Just a day following the Annapolis peace conference, Fatah television broadcast a commercial showing a map of the Middle East without the state of Israel. The Jewish state was replaced by a Palestinian flag, with the words "Palestine 2007" emblazoned in the centre. Now the Palestinian Authority is at it again. This time Fatah have created a poster for the party's 43rd anniversary, which displays a map of "Palestine" with no state of Israel. The entire region is covered in the pattern of Yasser Arafat's head-scarf, which has become a status symbol used by both neo-Nazis and Arabs to display their hatred of the Jewish people. An image of an AK-47 runs the length of the Jordan river, proving that President Abbas' Fatah party has not given up the armed struggle against Israel and will not recognize its right to exist. The Palestinian Liberation Organization has recognized Israel's right to exist, of which Fatah is a member. But neither Fatah nor Hamas have ever recognized Israel's right to exist. Indeed, Fatah members have stated that the PLO's recognition of Israel's right to exist is simply a tactical step to bring the "the resistance and the revolution closer to the lands of Palestine".

Fatah's refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and its continued glorification of martyrdom against the Jews makes a mockery of this whole peace process. Today Israel is blamed for undermining peace efforts through building houses on its own Biblical "birthright", while Palestinian leaders who incite their people to murder are welcomed with open arms by the international community. The same was true during the time of Nehemiah. Following the end of the Babylonian captivity, the Jewish people sought to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. But they were viciously opposed by their Arab neighbours. 

Nehemiah 2:10
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

Jeremiah prophesied that following the Babylonian invasion, God would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:2), to allow the land to enjoy its Sabbaths (Leviticus 26:33-35). When Daniel understood that the time of Israel's restoration to the land was near, he set about confessing his own sin and the sin of his people. As a result of that prayer, God sent an angel to Daniel to give him understanding concerning the future of the nation of Israel. Even while Jerusalem lay in ruins, the angel told Daniel that the city must be rebuilt and destroyed yet again. 69 weeks of Daniel's prophecy have run their course. The Messiah was "cut off" and the "city and sanctuary" were destroyed by the Roman armies in 70AD (Daniel 9:26). Daniel's 70th week states that the "prince that shall come" will defile a future sanctuary and abolish a sacrificial system. Today Israel is once again in possession of Jerusalem, and is seeking to rebuild the Jewish Temple. How close are we to the commencement of Daniel's 70th week? I don't know for sure. I don't think we are in it at present. But we ought to be like Daniel, and to start preparing for the event that we are very close to it. While we haven't been given a specific date as Daniel had, we do have many indications that Christ would return after 2000 years have run their course (Hosea 6:2). Are you ready to meet Him? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Romans 13:11-12
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. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Source Jerusalem Post, Paleo Lithics

A few days ago I commented on the attack on Israel's Jewish status, and how it is a ploy by Satan to make void God's promises to His chosen people and prevent the return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. My friend Jim also published an article detailing Israel's God-given right to the land of Israel. Once again the Jewish status of Israel has come under attack. This time it didn't come from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Not even from Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh. This attack came from the Roman Catholic Church. You would be forgiven for thinking that at this time of year, the leaders of Christendom would be focusing upon Bethlehem and the birth of the Jewish Messiah. Think again. Those sorts of speeches don't draw the crowds anymore. It seems that Jewish Messiahs are "out" this Christmas, and Israel-bashing is "in". In his annual pre-Christmas address, Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah slammed Israel's Jewish identity, and blamed the Jewish state for the lack of peace in the Middle East. He called on Israel to abandon its Jewish heritage and form a political state for Jews, Christians and Muslims. 

Quote: "Sabbah denounced Israel's demand to be recognized as a Jewish state by the Palestinians and said "God made this land for all three of us, so a suitable state is one who can adapt itself to the vocation of this land. ''This land cannot be exclusive for anyone,'' he said, adding that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict had unleashed "forces of evil" across the Middle East and that it was Israel's obligation, as to end the warring. "The one who will decide is Israel. If Israel decides for peace, there will be peace... Until now, there has been no peace, simply because there has been no willingness to make it."

