Sorry if this article is lacking in sensibility, I have the flu and I need to get to bed. EU Special Envoy to the Middle East Mark Goat, sorry I meant to say Mark Otte, has cautioned Israeli Prime Minister ahead of the upcoming international peace conference, that the region will pay a heavy price if the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian break down. His comments came as further revelations surfaced on the nature of the peace deal now being worked out between Olmert and Abbas. Otte warned Olmert that if the talks fail, Israel could end up having to deal with Hamas in the West Bank rather than Fatah. For his part Olmert stated that he was not prepared to allow peace to fail. 

Quote: "The representative told reporters that the Mideast conflict is of great importance to Europe, and added that the American strategy has not worked in Iraq, or the rest of the Middle East and defined the situation in the region as a wake-up call, saying failure was not an option this time. Otte said he expected the upcoming conference to be a starting point if Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agree on how to deal with the core issues before the summit. Otte told the reporters that if Israel were to wait any longer it would be dealing with Hamas as its partner for peace rather than Abbas, and added that Israel's lack of support of the Palestinian president in the past has contributed to the current situation in Gaza.

The European Union has largely remained quiet during recent negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, preferring instead to allow the Americans to take the lead. That is until this goat spoke, warning Olmert of the consequences of failure. Why do I call Otte a goat? Because he was only too happy to have Hamas as a partner for peace, as little as six months ago. I knew what was going to happen, you knew what was going to happen, but the EU seems to have its head buried in the sand.

Quote: "BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Union has made its first official contact with a member of the new Palestinian unity government, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's spokeswoman confirmed. She said that the EU's Middle East envoy, Marc Otte, held talks in Gaza City with Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, who is an independent member of the cabinet, grouping Western-backed moderates and Islamic radicals. The spokeswoman gave no details about their meeting.

Someone in the Israeli Knesset still has their head screwed on though. Former Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warned of the consequences of dividing Jerusalem, something which the Israeli government has now revealed will be discussed at the international peace conference in Maryland. In the first Knesset session of the year, Netanyahu warned Olmert that a disengagement from east Jerusalem will leave suburbs in the city empty, and that Israel will face the threat of Palestinian rockets landing on Tel-Aviv and other major population centres.

Quote: ""Handing over half of Jerusalem to the Palestinians would render the other half uninhabitable… the town's square will once again stand empty. This is not the way to make peace. How many times can the same diplomatic loss of sight be repeated?" Netanyahu added, "according to the government's plan, Israel will withdraw to the '67 borders… this is an exact replica of the government's plan in Camp David in 2000. "Conceding Judea and Samaria would transfer control over the areas overlooking the coastal planes to Hamas and the radical Islam. They would be able to fire rockets directly from there at Gush Dan, the Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv."

The Bible states that the division of the land of Israel and the division of the Holy City will not bring peace. It will commence a time of unparalleled suffering for the Jewish people. End time prophecy is playing out, just like God said it would. Where do you fit into the big picture? Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? If it is, then your future is secure. If not, the Bible states the wrath of God already abides on you, my friend. Turn to Jesus Christ, and be counted worthy to escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).

Zechariah 14:1-3
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 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. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

Source YNet News, YNet News , YNet News

Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon has stated that the issue of Jerusalem will be discussed at the international peace conference to be held in late November. The date of the conference has been put back to give more time for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to draft a joint statement. The statement, which will summarize all agreements made between Israel and the Palestinians to date, will be read out at the gathering, which is believed to be slated for around November 26th (easy way of remembering: day after my birthday). Ramon, who had previously published his own plans for the division of Jerusalem, has stated that anyone who thinks the creation of Palestinian institutions will be the only thing discussed is deceiving themselves...

Quote: ""Whoever thinks that in the Annapolis conference the parties will be discussing the structure of institutions in the Palestinian Authority is fooling himself," he said. "It is in Israel's interest that all the Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem receive international recognition, and that Arab neighborhoods like Wallaja and Shoafat are transferred to the Palestinians," Ramon said.

Under Ramon's plan, Israel will immediately hand over three suburbs of Jerusalem to the control of the Palestinian Authority following the declaration of an agreement. Neighbourhoods with a Jewish majority will fall under Israeli jurisdiction, while those with an Arab majority will fall under Palestinian jurisdiction. Palestine will become a demilitarised state, which will be patrolled by an international peace-keeping force. A land corridor would be created, which would link Gaza and Judea together. Holy sites in Jerusalem such as the Temple Mount will be administered by a special body. Efforts are being made by both Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to have the joint statement ready for next month. Olmert has stated that he believes he does not need the permission of the Knesset to draft the so-called Declaration of Intentions, despite the Palestinian view that this document will form the basis for a future agreement between the two peoples...

Quote: ""The joint document will anchor international agreements, the Arab peace initiative and the vision of President Bush," Qureia said. "The Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams will have to establish a position in the document on issues like borders." Qureia went further and offered an example of the kind of detail he expected in the document: "The border [between Israel and the PA] will be on the basis of the 1967 lines, with the possibility of making limited changes that will not undermine the natural resources and territorial contiguity."

