Israel/America Watch

[angels4u]

You said it brother, I don't think God will take this lightly!!

We're living in the end times,how will this end..it's getting worse every minute , but there is light on the end of the tunnel PTL!

Angels

[tsth]

Bush pushes Mideast 'map'

By David R. Sands

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

    President Bush expressed optimism yesterday about a new push for a final peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, but the administration finds itself under increasing political pressure to limit the role of America's Quartet partners in the negotiations. Top Stories

• Bush sees Mideast free-trade

• Lawmakers to investigate District's salaries

• Saddam's regime may face trial in Iraq

• Probe of French passports sought

• Black leaders say rift exists with immigrants

• 'Quiet' efforts credited for stability in oil rates

• Ramsey 'here for the long haul'

    "Of course we are going to make progress," Mr. Bush told reporters at the White House as he met with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, the emir of Qatar, in the Oval Office. The president cited moves by new Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas to curtail terrorism and reform the Palestinian political authority.

    Secretary of State Colin L. Powell leaves tonight for meetings with Mr. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over the "road map" to a peace deal prepared by the United States and its three Quartet partners — the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

    But large pro-Israel majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives have signed a letter urging Mr. Bush to take a tough line in demanding more Palestinian political and security reforms and a complete end to terrorist attacks on Israel, saying that only the United States has the stature and clout to make a deal stick.

    "The United States has developed a level of credibility and trust with all parties in the region, which no other country shares," said the April 30 letter, which was signed by 321 representatives and 88 senators.

    Without mentioning the other Quartet members by name, the letter continues: "We are concerned that certain nations or groups, if given a meaningful role in monitoring progress made on the ground, might only lessen the chances of moving forward on a realistic path towards peace."

    The much-touted road map outlines a three-stage series of steps by both sides designed to ensure Israel's security while creating a Palestinian state with defined borders by 2005.

    But much of the early jockeying has been over the roles of the four Quartet partners in monitoring and enforcing the steps to be taken by both sides. A codicil to the agreement, first reported by The Washington Post, reserves a key oversight post in the accord for an American representative.

    Many supporters of Israel in Congress and among President Bush's conservative base share Israel's deep suspicions of the United Nations and leading European powers, whom they consider too sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and to longtime Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

    The suspicions have been heightened by trans-Atlantic tensions over the war in Iraq, which was opposed by many in the EU and the United Nations.

    In a recent stinging attack on the State Department, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted there would be "a deliberate and systematic effort to undermine the president's policies procedurally by ensuring that they will be watered down and distorted by the other three members" of the Quartet.

    The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a strongly pro-Israel lobby, made support for the congressional letter one of its two top priorities during a membership lobbying blitz on Capitol Hill last month.

    AIPAC spokeswoman Rebecca Dinar said the group in particular supported the letter's contention that Israel can only be expected to "respond with concrete actions" when the Palestinian leadership under the new prime minister cracks down on terrorism.

    "The issue at hand is really security," she said. "History has shown that when Israel has a real partner for peace, Israel will reciprocate."

    But Mr. Bush also faces some diplomatic pressures from allies not to sideline other members of the Quartet.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the administration's closest ally in the sharp international debate over Iraq, has pressed the president hard for progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, arguing it is essential to ease Arab world hostility in the wake of the Iraq war.

    And European Union foreign-policy chief Javier Solana noted that the EU, deeply divided over Iraq, is far more unified on the need for a Middle East peace deal.

    "The road map does not belong to Country A or Country B," said Mr. Solana on a visit to New York this week. "The road map is the product of a coalition."

[rollinTHUNDER]

JOINT STATEMENT BY

THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION,

THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

30 APRIL 2003

ANNEX:

A performance-based road map to a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Quartet will meet regularly at senior levels to evaluate the parties' performance on implementation of the plan. In each phase, the parties are expected to perform their obligations in parallel, unless otherwise indicated.

PHASE I: ENDING TERROR AND VIOLENCE, NORMALIZING PALESTINIAN LIFE, AND BUILDING PALESTINIAN INSTITUTIONS PRESENT TO MAY 2003

In Phase I. the Palestinians immediately undertake and unconditional cessation of violence according to the steps outlined below; such action should be accompanied by supportive measures undertaken by Israel. Palestinians and Israelis resume security cooperation based on the Tenet work plan to end violence, terrorism, and incitement through restructured and effective Palestinian security services. Palestinian undertake comprehensive political reform in preparation for statehood, including drafting a Palestinian constitution, and free, fair and open elections upon the basis of those measures. Israel takes all necessary steps to help normalize Palestinian life. Israel withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied from September 28, 2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that existed at that time, as security performance and cooperation progress. Israel also freezes all settlement activity, consistent with the Mitchell report.

