The Jerusalem Affairs advisor to Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Saleem Fayad has confirmed that the division of Jerusalem is being discussed by Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Hatem Abdel Qader stated that the issue of Jerusalem is "not only on the table, it's also under the table", a reference to the purported secret negotiations that are being held in parallel with the open talks. The Palestinian negotiating team, which is headed by the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, has reportedly given the Israeli government an ultimatum, demanding they withdraw from all of eastern Jerusalem or they would scupper the peace process. Qader also said that the Palestinian team were not prepared to accept any partial solutions for the city, stating that as far as they were concerned, "Jerusalem must be one geographic, political and religious unit". Presumably the religious aspect includes Israel handing control of the Temple Mount over to the Arabs.

Quote: ""Jerusalem is one of the main core issues," Abdel Qader, who is also a top Fatah leader, told the Post. "Although we haven't reached the stage of a breakthrough in the negotiations on Jerusalem, we can say that the talks are continuing. The Israeli government knows that there will be no solution without solving the problem of Jerusalem." Abdel Qader dismissed the idea that Israel would retain control of some parts of east Jerusalem. "Our position is, 'Take it all or leave it,'" he said. "We have also made it clear to the Israelis that we won't accept any partial solutions for Jerusalem. As far as we are concerned, Jerusalem must be one geographic, political and religious unit."

It is said that at the centre of the world lies the nation of Israel, at the centre of Israel lies the city of Jerusalem, and at the centre of Jerusalem lies the Temple Mount. Geographically speaking, Israel is at the centre of the world, lying on the crossroads between the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe, and dividing east from west. Spiritually speaking, the nation of Israel is also at the centre of God's plans for mankind. For the nation of Israel is the apple of God's eye (Zechariah 2:8), Jerusalem is the city where God chose to place His name (1st Kings 11:36), and in times past the Holy of Holies was the place where God chose to meet with His people (Exodus 25:22). When Jesus Christ returns, it will once again become the place where the Lord will chose to dwell amongst His people forever (Ezekiel 43:7). The prophet Zechariah foretold that prior to the Second Coming of Christ, the city of Jerusalem would become a "burdensome stone" for all people, and that the time would come when they would be "in siege both against Judea and Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:2-3). As we can see with today's news, the issue of Jerusalem is indeed becoming a burdensome stone for the whole world. In trying to wrest control of Jerusalem from the Jewish people, Satan is doing his very best to prevent Christ's promised to return to earth to set up His everlasting Kingdom. Satan knows that Christ's return will spell the end of His 6000 year escapade (Revelation 12:12). In times past the Lord met with His people above the mercy seat, whenever the High Priest entered into God's presence with the blood of the sin offering. Today the Lord meets with us by faith through the virtue of the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died upon the cross to make atonement for our souls (Leviticus 17:11). What a future is in store for the believer in Christ! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). 

Source Turkish Weekly