The new United Nations peace envoy to Syria is creating plans to send 3,000 peacekeeping troops to Syria. Where will the 3,000 come from? The envoy, Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, feels his options are limited. He reportedly considers African troops too ill equipped, soldiers from neighboring Arab countries too close to the rebels to be considered neutral, and Britain and American forces tainted in the eyes of the locals by their involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. And Russia and China’s support for the Assad regime rules them out.

This leaves just one region: Europe.

“Brahimi has asked for the lists of troop contributing countries, and has already ruled out a number of countries, which essentially leaves European troops,” the Telegraph quote an anonymous source saying, October 13. “He is looking at all options and not putting all his eggs in the peacekeeping basket, but all information points to him exploring the peacekeeping option in a very serious manner.”

European troops are also seen as being most familiar with the region. Just south of Syria, the bulk of the 15,000 strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (unifl) is made up of European soldiers. Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Ireland are among the largest contributors to the mission. One of these five “would be expected to play a leading role in the Syria peacekeeping force,” writes the Telegraph.

Nations contributing to unifil are “alone are thought to have the infrastructure and on-the-ground knowledge that any peacekeeping operation would require,” the Telegraph says.

The Telegraph also reports that Brahimi “has spent recent weeks quietly sounding out which countries would be willing to contribute soldiers.”

Brahimi’s plans tie directly in to Bible prophecy. In September’s Trumpet magazine, editor in chief Gerald Flurry described how Europe will soon get very involved in Syria, in his article “How the Syrian Crisis Will End.” He described how Syria will end up a German ally. Now Europe, including Germany, is the top candidate for leading a peacekeeping mission to the country.

There are still great obstacles to the mission going ahead. It would have to gain the approval of Russia and China. But Germany is dedicated to gaining influence in the area. A German government adviser said last April that in the event of military intervention in Syria, “German participation should be assured,” according to German-Foreign-Policy.com. This region is so important to Europe that they have committed thousands of troops to unfil, gaining vital experience in the area. Even if the peacekeeping mission is blocked, they will find a way to turn Syria around into a European ally.

But Brahimi’s plan ties in to an even more significant prophecy.

The Bible prophesies that European forces will be invited in to Israel as peacekeepers. These peacekeepers will then double cross the Israelis and wipe out Jerusalem.

The same criteria that make European troops the logical choice for Syria would commend them equally well to Israel. Imagine if, after Arab attacks, both sides ask for peacekeepers from the UN. Once again, African troops would be seen as under-resourced. America may be seen as too close to Israel, and tainted by Iraq. The Arabs would be too close to the Palestinians. European forces, already embedded in Lebanon, would be the obvious choice.

The arrival of European peacekeepers around Jerusalem is a key step on the road to Christ’s return. Europe’s formation of an anti-Iranian alliance is all part of a clash that ultimately revolves around Jerusalem.

For more information on Europe’s involvement in the Middle East and this double-cross in Israel, read Mr. Flurry’s August article “Watch Jerusalem!”