attempt to decouple from China and tackle climate change was leading to a new protectionism — with fresh subsidies for U.S.-produced electric vehicles (EV) and batteries, and new constraints on semiconductors topping the list. The other concerned the growing fear that a Republican Congress could end critical U.S. support for Ukraine. 

Europeans are right to feel uneasy about the direction of U.S. trade and foreign economic policy.

For all its embrace of allies and partners, President Joe Biden’s administration hasn’t done nearly enough to restore a sense of balance in its economic relations with allies in Europe and Asia. The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council is little more than a talking shop, with one top EU official asking, “Where’s the beef?” And the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework has little to show for itself. 

Meanwhile, recent U.S. actions now point to a return to the unilateralism and protectionism characteristic of the previous administration of former President Donald Trump. Many in Europe had initially welcomed the renewed U.S. commitment to fighting climate change, but they now worry a fight that’s meant to be global in nature is pitting U.S. industrial policy and concerns over China, against the very allies and partners Washington needs to succeed. 

Yet another article that highlights a growing Anxiety in Europe about the United States of America.  The Bible says that at the time of the end Europe and America will be on opposing world political outlooks.   So, there must be a break down in the past relationship between Europe and America for Europe to move into the sphere of a new relationship with Russia as the Bible Predicts and has done so for over 2500yrs in Bible Prophecy that is continuing to be played out in Current World Events.   This article highlights yet again the fulfilment of Bible Prophecy spoken 2500 years ago.  The Bible reveals that The EU will become a SUPERSTATE with a dominant FEDERAL GOVERNMENT described in the Bible as a Beast System due to its amalgamation of different countries and peoples into one State with one Voice.  Along with this development we expect to see Russia become more involved in Europe with links to a combined army, yes NATO will come to an end and Russia will end up militarily linked to this EU ARMY.  But Russia will never join the EU as Putin will never give up Russia’s sovereignty.

So WATCH this development as it is a sure sign that we are living in the last days before Christ’s Return.  

This EU SUPERSTATE will along with Russia enter into a final conflict with Israel and the Middle East.  Germany is the key country in what Bible Prophecy refers to as the land of “Magog”.

They are spoken of militarily as the “King of the North”.  Together the Bible says that Russia and the EU will invade the Middle East in the Last Days.  So Bible Students expect to see Germany and France taking a greater role in leading Europe.  It is also interesting to see Germany taking greater control of a continent they tried to take by war and failed.

Yet again we see in Todays News Headlines words that show how the Nations are fulfilling the latter day alignment of Nations as Prophesied by the Bible. 

See this article to learn more about this and the latter day prophecies of the Bible.

See this article for more on this subject: WHAT IS NEXT FOR EUROPE

UK Israel relationship to hit new heights amid rocky times

National security, Brexit, and innovation are all reasons why the UK and Israel have been reassessing their trade relationship, explained Matthew Salter, Director at the Department for International Trade in the UK Embassy

By James Spiro Published: 16.10.22

Two countries that have faced a disruptive change in the last half-decade are once again coming together to establish the future of their relationship. Despite changing prime ministers and unstable governments in recent years, Israel and the UK remain dedicated to working on a trade agreement that must consider the potential of both countries while acknowledging the challenge of recent political and social issues.

“All anyone wanted to talk about 20 years ago was the peace process, a two-state solution, and no one was interested, either in the press or general, about the bilateral relationship on trade, science, and more,” explained Matthew Salter, Director at the Department for International Trade in the UK Embassy based in Tel Aviv. “Now, 80% of our focus with countries is on bilateral relationships and trade cooperation.”

It is already a piece of history that the UK voted to depart from the EU, and with that, depart from its trade deals with countries around the world. After formally leaving the bloc in 2020, the country has been on a mission to forge friendships with nations in and out of the EU for better trade, movement, and security. For many countries, the UK replicated its trade agreements and used its one with the EU as a starting point for negotiations with Israel. According to Salter, the agreement is currently “99% goods” and almost entirely neglects services.

“The UK would never have been able to advance that to a more ambitious agenda because the EU wouldn’t have wanted to for political or economic reasons,” he explained. Salter moved to Israel 20 years ago and has worked both with the British and Israeli governments in different roles before accepting his most recent position in 2020. “The minute the UK is no longer part of the EU, it can turn around and say ‘where in the world do we want to focus our trade priorities?’”

