Israel releasing prisoners in order to resume peace talks

Israel has decided to release prisoners, that it has considered to be a threat to its security, as a ‘good faith’ gesture so that ‘peace talks’ with the Palestinians can resume:

July 20, 2013

Israel has agreed to release a “limited” number of Palestinian prisoners, a day after the two governments agreed to head back to negotiations in hopes of settling long-standing differences.

Israeli government minister Yuval Steinitz made the announcement Saturday, without giving specific details about the number of prisoners or their identities.

Late Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry…praised both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas for making some difficult choices…

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in 2010.

White House officials said President Barack Obama called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to ask him to work with Kerry to “resume negotiations with the Palestinians as soon as possible.”

Earlier this week, in Jordan, Kerry met with representatives of Arab states that support a comprehensive peace plan. He said many of the Arab League ministers told him “the core issue of instability in this region and in many other parts of the world is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” http://www.voanews.com/content/israel-to-release-some-palestinian-prisoners-in-exchange-for-talks/1705721.html

July 20, 2013

Israel has said it will release “heavyweight” Palestinian prisoners as part of an agreement to enter preliminary talks in Washington, with the aim of an eventual resumption of long-stalled peace negotiations.

Hours after the US secretary of state, John Kerry, announced that the two sides in the conflict had agreed to discuss terms for negotiations, Yuval Steiniz, Israel’s minister for international relations, said a prisoner release would be carried out in stages.

“I don’t want to give numbers but there will be heavyweight prisoners who have been in jail for tens of years,” he told Israel Radio. The release of long-serving prisoners has been a key Palestinian demand.

But Steinitz said Israel would balk at agreeing on the pre-1967 border as the parameter for territorial negotiations. “There is no chance we will agree to enter any negotiations that begin with defining territorial borders or concessions by Israel, nor a [settlement] construction freeze,” he said. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/20/israel-to-free-heavyweight-palestinian-prisoners

Interesting developments the past few days. On Wednesday, the EU announced that it would pressure Israel and again indicated that wants Israel to basically go back to its pre-1967 borders (see EU to put more pressure on Israel: A prelude to Daniel 9:27?). On Thursday, US President Obama pressures Israel to do something to get the talks resumed. On Friday, US Secretary of State says the talks will resume. On Saturday (today), Israel says it will release prisoners.

It appears that Israel is responding to international pressure, not from the Palestinians, but from its biggest trading partners and military suppliers (Israel, not only trades with both, but also buys certain military items from both the USA and EU).

It has long been my view that Israel will not agree to the type of seven-year covenant what the Bible mentions in Daniel 9:27 without pressure. Though, in my view, Israel will require more pressure than this for that specific deal–but it could make various ‘peace deals’ prior to the prophesied one.

As far as the prophesied one in Daniel, here is some of what the Bible states:

26 And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate (Daniel 9:26-27).

The ‘one week’ has generally been understood by prophecy watchers to mean a seven year deal, that is broken in the middle of it (after 3 1/2 years). More on this deal can be found in the article When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?

As it turns out, because of concerns that Israel has about it own safety and survival, Israel will not likely to agree to this type of deal without additional pressure. This pressure likely will include military and/or economic pressures.

However, there will also likely need to be pressure affecting the Arab/Palestinian side, and this very well may come as the result of a regional war or conflict (likely involving Israel), including possibly a conflict that will result in the prophesied destruction of Damascus, Syria (Isaiah 17:1).

The result of the deal in Daniel 9:27 is that 3 1/2 years after it is confirmed, a military force from Europe will enter Israel (Daniel 11:31). Notice what Jesus said about that:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:15-22)

A deal that is ‘confirmed’ for seven years by the Europeans is a key event that will result in destruction ultimately coming.

The situation is tense in the Middle East, and while peace is good, the coming ‘peace deal’ will disappoint and result in destruction (though there could be, and probably will be, other deals first that are not the deal in Daniel 9:27).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2013, 2014, or 2015? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? Why do many think that Daniel 9:27 is referring to a peace deal? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? See also the video The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem?
The Future King of the South is Rising Does the Bible teach that there will be a future King of the South in Daniel 11? Is this kingdom rising up now? Did the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) teach that there would be another one? And who is the King of the South? How will this involve Egypt? Is the final King of the South some type of Arab-Muslim confederation? Can Iran be involved? Is there a group that seems to be supporting the goals of the King of the South? Has the Obama Administration supported the rise of this power? This sermon video answers those questions.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.