At some point on this continuum we would expect the revived Roman Empire to assume a leadership role for the Middle East peace process and indeed we may be seeing the beginnings of this process.
The European Union is drawing up a detailed new plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and expects to present it after this month’s Israeli general election, Yediot Aharonot reported Sunday.
Citing diplomatic sources in Jerusalem, Israel’s top-selling daily said the plan was intended to “bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 lines with east Jerusalem as its capital.”
The plan will include “clear timetables for the completion of the negotiations on all the core issues in the course of 2013.”
The newspaper said the plan is expected to be presented around March, to give time for the formation of a new Israeli government after the general election on January 22.
The newspaper said the plan “apparently will also include a demand to freeze all construction in the settlements.”
The report said the British and French foreign ministries are sponsoring the initiative, which is also backed by Germany and could be adopted by the full EU.
“There’s a lot in the works behind the scenes,” the newspaper quoted high-ranking Israeli political officials as saying.
“The Europeans don’t have the capability to force an agreement on us, but they definitely may embarrass us,” they added.
“It is reasonable to assume that the Palestinians will accept a document of that sort, but Israel will be hard put to do so. That’s going to paint us into a corner.”
The European Union is working on a detailed plan meant to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and establish an independentPalestinian state based on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital, Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Israeli diplomatic sources as saying.
Efforts are being made to internationalize the plan: The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton is examining the possibility of making the plan an all-European proposal.
Several reports revealed that the plan will also include a basis for a regional Middle Eastern committee with the participation ofEgypt, Jordan and the Gulf states.
Such a committee will marginalize Israel, but a refusal to join it will be perceived as a general rejection of the peace process. The Palestinians have already said they will accept the invitation if issued.
The plan is reportedly to be presented in March, once a new Israeli government is in place following the January 22 elections. Sources said that the plan will include land swaps between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as a complete freeze on all Israeli construction in the settlements.
The new plan has been initiated by the British and French foreign ministers, according to the report, with the support of Germany. Additionally, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was said to be considering the option of adopting the plan as the official European stance. The Europeans have apparently already initiated contact with US President Barack Obama and incoming secretary of state John Kerry regarding the plan as well.
Diplomats cited in the report said that it would be difficult for Obama to oppose the plan, which was said to closely mirror his own stated views on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
7 comments:
The EU pushing a peace plan on Israel . Yup that sounds just about right . Where have i read about this before? Hmmm ? The New York Times ? Nope . The Koran ? Nope ....Um , maybe it was the joke on my finished popsicle stick ? Whatever . It slips my mind but i know there is a book that predicted this . THE FARMERS ALMANAC ! I knew it would come to me !
Peace
Nate
Is everything ok Nathan? Lol
Man...I hope this is it!!!!!!!!
Nate and DDU-I really needed that giggle this morning! Thanks so much!
I was stil wobbling around awe struck from Scotts last post!!!!!
I remember being a little kid and waiting for my cousin to come visit. The plane was delayed by several hours. It seemed like FOREVER. I laid on the flour and watched that big ticking clock tick slowly. It was awful and I could hardly bear it. Oh the ants in my pants. Lol. It was only a few hours but ih what torture to a small child. Forward: 50 years later. Me, waiting for Jesus! Are we there yet? How much longer? Ants in my pants, probably fire ants this time.
Oh, you too? Oh how I wish I had the patience of a mature saint and not a 2 year old! The longsuffering, I got that down pat but patience has somehow alluded me in this specific situation.
Thank you Scott!!!!! So very much!
Me too Gary!!!!
When we meet at the Tree of Life everyone will be able to pick me out as the guy doing back flips down the streets of gold. :)
Maranatha!
PS I spoke at one of our nursing homes yesterday on the rapture of the church and our blessed hope and two very adorable older ladies raised their hands to accept Jesus as their savior. I think they may have just wanted to make sure as one they both were able to sing all the hymns without the words and one took copious notes as I spoke. I have never ever had someone at the nursing home take notes before. Most are usually asleep :) or suffer from severe dementia. It was such a blessing to minister to them yesterday! God is so good!
As far as patience is concerned, we can all take a lesson from Noah. When he released the dove and it didn't come back he waited 29 days and opened the door and saw that the water was gone. After spending a year cooped up in the Ark I'm sure they were all getting very antsy and couln't wait to get out; but they had to wait another 8 weeks until the earth was completely dry. Only then did God tell them that they could leave. So Noah had the patience to wait for God's perfect timing as difficult as that was; and we need to do the same; and when it finally does come it will be well worth the wait. WV, I'm not sure sure we'll be able to identify you. I have a feeling there will be a humungous traffic jam of the rest of us doing the same thing.
Hey Ally good to see you again it's been a while.
Dutch, WV, I'll be the one trying to fly doing breast stroke, you know those dreams you sometimes have? Lol
Blessings all
Dave
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