Israeli Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon has advised Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to move quickly to implement a final peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, while they still have the opportunity. Ramon has held meetings with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayad to put together a Declaration of Principles, which will be presented at the upcoming international peace conference in November. According to reports, the agreement will entail Israel handing over roughly 93-97% of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority for the establishment of a Palestinian state. This will include Arab majority areas within East Jerusalem.

Quote: "According to the report, the border between Israel and the future Palestinian state will roughly follow the route of the separation fence leaving major Israeli settlement blocs and between 3 and 8 percent of the West Bank in Israel's hands. This means that Ariel and Maale Adumin will stay within Israeli area, while settlements like Karnei Shomron, Beit El, Ofra, the haredi town of Tel Zion and many other communities will be evacuated and their territory handed over to the Palestinians. In return, Israel will cede the same amount of land inside Israel to the Palestinians to make up for the annexed territory - possibly including a land corridor between the West Bank and Gaza, long a central Palestinian demand. The agreement will also require both sides to immediately implement stage A of the Middle East road map: The Palestinian will disarm all armed groups in their territory, while Israel will withdraw its forces from the Palestinian towns and evacuate all illegal outposts.

"Palestine" will become a demilitarised zone for both Israel and the Arabs. Ramon has previously suggested that a NATO-like force could be stationed in the region to help keep the peace. Holy sites within Jerusalem would come under the control of their respective religious authorities. Ramon also suggested that upon signing the agreement, Israel would immediately hand over three outer Jerusalem neighbourhoods to the Palestinian Authority as a good will gesture. Friends, at times I find it hard to believe what I am reading, for the Scriptures foretold that all these things would come to pass and we are witnessing the prophecies unfolding before our eyes. Previously, there was talk of an underground tunnel linking Gaza and the West Bank. But I have been wondering about that phrase, "land corridor". Read Joel 3:2 again...

Joel 3:2
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and [for] my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Is it possible that the parting of God's land doesn't just relate to the division of Jerusalem in accordance with Zechariah 14:2, and the handing back of the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and Judea and Samaria to the Gentiles, but that perhaps Israel will be physically divided in two by this "land corridor"? This is how Strong's Concordance defines "parted"...

2505. chalaq (khaw-lak')
a primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate, deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-)part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er).

If Israel isn't physically divided between north and south during the tribulation period, the Scriptures do seem to indicate that the parting of God's land will be done through bartering, which we can see happening today. Israel and the nations are literally gambling over which portions of the land they will control. The Bible states that a NATO-like force will occupy Israel during the time of Jacob's trouble, and that the Antichrist will become "strong with a small people", Daniel 11:23. Could this be a reference to a small "peace-keeping" force which would have international backing following an agreement? Daniel says the Antichrist's power shall be mighty, "but not by his own power", Daniel 8:24. Could this be a reference to the Antichrist's role as a diplomatic envoy to the Middle East? Daniel's prophecy also tells us that the Antichrist's forces will occupy the Temple Mount and stop the Jewish sacrifices in the middle of the seven year period (Daniel 11:31). As tensions continue to rise over the destruction work being carried out on the Temple Mount, it is clear to see that any peace deal between Israel and the Arabs must address this sensitive issue. Ignorant Israeli leaders have chosen to ignore God's Word, and they are unwittingly fulfilling it.

Psalm 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Source IHT, YNet News, IMRA, Bible Browser