President of the United States of America George W. Bush arrived in Israel today on a three day visit to the country as part of an effort to encourage progress in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Following his meetings with Israeli and Palestinian ministers, the President is expected to make stops in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt over the next week. Middle East analysts are expecting no real breakthroughs as a result of the visit. That has also been my own feeling. The press have so far concentrated on the President's arrival to Israel, how his presence in Israel is affecting the traffic, how expensive his hotel is and what gifts he has been given by the Israeli government. The President hasn't really said anything new in regards to the peace process, apart from reiterating his vision of "two states living side by side in peace and security", calling on both sides to defeat terrorism and commenting on the recent Iranian attack on the US fleet. Well you might be forgiven for thinking that the world would at least have the courtesy to give President Bush a chance to do his bit in the Middle East before butting in. But it seems that the European Union is already preparing for the failure of America's Middle East peace drive, and is ready to step in with its own.

Quote: "The European Union is ready to get involved again in the Mideast peace process if the current US-led drive fails to make progress, the EU's current president, Slovenia, said Wednesday. Speaking after meeting the Palestinian information minister, Riyadh al-Maliki, here, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said the EU was ready to resume a key role if the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, set in motion in Annapolis last year, grind to a halt. The Middle East diplomatic Quartet, comprising the European Union, Russia, the United States and United Nations, had "stepped back to see what can be achieved through the agreement reached in Annapolis," Rupel told a news conference here. "But if there is no progress, the EU will involve itself in the process again, as far as it can."

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki told the Slovenian Foreign Minister that the Palestinians were ready to promote peace, and wanted the help of the European Union to bring about the creation of a Palestinian state.

Quote: ""We want the EU to be active in actions taken in creating an independent Palestinian state," Malki said in Ljubljana, as reported by the state-run news agency STA. Palestinians are ready "to take all kinds of steps" to promote peace with Israel, STA quoted him as saying.

So it seems that as President Bush is in Israel doing his bit, the European Union is waiting patiently in line. I'm not against America and I'm not against President Bush. And I'm not boasting because I live in Europe. If I had lived in America I would be saying exactly the same thing. As the news reports over the last few years have indicated and as the prophecies of Daniel have predicted, I believe it will be the European Union that will be the one to strengthen a peace agreement in the Middle East. And it will be specifically the Antichrist, the prince of the people that destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD (Daniel 9:26), who will divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39). There is no doubt that this conflict affects the whole world. We know that the nations of the world, including America and Britain, will become involved in it to such an extent that they will gather together against the city of Jerusalem to do battle (Zechariah 14:2). With the Leader of the Free World in Jerusalem today, it is clear to see that this day is fast approaching. The Lord has a controversy with the nations that divide His land and disperse His people. Praise God that Jesus Christ will return to defend Jerusalem, the city where He has chosen to place His name (1st Kings 11:36), and to set up His Kingdom which shall never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). Do you know Him as your personal Saviour? Do you have the joy of sins forgiven? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Source Telegraph, The Australian, YNet News, EU Business, Jerusalem Post