If a series of reports in The Jerusalem Post this week is accurate, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is aware of and possibly even directing clandestine talks on the future of Jerusalem.
The back-channel talks, according to these same reports, are looking at ways to divide Jerusalem between Jews and Arabs in a way that the city could be the capital of both the State of Israel and the nascent State of Palestine.
Such dual-track negotiations have been used before, notably leading up to the 1978 Camp David Agreement and resulting in the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Veteran diplomats, at least some who have been involved in trying to find a solution to the century-long Arab-Jewish conflict, believe that because of the strong, in fact intractable positions both sides hold on the so-called core issues - final borders of Israel and “Palestinian,” sovereignty in Jerusalem, the “Palestinian” refugees “right of return,” the allocation of water resources - solutions are unattainable through open talks.
The reasoning is that the constituents on both sides - the Israeli and Palestinian public - will not allow their representatives to go too far down the road towards compromising on these issues before they pull the plug on them and, one way or the other, the negotiations break down. If enough progress can be made outside the spotlight of public scrutiny so that a promising outcome can then be presented to the public, this might overcome the hurdles and bring a final solution within reach.
In practice, the back channel route has and will involve deception and possibly even a breach of the law.
In the case of the 1992-1993 secret talks in Oslo, Israeli officials, under the direction of their own political leaders, broke the law prohibiting the holding of negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Prime Minister Olmert has been warned in letters from attorneys representing two Jerusalem organizations that discussions with US President George W. Bush or PLO/PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas regarding a possible division of Jerusalem are in violation of Israeli law.
According to Attorney Baruch Ben-Yosef, author of one of the letters, Clauses 5 and 6 of one of Israel’s cardinal laws - Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel - mean that Jerusalem’s status as the united and sole capital of Israel may not be compromised.
The rotten fruits of the lies and subterfuge of the illegal back channel talks that led to Oslo were evidenced in the massive explosion of terrorism and violence that lead to the death of thousands of Israelis and the dangerous erosion of Israel’s security, which has not been restored.
Heaven alone knows what will come from these efforts to secure yet another “peace” agreement by subterfuge and deception, this time playing with the volatile issue of Jerusalem.
- Jerusalem - the seat of Israel’s greatest kings and the city the Jews prayed daily for 2000 years to return to; which comprises one of the pillars of their nationhood.
- Jerusalem - while not mentioned once in the Quran, long-labeled “one of the most hotly-contested pieces of real estate on earth” amid expressed fears of the conflagration that would break out, led by the world’s billion-plus Muslims, if Israel succeeded in securing full control over the city.
- Jerusalem - City of God, which city God says He will make “a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples” and “a very heavy stone for all peoples” so that “all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” (Zechariah 12: 2,3)
Stan, remember the sign to Bush when he came to Israel…(Read the Bible)? To the leaders of your country, I, an American, return the warning.”Olmert, read your Bible. Why do you insist on a hard heart and a stiff neck, defying the blessings and will of G-d?”
Excellant Editorial Stan!!! Keep pointing out the truth!!! May The Lord continue to Bless and guide you in His service.
”What is done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops”
Here is something I learned: the peace to come will be false because it is brought about through secrecy and deception. It is so obvious, yet I never thought about it until now.
Your article hit the nail on the head. These meetings should be approved by the people and not one person. Jerusalem should not be bargined.
I am so sorry for Mr. Olmert. He reminds me of Pharoah and Moses, also Judas. I feel his heart has been hardened.
Shalom, Intercessors and the prayer warriors,that G-d,has directed to intercede for U.S. and Israel. Pray without ceasing, and stand by Israel,wherever,the opportunity presents itself. It is not the time for weakness,but,for strength.
Jerusalem is the City of the greatest King, God is their King, but because they were persistance in wanting a King in the flesh, He allowed Saul to become the first King of Israel. Saul became lifted up in pride, ( the same thing that destroyed the Angel Lucifer ) when the Priest Samuel was late coming to do the animal sacrifice, he took it upon himself to go ahead and perform the priestly duty, God never called him to be a priest, but his pride allowed him to call himself.
The whole world is groaning in pain right now because it is just about time for Israels eternal “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” to deliver His people. He is waiting for the hitnatkut, the out of step Jew, to get back in step with Him so he can restore His Kingdom back to the seed of Abraham and David the man He chose to be King of Israel forever, a man after Gods own heart!.
As a resident of this fair city this is cause for concern… although I am not Jewish or religious I would like to see resolution for all to benefit. Nice piece.
The only way I can describe Olmert: A “Bubble-Headed Bimbo”
Only a Bimbo would be doing what Olmert is taking part in..,..
How much longer will the Israelis allow Olmert to stay in office?????
Thanks Stan, for sounding the alarm.
God have mercy on us all! Remove the veil from their eyes, O Lord, that they would know you and the Prince of Peace as their Messiah…………the only way there will ever be peace in Israel. But it WILL happen one day soon because “it is written.”.
Ah, but Yahweh is not fooled. He knows what is going on. In fact, He has stated that He is the one who will draw the nations — all the nations — down to Israel for judgment. He is the one who has put it into the mind of men to have one mind, and to be united in their efforts (Revelation 17.17). Man is so ignorant to think that he has a plan, yet it is Yahweh who guides and directs the entire plan. The darkness is growing but the light is prepared to break through. Soon, the Lord will appear on Mt Zion and He will destroy the nations. Forget the politicians and look to the only hope — Yahweh, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Thy will be done Abba.
Jerusalem will NEVER be divided. We need Benjamin Netanyahu. He is a real man.
Just a thought, half of the city (Jerusalem) goes into captivity. Could this be what the division of Jerusalem is all about? It seems that the security fence would take care of that.
Just a few blunt words: Who the hell do these arabs think they are??? Can they not get it into their turbaned thick skulls that the Jews are G-d’s chosen people. whomever comes against Him has only oneself to blame. G-d does not play silly games and the fact that Olmert goes ahead and breaks all the rules is truly an evil person. His day of reckoning is coming upon him very swiftly. In this judgement, I am pretty certain of that. I was always under the impression that the Jews arre a strong-minded people….. so what went wrong that they don’t or can ‘t tackle the presen t government. OUT WITH THEM ALL.
Keep on sounding the truth Stan, I have just returned to NZ from atending the IFI prayer conference. May the Lord keep His ‘rememberancers” awake and alert to pray. “He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps”-what a comfort!