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Christian Zionism

Is a 'Palestinian' state God's will?


By Ryan Jones
October 09, 2005

In addition to leading him to invade Afghanistan and Iraq, US President George W. Bush believes divine will is guiding him to help birth a ?Palestinian? state on biblical Jewish lands, senior Palestinian Authority officials told the BBC.

PA Information Minister Nabil Sha'ath told the BBC in a special interview that when he was foreign minister under then-PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas in 2003, Bush made some startling revelations to them during talks in Jordan surrounding the Road Map peace plan.

?President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, ?George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.? And I did, and then God would tell me, ?George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq.? And I did,'? according to Sha'ath.

?And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, 'Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East.' And by God I'm gonna do it,? the American was further quoted as saying.

Also appearing on the BBC special, Abbas recounted how Bush had called establishing a ?Palestinian? state a ?moral and religious obligation.?

White House Spokesman Scott McClellan Friday called PA assertions that Bush would make such statements ?absurd.?

Apparently stung by the White House's denial, Abbas at the weekend hurriedly issued a statement saying the BBC report was inaccurate. Sha'ath, however, did not deny the accuracy of the quotes, but did claim he viewed the president?s remarks as figurative rather than literal.

?We understood that he was illustrating his strong faith and his belief that this is what God wanted,? Sha'ath told the BBC's Arabic service.

The New Zealand Herald, meanwhile, pointed out it was anything but implausible to think Bush had made the comments or been speaking literally, given that the president has never been shy about his faith or his reliance on the Almighty for guidance and direction.

But despite being a born-again Christian, Bush would appear to be taking a path contrary to the written Word of God.

The God of the Bible in fact curses those who would divide His land, and promises to enter into severe judgment against them and their nations.

And I will enter into judgment with [all nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat] on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations, and divided up My land. - Joel 3:2

The first installment of ?Israel and the Arabs: Elusive Peace? will air on BBC Two on Monday, October 10 at 9:00 PM BST.

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