The UK is poised to ban trade with Israeli settlements, penalising the Jewish state for allowing Jews to build new homes in the heart of their ancient homeland.
The UK itself knows how important building new homes is. We have a housing crisis of sorts in the UK, and as a result the government is approving new builds in many rural areas. Numerous green spaces are being turned into housing estates, much to the disgruntlement of local residents in towns and villages up and down the country, but they’re doing this because there is a need for housing for the growing British population.
Israel is no different. The tiny Jewish state, which is roughly the size of Wales but with three times the population, is also growing and needs to keep building. In fact, as the Biblical prophecy of the Jews returning to their land continues to be fulfilled, there is an even greater need for housing. And God doesn’t only want the Jews to return, but He wants them to build and to flourish in their land.
The problem occurs when politicians and international bodies dictate to Israel, and only Israel, on where they can build. The hotly contested E1 area only seems to draw criticism when Israel builds, not the Palestinians, and yet Israel has legal rights to this area of land where the Palestinians do not.
Where is area E1?
Area E1 is part of Judea and Samaria (the so-called West Bank). This area of about 4.5 square miles is in the heartland of what was ancient Israel, and is important to the modern state of Israel today.
E1 extends from so-called East Jerusalem (the whole of Jerusalem is unified as Israel’s capital) to the northeast. The area starts on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives.
It should be noted that the majority of the events in the Bible took place within around a 10-20 mile radius of area E1. Just as most of Judaism’s holy sites are also.
Why is area E1 so important to Israel?
Area E1 is essential to Israel’s security, particularly in defending its eastern border with Jordan.
The city of Ma’aleh Adumim, the main population centre in area E1, is located east of Jerusalem and currently home to about 40,000 Jewish residents.
Ma’aleh Adumim secures the only route by which Israel could transport military forces, if necessary, from the coastal strip – where most Jews live and where most army bases are located – through Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley.
Transport-wise, Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim, and the E1 area command Route 1, the central highway connecting the Mediterranean coastal strip with the Jordan Valley, along which Jews can move almost unimpeded by Arab population centres.
Who owns area E1?
Here’s the interesting part. Area E1 actually falls under Area C of the Oslo II agreement.
It seems that most governments and media channels want to refrain from referring to Area E1 as being part of Area C, though. Why is that? Because Israel has administrative authority over this area.
Oslo II was signed on the White House lawn in Washington DC on 28 September 1995. The agreement clearly states that Israel retains territorial, security, and planning authority over Area C until a full peace agreement is signed between Israel and the Palestinians.
Additionally, in the Camp David negotiations, parts of the E1 territory would likely become Israeli territory if a two-state solution was signed between Israel and the Palestinians.
It is strange that people are so against Israel building in a land that they have administrative authority over, as agreed upon by the Palestinians. Arafat himself signed the document for it.
The Biblical connection to Area C and E1
As Christians, we must always keep the Bible as our authority on every issue. The land of Israel was given to the Israelites by God Almighty, as spoken throughout the Bible.
In Joshua, we read about God giving them the land that is now part of E1 in particular.
Remember that when Joshua took on the mantle from Moses, God promised to Joshua that He would give to the Israelites every part of the land that Joshua’s foot touched.
“Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.” (Joshua 1:3)
This wasn’t just a promise to Joshua. This was a promise to the people of God, the children of Israel. God also gave instructions to apportion the land between the tribes (Joshua 13:7).
The geographical area around E1 is associated with the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin, and the Ascent of Adummim is explicitly mentioned in both Joshua 15 and 18 as a boundary landmark.
“And the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and turned northward toward Gilgal which is opposite the ascent of Adummim…” (Joshua 15:7)
And also:
“Then it turned northward and went to En-shemesh, and went to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.” (Joshua 18:17)
Today in Israel, Ma’aleh Adumim, an Israeli city, is located on the land that was known in Joshua’s time as the “ascent of Adummim”.
God is the creator of the world, and as creator He has the ultimate authority. There is only one piece of land that God gave away to a specific group of people. The world, which is largely under Satan’s influence, is rebelling against God’s authority. This is why there is such a strong pushback against Israel for simply building houses.
The UK’s condemnations of Israel
Earlier this month, the UK told Israel that it views the E1 settlement expansion to be “unacceptable and destructive.”
UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ed Miliband said his office was working to prepare a “comprehensive set of measures” in response, including sanctions against “those who participate in illegal settlement expansion.”
Sadly, the UK is not alone in condemning Israel. A number of European and Middle Eastern governments have issued condemnations and various other measures against Israel.
Also, around 140 Labour MPs have written an open letter supporting the plans to impose a boycott on Israel.
Thankfully, some MPs inside Labour are speaking out against these plans.
Why this boycott could affect more than the settlements
Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) released a statement on the matter explaining that the Israeli economy is so intertwined with the settlements, meaning many Israeli companies will be impacted by them. Couple this with the fact that UK companies are overly cautious in complying with regulations, LFI warns that the ban could amount to a “de facto boycott” of Israel as a whole.
“It would affect all Israeli businesses operating in the settlement blocs, as well as East Jerusalem and the Old City, where major Israeli businesses like Bank Hapoalim and Teva operate, and where the tourism sector is critical for Israeli and Palestinian workers,” the statement said. “There is a risk that international financial actors overcomply with sanctions nominally targeting settlements, adversely affecting Israelis living within the state’s borders.”
It continued, “A settlement boycott would thus become a de facto boycott of all of Israel, which would rightly be perceived within the UK Jewish community as a further example of the government singling out and targeting Israel for punitive action and harsh rhetoric.”
What is Israel’s crime?
The UK government is wrong to impose sanctions and boycotts on Israel
There is no question that the UK’s actions are wrong. They are penalising Israelis for building homes in their ancient homeland in an area that Israel has authority to build in.
Not only is it morally wrong, it is also unwise.
The UK government relies heavily on trade with Israel from companies that operate in Judea and Samaria. For example, Teva, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, which provides 1 in 7 prescriptions to the NHS, could be affected by this boycott. Thus, putting British healthcare at risk.
More than this, the UK government is acting against the will of God.
God makes it clear in His Word that He will judge the nations that treat Israel badly after God restores them to their land.
“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.” (Joel 3:1-2)
The nations act in arrogance against God. They think they know better than the Creator of the universe. They quote “international law” but refuse to accept God’s law.
The Bible is the only source of truth. We take its promises to give Israel the land very seriously. Just as we take the warning in Genesis 12:3 very seriously when God promises to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel.
Right now, the UK government is planning to curse Israel. God will not hold Britain guiltless. We pray that our government will turn away from this wicked plan.
