Peace On Earth?

Not far from the birth place of the "Prince of Peace," conflicting claims to Jerusalem continue. It is one of the issues that lie at the heart of the conflict in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been very clear on his position regarding both east Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Without giving Netanyahu a heads up, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, on Sunday, called for Israel to share Jerusalem with the Palestinians, a view Netanyahu strongly opposes.

Barak later explained that he was only expressing his personal opinion, not the policy of the Israeli government.

The West Bank and east Jerusalem is nearly always defined by the news organizations as, "Lands that Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East War."

This is a short view of history, which most in the press prefer. A longer, more truthful view shows an ancient and long relationship, both territorial and spiritual, between Israel and this land.

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, not known to be a supporter of Israel, is expressing frustration over what we have come to know as the "Peace Process."

She is calling for "compromise" on the holy city declaring, "there will be no peace without an agreement" on Jerusalem.

Clinton says both sides must lay out their "core values on the issue."

Netanyahu has laid out his core values on Jerusalem. He does not intend to compromise. Evidently the "peace process" will not work on someones political schedule.

A powerful promise is written in Psalms 122:6---"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."

Israel is not the aggressor in the Middle East, nor have they declared that others should be pushed into the sea and made extinct.

However, many call for their demise.

The ancient prophet Zechariah (12:3 ) said, "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 against it."

Biblical prophecy defines the time in which there will be peace in Jerusalem.

Perhaps too many Israeli people have forsaken their first love for God and, as many westerners, forsaken the Truth and misplaced their faith.

Peace in Jerusalem, the Middle East and elsewhere, will in my view never be achieved by political compromise--- even with the best of intentions. In the end all the "process" will be "cut in pieces."

Peace in Jerusalem can only result from the same faith that returned the Jews to their homeland a generation ago.

And speaking of peace.

There is only one true peace: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ---Jesus.

May the true peace of God be experienced in Jerusalem---and in your heart.

God bless you and yours.

_____________
Gary Randall
President
Faith and Freedom

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