Rewarding Terror? France, Palestine, Israel and the Biblical Call to Truth
When violence is met with political concessions, does it bring peace or more bloodshed? The Bible calls believers to seek truth and stand firm.
As France and several Western nations move toward recognizing a Palestinian state, despite unfulfilled conditions and a history of capitulation to terror, Margaret Thatcher’s words still ring true: “A country cannot support terrorism and expect to be treated as a member of the international community. To take hostages is to place yourself outside the civilized world.”
This principle remains painfully relevant as the families of Israeli hostages continue to cry out in anguish. Yoni Asher, whose wife and daughters were kidnapped and later freed, reflects: “One year after October 7, we never imagined we’d still be talking about hostages. It prevents us, as a family, from fully healing.” Anat Angrest, mother of soldier Matan Angrest who is still being held in Gaza, pleads: “His health is critical. I don’t know when he last ate or saw daylight.” These testimonies reveal the human cost behind political maneuvering. As Elie Wiesel once wrote: “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” To remain indifferent is to condone injustice.
Even Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has acknowledged this crisis. In a June 2025 letter to Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders, Abbas condemned the October 7 attacks, promised elections, and stated that Hamas would no longer govern Gaza and must be disarmed. Yet these promises have not been acted upon. Hamas rejected Abbas’ authority, and no concrete steps have been taken.
Despite this, France continues to move toward recognition, contradicting the very preconditions President Macron himself set:
The release of all hostages,
The exclusion of Hamas from any future governance in Gaza,
Reforms within the Palestinian Authority toward peaceful coexistence.
None of these conditions have been met. To advance now is to reward promises rather than results, leaving Hamas armed and hostages trapped underground.
Why then does France persist? Beyond the rhetoric of peace, heavy economic and geopolitical interests are at play. Paris benefits from multi-billion-euro deals with Qatar, a major supporter of Hamas and an influential player in Europe. Recognizing a Palestinian state is therefore not merely a diplomatic gesture but also tied to energy, defense, and trade considerations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been clear: “Granting recognition now is an enormous reward for terror. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River.”
His words echo biblical wisdom: “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent, the Lord detests them both” (Proverbs 17:15). Scripture warns against calling evil good (Isaiah 5:20) and building peace on a foundation of violence.
History repeatedly confirms the lesson: since the British Mandate, waves of Arab violence have often been met with political concessions, while Jewish or Israeli leaders have generally accepted proposals for partition and peace. Key examples include:
The Peel Commission (1937)
UN Partition Plan (1947)
Post-1948 armistice and refugee proposals
The Khartoum “Three No’s” Resolution (1967)
The Camp David framework for Palestinian autonomy (1978), though rejected by Palestinians and most Arab states
The Oslo Accords (1993, 1995), the first mutual acceptance between Israel and the PLO, though undermined by opposition and violence
The Camp David Summit (2000)
Taba (2001)
Annapolis (2007-2008)
Olmert’s offer (2008)
The Trump Peace Plan (2020)
In every case besides Oslo, Arab or Palestinian leadership rejected peace offers, often followed by renewed violence
Rewarding terrorism has never brought peace. The recent attacks in Jerusalem and Tsuba are sobering reminders that this lesson is still relevant: recognizing a Palestinian state without demanding even the return of hostages is a dangerous gamble.
And the problem runs deeper. Reports from UN Watch and IMPACT-se reveal that UNRWA textbooks glorify violence and prepare children for “martyrdom.” This radicalization is not marginal, it is systemic. Turning a blind eye to this reality while granting statehood is not dismantling extremism, it is institutionalizing it.
Some believers may be tempted to resignation: “Nothing happens without God’s permission.” True enough, but Scripture also calls us to vigilance, prayer, and the defense of truth (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1-2). Israel remains at the center of God’s plan (Ezekiel 36–37), and Jesus warned that wars and tribulations would precede His return (Matthew 24:6-22). As Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminded us: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless.” This perspective calls us not to fatalism but to discernment and intercession.
Recognizing a Palestinian state under these conditions, while hostages still suffer, Hamas remains armed, and history’s lessons go unheeded, is not merely a diplomatic act. It shapes the future and carries moral and prophetic weight. As Isaiah declared: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).
Now more than ever, believers are called to prayer: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you” (Psalm 122:6). Prayer is not an escape from responsibility but a pursuit of God’s wisdom to act with justice and compassion. The challenge is to resist trading truth for convenience, history for wishful thinking, and biblical faith for political fashion.
