President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has declared that he will demand the United Nations afford the Palestinian Authority state recognition, even as direct negotiations between Israel and the PA continue to flounder. A 10 month moratorium on Israeli construction work in Judea and Samaria expired on the feast of Succoth at the end of last month, and President Abbas has so far refused to rejoin the talks without its immediate reinstatement. The Palestinian leader's stance on the recommencement of negotiations has received the backing of the Egyptian and Jordanian governments, who have called on the Jewish state to extend the building freeze. The US administration has been attempting to resolve the crisis, proposing that a limited freeze be enacted in order to address the issue of borders. But no solution has been found, and the Palestinian Authority have vowed to press ahead with their goal of establishing a Palestinian state within a year.

Quote: "Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed Thursday that Israel "expects that the Palestinians uphold their commitment to earnestly engage in direct talks, in good faith and with no preconditions." "Any attempt to circumvent the direct talks by approaching international organizations will not promote genuine peace," he said. "Stable, secure peace for both peoples will only be achieved through direct negotiations, and I hope we return to this track in full force soon."

While it is unlikely that the United Nations would agree to official recognition of a Palestinian state without a peace settlement in place, the West and in particular the European states are already coming perilously close to giving at least some kind of official recognition to a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. Indeed the idea of unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state, if it is not possible for an agreement to be reached within a set period of time, was first proposed by the European Union's Javier Solana. The proposal then became official White House policy, and the timeframe was set for a two year period. While we may lament Abbas' refusal to negotiate in good faith, and reject the idea of the establishment of another terrorist state at war with Israel, in reality Abbas is only actually demanding what the West has already offered to give him. And if Abbas can get a state without having to make peace with the Jews, then all the better for him.

But it will not be all the better for Israel and the world, regardless of whether a lasting peace can be found or not. The world is pressing for the establishment of a state, the predominant culture of which glorifies death and 'martyrdom', that indoctrinates its own children in the art of suicide attacks against innocent civilians, that calls for the genocide of an entire race of people, and whose entire reason for being is the destruction of another nation. Do you think that Abbas will stop at Judea and Samaria? Just a few days ago he was photographed holding up a stone image of the nation of Palestine, covering the same geographic area that modern Israel occupies today. Whether there is a 'Palestinian people' or not, for the sake of Middle East peace, we ought to be saying a resounding NO to a Palestinian state. But just as the Bible predicted, the international community has become intoxicated with the idea of achieving peace in the Middle East (Zechariah 12:2, 14:2). The Bible indicates that Israel's darkest period of history lies just ahead. The division of the land and east Jerusalem will bring about a cataclysmic upheaval, which will eventually result in the culmination of the battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ.

The question is, have you made adequate preparation for that? If these things were to take place just next year, if Christ came for His Church as He promised, would you be caught up to meet Him in the air? Don't think that you will receive prior warning. Of Christ's Second Coming to Earth, the Lord warns us, "of such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh", Matthew 24:44. The people of Noah's day listened to Noah's preaching for 120 years, but they "knew not until the flood came and took them all away", Matthew 24:39. They knew full well that judgement was coming (Job 22:16-17), but they chose not to believe. And when the flood had come, the opportunity for salvation was passed. The world has heard the preaching of the Gospel for 2000 years. There is still opportunity for salvation today. Turn away from your sins and believe the Gospel, which is that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners", 1st Timothy 1:15. Jesus Christ bore God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross, and all who accept Him as their Saviour shall have the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 9:6) and everlasting life in Heaven (1st John 5:11). Trust in Him for salvation today.

Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Source YNet News, Daily Star, Palestinian Media Watch