Dear Friends,We want to thank you all for joining us in a place of prayer, fasting, and remaining "silent" before our Lord over this past weekend, as we focused our intercession on the talks that were planned to take place on Monday in Jerusalem between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Because many were faithful to pray, the agenda, as planned -- to set the "final borders" of Israel and to create a Palestinian state -- never occurred. Instead, after a two hour meeting, Secretary of State Rice announced in a 90 second statement that the three had agreed merely to meet again at a later time.
Praise God!
We praise God, too, for the following report from Monday's edition of the Washington Times. According to the article, below, the United States now stands strongly with Israel in demanding that the Palestinians recognize its right to exist, renounce violence, and honor past Palestinian agreements.
"U.S. says Palestinian unity needs 3 demands"
President Bush has told Israel his administration will not cooperate with any Palestinian unity government that fails to meet the three demands of the international community, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday. Mr. Olmert told his Cabinet at the start of its weekly meeting yesterday that he and Mr. Bush had spoken by telephone about the efforts of rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to form a new ruling coalition. "A Palestinian government that won't accept the Quartet conditions won't receive recognition and cooperation," Mr. Olmert said. "The American and Israeli positions are totally identical on this issue."
The Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- has demanded that the Palestinian administration recognize Israel, renounce violence and honor past Palestinian agreements. During talks on a new government in Saudi Arabia last week, Hamas agreed only to honor past commitments. (Washington Times, 2/19/07) Note Jordan
Surely, the Word of the Lord is TRUE, for it is written:
"Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us.” (Isaiah 8:10)
We will have more details for you on this later today, on our regular Daily Brief. But for now, to God be the Glory! GREAT THINGS He hath done!
In His Amazing Grace,
Sara C. Ballenger
Founder and President
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
