Quote: "Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who used to be bitterly opposed to the idea of temporary borders, is now willing to discuss it, as long as it is accompanied by a timetable for completing negotiations on a final-status agreement. These negotiations which would, inter alia, finalize the details of the territory Israel would give the PA in exchange for settlement blocs covering about 5 percent of the West Bank would thus be held between two sovereign states.

Earlier this week, the Israeli government forcibly evicted two Jewish families from the marketplace of the city of Hebron, sparking protests from prominent Rabbis and devout soldiers in the IDF. The city of Hebron was the ancient capital of Israel at the beginning of the reign of King David, and lies on the border of what is now termed the West Bank. The Jewish people have maintained a small presence in the city for over 2500 years, and it is the burial place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel. But events like these, in which Jews are forcibly evicted from their legally owned properties are likely to be repeated in the not too distant future, as the government considers implementing its proposed peace deal with the Palestinians. The Bible seems to indicate that some sort of deal will eventually be implemented, which will result in the ceding of Judea, Samaria, and the Eastern half of Jerusalem to the Gentiles for a period of 42 months. Whether there will ever be an official "Palestinian state" is in doubt, as the Scriptures state that there shall be "one nation" upon the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 37:22). But during this period, the Jewish people will experience an unprecedented period of persecution, and towards the end of the tribulation all nations of the world will come against the city of Jerusalem to do battle.

Joel 3:11-12 
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Source Haaretz, Arutz 7

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Jericho today, for their first meeting to discuss the creation of a Palestinian state. Topics on the agenda included final status issues, such as the borders of a future Palestinian state, the "right of return" for Palestinian refugees and the division of the Holy City. The Prime Minister's Office refused to give precise details on what was discussed by the two leaders, but President Abbas said he "came to discuss fundamental issues outstanding between Israel and the Palestinian Authority", and that he "hoped the negotiations would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state". Olmert old reporters that he intended to establish a "skeleton" agreement with Abbas, the details of which would be "filled in" during the regional peace conference proposed by President Bush to be held later this year.

Quote: "As a result, Israeli officials said, the idea that has emerged is for Olmert and Abbas to sketch out - during biweekly meetings before the regional meeting that Bush plans to convene in the fall - the skeleton of a future arrangement, and then to use that regional meeting to begin "filling in the details." For instance, the officials said, the two may very well agree before the regional meeting on an "agreement of principles" that will include a declaration of support for a two-state solution and the need to reach an accommodation on Jerusalem. Exactly where the two states would run, or how sovereignty would be divided in Jerusalem, would be left for later.

I find this report intriguing on several counts... that an Israeli Prime Minister should meet with a Palestinian Authority President in Jericho of all places, a city that was cursed by God and commanded never to be rebuilt (Joshua 6:26). Even during the Lord's ministry on this earth, He passed through the city but would not preach in it or do any miracle there (Luke 19:1). Surely just as God cursed the ancient Canaanite city, this agreement between Olmert and Abbas is also under a curse. "Skeleton" agreement also seems an unfortunate phrase for the Prime Minister to use in light of Biblical prophecy, which reveals that a covenant of peace such as this will commence a time of unparalleled persecution for the Jewish people. The Bible also states in Daniel 9:27 that the Antichrist will be the one to "strengthen" an existing agreement between Israel and its surrounding nations, and he will be the one that will divide the land for gain. So it is interesting that the Prime Minister is seeking to establish a "Agreement of Principles" with the Palestinians at this time. Clearly both leaders are currently incapable of carrying out the division of God's land, and it will take a third party - the European Union, to bring about the covenant with many.

Source Jerusalem Post

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has signed an agreement with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, pledging $80 million in aid to help boost the President's "security services". The announcement was made as the Secretary of State met the new Palestinian Authority government, headed by Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, in Ramallah today. President Abbas also announced he was ready to formulate a "Declaration of Principles" with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, which will form the basis for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Quote: "US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has signed an agreement giving the Palestinian Authority $80m (£39m) to reform their security services. Ms Rice was in the West Bank, where she attended a meeting of the Fatah-led cabinet which was installed after the Hamas faction took over Gaza in June. She said Israel was ready to discuss "fundamental issues" leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.

It's not my intention to make light of the suffering of any person, and as a Christian my thoughts and prayers are with the people that have been caught up in this recent tragedy in the United States. But I have been emailed by a few people already about the events in Minneapolis, and its prophetic link to US involvement in the Middle East. Yesterday a highway bridge collapsed into the Mississippi river, killing around four people and injuring dozens. Thankfully casualties have been relatively low, considering the large number of cars on the bridge at the time and the fact that the massive structure collapsed into a river. The bridge was built in 1967, the same year that Israel fought for its very survival as the surrounding Arab nations vied for its destruction. The bridge collapsed in 2007, as the US Secretary of State was in the Middle East, once again working towards the division of God's land and pledging more money to Israel's enemies. The US has promised to hand Abbas' terrorist organization $80 million to help in its struggle against Hamas. The rebuilding of the Minneapolis bridge will likely cost a similar figure.

Quote: "As the divers worked their way around at least a dozen submerged vehicles, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced a $5 million grant to help pay for rerouting traffic patterns around the disaster site. "We fully understand what happened and we will take every step possible to ensure something like this will not happen again," Peters said. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said up to $100 million in federal funds will also be available for rebuilding and recovery. "A bridge in America just shouldn't fall down," Klobuchar said. "That's why we have called for this investigation."

As I quoted in the verses this morning in Leviticus 26, one of the judgements pronounced against the ungodly nation is, that its highways shall be desolate. Sad to say things will continue to get worse, as the nations of the world pressure Israel into dividing God's land.

Leviticus 26:22
I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.

Source BBC, AOL

London's Al-Hayyat newspaper has reported that Israel and the Palestinian Authority may be secretly negotiating final status issues, which could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state. Following Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert came under intense pressure from the EU and US to do a deal with Palestinian Authority President Abbas. The US had pushed for a "shelf agreement", which would have been be implemented by the two parties at a later date, once the security and terrorism issues were resolved. But it was reported that Olmert was against such a proposal, believing that President Abbas was not politically strong enough to implement a deal, even if he agreed to it. With Abbas severely weakened and Hamas consolidating its grip on the Gaza Strip today - and perhaps the West Bank tomorrow, the pressure is on Israel and Abbas to ensure progress is made and quickly.

Quote: "According to the report, the two leaders agreed to open a secret channel to discuss the issues, which include such sticking points as refugees, Jerusalem, and final borders, during their meeting roughly two weeks ago. The report stated that the talks have yet to produce a breakthrough.

The Scriptures seem to indicate that the European Union will be involved in a final settlement, which will see the city of Jerusalem divided and Judea and Samaria ceded to the Gentiles. Daniel's prophecy says of the Antichrist that he will strengthen an already existing agreement, and will "divide the land for gain", Daniel 11:39. The fact that these discussions are happening now, something that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago, shows us how close we may be to the return of Jesus Christ for His Church, and the beginning of the tribulation period.

Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.

Source Haaretz