Latest Prophecy Commentary
Olmert And Abbas Close; Jerusalem, Refugees Sticking Point But Palestinians May Be Willing To Compromise
"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27
"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." Revelation 11:2-3
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Revelation 13:5
It has been reported that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas are drawing closer to an agreement with the exception of two sticking points... refugees and Jerusalem.
Although Jerusalem has become a burdensome stone at this point in the negotiations, Palestinian negotiators are saying that they may be willing to compromise on the issue of refugees right of return.
PA officials stated if " Israel were to allow a symbolic number of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel, the PA would be willing to compromise on other issues." http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1191257288384
Prophecy watchers should take Jerusalem, the sticking point to peace, as a prophetic fulfillment predicted long ago in Zechariah 12:3. You're witnessing prophecy being fulfilled first hand.
Palestinian negotiators are also saying that they would accept concessions that were made in the Taba Accords back in 2000. Sources are saying that Olmert has accepted the principles of the accord but is having internal problems.
"The problem is that Olmert has internal opposition from Barak," the source said, according to Maariv-NRG.
"The gaps between [the positions of] Olmert and Abu Mazen are not large," the source said. "In one-on-one talks with Abu Mazen, Olmert has already agreed to Taba but he has not announced this formally." http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/134577
But they believe things can be worked out before the November 26th ME peace summit convenes in Annapolis.
Below, I have listed a summary of the Taba Accords. This will give you an idea of what's at stake.
A line item in the Taba Accord Summary that jumped out at me is listed in bullet point number two. "Israel agreed to withdrawal from Judea and Samaria over a 36-month period and withdrawal from the Jordan Valley over an additional 36-month period, to be replaced by an international force." The proposed agreement states that it would be completed in two phases of 36 month periods. It amazes me that the Bible says that the final agreement would be split into two 42 month periods. I look for the final agreement to ultimately be broken into two phases of 42 month periods just as the Bible has predicted.
Summary of Taba Accords
The concessions by Israel in Taba six years ago included:
• Jerusalem would be designated as an open city, with Israeli sovereignty
over the Western Wall and Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem and PA sovereignty
over Arab neighborhoods in the city. Each side would define their part of
Jerusalem as its capital. The issue of the Temple Mount had not been resolved
and the PA has now demanded the Western Wall as well.
• Israel agreed to withdrawal from Judea and Samaria over a 36-month
period and withdrawal from the Jordan Valley over an additional 36-month period,
to be replaced by an international force. Arafat rejected these ideas.
• Israel proposed handing over blocs of land occupied by Arab residents,
and retaining so-called “settlement blocs” within Judea and Samaria.. Arafat
rejected this.
• Israel agreed to withdraw from 97 percent of its territory restored in
the 1967 Six-Day War. Arafat rejected this too.
• Israel agreed to a limited so-called Right of Return, which would allow
some 5,000 foreign Arab descendants of those who fled the country during the
1948 War of Independence. Barak proposed that the Arabs be allowed to immigrate
(a) to Israel, (b) to Israeli swapped territory or (c) to the PA state. A second
proposal offered to Arafat included (a) rehabilitation and relocation within the
current Arab host country or (b) relocation to a third country. Arafat rejected
these proposals.
• Both sides agreed to phase out the UNRWA agency that administered
internationally-funded programs among the PA population, within five years.
• Both sides agreed the PA state would have sovereignty over its
airspace.
• Both sides were willing to make a commitment to fight terror and
cooperate on security issues.
• Both sides agreed to abide by United Nations Security Council
Resolution 242 and that the June 1967 lines would become the basis for permanent
borders between Israel and the new PA state. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123900
Other source: Taba Negotiations
Also, take a good look at some of the highlights of the 2003 Geneva Accord. It looks like a Multinational Force will be established to oversee the provisions of the agreement.
To sort out the problems of the holy sites an interfaith body will be assembled by the Implementation and Verification Group (IVG: Made up of representatives from the EU, US, Russia, & UN).
Something I find interesting about the appointing of an international interfaith body to oversee the holy sites is found in Revelation 11:1-2. Here God commands John to go and measure the temple of God (future Jerusalem Temple) but not to measure the outer court which has been given over to the Gentiles; "And the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."
This is traditionally believed to happen during the second half of the tribulation period following the antichrist's desecration of the temple. But will the nations of the world (IVG/gentiles) control the Temple Mount under the statutes of the peace agreement during the first half? If the statutes of the Geneva Accord are any indication they will.
Below, I have listed some of the articles of the Geneva Accord that I feel could have prophetic implications in the future. Take a look at it if you wish. For a more detailed look, at the bottom of the article, you will find a link to a full copy of the Geneva Accord.
Alert: "The ramifications of a US resolution describing the deaths of more than a million Armenians in Turkey in 1917 as a 'genocide' are considered by a number of today's papers."
"The resolution was endorsed by the House of Representatives foreign affairs committee and could go before the full house as early as today."
"Turkey, which claims killings happened on both sides and rejects the
term 'genocide', responded to the committee decision by withdrawing its
ambassador from the United
States for 'consultations'." http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/10/turkeyus_genocide_row_grows.html
It is believed that Turkey will play a role in the Russian-Arab Alliance that will come down and attack Israel at the battle of Gog and Magog predicted in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Turkey has essentially been rejected for membership into the EU. This senseless resolution endorsed by the US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee will further harm relations with the West and push them into the arms of the Islamic world (and Russia).
