Quote: "Referring to Arab entities in support of the move, and especially Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Hamas spokesperson said: "Only those helpless ones, who take orders from external elements, support the deployment of a multinational force (in Gaza)." "They are running and crying for the help of international forces to carry out their disgraceful plan. And this is after the Palestinian people rejected the plan and threw its representatives into the dumpster of history," Hamas representatives said.

In other news, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has taken up his new role as Special Envoy to the Middle East this week. Initially he had announced he would be working towards the establishment of a "two-state solution" between Israel and the Palestinians, but as was reported recently there were a few who objected to his new role. 

Quote: "On the day of his appointment, he told Parliament his "absolute priority" would be to "give effect" to a "two-state solution, which means a state of Israel that is secure and confident of its security and a Palestinian state that is viable, not merely in terms of its territory, but in terms of its institutions". Then he told the Northern Echo newspaper that his "huge challenge" was to "prepare the ground for a negotiated settlement". The Bush administration quickly contradicted Mr Blair's sweeping definition of his role. Tom Casey, the State Department's deputy spokesman, made it clear that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will be handled by Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State.

Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, feared that Tony Blair might detract from his own efforts in the Middle East peace process. And it seems that Solana has got his way. Tony Blair, who as Prime Minister, had pressed for a lesser role for the European Foreign Minister in the new EU Constitution, has now had his own role in the Middle East reduced by the future EU Foreign Minister himself. This link from my friend Darrell...

Quote: "Madrid - Middle East quartet envoy Tony Blair will not be charged with mediating in the Middle East conflict, but with channelling aid towards the construction of a Palestinian state, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana was Friday quoted as saying. Former British Premier Blair, whose appointment has been met with scepticism in parts of the region, will not conduct a peace process, the Spanish daily El Pais quoted Solana as saying in Lisbon.

The Bible makes it clear that it is not possible to know who the Antichrist will be until his revelation, which occurs after the Church is taken home according to 2nd Thessalonians 2:6-8. But what we can see is that the situation in the Middle East is ripening for the time when the Antichrist will come and strengthen the peace agreement between the two peoples. The question remains, are you ready for when Christ comes to take home His bride? Or like the five foolish virgins, will you find yourself locked out of heaven?

Luke 13:25
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Source YNet News, Telegraph, Earth Times

Quote: "Mr Blair told MPs: "The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community - that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution."

As a Christian, the above statement makes me particularly sad. Tony Blair has said that he will be working towards a two-state solution, which we know according to Scripture, will bring about the division of God's land during the tribulation period and result in a time of great tribulation for the nation of Israel. This of course, is all according to God's ultimate plan. But what makes me particularly sad is a former Prime Minister, who claims to be a Christian, making such a statement. And this is also a personal issue for me, for I have in the past emailed and posted letters to Tony Blair on this very issue, pleading with him to work towards peace in the Middle East, and not to divide God's land. 

Letter 1 - emailed 11/04/05 

Letter 2 - posted 25/11/05

At the time of writing, I had no idea the Prime Minister would finish his career and head to the Middle East as a Special Envoy for peace. Although I didn't receive any reply or notification from Downing Street that they received my letters, I hope and pray that Tony Blair had opportunity to read them, and to hear his need of salvation if he is not saved.

Quote: ""Hamas does not want peace with Israel," he pointed out. "It is continuing its terrorist activities, and moderate Palestinians are unable to do anything about [the situation], even though they want peace." Yadlin added that he does not believe a political agreement with the PA is in Israel's best interest. "If Israel withdraws from the West Bank," he warned, "what happened in Gaza will happen there."

This news comes as Israeli Prime Minister Olmert boasts that he has created the prospect of peace from the overthrow of Fatah in the Gaza Strip. During his summit in Egypt with Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian representatives, the Israeli Prime Minister promised to release 250 Fatah prisoners from jail as part of a gesture to the maligned President Abbas. He also released over $350 million in tax revenues to help bolster the Palestinian Authority government.

Quote: ""Within eight days Olmert has managed to turn the downfall of Fatah in the Gaza Strip into an opportunity for peace. He's got the backing of the United States, the Quartet and now the moderate Arab states as well," said a senior aide to the prime minister after the summit.

Some Israeli politicians criticized the move, claiming it will do nothing to strengthen Abbas, and will make Israel's security situation worse. And living in a state which has had its own share of prisoner release schemes, courtesy of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, I can understand that view completely. The Bible states that during the tribulation period, the situation in Judea will grow much worse. The Lord said of it, that then there would be "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be", Matthew 24:21. We are not told the exact circumstances of what brings this about. But as the international community presses Israel to divide God's land, and Islamic extremism continues to fester in Gaza and other regions, it seems the situation can only grow worse.

Psalm 2:1-6
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Source Arutz 7, YNet News

As Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority prepare for tomorrow's regional summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert is coming under increasing pressure to be seen to be advancing peace with the Palestinians. Following Hamas' violent coup of the Gaza Strip two weeks ago, the international community is hopeful real progress can be made on peace with Palestinian "moderates", in order to shore up President Abbas' weak government, and to further isolate Hamas. Ahead of the summit, Israel has announced plans to release $350 million in tax revenues to the new Palestinian Authority government. Egypt has urged Israel to make several concessions to Palestinians living in Judea and Samaria...

Quote: "In advance of the Monday talks, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit phoned Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and called on Israel to take a series of steps aimed at strengthening Abbas. Aboul Gheit asked Israel to "act towards the Palestinian Authority in a way that achieves calm and creates the atmosphere for resuming the peace process," according to a ministry statement. "This requires halting settlement operations, ending construction of the separation wall, stopping raids on cities and removing the checkpoints," he said.

King Abdullah II of Jordan has also warned Israel that Monday's talks must result in an agreed date for the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Abdullah has previously warned that unless a Palestinian state is established by 2008, the region would descend into a decade of war. Meanwhile, the US government is continuing to pressure Israel into disengaging from yet more territory, in the hope that peace with the Palestinians can be realized. President Bush has committed himself to achieving a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians by the time he leaves office. US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice reportedly pressed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert into commensing final status negotiations with President Abbas, during his visit to Washington last week.

Quote: "The secretary and her boss have virtually obligated themselves to tie down an agreement by the end of 2008. Having a final status solution already signed and sealed - if not delivered - would pretty much resolve them of having to do anything more. For Israel, however, such an agreement would constitute a second-to-final nail in the coffin as any future Israeli government would be almost required to honor what was agreed upon.

And the Bible states that is exactly what will take place, the disengagement from Judea and Samaria will be a final "nail in the coffin" for the Jewish state. We don't know whether a further disengagement from these lands will happen by 2008, but the Lord Jesus Christ prophesied of this event during His ministry on this earth. The Lord warned His Jewish disciples of the events that would take place in Israel, shortly before His Second Coming to earth.

Matthew 24:15-21
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Revelation 11:2
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months (3.5 years). 

Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Luke 21:24
And they (Israel) shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 

The disengagement from Judea and the division of Jerusalem is coming, just as the Bible predicted. And with it a time of immense trouble for Israel, and a time of judgement for the nations. Prime Minister Olmert believes he can make peace with the Palestinians, if only he can give up enough of God's land. The international community are urgently seeking a resolution of this conflict. And the European Union is waiting expectantly for a man who will be able to give them peace. But the Bible says there will be no peace. Have you trusted Jesus Christ for salvation? Are your sins forgiven? When Christ returns to judge the world in righteousness, will you be found in Him, or will He have to say, "Depart from Me, I never knew you", Luke 13:27. Only you can make that decision.  

Source The Australian, Haaretz, Israel Insider