I don't know what Bible he's reading from, for God never promised to give the Church any land. Jesus Christ Himself stated in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence". On the other hand, as my friend Jim commented, God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning the land of Israel has never been revoked (Genesis 12:7). The Bible states that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance", Romans 11:19, and the Lord says that just as it is impossible for Him to break His covenant with the sun and moon, so it is equally impossible for Him to break His covenant with Israel.

Jeremiah 31:35-37
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

The Scriptures prophesied that one day the nation of Israel would be reborn. Ezekiel 37:22 states that God would gather the seed of Israel from among the Gentiles, and make them "one nation in the land" upon the mountains of Israel. We have witnessed this prophecy coming to pass in our lifetimes. Psalm 83 also prophesies of Israel's ongoing conflict with the surrounding Arab nations. Their stated desire is to cut Israel off "from being a nation", and they have tried many, many times to accomplish that. The promises of God are wrapped up in Israel's possession of Jerusalem and its Jewish status. If you take away the Holy City, you make void the prophecy that Jesus Christ would reign over His people Israel (Luke 1:32). If you take away Israel's Jewish status, you make void God's promise that Israel would never cease from being a nation. As we can see with today's news, the world will never be satisfied with a existence of a Jewish state, no matter how much land they give away. And we know that things will continue to grow worse until the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. Praise God that His promises are without repentance. Peter states that God has given us "exceeding great and precious promises" (2nd Peter 1:4), and John says "this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life" (1st John 2:25). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source YNet News

President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has said he supports the idea of an international peacekeeping force being deployed in Judea and Samaria, paving the way for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Abbas made the comments yesterday, following remarks by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the international donor's conference in Paris on Monday. Sarkozy stated it was "time to put an end to the occupation", and proposed deploying an international police force in Judea and Samaria to aid the Palestinian security forces in keeping the peace. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has recently been holding discussions with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the possibility of an international force being stationed in the region. Up until now the idea has received a cool response, due to prior NATO commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and strong opposition from Hamas. Abbas received a significant boost from the donor's conference on Monday, as around 90 international delegations pledged over $7 billion to aid the creation of a Palestinian state. The leader of the Palestinian terrorist organization Fatah publicly thanked British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his support, stating, "You play a major and pivotal role in the region and your personal involvement is a source of power for us". The French President has also strongly backed President Abbas, not only calling for a peace agreement to be reached before the end of US President Bush's final term in office, but for the actual establishment of a Palestinian state by 2008. 

Quote: "Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy opened up the Paris international donors' conference for Palestine on Monday by calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state before the end of 2008. The donors conference is aimed at "the creation, before the end of 2008, of an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state living in peace and security beside Israel," Sarkozy told the representatives of 86 nations congregated in the French capital. That state would extend "from Gaza to the West Bank to East Jerusalem," he said.

Deadlines for the establishment of a Palestinian state have come and gone. As did the deadlines in my own country of Northern Ireland for many years. We were told repeatedly by our government every chance for peace was the last. But as soon as one deadline passed, another one would appear. One deadline did not pass however, and peace was finally declared. A false peace, but a peace nonetheless. It's amazing how much public perception is moulded through the media. All of a sudden, politicians in the north were shaking hands with those in the south, and what were once sworn enemies were sworn into public office. It was like a new era of peace and prosperity was upon us. In reality, very little had actually changed. The criminality and violence continue, although it is largely brushed under the carpet for the sake of the "sacred peace".

The Middle East seems to be heading towards a similar situation. Some think that Northern Ireland was a test case, to see whether or not the same thing could be achieved in the Middle East. I don't know whether that is true or not, but Northern Ireland is being used as a prime example of conflict resolution. It is possible that peace in the Middle East could come before the end of 2008. And as we witnessed in Annapolis, if peace does come, it looks like it will be a sham of an agreement. The Bible states in 1st Thessalonians 5:3 that "when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape". Israel does not enjoy peace or security just yet. A world leader is prophesied to arrive on the scene, who will strengthen a peace agreement between Israel and their enemies for a period of seven years. In the middle of the 7 year period the Antichrist will turn against the agreement. The failure of the agreement will result in the greatest period of persecution the Jewish people have ever experienced. Judea will fall into Arab hands (Zechariah 12:2), and east Jerusalem will once again go into captivity. The armies of the Antichrist will gather together in Megiddo to do battle against Jerusalem. And when the Jewish people have nowhere else to turn, then they shall look unto Him whom they pierced for deliverance (Zechariah 12:10). Jesus Christ is coming back. The Prince of Peace will one day take His rightful place (Ezekiel 27:21). There will be no sham peace then (Isaiah 9:7), for God's peace is not based on compromise but on the principles of truth and righteousness (Psalm 72:7). The once rejected King of the Jews will be acknowledged as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).  