At the outset of Phase I:

* Palestinian leadership issues unequivocal statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and security and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel.

* Israeli leadership issues unequivocal statement affirming its commitments to the two-state vision of an independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel, as expressed by President Bush, and calling for an immediate end to violence against Palestinian everywhere. All official Israeli institutions end incitement against Palestinians.

SECURITY

* Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conduction and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere.

* Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security apparatus begins sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. This includes commencing confiscation of illegal weapons and consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror and corruption.

* GOI takes no actions undermining trust, including deportations, attack on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; destruction of Palestinian institutions and infrastructure; and other measures specified in the Tenet Work Plan.

* Relying on existing mechanisms and on-the ground resources, Quartet representatives begin informal monitoring and consult with the parties on establishment of a formal monitoring mechanism and its implementation.

*Implementation, as previously agreed, of U.S. rebuilding, training and resumed security cooperation plan in collaboration with outside oversight board (U.S. - Egypt - Jordan). Quartet support for efforts to achieve a lasting, comprehensive cease-fire.

* All Palestinian security organizations are consolidated into three services reporting to an empowered Interior Minister.

* Restructured/retained Palestinian security forces and IDF counterparts progressively resume security cooperation and other undertakings in implementation of the Tenet work plan, including regular senior-level meetings, with the participation of U.S. security officials.

* Arab states cut off public and private funding and all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terror.

* All donors providing budgetary support for the Palestinians channel these funds through the Palestinian Ministry of Finance's Single Treasury Account. As comprehensive security performance moves forward, IDF withdraws progressively from areas occupied since September 28, 2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that existed prior to September 28, 2000. Palestinian security forces redeploy to areas vacated by IDF. Palestinian Institution-building.

* Immediate action on credible process to produce draft constitution for Palestinian statehood. As rapidly as possible, constitutional committee circulates draft Palestinian constitution, based on strong parliamentary democracy and cabinet with empowered prime minister, for public comment/debate. Constitutional committee proposes draft document for submission after elections for approval by appropriate Palestinian institutions.

* Appointment of interim prime minister or cabinet with empowered executive authority/decision-making body. * GOI fully facilitates travel of Palestinian officials for PLC and Cabinet sessions, internationally supervised security retraining, electoral and other reform activity, and other supportive measures related to the reform efforts.

* Continued appointment of Palestinian ministers empowered to undertake fundamental reform. Completion of further steps to achieve genuine separation of powers, including any necessary Palestinian legal reforms for this purpose.

* Establishment of independent Palestinian election commission. PLC reviews and revises elections law. Palestinian performance on judicial, administrative, and economic benchmarks, as established by the International Task Force on Palestinian Reform.

* As early as possible, and based upon the above measures and in the context of open debate and transparent candidate selection/electoral campaign based on a free, multiparty process, Palestinians hold free, open, and fair elections.

* GOI facilitates Task Force election assistance, registration of voters, movement of candidates and voting officials. Support for NGOs involved in the election process.

* GOI reopens Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and other closed Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem based on a commitment that these institutions operate strictly in accordance with prior agreements between the parties. Humanitarian Response

* Israel takes measures to improve the humanitarian situation. Israel and Palestinians implement in full all recommendations of the Bertini report to improve humanitarian conditions, lifting curfews, and easing restrictions on movement of persons and goods, and allowing full, safe, and unfettered access of international and humanitarian personnel.

* AHLC reviews the humanitarian situation and prospects for economic development in the West Bank and Gaza and launches a major donor assistance effort, including to the reform effort.

* GOI and PA continue revenue clearance process and transfer of funds, including arrears, in accordance with agreed, transparent monitoring mechanism. Civil Society.

* Continued donor support, including increased funding through PVOs/NGOs, for people to people programs, private sector development and civil society initiatives. Settlements.

* GOI immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001.

* Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements).

PHASE II. TRANSITION JUNE 2003 - DECEMBER 2003

In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement. As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty. With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the Quartet and the broader international community in establishing an independent, viable, state. Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking into account performance of both parties. Furthering and sustaining efforts to normalize Palestinian lives and build Palestinian institutions, Phase II starts after Palestinian elections and ends with possible creation of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders in 2003. Its primary goals are continued comprehensive security performance and effective security cooperation, continued normalization of Palestinian life and institution-building, further building on and sustaining of the goals outlined in Phase I, ratification of a democratic Palestinian constitution, formal establishment of office of prime minister, consolidation of political reform, and the creation of a Palestinian state with provisional borders.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE:

Convened by the Quartet, in consultation with the parties, immediately after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections, to support Palestinian economic recovery and launch a process, leading to establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders.

