Lilos SWI Blogs.

Oh my goodness, just when I thought I had heard it all, it gets worse.

I read in the Israel National News, that John Brennan, Obama’s Chief Adviser on Counterterrorism for Homeland Security, was speaking to a Muslim audience at New York University in February, at a forum co-hosted by the White House and the Islamic Center at New York University.” Brennan first told a story in Arabic, evoking laughter and concluding with, “Don’t tell the folks who don’t speak Arabic what I said.” – That’s the same thing Yasser Arafat used to do, tell Americans in English something completely different than his own people in Arabic.

John Brennan continued then, actually calling the city of Jerusalem by the name Muslims use to refer to it - the Arabic name “Al-Quds.” -  Really? Has that guy ever read the Bible?

Jerusalem is mentioned many hundreds of times in the Jewish Bible, while Jerusalem isn’t mentioned in Islam’s “Koran” at all. How ignorant is this guy who is advising the Office of Homeland Security? Are you feeling safe when this office secures your homeland?

The history of Jerusalem only goes back to the 4th millennium BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. Jerusalem is the holiest city in Judaism and has been the spiritual center of the Jewish people since c. 1000 BCE, when David, the King of Israel, first established it as the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel, and his son Solomon commissioned the building of the First Temple in that city.

“These comments by John Brennan are as outrageous as they are deeply troubling,” ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “No one refers to Jerusalem in the English language as Al-Quds, unless they have a specific political, anti-Israel agenda - in this case, pandering to Israel’s enemies, who will draw comfort from the use of the term Al-Quds by a senior U.S. government official.”

But wait, it gets even better. John Brennan also praised Saudi Arabian religious tolerance, when everyone knows that religious freedom in that country is virtually non-existent. The Saudi Government does not provide legal recognition or protection for freedom of religion, and it is severely restricted in practice. Moreover, any preaching and public practice of non-Muslim religions is prohibited.

Who hired this guy to fill that position in the government?

Listen for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wglrLBqYxQ

Last Friday, Hillary Clinton telephoned the Israeli Prime Minister and expressed frustration over Israel’s announcement of new settlement construction, a move that deeply embarrassed visiting U.S. Vice President.  Clinton warned Benjamin Netanyahu that his government sent a “deeply negative signal” by taking steps that undermined renewed Middle East “piece”- (often spelled “peace”-) talks. She insisted that Israel had undermined trust and confidence in the peace process … Netanyahu really got an earful as State Hillary Clinton lashed out verbally at him on Shabbat.  Such harsh language was never before directed at a friend and ally of the United States.

If you remember, - Netanyahu issued a 10-month building freeze in Judea and Samaria in November 2009, because of US pressure. This was supposed to reignite those piece talks.

In March, Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the building of 112 homes in the Judean hareidi-religious community of Beitar Illit. Israel’s Interior Ministry announced plans to develop 1,600 new residences in the large Ramat Shlomo hareidi-religious neighborhood, in northeast Jerusalem. 

But Biden issued a strong statement against the Jerusalem construction.  “I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem,” Biden said.  “The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel.”

In a Friday interview with CNN, Clinton called Israel’s building announcement “insulting” to the United States, and reaffirmed the US commitment to the “two-state solution.” “I mean, it was just really a very unfortunate and difficult moment for everyone,” said Clinton, “and I regret deeply that that occurred and made that known.”

Following Clinton’s phone call on Shabbat, Prime Minister Netanyahu called the leaders of Italy and Germany to discuss what had happened.  He assured them that regulations would be put in place to prevent such an occurrence in the future. 

U.S. envoy George Mitchell is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday, and will meet with the Prime Minister.  However, PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the PA may not engage even in indirect negotiations with Israel unless the Jewish state reverses its decision to build in Ramat Shlomo.

