Link from my friend Darrell. EU foreign ministers are set to discuss a statement on the status of Jerusalem today, recently proposed by the Swedish government. Sweden currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, and has sought in recent weeks to interject itself into the Middle East peace process. Last month a row erupted between Sweden and Israel over comments made in Swedish newspapers, asserting that the Israeli Defence Force harvests organs from dead Palestinians to sell on the black market. Reminiscent of the old anti-Semitic blood-libels, that Jewish Rabbis used Gentile blood to cook their Passover meals, the remarks were hastily condemned by Israeli politicians. But the Swedish government refused to condemn the statements or censure the newspapers that printed them. Now Sweden has proposed a plan, which if approved by the European governments, will seek to undermine Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem and hasten the division of the city. Of course there is nothing substantially new in the Swedish proposal. The 'international community' has never recognized Israel's annexation of the east of the city following the Six Day War. But Israeli politicians fear that official EU backing of Palestinian political rights in Jerusalem, something which was never afforded to them in the Balfour Declaration or any subsequent UN resolution, will give the Arabs legal permission to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state in these territories. Ironically Sweden's proposal is unlikely to find much support among the hard line Arab nations due to continuing internal Palestinian divisions between Hamas and Fatah. A declaration of independence would also mean 'Palestine' would have to fend for itself, as it would effectively sever it from any Israeli responsibilities for the Palestinians, such as the 'right of return', etc. A declaration of independence would also constitute an end to the armed struggle for the destruction of Israel proper, which the hardliners in Hamas and Fatah could never accept. As you can see it is the Palestinian goal for the complete annihilation of Israel that is actually perpetuating this conflict. 

Quote: "''The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem,'' said a draft EU ministerial resolution seen by The Associated Press. It referred to the Mideast war in which Israeli forces captured east Jerusalem from the Jordanian army. The document also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. ''If there is to be (peace) a way has to be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states,'' it said. Most EU ministers appeared supportive of the latest draft, although some said the declaration should not antagonize either party in the dispute at the risk of undermining efforts to restart peace talks. ''I don't really understand why Israel does not accept that Palestine consists of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem,'' Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told journalists. ''The Israelis have a right to live in Israel, the Palestinians have a right to live in Palestine.''

And that is the problem. European politicians seem to have such a limited understanding of recent history, never mind the age-old conflict between the son of Abraham and the son of the bond-woman. The fact is, 'Palestine' does not consist of east Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip.  The Palestine Mandate, which was created following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, includes all of Jordan, Israel and the 'West Bank'. The name was first given to the region by the Romans in an effort to erase the name of Israel following the Jewish revolts and the diaspora. It was actually called 'Philistia', after the ancient enemy of Israel, the Philistines. The Philistines were Phoenician Greek in origin, definitely not Arabs. The name eventually became known as Palestine. The whole idea that there is a 'Palestinian nation' is a fabrication invented by those who hate Israel, and propagated by those who seek to gain politically from the situation. The Palestine Mandate has actually already been divided into two states, Jordan and Israel, in an effort to appease the Arab nations. But they have repeatedly refused to recognize Israel's right to exist in any of the land in the Middle East. Israel had accepted the original United Nations partition plan, which would have given the Palestinian Arabs much more land than they are now claiming for a state. But the Arab nations rejected it and launched an all out war in an effort to destroy the fledgling Jewish state as soon as it was born. And they have been paying the price ever since.

Of course it's all prophetic. The return of the Jews to the land and the rebirth of the nation of Israel was prophesied thousands of years in advance in Jeremiah 16, Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 36-37, among other places. And despite facing tremendous odds, Israel survives. As I mentioned before, the present-day conflict can all be traced back to one point in time. Not to 1967. Not even to 1948. It goes all the way back to Jacob, who was later named Israel, and his brother Esau. Before the twins were born, they fought in their mother's womb. And when Rebekah asked why this was so, the Lord told her that two nations were in her womb, and two manner of peoples would be born of her. And the elder would serve the younger (Genesis 25:2-3). Esau, who sold his birthright for a pot of stew and forfeited his father's blessing, represents all that is carnal and worldly. Jacob, who wrestled with the Angel of the Lord and saw the house of God, represents the spiritual man. He saw little profit in the things of the world, but sought after the spiritual things of God. Although he was a twister, and tricked his father into blessing him by pretending to be Esau, even his father recognized that it was the will of God that he should receive the blessing (Genesis 27:33). It should have come as no surprise, considering the prophecy given at Jacob's birth. And this is the blessing with which Isaac blessed Israel...  

Gen 27:28
Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

That blessing, and curse, is still in effect today. And the promise will ultimately have its fulfilment in the return of Jesus Christ to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over this earth. Jacob may have made plenty of mistakes. And he himself was later deceived by his own sons. But he sought after the things of God, and God blessed him greatly because of that. His name means twister, just like my own name, Perver. This reminds us of our fallen nature. But Jacob received a new name, Israel, which literally means, 'he will rule as God'. This proves to us that despite our fallen Adamic nature, God is able to make something of our lives according to His own will and purpose, if we are willing to submit to Him. The first step of obedience comes in accepting His Son as your Lord and Saviour. Why don't you trust Him for salvation today, and let Him turn a Jacob into an Israel.

Genesis 49:22-24
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Source New York Times, Honest Reporting, Jerusalem Post