Jerusalem Remembers General Who Halted WWI

Monday, December 01, 2014 |  Charles Gardner  ISRAEL TODAY

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Israel

The World War I British officer who gave the order to lay down arms in 1918 is the subject of a year-long exhibition in Jerusalem that opened last week.

On the 50th anniversary of his death, Lt.-Gen. Sir William Dobbie’s life is being celebrated at Christ Church, an Anglican community with strong links to the family and located within the ancient walls of the Old City.

When in 1929 riots broke out in what was then part of the British Mandate of Palestine as Arabs became anxious about growing Jewish immigration, the then Brigadier Dobbie – a distant cousin of T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia fame) – successfully brought calm to the situation as he sought God’s guidance!

With very few troops and widespread disorder throughout the country, the career army officer and devout Christian was faced with a dilemma.

Rejecting outright such suggestions as placing the country under martial law or requesting RAF bombing raids on Arab villages, Dobbie turned to prayer.

It was hardly a textbook tactic but, when reinforcements arrived, he spread his men very thinly to cover as wide an area as possible, and the violence ceased in the early stages before things got out of hand.

Out of gratitude, the Jewish community of Hebron presented Dobbie with a silver Hebrew Bible.

As the staff officer on duty on November 11, 1918, Dobbie (then a Lt.-Col.) signed the telegram calling for hostilities to cease at 1100 hours. He actually fought on the front line in all three major wars of the twentieth century, starting with the Anglo-Boer war of 1899-1902. Then in April 1940 he came out of retirement and helped turn the tide of World War II as he led the defence of Malta, the most bombed place on earth.

Also covering the contributions his family have made to Israel’s welfare, the exhibition includes historic photographs, a film montage, Dobbie’s books and the silver Bible.

The general’s son, Colonel Orde Dobbie, was a member of Christ Church with his wife Flo while living in Jerusalem during the 1970s and 80s. And his grandson, Jos Johnston, has set up the exhibition.

In the foreword to his memoirs – A Very Present Help – Gen Dobbie wrote: 

“During the course of a long, varied and interesting military career I have had many tokens of God’s great goodness to me. I have seen his overruling control in my life and his guidance in my affairs… I desire to emphasise, especially to the rising generation, that it is a practical and intensely real thing to let Christ come into one’s life, and that today, as ever before, it is no vain thing to trust in the living God.”

And it was while commanding troops in the Holy Land in 1929 that he gave New Testaments to his soldiers, with the following inscription:

“You are stationed at the place where the central event in human history occurred – namely the crucifixion and death of the Son of God. You may see where this took place and you may read the details in this Book. As you do so, you cannot help being interested, but your interest will change into something far deeper when you realise that that event concerns you personally and that it was for your sake that the Son of God died on the cross here. The realisation of this fact cannot but produce a radical change in one’s life – and the study of this book will, under God’s guidance, help you to such a realisation.”

The oldest Protestant church in the Middle East, Christ Church is the headquarters in Israel of CMJ (Church’s Ministry among Jewish people), was built in 1847 to double as a chapel for the British consul, and continues to reach out to both Jew and Arab with the message of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

PHOTO: General Dobbie pictured with his wife and daughter, both Sybil, in 1941 – the latter being mother to Jos, who has set up the exhibition.

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DOING GOOD - SIGN by Morris Ruddick

