Israel and Hamas are reported to have agreed a cease fire that is to begin Thursday morning and is hoped will last around six months. The announcement comes after weeks of negotiations between the two parties under the mediation of Egypt. Israel has agreed to ease the blockade of Gaza on Friday morning, and will reopen the crossings for all commercial goods the following week. Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the European Union will then commence talks on the reopening of the Rafah border with Egypt. Negotiations on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit are expected to resume within the coming days. The Syrian government has expressed its support for the truce between Israel and Hamas. Israel and Syria have just completed a second round of indirect talks through the mediation of Turkey, and are expected to enter a third round in July. Both sides are reported to be satisfied with the progress being made. On Sunday Israeli President Shimon Peres stated that if Syria was interested in peace, that they should move to direct talks. The leaders of the two nations are expected to attend the upcoming conference in Paris on July 13th, which aims to establish a Mediterranean Union comprising of the European Union and many Middle East states.

Quote: ""The Syrian president will be there, sitting next to, at the same table, as the Israeli (prime minister)," Kouchner told parliament. Israel and Syria on Monday wrapped up a second round of indirect talks in Turkey and agreed to hold more meetings in July. But Kouchner did not confirm reports that a meeting could be held in Paris between Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the sidelines of the July 13 summit. "We welcome the fact that the Syrians are talking to the Israelis. On that day, it will be possible for them to do that if they want to," he said.

Peace in the south, peace in the east, and now Israel is seeking peace on its northern front. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev has proposed that Lebanon agree to hold "direct, bilateral" peace talks aimed at resolving "every issue of contention" between the two countries. But Lebanon has so far rejected these proposals. And then of course we have continued efforts by the international community to bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state before the end of the year. I made the comment last week, before the war with Iran heats up - if the war with Iran fulfills Ezekiel's prophecy, Israel first needs to be at peace with her enemies. Ezekiel 38:11 describes the state of Israel at the time of this invasion as being a "land of unwalled villages", and its occupations being "at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates". Today Israel is seeking peace with her enemies. And in a few short weeks we are expecting to see the formation of a Mediterranean Union, bringing Israel and the surrounding nations ever closer to that pact of Daniel 9:27. Could this be the year? Could this year see the beginning of Daniel's 70th week? I don't know about that, but there is no doubt we are living in profound days. Jesus Christ's return is near. Are you ready to meet Him? Have your sins been forgiven?

Matthew 25:5-6
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

The Bridegroom cometh! "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light", Ephesians 5:14. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source BBC, YNet News, YNet News, YNet News

The European Union has agreed to strengthen its relations with Israel, following a meeting of the Israel-EU Association Council in Luxembourg yesterday. Last week Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad urged the EU not to upgrade its ties with the Israel, over what he claimed was its systematic violation of Palestinian human rights and disregard for international law. As a result of the Arab protest over this issue, it was thought that the EU may be pressurized into linking the agreement to progress in the Middle East peace process. And the EU has put such a clause in the text, stating that "the process of developing a closer EU-Israeli partnership needs to be, and to be seen, in the context of the broad range of our common interests and objectives which notably include the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the implementation of the two-state solution".

Quote: "In the diplomatic sphere there will be an institutionalisation of the diplomatic dialogue between the Israeli and EU leadership, by means of regular annual meetings at a senior level. In addition, there will be increased meetings between government ministers, senior officials and parliamentarians from both sides. 
Israel will join European agencies, programs and working groups. This will mean bringing the Israeli economy and society closer to European norms and standards, and increasing the competitiveness of Israeli companies in the European market, primarily in the field of high-tech, with the signing of an aviation agreement that will lower prices for both sides, and others.
A joint working group will examine the areas in which Israel is capable of integrating into the European single market. This will lay the groundwork for an additional upgrading of relations in the future.

The EU has not intimated how long this process of upgrading their relations is likely to take. There are also fears that Israel's improved relations with Europe could upset French President Nicholas Sarkozy's plan for the establishment of a Mediterranean Union, which has been scheduled for next month. Several Arab states have expressed concerns over the plan, objecting to the inclusion of Israel in the bloc and fearing that rich European nations will dominate the group. But most Arab leaders have accepted Sarkozy's invitation to the July summit. Meanwhile, a third international summit has been proposed by European nations to speed progress towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. In December 2007 we had the Palestinian Donors Conference in Paris, during which over $7 billion was pledged to fund the establishment of a state. Most of the money was donated by Western nations, and so far only a tenth of it has actually been received. In May 2008 we had the Palestinian investment conference in London. And now Germany is planning to hold a conference in Berlin to garner support for the strengthening of Palestinian institutions and security services. The conference will be held on June 24th, and the guest list includes representatives from over 40 nations, including Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the European Union, the United Nations, the Arab League, Russia, Japan, and Canada, among others.  