Why does America think it can dictate how many houses should be built in Jerusalem?  Is it one of their cities?  The gradual and steady destruction of Native American culture is a shameful chapter in Americas’ history.  Shouldn’t America return those occupied territories before they start telling other countries what to do? – That, by the way, is exactly the reason, why other countries dislike Americans; because they always try to tell everyone else what to do.

Yet U.S. Muslim President Barack Hussein Obama did not hold back in condemning the humiliation caused to Joe Biden with the Israeli announcement of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem during what was supposed to be the vice president’s friendly visit to Israel. Instead of accepting Netanyahu’s partial apology and letting bygones be bygones, Obama issued a stern warning to the Israeli prime minister and is now demanding that he take “specific actions” to show he is “committed” to the U.S.-Israel relationship and to the piece process itself.

It looks like the prime minister has reached the moment of truth, where he must choose between his beliefs and political cooperation with the right on one hand, and his need for American support on the other.

It is a difficult dilemma. If he comes into conflict with the U.S. administration - hoping his friends in Congress and the Jewish-American community support him in the name of Washington’s obligation to the “eternal capital of the Jewish people” - he could jeopardize Israel’s security cooperation with the Americans against Iran. Netanyahu knows that the fuel and spare parts for Israel’s air force, as well as the warning signals for missiles headed this way, all come from the United States. He also knows that Israel has no other allies with which to face the threat posed by the Islamic Republic.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried to calm down the political crisis with the United States and told the Cabinet Sunday morning “not to get carried away and to calm down” following the unprecedented public rebuke from top American officials.

When God gave us the land in Gen. 12:3, He really meant it.  You see, God cannot lie and He says what he means and means what He says.  When the White House pressured Sharon to disengage from Gaza, it resulted in over 9,000 Jews becoming refugees in their own country, - and to this day many of them are still homeless.  Within a day or so of this New Orleans was destroyed,  causing hundreds of thousands of Americans to become refugees in their own country, and rendering nearly a million homeless.  Dozens of these correlated events have occurred every time the White House forced Israel to make concessions to the enemies of G-D and of Israel. 

Now the US has sent its VP and Secretary of State to force Israel to split the country by making sure the “Palestinians” have a contiguous state and yet there is no other way to do that without cutting Israel in half. 

In the news we hear of the coming big earthquake in California - but little is said of the New Madrid Fault that starts in Missouri and goes south to Mississippi.  This could cut the US in half causing millions to be affected and many killed.  Since G-D repays Israel’s enemies with the same medicine, this would certainly be a possibility considering what we have witnessed over the past few years.  One thing is certain, God will always do what He says, Gen: 12:3. - America, your downfall is closer than you think.

 Meanwhile, in Israel, the Government has now quietly started issuing the new gas masks, including the nerve gas shots. Local Israeli papers have issued warnings to everyone to stock their bomb shelters with the necessary supplies and to be sure they can be sealed properly.

There seems to be not much difference in the behavior of the average Israeli.  They have been there before and know they will survive and be able to fight the enemy when the time comes.  On the other hand, they also know that something will happen very soon. If they are worried, they just try not to show it.

Israel will not be destroyed, and the Messiah will plant His Feet on the Mount of Olives and when He does the whole world will know all about it.  We have to understand is that the Master of this World has set the Redemption of His Nation Israel into high gear with the resettlement of the Land of Israel in our time, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, the ingathering of the exiles, and reemergence of Israel as a world power during the last 62 years. All of this is to establish “Malchut” – the Kingship of G-d over the world.

For the Jew, Israel  is and will be the safest place on earth, and many are beginning to wake up to that fact, as they start to leave Europe while the airlines are still operating. 

G-d’s plan for Israel in particular and the world as a whole - as promised to the Prophets of Israel - will surely come to pass.

Last week I read that Palestinian President Abbas pointed a finger at  Israel, saying that it crossed red lines in Jerusalem. He also said that Israel damaged the chances for a peace process. He even called on the American administration to “stop the adventure which may ignite a religious war in the region.”