DOING GOOD (c) Morris Ruddick    "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Gal 6:10 As a Body, we tend to get myopic. That's not something new. It's a plague that has been grappled with since there has been a household of faith. It's why there are so many groupings and divides within those who bear His Name. This myopia has made its mark following every biblical and post-biblical revival over the centuries. Genuine spiritual renewals have life-cycles in the dynamic of God's manifested presence displacing evil. The reality-of-God imparted is so far beyond human grasp that anything short of the anointing, designed to prolong its potency, just tends to weaken and diminish the results. So over time, the progressive, imperfect blending of the natural and impure short-circuits the supernatural. Revivals are times when God's manifest presence expands and illuminates our horizons. Revivals create movements that change things. Historically though, movements have digressed into becoming institutionalized. In that process the fire and power fade. This is by no means a swipe at institutions, but rather a call to give focus to what is truly important in this process: knowing Him and being a light to those around us. It's the reason why we need to overcompensate with listening hearts as different segments of the Body interact. No one group has a pure grasp, not to speak of the capacity, for the total picture. In further illustrating this myopia, doctrine is the means rather than the end. When we stand before the Lord on that final day, we're not going to be examined on the basis of doctrine, but rather our heart responses to God and those around us and the difference our lives have made. That also is not a swipe against sound doctrine. Rather, it's to recognize the reality of the myopia -- which has a long track record of missing the forest for the trees -- in order to give focus to reaching for what's most important. Sound doctrine serves the purpose of establishing our identity in Him and the character to walk out the purpose of a life of faith: doing good. That's not the premise of salvation, but rather the result of it. Jesus punctuated this significant distinction, based not on our limited perceptions of righteousness, but instead on the evidence reflected by the consistency of our practices, as demonstrators of the truth we claim to believe. "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed. But he who DOES THE TRUTH comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." John 3:19-21 All of which brings us to the point made by Paul in the opening scripture. In the mandate to "do good," first priority is to be given to the household of faith. Raising the Bar Jesus came to raise the bar. Some within the Body have concluded that Jesus came to establish a new religion. Others have digressed into the same trap of elitism that snared the Pharisees, only with a Christian spin to it. Each is equally myopic. Jesus made it very clear that He came not to destroy the law and the prophets, but to bring fulfillment to that foundation. He went to the degree of saying that whoever broke one of the lesser parts of the law AND taught others to do likewise, that they would be deemed least in the Kingdom. He didn't say they would be expelled, He said their impact would be diminished to where they would be considered among the least. There's something about these foundations that Jesus never intended to be excluded. It's because truth can be overshadowed by short-sighted precepts. Watering down dilutes. Jesus said: "He who is faithful in what is least, is faithful also in much." That's why we need to extract ourselves from the myopia and start reaching for the big-picture. Jesus always clarified and gave focus to central issues and the strategic. His response to the Pharisee who asked Him what was most important (Matt 22:39) was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as your self." To the rich young ruler's query, Jesus first advised him (Matt 19:17-21) not to murder, commit adultery, steal, or bear false witness -- and to honor his parents and love his neighbors as himself. Self-righteously, the rich young man then asked what he lacked, since he met each of these criteria. Jesus' response, "if he truly wanted to be perfect," was to divest his assets and give it to the poor and then follow Him. Jesus raised the bar. For each one Jesus called, it involved a step beyond themselves. Doctrines and followings have resulted from focus given to the uniqueness of the criterion for different callings. Yet, it wasn't the same for each. The calling of Peter was very different from the calling of Nathaniel, as it was from the calling of Levi. For each, it was very personal. The key was in the reorientation, in response to truth. and with that, in the walk that followed. The significance is in the walk, not the criteria of the calling. For some, like Peter, it took longer than others. But then, perhaps it was because the bar was higher for his calling. Consistently, since His earthly ministry, Jesus has pulled people out of their short-sighted muck and set them on a big-picture course to make a difference. It is a course of "doing good" with a process that has as much significance as the ends. "If you are presenting your offering at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, then go, be reconciled to your brother, before presenting your gift." Matt 5:23, 24 The Challenge Carol and I came to faith during a time of God-birthed revival. We were drawn and greatly impacted by what we saw operating in the walk of certain believers. We saw the reality of God being demonstrated. It was beyond the ordinary. It tied back to a leader who was nurturing God's blueprint for a group of spiritually hungry pilgrims. Over time, the growth of this man's effort resulted in new leaders being brought in. Their approach was not as far-sighted and innovative as what the founder had established. Division resulted that ultimately scattered the foundational work. The confusion and disarray resulted in many casualties among those who had been in the process of being helped. Another example took place in a completely different time frame in another part of the world. The founder of a far-sighted work brought much benefit to the entire household of faith in this area. However, a member of his board became offended. Despite public overtures, the result was the offense becoming a seedbed taken up by others in the leadership. Deceit ran rampant and eventually the founder was squeezed out. The short