Quote: ""There can only be a lasting solution to the Middle East conflict if Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace as two independent states. But a state needs more than territory - it needs above all else functioning institutions," German sources explained. "Alongside a parliament and government, these include well-equipped security authorities and an independent judiciary."

As we can see, despite a clear lack of progress in the Middle East peace process, the international community is doing its utmost to bring about a solution to this conflict. They are pouring billions of dollars into a process which will eventually see the parting of God's land and the division of Jerusalem (Daniel 11:39, Revelation 12:2). But this process will not bring peace. The Middle East conflict is not about land. It wasn't about land in 1948 or 1956. It's Israel's existence they cannot tolerate. The Bible states that following the ceding of east Jerusalem to the nations, the Antichrist will launch a campaign to wipe out God's chosen people once and for all (Revelation 16:13-14). Why all this hatred for the Jews? Why do the Arab nations want to see the state of Israel destroyed or relocated? Satan is bent on preventing the return of Christ to this earth and the setting up of the eternal state (Daniel 2:44). You see, it wouldn't bother Satan one bit if the state of Israel was relocated to Canada, Europe or even Saudi Arabia. Satan knows that Jerusalem is the place where God has chosen to put His Name (1st Kings 11:36). It is to Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives where Jesus Christ will return to (Zechariah 14:4). And it is from Jerusalem where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will reign (Zechariah 14:16). And so it is east Jerusalem and the Temple Mount that Satan desperately wants to take control of. Of course he will gain control of these for a brief period of time, but praise God that Jesus Christ is coming back. Are you ready to meet Him? Amos 4:12 declares, "prepare to meet thy God". How do we prepare to meet our God? Confess that you are a sinner ("all have sinned", Romans 3:23), and that your sins have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2). Turn away from your sins (Acts 2:38), and believe that Jesus Christ took God's punishment for your sins when he died upon the cross (Isaiah 53:6). The Bible says, he that believes on Jesus Christ for salvation has everlasting life (John 3:36). Trust in Him for salvation today.

Source Jerusalem Post, 1158 Munich, BreitBart, Arutz 7

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has publicly announced that Israel and Syria have launched indirect negotiations over the future of the Golan Heights. The dramatic announcement was made simultaneously in Jerusalem, Damascus and Ankara today. It follows weeks of speculation after Syrian officials revealed that the two states have been engaged in secret negotiations under the mediation of Turkey. It also follows years of quiet diplomacy between Israel and Syria, which was briefly interrupted by the Second Lebanon War. Syrian President Bashar Assad recently claimed that he had received assurances from Olmert that Israel was willing to return the Golan Heights to Syria, and Olmert's silence on the matter only served to increase suspicion that this was true. The Syrian President also demanded that Olmert produce a written guarantee that Syria would receive the entire territory in return for peace. But Assad later said that Syria would never sever ties with Iran in order to achieve peace with Israel.

Quote: ""The two sides have declared their intention to hold the negotiations in good faith and openly, and hold a serious and continuous dialogue in order to reach a comprehensive peace deal in accordance with the framework set at the (1991) Madrid Conference." Following the announcement, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said that Israel had agreed to fully concede the Golan Heights. Sources at the Prime Minister's Office told Ynet in response, "The negotiations are being held on the basis of the Madrid Conference principles. We do not recall an Israeli commitment at the conference to fully cede the Golan Heights."

Today's news comes just a day after Olmert lost his appeal against a pre-trial deposition of his financial benefactor Morris Talansky, leading some to believe that recent announcements of progress in the peace process with the Palestinian Authority and Syria are timed so as to distract the public from his political scandals. Or worse yet, that the Prime Minister is willing to sacrifice the security of the country in return for saving his own career. As we have seen from the recent Hizbullah coup in Lebanon, the ceding of the Golan to Syria could prove to be disastrous for Israel, if the Islamic terrorist organization were to gain a foothold in the region. Israel would completely surrounded by hostile enemy states, bent on the destruction of the 'Zionist regime'. Hizbullah in the north, Syria in the Golan Heights, the Fatah in Judea and Jerusalem, and Hamas in Gaza. It doesn't bear thinking about. It's not clear how much confidence we can put in today's announcement. But what is clear is that the Middle East is well on its way towards peace and all-out war. What do I mean by that? A peace agreement between Israel and the surrounding nations will eventually come (Daniel 9:27), but it will be followed by the greatest period of trouble the Jewish people have ever experienced. For the Bible states 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", 1st Thessalonians 5:3.

