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| Obama seeks Middle East breakthrough in two years |  |  |  |
| Israel |
| Written by Chris Perver |
| Sunday, 31 May 2009 14:24 |
| President Barrack Obama has set a timeframe of two years by which time he hopes to have achieved a major breakthrough in the Middle East peace process, according to administration officials in the US government. The remarks came following visits to the United States by both Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. They also come prior to an upcoming visit to the region by the US President, during which he is expected to address the Muslim world with a goal to widening the diplomatic circle involved in the peace process. His tour is expected to take in Saudi Arabia - which formulated the Saudi Peace Initiative, as well as Egypt and Jordan. Although Obama's pace of involvement in the Middle East peace process has slowed somewhat since he took office, the US administration has taken a tough line on Israel. Just a day before Netanyahu was due to meet Obama, US Foreign Secretary Clinton insisted that Israel must halt all settlement activity in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. That position, which contrasts even with the previous Clinton and Bush administrations, was reiterated by Obama and has now been adopted by the German government. In 2005 the US government had agreed that natural settlement growth was permissible in the territories, but now even that is regarded as an obstacle to peace by the current administration. This policy will essentially spell the end of normal family life for over 250,000 Israelis living in these areas. Without construction there is no future for the next generation. If you want to raise a family, you will have to relocate. Quote: ""The American demand to prevent natural growth is unreasonable, and brings to mind Pharaoh who said: Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river," Science Minister and Habayit Hayehudi head Daniel Herschkowitz said Sunday, referring to US President Barack Obama's demand to freeze all settlement activity, even that ensuing from natural growth. Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, mathematician Herschkowitz furthered his point with a simple equation. "If there is a family that expands from one child to four or five, what should we tell them - to ship the children off to Petah Tikva? This is an unacceptable demand, even if it comes from the Americans, and Israel should reject it decisively," he affirmed. Bush presided over the expulsion of 9000 Jews from Gaza, eventually bringing disaster to Israel, the Palestinian Arabs and his own people. It seems that the Obama administration is intent on following suite, this time in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. There is no question that what has transpired in Gaza is destined to be repeated in the West Bank. Not necessarily that Hamas will take control of the region, but that Islam will continue to wage its 'holy war' against Israel - Palestinian state or no Palestinian state. The Scriptures confirm this (Zechariah 12:2, 14:2, Revelation 11:2). Middle East peace will not come through the establishment of a Palestinian state. It will come, they hope, through the disestablishment of the Jewish state. The end of settlement growth in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem is the equivalent of an admission of guilt that in the eyes of the world Israel has no right to be there, and the only logical thing that can follow the cessation of natural settlement growth is a full scale evacuation. And the Bible seems to indicate that this will also take place (Revelation 12). Will a peace agreement be found within two years time as Obama wishes? Perhaps not. When I first launched the site, I thought that we were relatively close to the fulfilment of end time events in relation to the division of the land. But circumstances changed following Israel's disengagement from Gaza and the subsequent takeover of Hamas, and we now seem as far away as ever from Olmert's desired 'covenant of peace'. I think we are still quite far away from an agreement being found. But it is important to remember that the events we are witnessing now are simply 'birth pangs' that are pointing towards the Second Coming of Christ. The land of Israel will one day be divided between Jew and Arab. But I don't believe it can happen while we believers remain on this earth. The division of the land is to take place in the middle of Daniel's 70th week, after the Antichrist has been revealed. The fact that the nations of the world are actively working towards that shows us how close we may be to the return of the Lord for His Church. If Christ came tonight, would you be ready to meet Him? Have your sins been forgiven? Jesus said that unless your sins are forgiven, where He is you cannot come (John 8:21). Jesus Christ gave His life upon the cross so that you might be forgiven. Turn away from your sins and trust in Him for salvation today. John 10:11 Source Haaretz, WND, Haaretz, Jerusalem Post |
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