Which brings me to my links from Jim. Javier Solana, the High Representative of the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, believes that the stage is now being set for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. 

Quote: ""The Arab League for the first time in many years has assumed the responsibility to be more active in the peace process," Javier Solana said. "If you put that together with the reaction of (Israeli) Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the two things... are beginning to construct the dynamic that could lead to the settlement of a crisis that has been with us for many years." 

The title of this article is extremely interesting, for it reminds us that this unfolding of the peace process in the Middle East is indeed a "stage", on which the Antichrist himself will emerge. Solana left out one key ingredient in his "dynamic", the European Union. Throughout Israel's long history of failed peace processes, the EU largely took a back seat. Now Europe is calling the shots, and that can only mean that we are nearing the time of Jacob's trouble - the tribulation period. But as rumours of peace emanate from Israel, rumours of war are also abounding. As the standoff over the captured UK sailors continues, the head of the IDF's military intelligence, Major General Amos Yadlin, has stated that Iran, Syria and Hezbollah are preparing for a possible US strike against Iran this year.

Quote: ""Their preparation is defensive ahead of war... They fear a war initiated by the Americans because they understand that there might be an attack against Iran over the summer, but not by Israel," Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin told the Cabinet. "We are closely following these preparations, for fear that one of the sides misinterprets certain moves in the region. I bring up the Six Day War in this context - when you reach a war no one is interested in as a result of the involvement of many players. "We need to be ready, and at the same time be careful that such steps do not cause others to get the wrong idea about our moves," he added.

Clearly the "stage is being set" for the outbreak of both war and peace. War - which will eventually culminate in Gog's war of Ezekiel 38-39, and will prepare the way for the coming of the Antichrist and his peace treaty with Israel and the Arabs. Which happens first I am still not certain. 

Source Jerusalem Post, YNet News