Til Valhall said:
I suppose the rapture is an integral part of the ongoing "peace" strategy for this administration.
From a religious standpoint, the religious tribalism of the region is the telling point, on both sides, that ensures that no real lasting peace is on the horizon. That's why Arab/Islamic states (since they're not the same thing) always seem to support Palestine (though many have low opinions of Palestinians, fun fact) and Jewish people in the various diaspora's support Israel. Neither side allows any criticism of their perspective Tribe.
From the Jewish side, zionism is absolutely tied to Judaism as dictated in Exodus 23:31-32, "I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods". Deuteronomy 1:8 goes on to state, "See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers- to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and to their descendents after them". Genesis 15:18-21 further goes on to state, "On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi[a] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” Unsurprisingly, this land entitlement given by god includes all of modern day Israel (Canaanites, Perizzites) and large swathes of Iraq, Jordan/West Bank (Amorites), and Lebanon.
From the Arab side the Quran 5:51 states, "O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you- then indeed, he is of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing of people". The Hadith of the Gharqad, which is used by Hamas in their charter, explicitely states to kill Jews.
Religion is a key part of the problem- Many see the bible and Quran as the expression of god's will, which is a powerful thing.