Official trade talks between the UK and Israel started before Rosh Hashana, with 13 negotiators from each country articulating their desires moving forward. Salter stressed that “almost every single political leader across the spectrum” in Israel has been pro-UK-Israel, and while a timeline couldn’t be confirmed, it is expected that a trade deal could be confirmed within 6-12 months. For the UK this can be considered a win since Truss has already conceded that trade deals with larger countries like the USA, its biggest individual trading partner, remain unlikely in the “short to medium term”.

Here is another reason why the UK had to leave the EU as Britain will have a close relationship with Israel as the King of the South according to Bible Prophecy.

The Bible describes a King of the North and a King of the South Geo-political Alignment of Nations in the last days prior to the last battle of mankind and the intervention of Christ to established God’s Kingdom on Earth Forever.  We read of this in Daniel Chapter 11:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

You can read more about this in this article: Alignment of Nations in the Latter Days

Germany’s Olaf Scholz calls for EU expansion and military autonomy

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has renewed calls for the European Union to be reformed to allow more countries to join the bloc. An EU with more members would make it geopolitically stronger, he said.

Chancellor Scholz in June said Western Balkan countries deserve a realistic chance to join EU

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for the expansion of the European Union on Saturday, saying it would allow the bloc to remain geopolitically important.

Scholz, who was speaking at the Congress of the Party of European Socialists in Berlin, said it was important to reform some of the EU’s treaties so that new members could join.

“A united European Union of 27, 30, 36 states, with then more than 500 million free and equal citizens, can bring its weight to bear even more strongly in this world,” he said. The EU currently has 27 members.

“I am committed to the enlargement of the EU. That the EU continues to grow eastward is a win-win for all of us,” he added.

Scholz also pushed for changes to bloc’s unanimity principle, which means every member has to agree in order for decisions to be taken in foreign affairs and tax policy.

While the principle helps the EU present a more united front, it has also been criticized for slowing action on urgent topics like sanctioning Russia.

All 27 members of the bloc also have to approve before another country can join it.

What did Scholz say?

Scholz said he knew it would take “a lot of convincing” when it came to the matter of gradually phasing out unanimity. 

“But I also say clearly: if a geopolitical Europe is our aspiration, then majority decisions are a gain and not a loss of sovereignty,” Scholz added.

He said he supports more military autonomy of the EU, and called for coordinated procurement of weapons and equipment as well as the establishment of an EU rapid reaction force by 2025.

“In the future, Europe will need a coordinated increase in capabilities,” Scholz told the party gathering. “We must confidently and jointly advance European defense.”

The EU will expand and become as the Bible has long foretold a beast system, an amalgamation of peoples all under one leader and governmental system. 

So, WATCH this development as it is a sure sign that we are living in the last days before Christ’s Return.

This EU SUPERSTATE will along with Russia enter into a final conflict with Israel and the Middle East.  Germany is the key country in what Bible Prophecy refers to as the land of “Magog”. They are spoken of militarily as the “King of the North”.  Together the Bible says that Russia and the EU will invade the Middle East in the Last Days.  So Bible Students expect to see Germany and France taking a greater role in leading Europe.  It is also interesting to see Germany taking greater control of a continent they tried to take by war and failed.

Yet again we see in Today’s News Headlines words that show how the Nations are fulfilling the latter-day alignment of Nations as Prophesied by the Bible.

See this article to learn more about this and the latter day prophecies of the Bible.

See this article for more on this subject: WHAT IS NEXT FOR EUROPE

Why Europe’s defense industry can’t keep up

Billions in new defense spending is here, but European firms don’t have the supply, coordination or speed to match the war-time demand.

BY ILYA GRIDNEFF   OCTOBER 11, 2022 4:00 AM

There aren’t enough weapons and hi-tech systems in Europe to match the EU’s military demands | Omar Marques/Getty Images

Europe’s efforts to revamp its chronically underfunded militaries have exposed a peace-time defense industry ill-equipped to supply weapons for the Russian threats piling up nearby.

Simply put, there just aren’t enough bullets, weapons and hi-tech systems in Europe to match the EU’s demands and looming dangers ahead. And the demand is high — since the war broke out in February, EU countries have pledged to spend more than €230 billion to modernize their arsenals. 

