Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The Middle East in Focus

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"Yet give attention to Your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying in Your presence." (2 Chronicles 6:19)

1. Israeli intelligence warns Hamas gunmen being trained in Iran - Ha'aretz

Israeli military officials said Monday that dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Hamas militants recently left the Gaza Strip to receive advanced military training in Iran.

2. Haniyeh: 20-year truce in exchange for state - Ynet News

Hamas is ready for a ceasefire with Israel if a Palestinian state is established, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech delivered Tuesday afternoon.

3. Again: Hamas, Fatah agree on ceasefire - Ynet News

A top Palestinian security official said Tuesday that Hamas and Fatah officials had agreed to pull their armed men off the streets of Gaza after more than a week of rampant street violence there.

4. EU to Israel: Stop violating international law - Ynet News

The European Council reiterated its call for full and speedy implementation of the Roadmap.

5. Haniyeh calls for formation of Palestinian state on 1967 lines - Ha'aretz

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday reiterated a callfor a long-term truce with Israel and for the formation of a temporary Palestinian state along the 1967 borders