Peres seeks EU support for peace agreementPDFPrintE-mail
Israel
Written by Chris Perver  
Wednesday, 08 August 2007 09:19
Newly elected Israeli President Shimon Peres is seeking for broad support from the EU and US on a new peace deal. The plan was drafted by Peres while he held the office of Vice Premier, and was handed to Prime Minister Olmert following his inauguration as President. The plan entails the handover of around 90% of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) to the Palestinian Authority, leading to the creation of a Palestinian state with temporary borders. The two "sovereign" states would then agree on permanent borders at a later stage in the peace process. Palestinian Authority President Abbas was initially opposed to the creation of a state with temporary borders, but there have been reports that he may be considering the idea due to the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government has officially denied any such plan exists, but aides close to Shimon Peres seem to think otherwise.

Quote: "Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who used to be bitterly opposed to the idea of temporary borders, is now willing to discuss it, as long as it is accompanied by a timetable for completing negotiations on a final-status agreement. These negotiations which would, inter alia, finalize the details of the territory Israel would give the PA in exchange for settlement blocs covering about 5 percent of the West Bank would thus be held between two sovereign states.

Earlier this week, the Israeli government forcibly evicted two Jewish families from the marketplace of the city of Hebron, sparking protests from prominent Rabbis and devout soldiers in the IDF. The city of Hebron was the ancient capital of Israel at the beginning of the reign of King David, and lies on the border of what is now termed the West Bank. The Jewish people have maintained a small presence in the city for over 2500 years, and it is the burial place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel. But events like these, in which Jews are forcibly evicted from their legally owned properties are likely to be repeated in the not too distant future, as the government considers implementing its proposed peace deal with the Palestinians. The Bible seems to indicate that some sort of deal will eventually be implemented, which will result in the ceding of Judea, Samaria, and the Eastern half of Jerusalem to the Gentiles for a period of 42 months. Whether there will ever be an official "Palestinian state" is in doubt, as the Scriptures state that there shall be "one nation" upon the mountains of Israel (Ezekiel 37:22). But during this period, the Jewish people will experience an unprecedented period of persecution, and towards the end of the tribulation all nations of the world will come against the city of Jerusalem to do battle.

Joel 3:11-12 
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Source Haaretz, Arutz 7

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