The reason for the sudden influx of cash is not just Russia’s revanchism. There is also a push from many powerful European countries to ensure the Continent does not have to rely on the U.S. military — or the powerhouse U.S. defense industry — to defend its own borders. The recent Russian mobilization, nuclear threats and suspected gas pipeline sabotage have only heightened the local nature of these threats.

“We hear from U.S. colleagues, actually advice,” said Jiří Šedivý, head of the European Defense Agency (EDA), an EU agency that is trying to help countries team up on defense purposes. “‘Invest in your own strategic enablers, because there might come a time, and it could be pretty soon, when actually, we, the U.S., might be engaged fully elsewhere in Asia-Pacific and we will be simply unable to support you.’”

In response, European defense firms are trying to play catch up, intensifying production and their own capabilities. But many European contracts have still been going abroad to places like the U.S. and even South Korea.

“As a company, we are investing hundreds of millions now in making sure that we can meet the demand,” said Micael Johansson, CEO of the Swedish defense firm Saab, whose shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, called NLAWs, have been critical for Ukraine.

But Europe’s security challenge presents a typical EU problem: success hinges on aligning the self-interests of 27 member states. Failure to do so, some argue, will only allow conflicts to fester.

“There is a war in Europe, hundreds are dying every day, not just soldiers but women and children,” said Riho Terras, a European Parliament member and Estonia’s former defense chief. “Europe needs to be united against Russia, otherwise there will be no peace.”

This is an interesting situation as Europe also knows that NATO is not the long-term answer to Russia, see this article NATO cannot make Europe Whole Again.

However, the fact that Europe is now arming itself is also an interesting development as we know from Bible Prophecy that Europe will be with Russia when an ‘overflowing horde of an army’ comes down to invade the Middle East in the Battle of Armageddon.  Ezekiel 38:15 Says this “You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. 16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.” 

Ezekiel even mentions that countries that shall be with Gog at this time Ezekiel 38:1-6 “The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him ³ and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal. ⁴ I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. ⁵ Persia, Cush ^x and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, ⁶ also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.”

These countries can be identified as per the image above.

So, Europe will unite with Russia in this final Conflict of mankind that will be intervened by Christ with all armies destroyed and God’s Kingdom replacing the vain kingdoms of men.

God’s Kingdom will be on Earth

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid calls for Two-State Solution

Published: 24th September 2022 at 9:44am

Israeli PM backs establishment of Palestinian state.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has called for a two-state solution to decades of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Key points:

• Yair Lapid told the UN the two-state solution was the right move for the “future of our children”
• A Palestinian politician said the call was meaningless unless it was backed by action
• The US ambassador to Israel called the speech “courageous”

Mr Lapid’s call for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel came during an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday and echoed US President Joe Biden’s recent support for the long-dormant proposal.

“An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel’s security, for Israel’s economy and for the future of our children,” Mr Lapid said.

He said any agreement would be conditional on a peaceful Palestinian state that would not threaten Israel.

Efforts to reach a two-state Israeli-Palestinian deal have long been stalled.

Palestinians and rights groups say Israel has entrenched its control of the occupied Palestinian territories through its military rule over millions of Palestinians and continued building of settlements in occupied territory.

Wasel Abu Youssef, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said Mr Lapid’s words “mean nothing”.

He said “whoever wants a two-state solution must implement it on the ground” and respect previously reached agreements, stop settlement expansion and recognise East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

US President Joe Biden with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid during a visit to Tel Aviv. (AP: Evan Vucci)

Mr Lapid’s speech came less than six weeks out from a November 1 election which could return former right-wing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power.

Middle East Peace has been an ongoing development since Israel was established as a Nation once more in 1948.  Whether it’s a Two-State Solution or not this is not surprising to Bible Students as we fully expect to see Peace in the Middle East based on Bible Prophecy that has foretold the alignment of Nations in the “latter days”.  The Bible describes a King of the North and a King of the South Geo-political Alignment of Nations in the last days prior to the last battle of mankind and the intervention of Christ to established God’s Kingdom on Earth Forever.  We read of this in Daniel Chapter 11:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

You can read more about this in this article: Alignment of Nations in the Latter Days