The clashes began as Arabs started to hurl stones at the Western Wall plaza and police forces stationed at the Mugrabi Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City. The Arab attacks on Jews followed a sermon that area residents said encouraged Muslim violence. Israeli police forces removed the stone throwers and stormed the Temple Mount compound, using stun grenades.

Let’s see, who started it? The Arabs! They even threw stones at tourists. What did the Israelis do? They sent their police to stop the stone throwers. – But who gets blamed for hindering the peace process? The Israelis.

On June 7th, 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited for the first time since its partition in 1948. On June 14, 1967, the rubble was cleared from the Western Wall Square. Once again, the holiest place for all Jews was open, and all were invited to visit. It was estimated that 200,000 Israelis visited the Western Wall, though they had to pass through six police barriers to reach the site.

Today, the Jews are again faced with the prospect of their beloved city being divided for the sake of appeasement. Israel faces not only the bias of the entire Arab world, and many in the European Union, it faces unwarranted bias from our own U. S. State Department’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

So, to whom does Jerusalem belong?

Over 3000 years ago, G-D told King David: “…I have chosen Jerusalem, so that my name can be there: and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel” (II Chronicles 6:6). In (II Chronicles 33:4) he says: “My name will be in Jerusalem forever.”

The prophet Isaiah predicted: “The Law will go out from Zion, and the word of Adonai from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3)

The Almighty has preserved Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem has been leveled to the ground five times. Her people have been carried away captive, yet Jerusalem always rises from the rubble because G-D has ordained it through the centuries! –Jerusalem belongs to G-D.

It is therefore not wise to “mess” with Jerusalem, especially not the people who’s Koran never even mentions that city.

G-D takes a very dim view indeed of any nation that puts its hand to the division of His land. He has vowed to deal extremely harshly with those who do this. God has, He says, “a day of vengeance for the controversy of Zion.” (Joel 3:2; Isaiah 34:1-8)

It would be best for any nation not to mess with Jerusalem, because they will fall into the hands of the living G-D and the consequences will be awful.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Israel at 11 AM as scheduled, on a direct flight from neighboring Jordan. On hand to greet him were President Peres and most of the government; the Chief Rabbis were not there.

The pope had said his visit was a personal pilgrimage, and Voice of Israel government radio talk show host Yaron Dekel said that the pope requested that the Israeli flag and anthem not be in evidence.  However, the Jordanian plane carrying the pope to Israel flew flags of both Israel and the Vatican, and the anthems of both were played upon his arrival.

Pope Benedict XVI claims at least five Christian holy sites in Israel when visits the Holy Land next week. He is demanding them, not even just asking.

The sites include:

• The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth;
• the Coenaculum on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, traditional location of Jesus’ Last Supper;
• Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives;
• Mount Tabor in the Lower Galilee region; and
• The Church of the Multiplication which lies along the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

President Shimon Peres urged the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to turn the sites over to the Catholic Church in hopes of boosting Jewish-Christian relations.

Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said that if turning over the sites would guarantee a major boost in Christian tourism that would be one thing. But as Catholics have never been strong supporters of Israel, it would essentially amount to “handing out gifts.”

Misezhnikov’s remarks hit on a point on which most Israelis are typically unclear - Israel does indeed have vast Christian support that is worth bolstering even further, but it does not come from the ranks of the Catholic Church. Rather, Israel’s strongest supporters are Evangelical Christians who belong to an array of Protestant denominations and non-denominational groups. – I sometimes get confused myself, as to which church or denomination is supporting Israel and which one doesn’t.

What happened to the vessels that were plundered when Titus burned the Temple? Did he take them to Rome? Are some of them hidden in the Vatican cellars in Rome? (What happened to the Menorah, the Laver Basin, the Table of the Showbread, the Golden Altar, the Copper Altar, and the Ornamental Curtain at the entrance to the Holy of Holies?) . The Talmud details a Sage who said that when he was in Rome, he saw the Kohen HaGadol’s (High Priest’s) headband with the Divine Name inscribed on it.