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Praise God that Jesus Christ is become our righteousness. Jesus Christ has made true peace between God and men through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20). Trust in Him for salvation today.

Source IMEMC, Jerusalem Post, Google, Earth Times

Around 90 international delegations are expected to attend the Palestinian donor's conference being held in Paris tomorrow, for what is being dubbed as the follow-up to the Annapolis gathering of last month. Attendees will include Special Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair who will co-chair the event, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and High Representative for the European CFSP Javier Solana. Delegations from the 27 EU states, the European Commission, the Arab League, the International Monetary Fund, the G8 and the World Bank will also attend the meeting. At Annapolis, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to begin final status negotiations in January of next year, with the goal of formulating a peace agreement before the end of US President Bush's final term. Abbas has stated he is seeking $5.6 billion over the next three years in order to help turn the Palestinian economy around. But the issue of the Israeli developments in Har Homa are likely to overshadow the summit. Israel is presently building around 300 new dwellings on land that lies within the municipality of Jerusalem. Israel doesn't consider this as settlement expansion, but Abbas has stated that he is opposed to all construction within the territory captured during the Six Day War, including east Jerusalem. And following reports from British charities Oxfam and the Red Cross, and an assessment by the World Bank that any money pledged will be wasted unless pressure is put on Israel to ease security restrictions, it seems the pressure will be on Israel to come up with yet more concessions to the Palestinian terrorist organizations.

Quote: "British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he would link an aid package of $500 million to improved security in the region, progress in peace talks and an easing of Israeli restrictions. Germany, too, urged the removal of Israeli roadblocks. The German Development Ministry said Sunday the government will give $289 million in funding through 2010 to help the peace process and the Palestinian authority's reform and development projects. However, the development plan can only become effective "if the peace process really moves forward, if the economic development of Palestine is no longer obstructed by barriers, if expansion of settlements is stopped by Israel and the internal Palestinian split is overcome," Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said.

Once again the nations of the world are falling over themselves to cater for Palestinian terrorists. The Israeli government recently promised to remove dozens of roadblocks set up since the time former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed to the Roadmap plan. But the IDF stated they were opposed to Olmert's idea, for there wasn't one roadblock that could be removed without significantly affecting the security of the Jewish state. The disengagements from Gaza and south Lebanon proved that wherever the IDF is not present, terrorism has free reign. The exact same situation will occur following a disengagement from Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or very deceived. And that is the absurdity of this whole "land for peace" process.

In looking at the Scriptures, we can see exactly what is taking place. Satan is bent on ending Jewish possession of Jerusalem, Israel's status as a Jewish state, and if it were possible its very existence. For Satan knows that God's promises to mankind are wrapped up in the Jewish people. The Scriptures foretold that one day God would bring back his ancient people to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37). Satan has tried numerous times to destroy Israel - in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, etc. Each time God intervened and Israel was miraculously preserved. Satan realizes he cannot destroy Israel from without, so he tries to destroy it from within by seeking to end Israel's status as a Jewish state. Satan could then claim that God's promisesto the Jewish people have not been fulfilled, that God broke His promise that Israel would never cease from being a nation (Jeremiah 31:36). Satan is attempting this through the "right of return" of millions of Palestinian refugees to the land of Israel. And if that proves impossible to accomplish, Satan will then seek to end Jewish control of the Old City and the Temple Mount, where Jesus Christ is prophesied to reign from as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we know that this last feat will be accomplished for a 3.5 year period (Revelation 11:2). Praise God that just as our Messiah Jesus Christ was born into this world 2000 years ago, so He will come again into this world very soon to set all things right. Satan will be defeated, and Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This world has a glorious future ahead of it. But in order to set things aright, God must first judge the things which are wrong. God will judge the nations, but He will also judge the individual. Are there things that need set in order in your life? If Christ came tonight, would He be coming as your Saviour or as your Judge? Only you can decide. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Acts 17:30-31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Source Haaretz, WorldNetDaily