* Such a meeting would be inclusive, based on the goal of a comprehensive Middle East peace (including between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon), and based on the principles described in the preamble to this document.

* Arab states restore pre-intifada links to Israel (trade offices, etc.).

* Revival of multilateral engagement on issues including regional water resources, environment, economic development, refugees, and arms control issues.

* New constitution for democratic, independent Palestinian state is finalized and approved by appropriate Palestinian institutions. Further elections, if required, should follow approval of the new constitution.

* Empowered reform cabinet with office of prime minister formally established, consistent with draft constitution. Continued comprehensive security performance, including effective security cooperation on the bases laid out in Phase I.

* Creation of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders through a process of Israeli-Palestinian engagement. Launched by the international conference. As part of this process, implementation of prior agreements, to enhance maximum territorial contiguity, including further action on settlements in conjunction with establishment of a Palestinian state with provisional borders.

* Enhanced international role in monitoring transition, with the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet.

* Quartet members promote international recognition of Palestinian state, including possible UN membership.

PHASE III: PERMANENT STATUS AGREEMENT AND END OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT 2004 - 2005

Progress into Phase III, based on consensus judgment of Quartet, and taking into account actions of both parties and Quartet monitoring. Phase III objectives are consolidation of reform and stabilization of Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent status agreement in 2005.

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE:

Convened by Quartet, in consultation with the parties, at beginning of 2004 to endorse agreement reached on an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and formally to launch a process with the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet, leading to a final, permanent status resolution in 2005, including on borders, Jerusalem, refugees, settlements; and, to support progress toward a comprehensive Middle East settlement between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria, to be achieved as soon as possible.

* Continued comprehensive, effective progress on the reform agenda laid out by the Task Force in preparation for final status agreement. Continued sustained and effective security performance, and sustained, effective security cooperation on the basis laid out in Phase I. International efforts to facilitate reform and stabilize Palestinian institutions and the Palestinian economy, in preparation for final status agreement.

* Parties reach final and comprehensive permanent status agreement that ends the Israel - Palestinian conflict in 2005, through a settlement negotiated between the parties based on UNSCR 242, 338, and 1397, that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and includes an agreed, just, fair, and realistic solution to the refugee issue, and a negotiated resolution on the status of Jerusalem that takes into account the political and religious concerns of both sides, and protects the religious interests of Jews, Christians, and Muslims worldwide, and fulfills the vision of two states, Israel and sovereign, independent, democratic and viable Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security.

* Arab state acceptance of full normal relations with Israel and security for all the states of the region in the context of a compressive Arab-Israeli peace.

[Matthitjah]

Dr. Luke

Group: Members

Posts: 304

Joined: Sep. 2002  Posted: May 12 2003,1:06 am 

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Hi brothers and sisters,

Heres 2 links that will enlighten you to what some intellectuals and the American public in general think about Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet....2195335

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen....assID=2

GBU all richly

Peace  Amen

--------------

Paid for by the blood of the Lamb

Waiting patiently for the fullness of the Gentiles? 

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pag...d=1052622195335

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/Sh...=1&contrassID=2

Check out the links.

[rollinTHUNDER]

In a meeting with Israeli left-wing political activists and Palestinian Authority cabinet ministers last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns made disparaging statements regarding US President George W. Bush's political supporters in the US, intimating that conservatives, Christians, as well as representatives of AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby in Washington, lack common sense.

I guess he may be somewhat correct. Some christians don't just rely on common sense, which isn't very common anymore by the way, but some us actually are using what I would call our spiritual sense, which could be classified as spiritual discernment.

[tsth]

Abaas and Sharon talks still did not change stalemate. It's still a matter of who goes first? Nobody's willing to.

Article here: http://www.worthyboards.com/forums/index.p...10&t=1086&st=60

Sharon postpones trip to US indefinitely.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/801833.asp?0cv=CA00

[rollinTHUNDER]

Abaas and Sharon talks still did not change stalemate. It's still a matter of who goes first? Nobody's willing to.

There's one thing that I think we should never forget :

Jerusalem will continue to be the hot spot in the world until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (end of the church age), and Daniel's 70th week (7 yr. tribulation) begins.

Luke 21:24b - "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."

Romans 11:25 - "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in."

Zechariah 12:2-3 - "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. (3) And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

[Matthitjah]

Uh Oh!

Check this out.

