Settlers Back Call To Resist Gaza Pullout
AP via Yahoo! News Mon, 20 Dec 2004 1:20 PM PST
The leaders of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank urged their followers Monday to resist a government plan to withdraw from parts of the occupied territories, edging closer to open revolt against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out next summer.

Sharon Defiant As Settlers Call Civil Disobedience Over Gaza Plan
AFP via Yahoo! News Mon, 20 Dec 2004 1:08 PM PST
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed that the threat of a civil disobedience campaign would not derail his plan to withdraw all Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005.

U.S. Increases Intel Against Israel
LONDON [MENL] -- The United States has increased intelligence operations against Israel as part of an effort to prevent a war in the Middle East.

Western diplomatic sources said that over the last two years the U.S. intelligence community has increased monitoring of Israel's military and government. The sources said the move was ordered by the White House as part of an effort to prevent an escalation of the war with the Palestinians or a regional war that could begin with an Israeli attack on Syria.

Comments
A few days ago I brought you an overview of the European Neighborhood Policy.  For those who are unaware of what this policy is it is a mutual agreement between the E.U. and a host of neighboring nations.  Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority are included in this agreement. 

The way it works is the E.U. has allowed each participating country to become a part of the E.U. culture and society.  They can become as intergraded into the E.U. structure as they desire, stopping just short of membership.  But membership is a future option if it works for both countries.   

Israel has agreed to go forward with the first steps of E.U. integration.  In undertaking this plan they have agreed to the statues of their Action Plan.  The Action Plan has a set of core objectives that they feel each country must come in line with before they can be considered.  Peace with bordering nations and the elimination of nuclear weapons within participating countries are two key points of the core agreement.  Look for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to come in line with these objectives.  

Between now and 2007 Israel and the Palestinian Authority will work with the European Union to come in line with the core objectives.  This will be important for both countries if they are to be considered for substantial E.U. financial assistance starting in the new budget term from 2007 to 2013.  This new financial assistance plan is known as the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).   

It will be very important for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to have their differences resolved if they are to be included in the upcoming 2007-2013 ENPI budget.  The focus of the ENPI is to work with neighboring nations to develop their infrastructure and to serve as a reward for coming in line with E.U. objectives.  It will also strengthen ties between the E.U. and its neighbors.  

The way I see it, the E.U. is creating a super single market that will one day mushroom into a one-world government.  I do see Israel and the Palestinian Authority included in this market system as part of the peace effort.  I also see Israel obtaining world recognition and acceptance because of their association. 

Is the ENPI the start of the seven-year tribulation period?  I don’t think anyone can know for sure, but with peace efforts at a fever pitch it wouldn’t surprise me if one were dependent upon the other.  

Eventually the antichrist and his kingdom (E.U.) are going to get it done.  Whether it will be in 2007-2013 or 2014-2020 budget term is anyone’s guess.  Personally, with the window of opportunity for peace as open as it is I see it being sooner rather than later.  

Keep your eyes on the ENP and how it develops.  This maybe the beginning stages of something very big!  

Pastor Malone