The watching world is holding its breath after record numbers of Israelis went to the polls.
We perhaps need reminding that the Jewish state is the only democracy in the Middle East and has been on an almost constant war-footing since the last national elections four years ago.
With all the ballots counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc leads that of ex-military chief Gadi Eisenkot by 53-48 seats, with the Arab parties winning the remaining 19. That leaves the incumbent needing to persuade eight Arab members to make up the required 61-seat Knesset majority by joining him in a coalition. Negotiations are expected to take some time.
Modern Israel has been under threat ever since her re-birth in 1948, but the situation is worse than ever since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023 – the most severe attack on Jews since the Holocaust. As with Lebanon-based Hezbollah, the Hamas terrorists are backed by Iran, which has long vowed to wipe Israel off the map and is now reportedly very close to nuclear capability.
All of which explains why the spectre of Iran hangs over the election like a ghastly Halloween ghost. ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu has even created an AI-generated image of Tel Aviv being struck by an atomic bomb. The nuclear threat is real, and the mullahs would love to vaporise the city’s large Jewish population (which includes many peace-loving Arabs).
Netanyahu – who has led the country on and off for the past 30 years – is a firm and steady figure who can be relied upon to defend his country to the death, whereas some opposition candidates could be more accommodating to the demands of Western leaders for two-state solutions, though I doubt they will go that far as a Palestinian state in the midst of Israel is seen by many as signing a death warrant.
However, former PM Ariel Sharon (another ex-military chief) effectively gave away Gaza in 2005 in a so-called ‘land for peace’ deal. And how did Gaza thank Israel? With constant attacks on their generous neighbours! In a nation surrounded by enemies, defence is obviously a major factor in policy making, but the irony is that military men (like Sharon) don’t always see things as clearly as the political sharpshooters.
President Trump backs Netanyahu because “there’s a job to finish,” but Israel cannot afford to keep relying on allies, including America.
Significantly, Bibi is a friend of evangelical Christians, repeatedly acknowledging their unstinting support while the world increasingly turns against them.
This support is borne of biblical understanding of God’s long-term purposes for Israel who are not just fighting for their own survival. For the future of the West itself is at stake if we allow Islamic jihadism to win the day in the Middle East.
After all, democracy emerged from our understanding of the Bible which in turn came to us from the Jewish prophets, Jesus himself being the cornerstone.
It’s not for nothing that our Parliament’s floor is inscribed with the (Latin) words of Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”
Bibi, for one, is a Bible-believer. That is, he believes the Tenach (our Old Testament) is divinely authored, having repeatedly stated that Israel is a fulfilment of Ezekiel’s prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones turning into a latter-day resurrection. Legendary Baptist minister Charles Spurgeon also said as much in a sermon over 150 years ago.
Evangelicals, who also believe in the Bible’s divine inspiration, are surely called to support Israel, though not uncritically, but in recognising God’s everlasting love for her (Jeremiah 31:3) along with his promise of spiritual restoration.
Whatever the outcome of this election, failing to bless Israel will invite a curse on us and our nation (Genesis 12:3). Do we capitulate to the antisemitic lies threatening to swamp our society, or do we adopt the position of Germany’s Confessing Church in rejecting the new Nazism as we walk the way of the cross?
We must pray and seek God’s will. As far as Israel is concerned, we can be sure of this: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:37).
Charles Gardner is author of Israel the Chosen, available from Amazon; Peace in Jerusalem, available from olivepresspublisher.com; To the Jew First, A Nation Reborn, and King of the Jews, all available from Christian Publications International.