What happened to various tractates of the Talmud, books of Maimonides, and around 7,500 works on Jewish philosophy and science that were stolen and remain in the Vatican library? Vast libraries of rare stolen Jewish books (and often unique manuscripts) exist in the Vatican. We know that because, occasionally scholars (Jewish or otherwise) are allowed access to them, to do research. The Vatican is so morally corrupt, that it’s not even embarrassed to admit that they have the stolen goods, and even relishes the opportunity to show them off (to the “right” scholars) at times. - Shouldn’t these stolen goods be returned to the Jews, before they give more of their possessions to the Vatican?

Why are the Tanach in Hebrew and the writings of the first followers of Jesus are all of a sudden in Greek? Wasn’t he a Jew who spoke Hebrew and Aramaic?

For 46 years after Israel’s rebirth the Vatican refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. What right does the Pope have to demand Israeli property? Doesn’t “Mr. Infallible” read the Bible?

One of the central themes in the Jewish and the Christian Bible is the fact that G-d gave His chosen people the land of Israel; - and the ultimate destiny of that Land is that the coming Messiah will rule from there. - The idea that pagan sojourners in the Promised Land have any claim to that property shows a lack of biblical grasp.

In Israel, I see election banners everywhere, draped on fences and buildings. In America, people used to post campaign signs along the streets. Most European countries would not allow their towns to be littered that way.

I wonder about the purpose of the ridiculous number of election signs lining the highways and byways? In Jerusalem, huge pictures of candidates were draped on buildings. Does anyone vote for a person just because they see his or her picture on a poster?

Yesterday, on our way to the store, we passed several voting booths here in Kiryat Shmona. They were open until 10 pm. Every possible party had a candidate for the mayor’s position, each one of them promising to do wonders for the town.

In Jerusalem 4 interesting candidates ran for the seat of the mayor:

1. Meir Porush, an ultra-orthodox, haredi rabbi from the United Torah Judaism party.

2. Nir Barkat, his opponent, a secular businessman and hi-tech millionaire.

3. Arkady Gaydamak, a Russian-born businessman and owner of Jerusalem’s Beitar football team, who is being tried in absentia by a Paris court for selling arms to Angolan rebels during the 1990s. He tried to get the votes of the Arabs.

4. Dan Byron, a former director of public television turned bar owner, ran on behalf of the Green Leaf party and called for legislation of cannabis.

Oh my! - Dozens of haredi religious Jerusalem activists tried to prevent voters from reaching polling stations. In doing so they battled policemen in what TIME magazine called a “bizarre election.” This took place in the Beit Israel neighborhood of Jerusalem and involved rival religious groups. It was the only reported incident of violence in Jerusalem. Police broke up a demonstration by extremist ultra-Orthodox Jews who do not recognize Israel. Police said they were trying to prevent people from voting. At least one policeman suffered head wounds from stone throwers, one of whom was arrested.

Nevertheless, the voter turnout was extremely low - I think less than 30%? East Jerusalem’s Arab residents didn’t vote because Islam forbids Arabs to vote for Israeli leaders - and not because Israel didn’t allow it. That didn’t help Gaydamak, who split the remaining few % of votes with Byron who got even less votes. Thank goodness, now we know that not too many people in Jerusalem smoke pot!

According to the final results released by Israel’s interior ministry, Israeli secular politician Nir Barkat defeated the ultra-orthodox rabbi to become the new mayor of Jerusalem. Barkat won outright with 52% of the vote while Meir Porush received 43%. Mr. Barkat opposes dividing Jerusalem as part of any peace agreement with the Palestinians and has promised to build extensively in what the rest of the world regards as occupied East Jerusalem.

Now –after the election – the banners are still there. Will they keep hanging there until the next election?