story is that the "ousters" failed in their attempt to replicate what had been established and the entire effort floundered and was shut down. Many other examples of misuses of authority, presumption, blind-spots and misguided tongues mark short-sighted spiritual conditions that create fleshly responses to and within otherwise God-birthed agendas and movements. Peter advised us to be wary of our adversary the devil. We indeed live in a fallen world. Misguided Influence On the other hand, James warned that teachers would be held to a higher standard and judged more strictly. So it is with those in leadership. The tripping point bearing myopic ripples underscoring this warning is with the factor of community influence. The tendency is to bypass the standard for biblical community and God's blueprint for His followers, by myopically making an idol of the community/ ministry effort rather than it being the platform for nurturing and serving. God's design for biblical community is as a safe place. It's a place where the diversity of gifts and mantles within its members can flow, grow, give benefit to one another and be a blessing to all exposed to it. Instead, it too often can be a war zone. Far too often, that is how the world sees us as a people of God: for the differences, emnities and division. Jesus said we would know "them" by their fruits. The fruits from the founders of these two examples above fit the criteria Jesus spoke of in being a light on a hill that could not be hidden. However, the fruit for those whose efforts brought down these works -- are the casualties and those who never got helped by the imperfect, although anointed efforts of the founders. Whenever the fruit involves a history of casualties created by those whose ends seem to justify short-sighted means, if correction is not prompt, the result will be judgment. It bears on the myopia, the maturity and the maintenance required for those wielding the mantles of leadership. Within the crucible, even among the elite in Jewish circles, is Jacob's corner-cutting iniquity and Ephraim's enmity. "Ephraim was called as a watchman and prophet to the surrounding nations; but has become a fowler's snare in all his ways. There is enmity, hostility, and persecution in the house of his God." Hos 9:8 Similarly, throughout the household of faith, are the misguided crusaders who would tear down established works for flaws and premature judgments, driven by myopic blind spots, which overshadow the good. Hypocrisy defiles the standard and the process. Defining the Focus Jesus said (Mark 9:49): "Everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt." This statement follows Jesus' comment (v 42) that whoever causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better if a millstone was hung around his neck and he was cast into the sea. That's pretty strong. Matthew has a parallel reference to this truth (Matt 18:6,7). It highlights the OFFENSES of causing ones less mature, under one's influence, to stumble. Jesus' reference to offenses wasn't about hurt feelings. He was talking about short-sighted applications of power and truth. Jesus was pointing to those whose blind-spots or immaturity result in misguided use of their authority and influence, which creates casualties among those under their authority. The answer is in the application of the truth, in the salting, which preserves and gives flavor and life to the walk and to the work. Jesus' solution doesn't pamper. He says if your hand causes you to sin, then cut it off. If it's your eye, then pluck it out. He was drawing from Isaiah 33:15, a truth which illustrates a standard in which one keeps his hands from taking bribes and his eyes from considering evil. It's about relationships. It emphasizes the importance and assurance of a trustworthy relational foundation that reflects the seasoning needed to operate in peace toward one another. "Have salt in yourselves and peace with one another." Mark 9:50 One of the most profound doctrinal statements I've yet to hear is: "God is a good God and the devil is a bad devil." Trust is a mark in the dividing line between good and evil. Jesus raised the bar so that the household of faith would uphold that standard and become that "city set on a hill that cannot be hidden." The Apostle James strongly emphasizes holding to the standard as DOERS of the word. The admonition is to make it a lifestyle. "Prove yourselves to be doers of the word and not merely hearers, who deceive themselves." James 1:22 Jesus points to the big-picture with the priority He calls on to be given to the stewardship of preparation and doing. "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so DOING when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But the one who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." Luke 12:42-45 The big picture purpose will become clearer as we get our interim priorities aligned. Then God's judgment against evil will trigger the gates to His glory being manifested within the household of faith. "Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, You are the King of glory." Psalm 24:6-10. The world sees beyond the press releases and promotional spins given by the household of faith. The world is looking for the reality of God. The process, as a people -- not the end -- is our witness. That's why revival is so significant. God's presence is a consuming fire. It's the irresistible draw that cuts past the superficial and phony and gives focus to what matters and what is real. For those awash in the evil and turbulence taking place in the world today, we -- the household of faith -- are the signposts and lifeboats. People will be drawn by what they see operating within our ranks. When we get the "doing good" right, THEN the reality of God is demonstrated, which draws the world like a magnet. The big picture is in doing good, but getting it right first within the household of faith. "So, let your light shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS and glorify your Father in heaven."  Matt 5:16 ___________________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic community builders where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com,www.BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets. Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card atsign@strategicintercession.org Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the times emerging in the West. 2014 Copyright Morris Ruddick - sign@strategicintercession.org Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org