Geneva Accord
December 1, 2003
6. Multinational Force
(a) A Multinational Force (MF) shall be established to provide security
guarantees to the Parties, act as a deterrent, and oversee the implementation of
the relevant provisions of this Agreement.
d) In accordance with this Agreement, and as detailed in Annex X, the MF
shall:
i. In light of the non-militarized nature of the Palestinian state, protect the
territorial integrity of the state of Palestine.
ii. Serve as a deterrent against external attacks that could threaten either of
the Parties.
iii. Deploy observers to areas adjacent to the lines of the Israeli withdrawal
during the phases of this withdrawal, in accordance with Annex X.
iv. Deploy observers to monitor the territorial and maritime borders of the
state of Palestine, as specified in clause 5/13.
v. Perform the functions on the Palestinian international border crossings
specified in clause 5/12.
vi. Perform the functions relating to the early warning stations as specified in
clause 5/8.
vii. Perform the functions specified in clause 5/3.
viii. Perform the functions specified in clause 5/7.
ix. Perform the functions specified in Article 10.
x. Help in the enforcement of anti-terrorism measures.
xi. Help in the training of the PSF.
(e) In relation to the above, the MF shall report to and update the IVG in
accordance with Annex X.
(f) The MF shall only be withdrawn or have its mandate changed by agreement of
the Parties.
Timeline For Staged Withdrawals
(b) The staged withdrawals shall commence immediately upon entry into force
of this Agreement and shall be made in accordance with the timetable and
modalities set forth in Annex X.
(c) The stages shall be designed subject to the following principles:
i. The need to create immediate clear contiguity and facilitate the early
implementation of Palestinian development plans.
ii. Israel's capacity to relocate, house and absorb settlers. While costs and
inconveniences are inherent in such a process, these shall not be unduly
disruptive.
iii. The need to construct and operationalize the border between the two states.
iv. The introduction and effective functioning of the MF, in particular on the
eastern border of the state of Palestine.
(d) Accordingly, the withdrawal shall be implemented in the following stages:
i. The first stage shall include the areas of the state of Palestine, as defined
in Map X, and shall be completed within 9 months.
ii. The second and third stages shall include the remainder of the territory of
the state of Palestine and shall be completed within 21 months of the end of the
first stage.
(e) Israel shall complete its withdrawal from the territory of the state of
Palestine within 30 months of the entry into force of this Agreement, and in
accordance with this Agreement.
(f) Israel will maintain a small military presence in the Jordan Valley under
the authority of the MF and subject to the MF SOFA as detailed in Annex X for an
additional 36 months. The stipulated period may be reviewed by the Parties in
the event of relevant regional developments, and may be altered by the Parties'
consent.
(g) In accordance with Annex X, the MF shall monitor and verify compliance with this clause.
1. Religious and Cultural Significance:
(a) The Parties recognize the universal historic, religious, spiritual, and
cultural significance of Jerusalem and its holiness enshrined in Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. In recognition of this status, the Parties reaffirm
their commitment to safeguard the character, holiness, and freedom of worship in
the city and to respect the existing division of administrative functions and
traditional practices between different denominations.
(b) The Parties shall establish an inter-faith body consisting of
representatives of the three monotheistic faiths, to act as a consultative body
to the Parties on matters related to the city's religious significance and to
promote inter-religious understanding and dialogue. The composition, procedures,
and modalities for this body are set forth in Annex X.
5. al-Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount (Compound)
(a) International Group
i. An International Group, composed of the IVG and other parties to be agreed
upon by the Parties, including members of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC), shall hereby be established to monitor, verify, and assist in
the implementation of this clause.
ii. For this purpose, the International Group shall establish a Multinational
Presence on the Compound, the composition, structure, mandate and functions of
which are set forth in Annex X.
iii. The Multinational Presence shall have specialized detachments dealing with
security and conservation. The Multinational Presence shall make periodic
conservation and security reports to the International Group. These reports
shall be made public.
iv. The Multinational Presence shall strive to immediately resolve any problems
arising and may refer any unresolved disputes to the International Group that
will function in accordance with Article 16.
v. The Parties may at any time request clarifications or submit complaints to
the International Group which shall be promptly investigated and acted upon.
vi. The International Group shall draw up rules and regulations to maintain
security on and conservation of the Compound. These shall include lists of the
weapons and equipment permitted on the site.
(b) Regulations Regarding the Compound
i. In view of the sanctity of the Compound, and in light of the unique religious
and cultural significance of the site to the Jewish people, there shall be no
digging, excavation, or construction on the Compound, unless approved by the two
Parties. Procedures for regular maintenance and emergency repairs on the
Compound shall be established by the IG after consultation with the Parties.
ii. The state of Palestine shall be responsible for maintaining the security of
the Compound and for ensuring that it will not be used for any hostile acts
against Israelis or Israeli areas. The only arms permitted on the Compound shall
be those carried by the Palestinian security personnel and the security
detachment of the Multinational Presence.
iii. In light of the universal significance of the Compound, and subject to
security considerations and to the need not to disrupt religious worship or
decorum on the site as determined by the Waqf, visitors shall be allowed access
to the site. This shall be without any discrimination and generally be in
accordance with past practice.
(c) Transfer of Authority
i. At the end of the withdrawal period stipulated in Article 5/7, the state of
Palestine shall assert sovereignty over the Compound.
ii. The International Group and its subsidiary organs shall continue to exist and fulfill all the functions stipulated in this Article unless otherwise agreed by the two Parties. http://www.bitterlemons.org/docs/geneva.html
Are you ready to meet the Lord? If not, your time is running out!
Terry Malone
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