Just a day following the Annapolis peace conference, Fatah television broadcast a commercial showing a map of the Middle East without the state of Israel. The Jewish state was replaced by a Palestinian flag, with the words "Palestine 2007" emblazoned in the centre. Now the Palestinian Authority is at it again. This time Fatah have created a poster for the party's 43rd anniversary, which displays a map of "Palestine" with no state of Israel. The entire region is covered in the pattern of Yasser Arafat's head-scarf, which has become a status symbol used by both neo-Nazis and Arabs to display their hatred of the Jewish people. An image of an AK-47 runs the length of the Jordan river, proving that President Abbas' Fatah party has not given up the armed struggle against Israel and will not recognize its right to exist. The Palestinian Liberation Organization has recognized Israel's right to exist, of which Fatah is a member. But neither Fatah nor Hamas have ever recognized Israel's right to exist. Indeed, Fatah members have stated that the PLO's recognition of Israel's right to exist is simply a tactical step to bring the "the resistance and the revolution closer to the lands of Palestine".

Fatah's refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist and its continued glorification of martyrdom against the Jews makes a mockery of this whole peace process. Today Israel is blamed for undermining peace efforts through building houses on its own Biblical "birthright", while Palestinian leaders who incite their people to murder are welcomed with open arms by the international community. The same was true during the time of Nehemiah. Following the end of the Babylonian captivity, the Jewish people sought to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. But they were viciously opposed by their Arab neighbours. 

Nehemiah 2:10
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

Jeremiah prophesied that following the Babylonian invasion, God would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:2), to allow the land to enjoy its Sabbaths (Leviticus 26:33-35). When Daniel understood that the time of Israel's restoration to the land was near, he set about confessing his own sin and the sin of his people. As a result of that prayer, God sent an angel to Daniel to give him understanding concerning the future of the nation of Israel. Even while Jerusalem lay in ruins, the angel told Daniel that the city must be rebuilt and destroyed yet again. 69 weeks of Daniel's prophecy have run their course. The Messiah was "cut off" and the "city and sanctuary" were destroyed by the Roman armies in 70AD (Daniel 9:26). Daniel's 70th week states that the "prince that shall come" will defile a future sanctuary and abolish a sacrificial system. Today Israel is once again in possession of Jerusalem, and is seeking to rebuild the Jewish Temple. How close are we to the commencement of Daniel's 70th week? I don't know for sure. I don't think we are in it at present. But we ought to be like Daniel, and to start preparing for the event that we are very close to it. While we haven't been given a specific date as Daniel had, we do have many indications that Christ would return after 2000 years have run their course (Hosea 6:2). Are you ready to meet Him? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Romans 13:11-12
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Source Jerusalem Post, Paleo Lithics