Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reiterated his opinion that Israel should seek to establish a peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority before the end of George Bush's last term as President of the United States. That gives Israel and the Palestinians one year to formulate an agreement on final status issues, such as the borders of a Palestinian state and the status of Jerusalem. Olmert has stated that he believes an agreement under President Bush's term would be the most favourable for Israel, for it was impossible to know if the next US administration would be as committed to solving the Israel-Arab conflict. Olmert has given two reasons for wanting to sign a peace agreement with the Palestinians before Bush leaves office. One is President Bush's letter to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in which he promised that Israel could retain Jewish-majority settlement blocks in East Jerusalem. The second reason is President Bush's "Roadmap to Peace" document, which demands that both parties implement various confidence-building steps before agreeing to final status issues.

Quote: ""There are big advantages to reaching an agreement before the end of Bush's term. This is the right thing to do. It is the best thing to do for both sides," an official quoted Olmert telling German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Olmert expressed hope an agreement on core issues, including refugees, borders, and the fate of Jerusalem, could be reached, but stopped short of saying such a deal would be possible. The official said Olmert wanted to seize the opportunity because it was impossible to know how committed the next U.S. administration would be to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Olmert had announced in 2006 during the height of the Second Lebanon War, that Israel sought an "eternal covenant of peace" with its neighbours. The book of Daniel states that such a covenant will indeed be signed, bringing peace for a limited time but would be followed by a period of great tribulation. The signs of the times are a witness to us that day is drawing near. No longer is the parting of God's land and the division of Jerusalem the substance of some distant event foretold by Scripture. That was the case when I started this website, but now it is happening for all to see. The Day of the Lord is at hand. If Christ came today, where would you stand? Will you be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, to ever be with the Lord? (1st Thessalonians 4:17) Or will you be caught out, still in your sins, having no hope and without God in the world? (Ephesians 2:12) Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

Source Reuters

The Palestinian Authority has stationed 300 police officers throughout Shechem (Nablus) this morning, the first step in the process of transferring security from Israel to the Palestinians. The move had been delayed by Israel for several weeks, due to concerns that the Palestinian Authority was not capable of keeping law and order in the town. 

Quote: "Meanwhile US Security Coordinator, General Keith Dayton, visited Nablus last week to inspect the PA's readiness to assume responsibility. On the day of his visit Dayton said the handover of Nablus marks the beginning of the establishment of a Palestinian state. "He led us to believe that the Palestinian state will be established from Nablus," the source added.

The Israeli government has denied that they intend to transfer control of Shechem to the Palestinian Authority, but it's hard to see this as anything else. It has always been the goal of the Palestinian Authority to take control of major towns, to help pave the way for the creation of a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. 

Quote: ""We will present our plan to the Israelis. It clarifies how we intend to impose order and security in the towns that Israel would be willing to hand over to us," he said, "including what we plan to do regarding all the wanted people in these places." He refused to detail which cities were included in the request, but Ynet has found that Abbas and the delegation will initially ask for control over Ramallah, where the Muqata's and Abbas's offices are, and Bethlehem, which is regarded as a relatively peaceful town. Later on, the Palestinians will also ask for control over another town in the north of the West Bank: Qalqilya, Tulkarem, Nablus or Jenin

And how fitting that Shechem should be one of the first towns that the Palestinian Authority will be granted control over, following Jericho - the city cursed of God (Joshua 6:26). Shechem was of course one of the cities of refuge in the Old Testament times. If any person killed a man or women and it was done unintentionally, they could flee to one of the cities of refuge for safety. The "avenger of blood", the relative who was permitted by law to avenge the death of their loved one, was not allowed to enter the city and slay them. And as the Palestinians are granted control of this city of refuge, it seems the Israeli government will be granting their enemies a city of refuge in which to hide, after having committed their terrorist attacks.

