Israel Today:  While Israeli's from the right and left of the political spectrum argue over the future of Jerusalem, Palestinian leaders say the eastern half of the holy city is already in their hands.  In his weekly radio address last week, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced that his government would soon resume administrative duties in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods.  Fayyad noted that the PA had already allocated half-a-million dollars to altering the curriculum in Arab schools in Jerusalem, and that it would also bolster health and judicial services.  

This move is a direct violation of the Palestinians' signed agreements with Israel, which prohibit Palestinian administrative activity in Jerusalem.  It is seen as part of the new Palestinian Authority strategy of unilaterally seizing control of the lands it claims and winning international backing for sovereignty over them.  Of special concern are the changes to the curriculum in Arab schools.  The new textbooks that Fayyad's government is bringing in deny the Jews' right to live in Israel and even contain excerpts of the infamous Czarist blood libel The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.  Fayyad claimed that with eastern Jerusalem in Palestinian hands, the city would become a symbol of peace and coexistence, but the schoolbook changes in particular show that the Palestinians are only interested in sowing the seeds of hate and continued conflict.  

My Comments:  One of two things will likely happen in the very near future, there will be a forced peace agreement, as foretold in the scriptures (Daniel 9), because of the Palestinians' aggressive attempt to take over Jerusalem; or this will bring about all out war in the Middle East by the surrounding Islamic nations against Israel.  I am inclined to believe the former, because according to the scriptures, the seven year peace treaty will take place before all nations come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2).  Either way, the end of the age is at hand, because the gospel has been preached in every nation of the world (Matthew 24:14) and those who are not ready, need to repent and get right with God, while there is time.  Hell is going to burn hot for eternity for those not standing for the Lord and with Israel when He returns, and His return is imminent, according to the scripture references I just gave.  For those of us already watching and waiting, we need only look up, for our redemption draws nigh (Luke 21:28).