While the “Deal of the Century” has solidified US President Donald Trump as a genuine friend of Israel (perhaps the most genuine to ever sit in the Oval Office), many conservative Jews and Christians remain uneasy over the fact that the plan still looks to permanently divide the Promised Land.

As many have noted, Trump has presented the most comprehensive and realistic peace proposal given this intractable situation. And he’s done so while finally taking seriously not only Israel’s security concerns, but the Jewish people’s historical and legal claims to this Land.

But even then, there are serious concerns, some practical, others of a faith-based nature.

Dr. Jürgen Bühler, president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), acknowledged that Trump’s plan is a genuine effort to “find a way forward to a brighter future for both peoples in this disputed land.”

However, Dr. Bühler stated in an ICEJ press release that “while Trump’s proposal is better by far than past peace plans and contains many elements which will benefit both Israel and the Palestinians, it is still a plan to permanently divide the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants.”

The ICEJ statement also warned that the Trump plan “holds out the possibility of statehood to a corrupt Palestinian leadership which remains firmly entrenched in its rejection of Israel.”

That sentiment was echoed by Raanan Levy, a former advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who wrote on Facebook:

“…the idea that the Palestinian Authority will transform into a ‘Palestinian State’ is something no responsible Israeli can accept. Just like the United States would not agree to give the Rocky Mountains to Russia back in the 70’s, just like the European Union would not agree to an Islamic State in the Alps today, Israel, should NEVER agree to have another Arab ‘STATE’ West of the Jordan River. The idea of a Palestinian State inside Israel’s natural boundaries is a suicidal one for Israel to agree to, and should never ever be offered and definitely not negotiated. It will take generations for the Palestinians to step out of the post-Arafat era of hate and incitement, terror and corruption. Israel should not be the guinea pig of the world.” (Emphasis mine)

Indeed, that last point by Mr. Levy bears repeating:

“It will take generations for the Palestinians to step out of the post-Arafat era of hate and incitement, terror and corruption.”

Even if the Palestinian Authority went through the motions of fulfilling the obligations placed on them by Trump (and it won’t), that won’t and simply can’t erase two decades of brainwashing its people to hate not only Israel, but the Jewish people at large.

Even if by some miracle Trump’s proposal were to lead to the signing of a bilateral agreement including all its stipulations, that hatred would continue to simmer below the surface until the next outbreak of violence.

Just as God hardened the heart of Pharaoh against any acceptance of Israel’s just demands, even in the face of terrible catastrophe for Egypt, it seems that the Palestinians, too, have been made thus callous, lest the Land of Israel again be divided.

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