Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reiterated his opinion that Israel should seek to establish a peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority before the end of George Bush's last term as President of the United States. That gives Israel and the Palestinians one year to formulate an agreement on final status issues, such as the borders of a Palestinian state and the status of Jerusalem. Olmert has stated that he believes an agreement under President Bush's term would be the most favourable for Israel, for it was impossible to know if the next US administration would be as committed to solving the Israel-Arab conflict. Olmert has given two reasons for wanting to sign a peace agreement with the Palestinians before Bush leaves office. One is President Bush's letter to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in which he promised that Israel could retain Jewish-majority settlement blocks in East Jerusalem. The second reason is President Bush's "Roadmap to Peace" document, which demands that both parties implement various confidence-building steps before agreeing to final status issues.

Quote: ""There are big advantages to reaching an agreement before the end of Bush's term. This is the right thing to do. It is the best thing to do for both sides," an official quoted Olmert telling German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Olmert expressed hope an agreement on core issues, including refugees, borders, and the fate of Jerusalem, could be reached, but stopped short of saying such a deal would be possible. The official said Olmert wanted to seize the opportunity because it was impossible to know how committed the next U.S. administration would be to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Olmert had announced in 2006 during the height of the Second Lebanon War, that Israel sought an "eternal covenant of peace" with its neighbours. The book of Daniel states that such a covenant will indeed be signed, bringing peace for a limited time but would be followed by a period of great tribulation. The signs of the times are a witness to us that day is drawing near. No longer is the parting of God's land and the division of Jerusalem the substance of some distant event foretold by Scripture. That was the case when I started this website, but now it is happening for all to see. The Day of the Lord is at hand. If Christ came today, where would you stand? Will you be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, to ever be with the Lord? (1st Thessalonians 4:17) Or will you be caught out, still in your sins, having no hope and without God in the world? (Ephesians 2:12) Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.

Source Reuters