Praise God that we have One to whom we can flee for refuge, the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of my favourite books is Pilgrim's Progress, written by the Puritan John Bunyan. It is a similitude or parable of the journey of life, a story of one man by the name of Christian, who is burdened with his sin and seeks how he may be rid of it. He is warned by a man called Evangelist to flee from his hometown, the city of Destruction, which is marked for judgement by God. During his journey, Christian meets one man named Faithful. He was warned by one man that his house would be burned down over his head if he didn't flee. After he fled his home in the condemned city, this man found him and struck him down on the ground. When Faithful asked why he did that, he said it was because of his secret inclination to Adam the First, a man he had met along the way. When Faithful pleaded for mercy, the man said, I know not how to show mercy. Christian identified the man as Moses, a picture of the law. The Bible states that by the works of the law no man shall be justified (Galatians 2:16), for the law cannot show mercy, it knows only how to condemn. Praise God that the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Psalm 91:1-2
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Source YNet News

Sorry I haven't updated much today. Once again I am feeling a little down because of my own failure to do right. Yesterday I had the joy of the Lord, and Satan was quick to snatch it away again. It's so true, "the joy of the Lord is your strength", Nehemiah 8:10. And when I sin, I loose the joy, and there goes my strength just as Samson lost his. But as the Lord said, if we keep His commandments we shall abide in His love, and our joy will be full (John 15:11-12). If there is anything lacking in my life, it is that.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to the Middle East this weekend, on what is expected to be the final leg of her visit ahead of the international peace conference. She will be pressing the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams to finalize a joint-statement, which will be signed by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the peace conference later this month.

Quote: "U.S. officials expect Rice's third visit in six weeks to the region will result in a document filled with general principles to kick off negotiations on a Palestinian state, but with few hard-core specifics. "They are wisely reducing the bar on expectations. They are now dropping it so low it could hit them on the head. But that is wise," said Middle East expert Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institution's Saban Center, a former CIA analyst. Rice is due to arrive in Jerusalem late on Saturday after attending an Iraq conference in Turkey, where she is set to hold a string of bilateral meetings on her peace efforts. On Sunday, Rice will address a conference in Jerusalem where she is expected to push both sides to make bold compromises and agree to meet commitments under a long-stalled 2003 "road map" peace plan, including a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and a Palestinian crackdown on militants.

As the saying goes, third time lucky. Unfortunately up until now those involved in this Middle East peace process have been experiencing anything but luck. The last time US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel, wildfires were sweeping across the state of California, destroying much property and causing billions of dollars worth of damage. That same week Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, his announcement to the public coming one week later. It's happened too many times to be a mere coincidence. As the nations gamble over the division of God's land, you can be sure that more catastrophes like these will occur, for the Scriptures prophesied this would happen.

Zechariah 12:3
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Source Reuters

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has drafted a plan that will strengthen Palestinian institutions as part of the European Union's contribution to the US-lead Middle East peace conference. Steinmeier first published the document in a German newspaper some weeks ago, and it has been formally approved at a meeting of the European Foreign Ministers. The German Foreign Minister presented his plan to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad today, during a two day visit to the region. He also plans to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts, Tzipi Livni and Riad Malki.

Quote: "German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday to present a EU plan for boosting U.S.-led Mideast peace efforts. Under the plan devised by Steinmeier, the EU would try to strengthen small and mid-sized Palestinian businesses, West Bank universities, the police and other institutions. 

It sounds ominous, but I haven't been able to find much detail on the internet for this other than what is quoted in this article. But a statement I made a few days ago comes to mind, "...perhaps bribery may play a part in the formulation of a deal. If Israeli and Palestinian leaders find a sudden willingness to negotiate, you will know that the EU will have had something to do with that". There is no doubt Abbas will find it hard to turn down the offer of economic aid in return for agreeing to peace with Israel. And that's the situation the Scriptures prophesy will occur. The Antichrist, a European leader, is prophesied to "confirm" or strengthen an agreement with many nations for one week. Perhaps this may not be the actual fulfilment of this prophecy, but it does indicate that Europe is in such a position to fulfill it in the near future.

Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm (strengthen) the covenant with many (nations) for one week (seven years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Source IHT