Shalom from Israel - Lilo

In Israel, I see election banners everywhere, draped on fences and buildings. In America, people used to post campaign signs along the streets. Most European countries would not allow their towns to be littered that way.

I wonder about the purpose of the ridiculous number of election signs lining the highways and byways? In Jerusalem, huge pictures of candidates were draped on buildings. Does anyone vote for a person just because they see his or her picture on a poster?

Yesterday, on our way to the store, we passed several voting booths here in Kiryat Shmona. They were open until 10 pm. Every possible party had a candidate for the mayor’s position, each one of them promising to do wonders for the town.

In Jerusalem 4 interesting candidates ran for the seat of the mayor:

1.    Meir Porush, an ultra-orthodox, haredi rabbi from the United Torah Judaism party.

2.    Nir Barkat, his opponent, a secular businessman and hi-tech millionaire.

3.    Arkady Gaydamak, a Russian-born businessman and owner of Jerusalem’s Beitar football team, who is being tried in absentia by a Paris court for selling arms to Angolan rebels during the 1990s. He tried to get the votes of the Arabs.

4.    Dan Byron, a former director of public television turned bar owner, ran on behalf of the Green Leaf party and called for legislation of cannabis.

Oh my!  - Dozens of haredi religious Jerusalem activists tried to prevent voters from reaching polling stations. In doing so they battled policemen in what TIME magazine called a “bizarre election.” This took place in the Beit Israel neighborhood of Jerusalem and involved rival religious groups. It was the only reported incident of violence in Jerusalem. Police broke up a demonstration by extremist ultra-Orthodox Jews who do not recognize Israel. Police said they were trying to prevent people from voting. At least one policeman suffered head wounds from stone throwers, one of whom was arrested.

Nevertheless, the voter turnout was extremely low - I think less than 30%? East Jerusalem’s Arab residents didn’t vote because Islam forbids Arabs to vote for Israeli leaders - and not because Israel didn’t allow it. That didn’t help Gaydamak, who split the remaining few % of votes with Byron who got even less votes. Thank goodness, now we know that not too many people in Jerusalem smoke pot!

According to the final results released by Israel’s interior ministry, Israeli secular politician Nir Barkat defeated the ultra-orthodox rabbi to become the new mayor of Jerusalem. Barkat won outright with 52% of the vote while Meir Porush received 43%. Mr. Barkat opposes dividing Jerusalem as part of any peace agreement with the Palestinians and has promised to build extensively in what the rest of the world regards as occupied East Jerusalem.

Now –after the election – the banners are still there. Will they keep hanging there until the next election?

Shalom from Israel - Lilo

Palestinian media: Rice urging division of Jerusalem
Follows WND report revealing status of secret negotiations

---

Posted: August 29, 2008
12:30 am Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2008 WorldNetDaily

 

Condoleezza Rice

JERUSALEM – In her visit here earlier this week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed Israel to sign a document by the end of the year that would divide Jerusalem by offering the Palestinians a state in Israel’s capital city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to multiple reports yesterday in major official Palestinian Authority media outlets.

The information, verified by top diplomatic sources, first was reported Tuesday by WND.

Al Ayam, an official PA newspaper, quoted top Palestinian sources stating Rice asked the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams to meet at the highest levels on a daily basis and to keep the meetings private. The newspaper claimed Rice spoke to PA officials about eastern Jerusalem becoming part of a Palestinian state as well as sections of the Jordan Valley.

Al Ayam’s editor-in-chief, Akram Heniyeh, is one of PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ closest advisersOfficial PA television yesterday quoted sources close to Abbas stating Rice’s short-term goal is to produce an interim Israeli-Palestinian paper before a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly next month.

WND reported exclusively Aug. 1 that Olmert told the PA he intends to accelerate negotiations to reach some understanding on paper as soon as September.