Koenig's International News

Update and Commentary

Sharon may bring road

map to vote on Sunday

- Bill Koenig

Note from Bill:

There has been debate within the Bush Administration over whether President Bush should have a summit with Ariel Sharon and Abu Mazen; there is concern about political fallout if Bush fails. However, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice has been the one most in favor of a meeting between Bush, Sharon and Abu Mazen and is attempting to put an event together. (The Haaretz article below has more details.)

Sadly, Bush now appears concerned about appeasing the British, the Arabs, the State Department, the CFR and the world community than fully standing with Israel.

The Council on Foreign Relations (www.cfr.org) influences the State Department. Moreover, Secretary of State Colin Powell (a CFR member) last Thursday threw the "hot potato" to President Bush after his failed meetings with Sharon. Now Bush is in the center of the mess.

In the last 26 months every times the Arabs (and now the world community) increase their complaining about Bush

[Matthitjah]

Heres another one for the Watch. From the Jerusalem Post;

May. 23, 2003

Israel's hands now tied by road map

By ANALYSIS / HERB KEINON

 

The feeling that gripped the country when the wave of terror washed over it at the beginning of the week was all too familiar.

It was again a feeling of fear and anger and pain. Just when some thought the situation was calming down a bit, the rapid-fire terror attacks brought back a sense of "oh no, here we go again."

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said at a recent cabinet meeting that the country had begun to regain a sense of security, evidenced by the numbers of people who actually took to the outdoors over Pessah and on Independence Day.

The terror attacks of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday created a degree of expectation of some kind of dramatic IDF response.

Indeed, the Foreign Ministry called a press briefing where gory photos from Sunday morning's bus bombing were screened the first time the ministry had done this in 32 months of terror. It seemed to be preparing the ground for something big.

Likewise, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cancelled his trip to America, and convened an emergency evening cabinet session. Nighttime cabinet sessions are generally a signal of something dramatic afoot.

What was it going to be? The expulsion of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat? A mini Operation Defensive Shield? In the end it was neither. Which raises the simple question: Why not?

Immediately after the Iraqi war, a key strategic planner in the government said one of the main strategic benefits reaped from the war was the fact that Israel's hands were no longer tied.

For months before the US invaded Iraq, Israel's response to various provocations be them terror actions from the West Bank or Gaza, or the diversion of the Wazzani tributary in Lebanon was tempered by a desire not to escalate the situation because this would scuttle the US operation.

When the war in Iraq ended, there was for at least a few days a sense that Israel's hands were unchained, and that it would have more freedom of action, both in Lebanon and in the territories.

It turns out, however, that this assessment was incorrect. Soon after the war came PA Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) and the road map.

Israel's hands are now tied not by Iraq, but by not wanting to do anything that would damage Abbas's chances to take action, or anything that would be perceived at least in Washington as being the reason why the road map cannot be implemented.

According to one senior diplomatic official, we are now in a "very complex and delicate situation that could easily deteriorate into chaos. Everything could blow up, and we don't want to blamed for scuttling the process."

Escalating the situation does not serve Israel now, he said, because it is in Israel's interest for Muhammad Dahlan to start implementing his security "work plan."

Israel is walking gingerly between needing to prevent terror, wanting the Palestinians to tackle terror themselves, and wanting to build up Abbas by giving him some life-improving gestures he can take to his people.

It's a balancing act made almost impossible by spikes in terrorism, one that would be made even more difficult were Israel either to expel Arafat or embark on a huge military offensive.

"A major offensive," he said, "would at this time disrupt everything going on right now. It would stir up emotion among the Palestinians and the Arab world. We want to give Abu Mazen's government a chance this would kill it." Which, goes the logic, is exactly what Arafat wants to see happen.

So instead of a major offensive, the recent wave of terror has been followed by more of the same more localized IDF incursions to keep constant pressure on the terrorists, to keep them running and hiding and spending as much effort looking for a safe place to sleep, as on putting together explosive vests and planning how to smuggle suicide bombers into the country.

It's an operational level that enhances security compare the number of successful versus foiled suicide attacks last year to the number today while at the same time not slamming the present window of opportunity on Abbas's fingers.

It would seem the War in Iraq served another perpose alltogether. That would be to, in my opinion, use the victory as leverage against the state of Israel. Ramming a Peace Plan down their throat.

I pray this is an incorrect assumption on my part.

More and more very day it seems to be reality.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

GBU Saints,

Peace :il: Amen

[rollinTHUNDER]

Here's a real shocker!!

21.05.2003 - 09:55 CET

Israeli foreign minister considers EU membership

One MEP claims support is growing in the European Parliament for Israel's membership. (Photo: thesetides.com)

The freshly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, is considering Israel's EU credentials, reports Israeli daily, Ha