New Palestinian agreement expected to block/delay Middle East peace plan

Gaza City

An agreement in Gaza today is expected to negatively impact peace plans by Israel and apparently also the USA:

April 23, 2014

At a news conference in the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad, a representative of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the two sides had fulfilled a “national responsibility” to reach an agreement.

The accord gives Abbas five weeks to form a unity government based on conditions laid out in previous agreements and to set in motion plans for parliamentary and presidential elections.

Fatah, which is the dominant party in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and rules the Palestinian territory in the West Bank, broke ties with Islamic militant movement Hamas after it seized control of Gaza in 2007.

Both the United States and Israel have branded Hamas a terrorist organization and have no direct relations with the group. Meanwhile, Israel has been involved in peace negotiations with the PLO for the past nine months under a U.S.-led initiative.

In a statement to the media following the announcement of the Palestinians’ accord, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Abbas should choose between reaching peace with Israel or making an agreement with Hamas, “a murderous terror organization that calls for the destruction of Israel and is labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinian-groups-fatah-hamas-announce-accord-that-could-threaten-mideast-peace-talks/2014/04/23/0e0c72ba-cafe-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html

April 23, 2014

Rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah have agreed to implement a new unity deal.

In a joint press conference Wednesday, officials said the agreement entails the formation of a joint interim government within five weeks, followed by general elections in six months.

The rival sides have announced similar agreements in the past, but have failed to implement them.

The secular Fatah movement is led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and rules the West Bank. http://www.voanews.com/content/rival-palestinian-groups-announce-reconciliation-agreement/1899421.html

April 23, 2014

The U.S. State Department said the timing of the Palestinian reconciliation deal was “troubling” and that it was “disappointed” by the announcement.

“It is hard to see how Israel will negotiate with a government that does not recognize its right to exist,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said. “The Palestinian reconciliation deal raises concerns and could complicate the efforts to extend peace talks.”

“The ball is in the Palestinian court to answer questions about how government announcement affects peace talks,” she said. She said the State Department had conveyed the message to both sides, and that the Americans are waiting for more clarifications from the Palestinians on the deal.

Meanwhile, following news of the deal, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office called off a meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams that was scheduled for Wednesday evening.

“This evening, when talks are still underway to extend negotiations, [Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] has chosen Hamas over peace,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Whoever chooses Hamas does not want peace.”

Abbas said on Wednesday a unity pact he reached with the militant group Hamas earlier in the day did not contradict peace talks he is pursuing with Israel. He said in a statement that an independent state living peacefully alongside Israel remained his goal. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.586946

Israel’s Prime Minister was not particularly enthusiastic about a ‘peace deal’ before, and seems more pessimistic now. The USA wants a peace deal and seems to be getting increasing frustrated over the negotiations, as well as tactics used by the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Here is some information about Hamas, the group that just made a deal with Palestinian President Abbas:

حماس‎ Ḥamās, “enthusiasm”, an acronym of حركة المقاومة الاسلامية Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah, “Islamic Resistance Movement”) is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist organization, with an associated military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, located in the Palestinian territories…

Hamas’ 1988 charter states that Hamas “strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine” (Article Six)…

The Hamas Charter (or Covenant), issued in 1988, outlined the organization’s position on many issues at the time. It identifies Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine and declares its members to be Muslims who “fear God and raise the banner of Jihad in the face of the oppressors”. The charter states “our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious” and calls for the eventual creation of an Islamic state in Palestine, in place of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and the obliteration or dissolution of Israel…

The Charter adds that “renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion” of Islam…

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal indicated to Robert Pastor, senior adviser to the Carter Center, that the Charter is “a piece of history and no longer relevant, but cannot be changed for internal reasons”. Hamas do not use the Charter on their website and prefer to use their election manifesto to put forth their agenda. (Wikipedia, Hamas, viewed 04/23/14)

I tried to get information from Hamas’ official website, but it was almost exclusively in Arabic, so hence the above source was used. Hamas certainly did not start off as a peaceful organization and few believe it is today.

It remains my view that it is likely that a major peace deal, at least one consistent with Daniel 9:27, will not happen until various of the parties involved will be hit by more war and/or terrorism. That being said, Pope Francis may make some appeal for peace when he visits Israel and the Palestinian-dominated areas next month.

Because we do not seem to be close to having the deal of Daniel 9:27, this is one reason why I have been saying that the Great Tribulation cannot begin prior to 2017 and is likely not to occur until later.

Some, including leaders who claim a Church of God background, have disagreed with me about this. But, thus far, all who claimed that the Great Tribulation would begin prior to the deal of Daniel 9:27 have been proven wrong and they will continue to be proven wrong until they change their view.

That being said, it may not be too many more years prior to the start of the Great Tribulation and even less for when the deal of Daniel 9:27 gets confirmed.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Great Tribulation Will Not Begin Before 2017 When will the Great Tribulation begin? Can it begin in 2104 as some have indicated? What are the biblical requirements that precede the Great Tribulation? What did Jesus teach would happen prior to the Great Tribulation. Are there definite clues in the Book of Daniel that Christians should look out for? Is there a King of the North or a King of the South yet? Where does the ‘prince’ of Daniel 9:26-27 come from? This is a video sermon.
The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. This sermon, given from the Mount of Olives, where Jesus Himself foretold the coming Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). gives details about the Great Tribulation as well as what to look for.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
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? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
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? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) 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? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. A video of possible interest may be Will Will USA Spying Help the Beast Power?
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? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What is the seven-year 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? This is a written article.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.?