Israel and the Palestinian Authority have reached what seems to be a breakthrough in negotiations ahead of the international peace conference in Annapolis that will be held later this year. The Palestinian Authority has agreed to implement stage one of the US "Roadmap to Peace" document, which stipulates that they must disarm and disband all Palestinian terrorist organizations before the establishment of a Palestinian state. State officials in Jerusalem welcomed the announcement and said that the PA would be required to fulfill their obligations immediately following the international peace conference.

Quote: "In accordance with the Road Map, the Palestinians must combat terror groups within their territory as the negotiations with Israel commence. Israeli specifications of that clause entail fighting Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organizations – including violent offshoots of the ruling Fatah – as well as confiscating illegal weapons from the streets and dismantling terrorist militias.

It seems this breakthrough came as US Consulate spokeswoman Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm announced the US was planning to put together yet another aid package for the poverty-stricken Palestinian Authority. Under the deal which will be formally announced next week, the US government will pump $1million into Shechem ahead of the Annapolis conference, in an effort to boost PA President Mahmoud Abbas' hold on the territory. It seems that Shechem, the Biblical city of refuge in which the man-slayer could find protection from the avenger of blood, has become a city of refuge for Hamas terrorists.

Quote: ""I can confirm that the U.S. government is working to put together a package of additional assistance for Nablus to support Prime Minister (Salam) Fayyad's efforts to rebuild security and prosperity for the people of the West Bank," she said. She wouldn't specify what sort of projects would be financed. But years of violence have badly scarred the infrastructure in Nablus, the West Bank's second-largest city and former commercial hub. Overall the Bush administration is seeking $400 million (€280 million) in new aid for the Palestinian Authority from Congress, half of which would be aimed at the private sector and infrastructure. Some $25 million (€18 million) would be used to beef up Abbas' security apparatus and the rest would go to pay government salaries. The governor of the Nablus district, Jamal Muheisen, said a $14 million (€10 million) German-funded water network in the city was launched Thursday, as part of Europe's efforts to develop Nablus, which for years had been controlled by rival gunmen.

Hamas has a strong following in Shechem. And as another Hamas politician threatened to overthrow the Fatah government in Judea and Samaria, it seems President Abbas will need all the help he can get...

Quote: ""Israel says the party in Ramallah (Fatah) serves Israel, and if Israel quits the West Bank, Hamas will take it over. And we say this is true," Zahar said at a rally for Hamas supporters in Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

It is true what former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said. In every place that Israel has withdrawn from, they now face the threat of war. Following Israel's disengagement from Lebanon, instead of peace Israel now faces a perpetual threat of war that could spill over at any moment. Hizbullah has grown into a powerful army despite the Second Lebanon War and the UNIFIL presence on the northern border. Following the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Hamas has now taken full control of this territory and launches daily rocket attacks on neighbouring Israeli towns. Can we expect that a disengagement from Judea and Samaria will suddenly bring peace to the entire region? Can you negotiate peace with a two, three or four headed monster? (Hamas and Fatah, Assad of Syria, Ahmadinejad of Iran).

1st Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

These are the days we are now living in. President Bush first outlined the vision of two states living side by side in "peace and security" in June 2002. Today the whole world is calling for "peace and security" in the Middle East. Israeli politicians think they can achieve peace with their enemies without God. And God won't let them, until they recognize their Messiah Yeshua. The only one who can bring peace to this troubled world is the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Do you fear the future? Many people do because their life is bound up in the things of earth, and everything on this earth is falling apart. Jesus Christ is coming again. What we are witnessing today was spoken of in the Scriptures thousands of years ago. The only Person that can give you peace and security is Jesus Christ - the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Trust in Him for salvation today. 

Source YNet News, IHT, Reuters