An Invitation From Israel

At the Munich Security Conference in February, Germany’s president, defense minister and foreign minister all spoke about the need for Germany to bear more of the burden of international security. They all endorsed a more robust, proactive and interventionist German foreign policy.

In August, Germany was given a prime opportunity to implement its new foreign policy.

In an interview with the Bild on August 7, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Germany to help find a lasting solution to the conflict in Gaza. He asked Germany to revive the 2005-2007 EU Border Assistance Mission (eubam) in which European inspectors monitored traffic at the Rafah crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border. “Germany should take responsibility as the leader of such a mission,” he said. “Germany, as the political lead nation in Europe, must play a pivotal role in the Gaza conflict.”

Berlin has expressed interest in participating in an international agreement over Gaza. However, it is moving ahead cautiously, and is downplaying its leadership role. “Together with our European partners, we are ready to make a contribution, such as an EU mission to oversee border crossings,” Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said during peace talks in Egypt. “At present we are holding intensive talks with all sides to create the conditions for such a solution.”

Steinmeier’s words and tone will only intensify Israel’s (and Europe’s) desire for German leadership and intervention. No one wants to be led by the arrogant control-freak scrambling for power. It’s more reassuring and far easier to submit to the strong, humble, capable guy who doesn’t want power or responsibility—or at least who appears that way.

Israel’s New Go-To Ally

Of itself, the arrival of European inspectors in Rafah may have little prophetic significance. If the 2005-2007 eubam is anything to judge by, the presence of European inspectors will have only marginal benefits for Israel and for peace. After all, it was under the European Union’s supervision during those years that Hamas managed to smuggle enough weaponry into Gaza to stage a violent coup and take over the government there.

However, that takes nothing away from the prophetic importance of this fact: When Israel went looking for help, it did not turn to a multinational force, or even to Europe in general. Israel’s leaders are looking to Europe’s lead nation, its chief decision-maker, as the one they must trust and rely on: Germany.

This, in some ways, is logical. Germany is the clear-cut leader of Europe—the nation with the wealth, resources and geopolitical influence to get things done.

On top of that, America has lost its clout in such matters. The Islamists in Gaza hate America as much as they hate Israel, therefore they would flatly reject any request for U.S. inspectors in a broader peace agreement. Besides, Israel can’t be certain America would even provide such assistance. Europe, despite the frightening anti-Semitic outbursts in various European cities, is perceived to be more neutral and objective.

Finally, compared to most of the rest of the international community, Germany—at least its government—is one of Israel’s closest friends and partners. Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken often about Germany’s special duty to protect Israel and has drawn close to the Israelis, even establishing a tradition of holding joint cabinet meetings with Israel. Under Merkel, Berlin has given Israel significant discounts and generous terms on purchasing submarines capable of carrying nuclear missiles.

For several reasons, then, Israel is coming to view Germany as its most important ally, its most reliable source of help.

Germany’s Role in the World

Watching Germany in the time ahead will be fascinating. The nation is a rising global power and is viewed with tremendous admiration by most of the world. America and the West have no problem with Berlin assuming more responsibility, exerting more global leadership, and becoming more involved politically and militarily in the world’s hot spots. In fact, they crave German leadership. Meanwhile Germany, at least in word, has indicated that it is prepared to increasingly take on the role of global alpha dog. Moreover, as global crises intensify—Gaza, Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, Europe’s financial crisis—so does the perceived need for Berlin to intervene and lead.

This past summer marked the 100-year anniversary of World War i, a war that represented the beginning of a three-decade putsch by Germany to subjugate Europe and establish a Teutonic world order. In the geopolitical structure the Germans fought to create, Germany would have been the chief power, the arbiter of peace, the nation all others would look to for guidance and inspiration.

One hundred years later, conditions in Europe and across the world are such that Germany is perhaps closer than it ever has been to world rule. America has abdicated the role. Russia and China are powerful, but their power is neither stable nor sustainable at this time. Who else does Germany have to compete with? With a little finagling and no doubt some exertion and pain—and under the right leadership—Germany could conquer Europe and establish a German-led European world order, effectively accomplishing what it failed to achieve in World Wars i and ii.

Perhaps that sounds foolish, but so did the notion of intractable trench warfare, prolonged global military conflict and tens of millions of dead people in 1910 and 1935. Surely one of the great lessons of World War i (and ii) is that we can never underestimate human nature and man’s proclivity for self-destruction. History tells us it would be foolish not to consider the possibility of another global conflict, one in which Germany once again plays the feature role.

What about Israel’s invitation to Germany to take leadership of the crisis in Gaza, and the broader trend of Israel looking to Germany for assistance? Perhaps it seems logical, at least on paper and in the moment. However, both history and Bible prophecy warn that it too is foolish. You know the history of Germany and the Jews. To learn the prophecy, request our free booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy.