Have you been watching the Middle East? Have you been praying for Israel? If you have, you know that this was a momentous week. A plane from Israel made history. Meanwhile, a U.S. ally in the region is brazenly escalating support for one of Israel’s most violent foes.

The Monday flight of the “Peace Plane” — a commercial El-Al jet chartered by the U.S. — from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi was remarkable. Not only was it the first such flight between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but it was also the first Israeli commercial jet permitted to cross through Saudi Arabia’s airspace (a courtesy both symbolic and practical — it enabled the trip to be about 3.5 hours instead of 7).

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The plane carried an American and Israeli delegation led by White House official Jared Kushner and Israel’s national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat. Ben Shabbat welcomed the opportunity for peace and prosperity: “We came here to transform the vision into a reality. There are no limits to the cooperation that we can develop in the fields of science, innovation, tourism, aviation, agriculture, energy and many other areas.”

Likewise, Kushner hoped it would be a chance for the Israelis and Emiratis to “break down old barriers, to get to know each other, to form new and hopefully very deep friendships.”

That same day the U.S., Israel, and UAE released a joint statement lauding the accord that precipitated this flight as a “courageous step toward a more stable, integrated, and prosperous Middle East.” It emphasized practical efforts with tangible outcomes in order to de-escalate conflicts in the region and it noted the “the overwhelmingly positive response to this historic accord from governments around the world.”

Unfortunately, not all countries are supportive of this work to pursue confidence building measures in the midst of a long-tense environment. You may not be surprised that Palestinian or Iranian leaders would have harsh words for the effort. But another that has made waves is Turkey — America’s NATO ally.

In a recent article on Turkey’s recent conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, we explored its efforts to grow as a power in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Notably, we also were quick to remember Israel as a unique resident there.

Well, Turkey’s current approach to Israel is a stark counterpoint to the efforts of countries like the UAE. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has gone so far in recent weeks as to welcome a delegation from Hamas — the Internationally recognized terrorist group with de facto control of Gaza that regularly attacks southern Israeli communities with rockets and incendiary devices.

According to reports in FOX News, Turkey is actually going even further by granting some Hamas members Turkish citizenship and passports, which will allow them to travel more freely around the globe.

An Israeli official told FOX, “In overlooking these designations and thousands of its victims, who were injured and murdered by Hamas terrorists, Turkey is actively supporting it both financially and logistically.”

This certainly appears to be a pivotal time in the Middle East — particularly for Israel. Will you pray for the peace of Jerusalem? And will you intercede for our nation as well? Our leaders will have difficult decisions to make in the days ahead — most certainly as they interact with NATO ally Turkey.

Let’s praise God for those who truly seek peace. Let’s pray, too, that forces of malice and wanton violence would be overcome.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity. (Psalm 122:6-9)

Aaron Mercer is a Contributing Writer with two decades of experience in Washington, D.C.’s public policy arena. He reflects on faith, technology, and the public square at FTPolicy.com.

(Photo Credit: Unsplash.)