Declarations of peace and preparations for war

Peace, Peace – But There Is No Peace (Jeremiah 8:11)

Avner Boskey

February 23, 2026

The events of the past few weeks have been climactic. There has been an international convergence of declarations of peace and the beating of the drums of war. Tehran, Washington DC and the VIP lounge of Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport are the locations for these cinematographic shoots. The Jewish feast of Purim and the Islamic fast of Ramadan seem to be the ancient bookends for these martial strategies. The spirit of Haman is on the move, both in Persian preparations and in Western anti-Semitic arrogant boastings. The Middle East is on overdrive, and God’s chosen people are once again at the center of the maelstrom.

The Hebrew clock is ticking in Tehran

The Feast of Purim is nearly upon us, arriving on sundown Monday March 2, 2026. Celebrating the God of Israel’s sleight-of-hand triumph over Haman and his genocidal cohorts, this coming date is also auspiciously close to the deadline that President Trump set for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s leaders, after which the US would “have to take it a step further.” On February 19, 2026 Trump announced on Air Force One, just after the inaugural meeting of his ‘Board of Peace’ in Washington DC: “I would think that there would be enough time – 10, 15 days . . . or it’s going to be unfortunate for them.” The Book of Esther explains how Haman (that powerful Persian official) threatened malice and mayhem on the Jewish people but instead brought destruction upon himself.

The Shi’ite mobs who have gathered in Iran over the years to burn American flags and to chant ‘Marg bar Âmrikâ’ (‘death to America’) and ‘Marg bar Esrâ'il’ (‘death to Israel’) reflect a genocidal and demonic anti-Semitism (as well as a pervasive anti-Christian poison) deeply rooted within jihadi Shi’ite Islam.

Israel insists that four points must be at the center of any ‘deal’ with Iran: no nuclear weapons; no nuclear stockpiles; no long-range ballistic missiles; no jihadi proxy armies attacking Israeli and American interests. As long as there is no repentance on these issues coming from Iranian leadership, continuing war is a foregone conclusion.

At this point in time, the entire Middle East is an explosive tinderbox. Gasoline fumes are everywhere. Iranian ballistic and hypersonic missiles, along with swarms of deadly drones, wait on standby. The largest gathering of American weaponry (bombers, fighter jets, aircraft carriers and destroyers) has been assembled and is surrounding the borders of what was once called ‘Persia.’ Israeli jets, SIGINT forces and anti-missile defenses are primed and ready. All these warriors are waiting for the go-ahead signal.

Pray for the leaders of the USA and Israel – that they be guided by the God of Jacob in their decisions and strategies. “Wage war by wise stratagems, and in the abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 20:18 and 24:6).

Dividing God’s Land between flatterers and thieves

As the pots of Middle Eastern war are coming to a fast boil, POTUS Trump convened a ‘Board of Peace’ meeting on February 19, 2026, gathering leaders of many nations at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington DC. Twenty-seven members have signed on to that Board, including fifteen Arab/Islamic countries.

In preparation for the February 19 meeting, eight of these (Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates) released a joint statement on January 21, 2026, reiterating their support for Trump’s efforts and reaffirming each country’s commitment aimed at “advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood.” Twelve of these 15 Islamic countries (80%) publicly affirmed their Islamist-based goal of dividing the Jewish state of Israel, or of even taking it over in its entirety. Only 2 of the 27 member countries present at that meeting (less than 8%) are on record as opposing the division of the Land of Israel. Watching the live feed of that gathering on February 19, 2026 felt like being a spectator at a ‘coming attractions’ presentation of Psalm 83, Joel 3:1-2, or Zechariah 12:1-3.

Considering that the God of Abraham considers Gaza to be part of Judah’s tribal inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 15:20,27) and an integral part of Israel’s irrevocable calling (Romans 11:28-29), it should be noted that nations stealing the Land of Israel from the Jewish people and dividing it up is something which the prophet Isaiah forcefully condemns (albeit in a different context):

“Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and chases after gifts. They do not obtain justice” (Isaiah 1:23).

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21)

President Trump addressed the leaders’ gathering for 47 minutes. Much of his speech involved distributing dollops of heavy-handed flattery to those leaders. Regrettably, he also focused on himself in an inordinate way – one not befitting an august leader of the free world:

“But when you think of Israel . . . we’ve done the biggest thing of all. We have peace in the Middle East right now. That’s bigger than – people said it couldn't be done. For 3,000 years they’ve been talking about Middle East. They said it couldn’t be done . . . And you know it’s peace in the Middle East. We have peace in the Middle East. Think of it, for years you’ve been hearing about peace in the Middle East and everybody’s saying it’s impossible . . . Together we can achieve the dream of bringing lasting harmony to a region tortured by centuries of war, suffering and carnage. They say 3,000 years. And hopefully we can lift up the eyes of the world to envision how other intractable conflicts can be settled.”

King Solomon noted that “a flattering mouth works ruin” (Proverbs 26:28) and that the “one who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue” (Proverbs 28:23).

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar set the historical record straight in a few brief words during his own ‘Board of Peace’ comments:

“Around 4,000 years ago, our patriarch Abraham lived and walked in ancient Hebron, Beer Sheba, and Beth-El. Over 3,000 years ago King David established Jerusalem as our capital. Jewish presence in the Land of Israel – even throughout our long exile – has never ceased for even a day. In the history of nations and states - this is probably the clearest case of proven and documented historic rights of any nation to any land. Amazingly, there are so many powers trying to replace historical truth with modern lies. The truth is simple. We are the indigenous people in the Land of Israel.”

It is to be assumed that Trump was not referring to King David’s taking of Jerusalem as the source of 3,000 years of Middle Eastern torture and suffering. Perhaps the leader of the free world should make sure that his speechwriters are more careful with the speeches they upload to the presidential teleprompter.

“They have healed the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11)

“We waited for peace, but no good came – for a time of healing, but behold, terror!” (Jeremiah 8:15)

How shall we then pray?

Here are some guidelines on how to pray for President Trump (and for all other world leaders who weigh in on dividing the Land of Israel):

Pray that he might develop a greater love for the truth and make better choices in gravitating to veracity, accuracy and righteousness in both political strategies and decisions.

Pray that he would more deeply study and know the Bible, and receive a revelation of God’s heart, calling and gifts on the nation of Israel.

Pray that he would receive a revelation of the nature of jihad and its influence on countries like Qatar (see https://davidstent.org/banqueting-with-the-enemy/) about which he states, “You need a public relations agency because you do so much good, and they see you as evil. You are not evil.”