The vision of President Bush... Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? (Psalm 2:1) The Bible states that the Holy City will be divided, in a vain attempt at settling this 4000 year old conflict. But the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security is nothing more than desert mirage. Zechariah 14:2 and Revelation 11:2 state that the Holy City will be divided, and for a period of 42 months the Gentiles will once again take control of Jerusalem. This prophecy could not have been fulfilled until after the Six Day War, in which Israel took total control of its capital. The Scriptures warn us that when they shall say "peace and safety!", or in today's language "peace and security!", then sudden destruction shall come upon them as travail upon a women with child, and they shall not escape (1st Thessalonians 5:3). But there is hope for the believer in Jesus Christ. Paul goes on to say that this time period, which shall see the commencement of the Day of the Lord, shall not catch true believers off guard. We shall be looking for our deliverer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be coming to take home His Bride. Amen. Just thinking about that, what a day that will be. Here on earth it's nice to be home, knowing you are safe and warm. But to be at home with the Lord, where we will be safe forever, where nobody can ever come at us or harm us without getting past Him. That'll be something.

1st Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Source YNet News, YNet News, Haaretz

Negotiations on the so-called Declaration of Principles between Israel and the Palestinian Authority began in earnest today, as the two leaders met for a three hour talk. The discussions were held at Olmert's residence in Jerusalem under the shade of his sukkah. A joint statement is to be drafted by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators over the next few weeks, which is to be presented at the international peace conference in November. The date of the conference may be pushed back by the US President, to give the parties extra time to draft the document.

Quote: "The short text, of about 1-2 pages, will summarize the agreements reached over the past six meetings between Olmert and Abbas regarding Jerusalem, permanent borders, the right of return and security issues. The document will be the basis of a future permanent agreement between Israel and the Palestinian state set to be established alongside it, as delineated by US President George W. Bush's road map.

Negotiations towards a final settlement will begin after conference has taken place, according to an official in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. President Abbas had been pushing for the settlement core issues at the November conference, such as the status of Jerusalem and the borders of a Palestinian state. But Olmert is seeking for a more general agreement, which won't been seen to sell the Palestinians short or upset members of his own government. Both leaders did agree however, that final status issues would be discussed following the conclusion of the conference. So it seems both leaders can claim to have got what they wanted.

Quote: "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas agreed Wednesday to begin negotiations over a final status agreement after the Mideast peace conference scheduled to be held in Annapolis, Maryland in November. The international forum, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, will mark "the launching of permanent-status negotiations in order to achieve the treaty of peace on all the core issues." A senior official confirmed that the sides agreed to begin final status talks. "After the November conference, they will start to negotiate a final agreement but with no timetable," said the official.

According to the Scriptures, the Antichrist will strengthen an existing peace agreement in the Middle East for a period of seven years (Daniel 9:27). It seems an attempt at settling the status of Jerusalem will be made within three and a half years of the agreement being announced. According to Zechariah, the eastern half of the city will be plundered, the women raped, and all the nations of earth will gather together to do battle against Jerusalem. The Jewish people will be airlifted into the wilderness, where they will remain for the three and a half years, divinely protected from the demonic onslaught (Revelation 12:14). It is interesting that the Israeli government is planning on building settlements in the Negev - the desert, and is talking about relocating around 100,000 people from Judea and Samaria to that region. Perhaps the failure of the Israeli government to cede all of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians will result in a third intifada against the Jews. I don't know. But we do know that the fulfilment of all these prophesies mentioned in the Scriptures is beginning to come to pass. 

Revelation 11:1-2
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 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.

Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Source YNet News, Haaretz

A senior official in the Palestinian Authority has stated that President Abbas is expected to ask for the involvement of a third party in negotiations that can oversee the implementation of an agreement reached during the upcoming international peace conference in November. According to the source, speaking under condition of anonymity, Israel has already signalled its approval of a third party working in the region, and is expected to agree to an international body undertaking such a role. It has not yet been agreed on what countries would be represented in this mediatorial role, but suggestions have been made of Japan, the Arab League and the European Union.

Quote: "The senior Palestinian figure says the international body would be able to determine how agreements between the sides are to be implemented, hinting that what will be involved are a force of observers, able to separate the two sides and decide controversial issues. The senior official said the PA would agree to a formula in which the international body would function in a similar fashion to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The makeup of the international body and its authority will be determined during the summit, but an agreement may be reached even sooner, according to the senior Palestinian source. The same source pointed out that Israel had already agreed to a role for such an international body during negotiations with the PA in 2000 and 2001.

I find this news particularly interesting, because we know the Bible states that the European Union will be involved in a big way in securing peace in the region. The Antichrist, whom it is prophesied will come from a Revived Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26), will strengthen a future agreement between Israel and the nations (Daniel 9:27), and will divide the land for his own gain (Daniel 11:39). Following the Second Lebanese War last July, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert stated that Israel desires an "enternal covenant of peace" with their Arab neighbours. This year Olmert and Abbas have embarked on a process which will lead to the formulation of that covenant. Although this article states that Israel would approve of a third party being involved in the negotiations, Israeli President Shimon Peres has up until now insisted that there is no alternative to direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Clearly the EU is in the prime position to fulfill a mediatorial role in the Middle East. This news, that Abbas and Olmert may be willing to have a third party involved in the peace process, brings the prospect of the fulfilment of Daniel 9:27 ever closer.

Daniel 9:27
And he (Antichrist) 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 Haaretz, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs