Plans to split Jerusalem

Olmert drawing plans to split Jerusalem with the Palestinians
By Associated Press May 5, 2006
http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Diplomacy/8398.htm


Israel's new government is drawing up plans to divide Jerusalem, giving the Palestinians nearly all the Arab neighborhoods of the city and Israel control of Jewish areas and disputed holy shrines, an architect of the program said.

Otniel Schneller, in interviews with The Associated Press this week, outlined the government's plan to separate from the Palestinians and draw Israel's final borders by 2010, providing the clearest indication yet of what Jerusalem is likely to look like and how Israel plans to abandon much of the West Bank.

Under the plan, which would be executed unilaterally if efforts to resume peace talks fail, Jerusalem's Old City, its holy shrines and the adjacent neighborhoods, would become a "special region with special understandings," but remain under Israeli sovereignty, said Schneller, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party.

Schneller cautioned that the ideas are still in the planning stages, require international backing and that there's no clear timetable for carrying them out.

Olmert's withdrawal plan involves dismantling dozens of Jewish settlements with tens of thousands of people and moving them to larger West Bank settlement blocs that Israel hopes to hold onto under a final peace deal.

Israel has said it will give the new Hamas-led Palestinian government time to agree to international demands to recognize Israel, accept past peace deals and renounce violence. More than a month into its reign, Hamas has rejected the demands, Israel has cut off all ties with what it has labeled an enemy entity and it appears increasingly likely the Jewish state will draw its borders on its own.


For full article: http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Diplomacy/8398.htm


"At that time, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem," says the Lord, 2 "I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, for scattering my inheritance among the nations, and for dividing up my land." Joel 2:2-3


It saddens me to see the continuous concessions that Israel continues to give over her land. The Israeli government gives and hopes and gives and hopes again. Still, the violence continues. This of course is no surprise to prophecy watchers and those with a solid understanding of ME history and the Palestinian agenda.

In the article it states that Israel is giving the PA more time to accept the peace demands, though after 50 years, not much has changed, even with the death of Arafat. Really, what is more time going to do? Though I do understand that with the amount of International pressure on her, she feels that she has to appear to be willing to negotiate. It's funny that the same pressure isn't being placed on the Palestinians, not really. My prayer is that Israel will look to the Lord and try to please Him instead of the rest of the international community.

Now after continued pressure, they are finally going to split Jerusalem. More Israelis will have to give up their homes, but what is that for a little peace, right? For sure giving parts of Jerusalem will satisfy the Palestinians. Maybe the area will resemble the peaceful area of Kashmir. It sure worked well over there, right? And really, why would the terrorist acts stop by getting a little more land when the terrorist acts are what got them the land in the first place? There's no incentive to stop and every incentive to continue.

Still, we are commanded to pray for the peace of Israel. By praying this we are praying for the return of our Lord, when the only real peace will be established.

Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.