Also in the official Palestinian media yesterday, a high-level Palestinian source told the Al Quds daily that Rice for the first time discussed with Abbas the need to create a Palestinian state alongside the 1967 borders, meaning an Israeli evacuation of the Gaza Strip, West Bank and eastern Jerusalem.

Israel recaptured eastern Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount – Judaism’s holiest site – during the 1967 Six Day War. The Palestinians have claimed eastern Jerusalem as a future capital. About 244,000 Arabs live in Jerusalem, mostly in eastern neighborhoods. Jerusalem has an estimated total population of 724,000, the majority Jewish.

Top diplomatic sources involved in the Israeli-Palestinian talks confirmed to WND the goal is to create a Palestinian state on paper by January.

Secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations revealed

The Israeli team, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, has been negotiating the division of Jerusalem – despite claims to the contrary – but would rather conclude an agreement on paper by the end of the year that would give the Palestinians a state in the West Bank, Gaza and some Israeli territory, leaving conclusions on Jerusalem for a later date, the informed diplomatic sources told WND.

The sources said the Palestinian team has been pushing to conclude a deal by January on all core issues, including Jerusalem, and has been petitioning the U.S. to pressure Israel into signing an agreement on paper that offers the Palestinians eastern Jerusalem.

Rice, the sources said, has asked Israeli leaders to bend to what the U.S. refers to as a “compromise position,” concluding an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of the year that guarantees sections of Jerusalem to the Palestinians. But Israel would not be required to withdraw from Jerusalem for a period of one to five years.

The diplomatic sources told WND the plan is that once an Israeli-Palestinian deal is reached on paper by January, Bush would issue an official letter guaranteeing that the U.S. supports the conclusions of the document.

Any Israeli-Palestinian paper agreement is to finalize a process that began at last November’s U.S.-backed Annapolis conference, which seeks to create a Palestinian state, at least on paper, before Bush leaves office.

One Palestinian negotiator speaking to WND described as “crazy” the intensity and frequency of Israeli-Palestinian talks in recent weeks, saying both sides have been meeting on a daily basis, usually at the highest levels. The negotiator said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Ahmed Queri have been leading the talks.

The negotiator said Jerusalem is being discussed by both sides and that the two teams are “closer than ever” on coming to an agreement on the status of the city.

This claim was verified to WND by other diplomatic sources involved in the negotiations.

The Palestinian negotiator said Jerusalem would be divided along the framework of the 2000 U.S.-brokered Camp David accords. He said the general philosophy for dividing Jerusalem would be “Arab for Arab and Jew for Jew,” meaning that most Arab-majority eastern sections of Jerusalem would be granted to the Palestinian Authority while Israel would retain Western, Jewish-majority sections.

A number of Arab-majority eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods widely regarded as slated for a Palestinian state include large numbers of Arabs who live on Jewish-owned land illegally. The Jewish National Fund, a U.S.-based nonprofit, owns hundred of acres of eastern Jerusalem land in which tens of thousands of Arabs illegally constructed homes the past few decades. Arabs are now the majority on the Jewish-owned land in question.

Asked by WND whether Jerusalem is currently being negotiated, Mark Regev, Olmert’s spokesman, simply stated, “No.”

Olmert has several times denied Jerusalem is being negotiated. Members of his government coalition have promised to bolt his government and precipitate new elections if Jerusalem is discussed in talks.

Olmert, facing several criminal investigations described as “serious,” recently announced he will resign after his Kadima party holds primaries next month to choose a new leader. That leader is widely expected to continue Israeli-Palestinian talks, especially if frontrunner Livni takes Olmert’s place.

The diplomatic situation in Israel is such that many commentators believe Olmert has an interest in concluding some sort of agreement quickly. Many believe he would like his input in an Israeli-Palestinian agreement to be among his final “achievements.”

Over the weekend, the Israeli media quoted officials close to Olmert stating the prime minister is working for an interim document as soon as next month to be presented to the United Nations. The document likely will not be the conclusion of negotiations but an outline of some of the breakthroughs regarding the West Bank and Gaza.

