Jordan Proposes New Israel Peace Strategy
AP via Yahoo! News Fri, 18 Mar 2005 9:44 AM PST
King Abdullah II of Jordan has proposed a new peace strategy that drops traditional Arab demands that Israel give up all land seized in the 1967 war and offers the Jewish state normalized relations with Arab countries, according to a text of the proposal seen Friday by The Associated Press.

Israel Backs Temporary Palestinian Truce
AP via Yahoo! News Fri, 18 Mar 2005 8:52 AM PST
Israel on Friday welcomed a temporary truce declared by Palestinian militants and promised to hold its fire in return, but demanded that the Palestinian Authority eventually dismantle the armed groups.

Palestinian Truce Gives Peace A Chance ANALYSIS / MIDDLE EAST
Bangkok Post Fri, 18 Mar 2005 10:20 AM PST
Jerusalem Palestinian militants on Thursday agreed to an open-ended truce with Israel, which many hope will go a long way towards putting an end to the years of violence.

Ukraine Admits Selling Missiles To Iran, China
KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine has sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to both China and Iran (news - web sites), the prosecutor-general's office said but stressed that the deals were illegal and under criminal investigation.

"This is not about exports of missiles but rather illegal sales which are being investigated by the SBU (security service) which has opened a criminal investigation of the director of the company Ukraviazakas," the office said in a statement confirming a report by the London-based Financial Times.

Welcome To Palestine Chronicle Weekly Journal!
The Palestine Chronicle Fri, 18 Mar 2005 8:09 AM PST
"'The investigation has found no conclusive evidence of support of armed attacks or unlawful activities financed by the European Commission's contributions..'"

Comments
Jordan's King Abdullah II has proposed a peace plan that calls for normalized relations with Israel and the Arab world.  According to the agreement the Arab world would grant Israel normal relations and calls for any return of pre-1967 land would be dropped.  Most don't see this plan getting much airtime among the Arab leaders but according to reports it is being considered.  In the past this would be a deal breaker.   Look for this plan to possibly be an extension of the final agreement.

Militant groups have agreed to a temporary truce with Israel.  This is something I actually expected.  The media makes it sound like Arab leaders negotiated a ceasefire with the terrorist leaders, but the truth is they told them that funding would be cut off if they didn't.  There's no doubt in my mind that the Arab world is working together to get a Palestinian state established and a temporary peace agreement place.  In the end they will attack Israel but will be miraculously defeated.  

All skepticism aside, I have to admit these are giant strides in the peace process.  The next major obstacle will be the dismantling of Israeli settlements in Gaza.  We'll have to wait and see how much resistance the Israeli people will put up when the evacuation begins later on this year.  My guess is that there will be some resistance but the move will get done.

Ukraine officials have come forward and admitted that they sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to both China and Iran. My question is why is Iran buying nuclear-capable cruise missiles when they have no nuclear weapons program?  I guess the nuclear powered electricity program has been put on hold.  

The E.U. Commission has just completed an investigation regarding allegations that money they gave to the PA was used for terrorist activity. Surprise, their findings show no evidence that this money was used for anything other than its intent...to help the Palestinian people.  Of course, you'd have to be very naive to believe that, but hopefully this will improve relations between Israel and the E.U.  I do believe they will be partners in the near future. 

Are you ready to meet the Lord?  If not, your time is running out!

Pastor Malone