The
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords were finalized
in Oslo, Norway on August 20, 1993, and subsequently
officially signed at a public ceremony
in Washington D.C. on September 13, 1993,
with Mahmoud Abbas signing for the Palestine
Liberation Organization and Shimon Peres
signing for the Nation of Israel.
In essence, the accords called
for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from
parts of the Gaza Strip and
West Bank and affirm the Palestinian right
to self-government within those areas through
the creation of the Palestinian Authority.
Gaza was handed over to the Palenstinians.
Zephaniah's Prophecy
Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken,
and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive
out
Ashdod at
the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
In the book of Zephaniah the prophet is speaking
about the day of the Lord's anger. The coming
war in Israel. The first prophecy in Zephaniah
has already been fulfilled. It is interesting
to note that two of the cities mentioned
here have been restablished in this century and one that was hidden has been
discovered again.
"Gaza shall be forsaken" This
has already happened
"and Ashkelon a desolation"
Ashkelon was the oldest
and largest seaport in ancient Canaan, one
of the "five cities" of
the Philistines. Ashkelon became one of the
five Philistine cities that were constantly
warring with the Israelites and the kingdom
of Judah. - Jeremiah 25:20
During 1949, the town was renamed Migdal Gaza, and then Migdal Gad. Soon afterwards
it became Migdal Ashkelon. In 1953 the nearby neighborhood of Afridar was incorporated
and the current name Ashkelon was adopted
"they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon
day"
Ashdod is a city in the Southern District
of Israel. On May 1st, 1956 then finance minister,
Levi Eshkol, in the name of the governement,
gave confirmation for the establishing of Ashdod
city.The port of Ashdod is the biggest in Israel,
carrying about 60% of cargoes.Other important
industries are Eshkol electrical power station
and oil refinery (one of two in the country)
It makes sense that the shall drive out Ashdod
- Important city.
"Ekron shall be rooted
up."
Excavations in the temple complex at Tel Miqne in 1996 recovered a significant
artifact for the corpus of Biblical archaeology, a dedicatory inscription
of the 7th century "king" of Ekron 'Akish. The inscription now
securely identifies the site as Ekron. The city of Ekron is mentioned in
the Book of Joshua but the exact location of the city remained a mystery
until 1996.
Scriptures
Zephaniah 2:4 For
Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation:
they shall drive out Ashdod at the
noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted
up.
|