One PA negotiator told WND of the planned paper: “Papers are very important. It puts limits on the new prime minister. For example, the weak point of Israeli-Syrian negotiations are papers signed by former prime ministers that now must be abided during current negotiations.”

U.S.-influenced plan splits nation

Regarding the expected agreement on the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the general plan, according to top diplomatic sources, is to create a Palestinian state in the vast majority of the West Bank, but for Israel to retain large West Bank Jewish community blocs of Ma’aleh Adumim, Gush Etzion and the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and some land in the northern West Bank adjacent to Israel.

A plan being floated and heavily influenced by the U.S. grants the Palestinians passage between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on territory that would be jointly patrolled by Israel and the PA. The passageway would give the Palestinians access to areas close to central Israeli population centers.

An area from the Israeli Negev nearly equivalent in land mass to the territory Israel would retain in the West Bank would be transferred to the West Bank – marking the first official Israeli plan that calls for pre-1967 land to be given to the Palestinians. Pre-1967 refers to Israeli territory that was not reconquered in the 1967 Six Day War. Much of the plan previously was published by WND in a series of articles in recent months and was published last week by Israel’s Haaretz daily.

The plan would be set out on paper and implemented on the Israeli side in stages, while the PA would need to first retake control of the Gaza Strip from Hamas before Israel would give them most of the West Bank.

Jerusalem division plan revealed

Regarding the division of Jerusalem, top diplomatic sources said both sides are close to agreements on specific issues.

One PA negotiator claimed the U.S. has guaranteed the Palestinians that sensitive areas in eastern Jerusalem in which what he termed “extremist Jews” are purchasing real estate would be handed to the Palestinians.

“The Israelis had no problem with this,” the PA negotiator claimed. “We were also told not to worry too much about scattered Jewish properties in Arab neighborhoods, or yeshivas (Jewish seminaries) in the Old City.”

The PA negotiator’s claim could not be verified by sources in Jerusalem.

According to informed Israeli and Palestinian sources, officials from the State Department in 2008 presented both negotiating sides with several proposals for consideration regarding the future status of Jerusalem. It was unclear whether the U.S. proposals were accepted.

One U.S. plan for Jerusalem obtained by WND was divided into timed phases, and among other things called for Israel eventually to consider forfeiting parts of the Temple Mount.

According to the first stage of the U.S. proposal, Israel would initially give the PA some municipal and security sovereignty over key Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem. The PA would be allowed to open some official institutions in Jerusalem, could elect a mayor for the Palestinian side of the city and would deploy some kind of so-called basic security force to maintain law and order. The specifics of the force were not detailed in the plan.

The initial stage also calls for the PA to operate Jerusalem municipal institutions, such as offices to oversee trash collection and maintenance of roads.

After five years, if both sides keep specific commitments called for in a larger principal agreement, according to the U.S. plan, the PA would be given full sovereignty over agreed-upon eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods and discussions would be held regarding an arrangement for the Temple Mount. The plan doesn’t specify which parts of the Temple Mount could be forfeited to the Palestinians or whether an international force may be involved.

The PA also could deploy official security forces in Jerusalem separate from a non-defined basic force after the five-year period and could also open major governmental institutions, such as a president’s office, and offices for the finance and foreign ministries.

The U.S. plan leaves Israel and the PA to negotiate which Jerusalem neighborhoods would become Palestinian.

According to diplomatic sources familiar with the plan, while specific neighborhoods were not officially listed, American officials recommended sections of Jerusalem’s Old City as well as certain largely Arab Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Jabal mukabar, Beit Hanina, Abu Dis, and Abu Tur become part of the Palestinian side. Also recommended were the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Shoafat, Kfar Akev and Qalandiya.

At the exact same time:

ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Bush is unlikely to make it to the Republican National Convention, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans, top officials said.

Does anyone see the connection? - Lilo