Despite Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent announcement that he is to step down in September, Israeli and Syrian leaders have been keen to stress that peace negotiations will continue on regardless. The fourth round of indirect talks, mediated by the Turkish government, ended within the past week. Leaders of both nations say they are close to a deal. It was recently revealed that the Israeli government had apparently agreed to withdraw from the Golan Heights in return for Syria agreeing to hold direct talks with Israel, aimed at severing the nation's ties with Iran and Arab terrorist organizations. Originally Israeli leaders had demanded that Syria end its support of terror in return for handing over the Golan Heights. But even if peace with Israel were achieved, it is extremely doubtful that Syria would sever its ties with Iran. President Assad's recent visit to Iran, and his statement declaring that every signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has the right to nuclear energy, seemed to confirm that view. Israel's negotiations with Syria were first revealed by Prime Minister Olmert during a time when he was facing increased opposition over his corruption scandals. Now that the Israeli Prime Minister is bowing out of politics, the pressure is on to ensure this latest round of talks survives a change in government. And today the President of the European Parliament stated that Europe stands ready to broker any peace agreement between Israel and Syria. 

Quote: "The European parliament chief said Thursday that the EU is prepared to broker Israel-Syria peace talks. Visiting Lebanon, Hans-Gert Pottering says European officials are ready to be involved as honest brokers whenever it is felt to be appropriate. Pottering held talks Thursday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and other Lebanese officials. On Friday he will travel to south Lebanon to meet with United Nations peacekeeping troops on the ground.

As we can see, once again the European Union has shown its eagerness to get involved in the Middle East peace process. And the Bible seems to indicate that it will be a leader of this Revived Roman Empire who will strengthen a future agreement between Israel and the surrounding nations for a seven year period (Daniel 9:27). Israel and the Palestinian Authority have committed themselves to reaching a peace agreement by the end of this year. The indirect talks between Israel and the Syrian government are continuing. And in July we saw the formation of a new Union for the Mediterranean Union, and the foreign ministers of the union are to meet in November to discuss staffing, financing and the location of the new secretariat. 

Quote: "The French president took credit for getting Israeli and Arab leaders to sit together in the same room. "It was an extraordinary gamble to bring together, in the same room, all the countries of Europe and the Mediterranean," he said. "It was an extraordinary concept to imagine the Arab states, represented at the highest level sitting in the same room as the Israeli prime minister."

And of course September 30th sees the beginning of a new sabbatical period for the nation of Israel. It certainly is interesting days we are living in. Why is it interesting? Because the events we are witnessing coming to pass were foretold by the prophets of Israel over two millennia ago. And if we are now seeing the fulfilment of prophecies that were predicted to take place at the time of the end, then the return of Jesus Christ must also be close at hand. The Lord Jesus promised that if He went back to heaven, that He would return some day to take all those who have believed in Him for salvation to heaven (John 14:3). Jesus Christ is coming back. If He came today, would He be coming for you? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Source YNet News, Fars, Haaretz, Bloomberg