You may listen to the 5 minute update this week via audio:
In this week’s 5 minute update, we focused on:
1) The current status of the Israel / PLO peace process
In order to understand where things are going in the peace process, we need to review the positions of the USA, Israel and the PLO on the different issues:
US POSITION
1) The settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are ILLEGAL and are an obstacle to creating a PLO state
2) The US wants a framework agreement for a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital making Jerusalem an international city
3) Security arrangements with Israel will include an international peace keeping force in the region
EUROPEAN UNION POSITION
1) Settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are ILLEGAL and are an obstacle to creating a PLO state
2) The EU desires to see a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital
3) If Israel doesn’t agree to a PLO state based upon 1967 borders and cease building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem then the EU is threatening Israel with economic sanctions
PLO POSITION
1) Settlements in the West Bank and East Jersualem are ILLEGAL and will not accept Jews in a PLO state
2) A PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital
3) No Israeli troops can be a part of an international peace keeping force to secure a peace agreement
4) The PLO will not recognize Israel as a Jewish state
5) The PLO insists on the right of return of “refugees” with compensation
ISRAEL POSITION
1) A demilitarized PLO state
2) In any peace deal, Israel will annex the large settlement blocs
3) Israel will maintain a military presence on its eastern border along the Jordan Valley
4) Israel can build in the West Bank and East Jerusalem until a framework peace agreement is made
5) The PLO needs to recognize Israel as a Jewish state
OTHER ISSUES:
1) The international community is supporting the efforts to establish the institutions for a PLO state by August 2011
2) The international community is providing funding to help to create a PLO state without first establishing that PLO state through negotiations
3) In May 2010, the US told the PLO that should talks fail that the US will assign blame for the failure of the peace talks
4) In early 2010, the US told the PLO that they were willing to consider the establishment of a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital through the United Nations
5) Various international nations are recognizing a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital prior to a negotiated agreement between the PLO and Israel
POLITICAL ANALYSIS:
1) Right now, the US would prefer to see an establishment of a PLO state through negotiations (putting pressure on Israel to agree to a PLO state). The EU is more willing to impose a PLO state through the United Nations and threaten Israel with economic sanctions should it not agree to a PLO state based upon 1967 borders.
2) The US will make one final effort to get Israel to agree to a negotiated peace agreement
3) The US and EU position is similar to the PLO position. This makes it inevitable that the US and EU will put increasing pressure (political and economic) on Israel to agree to a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
4) Should the US be unsuccessful in its effort to get Israel to agree to a negotiated agreement, the US will most likely announce it own peace plan or will recognize a PLO state based upon 1967 borders at the United Nations
5) Should a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital be recognized through the UN Security Council, it will result in a rebellion in Israel against the UN resolution and Israel will declare an end to the Oslo process and the Roadmap.
6) Should a PLO state based upon 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital be recognized through the UN Security Council, there will be a rebellion in the West Bank and leaders in the West Bank will declare their independence.
7) Disagreement over these issues will likely result in a regional Mideast war
8) These things are all likely to happen in 2011
The US, Israel and the PLO failed to reach an agreement for Israel to extend a settlement freeze in the West Bank. The US was offering various incentives to Israel in exchange for a 3 month extension of a settlement freeze. During these 3 months, the US wanted Israel to agree to the borders of a PLO state. The US would not put in writing that the settlement freeze excluded East Jerusalem. The US concluded that it could not be guaranteed that Israel would agree to the borders of a PLO state during the 3 months of the proposed extended settlement freeze. The US didn’t want to be put in a position to negotiate with Israel a further settlement freeze after the proposed 3 months so it decided to declare that talks had failed. In doing so, the US insisted that it does not support Israel building in the West Bank and East Jerusualem. Former European leaders blamed Israel for the failure in extending the settlement freeze and recommended that economic sanctions be placed upon Israel. Fatah refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The PLO refuses to have either direct or indirect peace talks if Israel continues to build in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The PLO will try to lobby the international community to recognize a PLO state based upon 1967 borders and then pressure the USA to recognize a PLO state through the UN Security Council. Egypt suggests that the Quartet submit their own peace plan and a time frame for implementation. The US is seeking to continue to discuss the final status issues of the peace process through indirect talks with Israel and the PLO.
An agreement to divide Jerusalem and establish a PLO state is a tribulation event.
The link to these articles are as follows:
1) State officials: US-Israel freeze talks deadlocked
2) Barak: WikiLeaks affair delayed settlement freeze
3) US to meet Israel, PA officials in effort to save peace talks
4) US, Israel, PA fail to reach settlement freeze deal
5) US: Decision to halt freeze talks recognition of reality
6) US Official: Obama does not and will not condone Israel’s settlement activity
7) UN and EU blame Israel for breakdown of peace talks
8) Former European leaders: Sanction Israel over settlement building
9) Fatah declares refusal to recognize Israel as Jewish state
10) Abbas: No talks while Israel builds
11) Palestinians seek unilateral statehood recognition
12) Egypt: World should push toward establishment of Palestinian state
13) Abbas receives letter from US about peace process
14) PA to consult with Arab powers over US peace role
15) Erekat, Barak to travel to US for crisis talks
From a Biblical prophetic perspective, the reason why the God of Israel would allow these events to happen is because it will result in the end of the exile of the house of Jacob and the reunification of the 12 tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Judah).
We will to be “watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem” and we will not rest until the God of Israel makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62).
Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l