When the Pharisees came to see John the Baptist in the wilderness, he asked them a question, "Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?", Luke 3:7. For John was calling the nation to repentance to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah, but the religious leaders of John's day did not recognize that they were sinners in need of salvation. When the Messiah arrived, the nation rejected Him, and as a result God's wrath fell upon Israel (Luke 21:20-24). Today the Jewish people are back in their land. As John did nearly 2000 years ago, we must warn people of their need to repent of their sins and to prepare for the coming again of the Lord Jesus. As the prophet Amos once said, "Prepare to meet thy God", Amos 4:12. Jesus Christ is coming back, first for those who have trusted in Him for salvation, and then to bring judgement upon this wicked world (Acts 17:31). Have you repented of your sins? Have you trusted in the One that John pointed out on the banks of the Jordan (John 1:29), the Lamb of God who bears away the sin of the world? Flee from the wrath to come (1st Thessalonians 1:10), through believing on on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Isaiah 26:19-21
Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Source YNet News, Press TV, YNet News

Senior Palestinian sources have revealed that the Palestinian Authority is demanding to be allowed to form their own army to defend any future Palestinian state. According to an Israeli source, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has been incensed by this latest request by the Palestinian negotiating teams, headed by PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. According to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's 'Declaration of Principles', both sides had apparently agreed that any future Palestinian state would be demilitarised, with the aim of ensuring that it does not end up becoming a strategic threat to Israel and that its weaponry does not fall into the hands of terrorist organizations. This demilitarised state was to be patrolled by an interim peacekeeping force, ensuring the region does not fall into the hands of radical Islamic groups following Israel's withdrawal from the territory. But now the Palestinian Authority is demanding the right to form an army to defend their own borders.

Quote: "A very senior Palestinian source close to Qureia confirmed the exchange. "At the meeting in question we raised the demand for a regular army, meant to defend the independent state," he told Ynet. "This isn't an army intended to launch an attack against Israel. We are not asking for F-16 jets but rather a force that would be able to defend the nation from threat and realize its basic right to exist in security." The source said the situation had changed greatly since the days of the Oslo Accords in 1993. "Oslo spoke of an intermediary entity. Now we are talking about a Palestinian state born out of a permanent agreement. There is no clause in any of the understandings that denies the Palestinian state an army to defend itself with, to defend its borders and citizens with," he said.

The Palestinian Authority seem to be doing their utmost to ensure that any peace agreement with Israel ultimately fails, or at least that Israel will seen to be the one to blame for its failure, in making demands that are impossible for Israel to accede to. After months of negotiations on final status borders, PA President Mahmoud Abbas hardened his stance ahead of the Annapolis summit, stating that Palestinians would accept nothing less than 1967 borders. And just minutes before the conference was scheduled to begin, Israeli officials were forced to redraft their planned joint-statement several times after Palestinian representatives refused to accept what had formerly been agreed by them. The Bible states that an agreement will be signed, but it will ultimately fail. And as a result, it seems that Israel will be forced to hand over Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem to the Gentiles (Zechariah 12:2, Revelation 11:2). The nation of Israel will suffer terrible persecution during this three and a half year period. When Pontius Pilate asked the Jews if he should crucify their King, the leaders of the nation cried out, "His blood be on us and on our children", Matthew 25:27. God took them at their word, and the Jewish people have suffered tremendously over the last 2000 years. It seems that Jesus Christ's three and a half year ministry on this earth will be paralleled by the three and a half year period of persecution the Jews will suffer at the hands of the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27). And at the end of those three and a half years, the Jewish people will once again face this dilemma, "What shall I do then with Yeshua, who is called Messiah?", Matthew 27:22. Then their response will be, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord", Luke 13:35. Jew or Gentile, each of us must answer this question for ourselves. What will you do with Jesus, who is called Christ? Trust in Him for salvation today. 

Source YNet News