"A Word to Help You Interpret Your Dreams!" Doug Addison

"A Word to Help You Interpret Your Dreams!"

Doug Addison, Los Angeles, CA

The Elijah List

Dream Symbols: Water, Rivers, Oceans and Ice

Hey Dreamers! People seem to love my blogs on dreams. So, here are some of my favorite water symbols to help you interpret dreams. If you are remembering your dreams, you are on the right track. The next step is to write them down and figure out what God is saying through them.

Symbols: Symbols do change from dream to dream, and from dreamer to dreamer. But there are common themes that you can apply to your dreams about water. Here is what I have found:

• Water, oceans, beaches, rivers, ice: Water can represent aspects of spiritual life, while oceans often represent humanity. Beaches can symbolize people, because multitudes are compared to the grains of sand on a beach (see for example Genesis 22:17). But the beach can also represent a time of recreation, especially if you live near it. (Photo via Wikimedia)

• Rivers can point to moves of God and it is important to recognize the context of the water. Is it moving fast or is it barely moving, almost still?

• Ice and snow can represent things of the Spirit that are being saved for later.

• Swimming: Swimming in water can represent the spiritual aspect of life. Although swimming can be good, notice the context of the water: is it clear or dirty, fast flowing or stagnant, or shallow or deep?

Context is key: The context of how you are swimming in water will help you understand more about what is happening with your spiritual life. Let's look at context using swimming as our example.

If you are swimming in clear water, it means that your spiritual life is refreshing and life-producing. Swimming in dirty water indicates that some issues might need to be addressed or healed. If you are swimming in fast-flowing water, get ready for things to accelerate and get really exciting.

Swimming in stagnant water indicates that you may be stuck and need to start moving again. If the water is shallow, this indicates that you might be too comfortable and need a challenge. Swimming in deep water shows that you are maturing spiritually and possibly taking more risks.

Of course, remember that these are generalizations.

More Dream Symbols – here are some more symbols you might have encountered:

• Boat: organizations or personal job or ministry, depending on the type of boat
• Bridge: transition, season change
• Dam: things being held back, power
• Fish: sport, people, gift to help others, outreach-oriented
• Floods: major move of the Spirit, cleansing of old ways, warning of disaster

• Ice: move of the Spirit that will come later, slippery time
• Lighthouse: spiritual guidance, keeps you from danger
• Ocean, sea: large move of the Spirit, humanity, great influence, many people
• Oyster: situation that may produce a spiritual blessing
• Rain: blessing, refreshing time in the spirit, unclear time, move of God

• Swimming: move in the spirit, recreation, spiritual life
• Water: the spirit, spiritual life, Holy Spirit, the spiritual realm, refreshment (Photo by Jennifer Page "His Joy" via elijahshopper.com)

Next steps: I would challenge you to keep a dream journal or a pad of paper next to your bed to write down your dreams right away. When you encounter a dream with some aspect of water, ask God to help you with the interpretation and use these key symbols just to start.

You can find out more about dreams in my book Understand Your Dreams Now: Spiritual Dream Interpretation.

Keep dreaming!

Blessings,

Doug Addison
InLight Connection

Email: respond@dougaddison.com
Website: dougaddison.com

Doug Addison is a prophetic dream interpreter, speaker, writer, Life Coach, and stand-up comedian. Doug travels the world bringing a message of love, hope, and having fun! His unique style helps open people to discover their destiny and experience God's supernatural love and power. Doug is an award-winning author of seven books. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California.

To subscribe to The Elijah List go to: http://elijahlist.com/subscribe

Tortured in the Sinai: 'I Was Hanged for Days'

By Chris Mitchell

CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief

Friday, November 21, 2014

JERUSALEM, Israel -- From the West Coast of Africa to the deserts of Sinai, Bedouin tribes are conducting a human trafficking trade on a massive scale.

It's no secret. The trade reaps millions of dollars and deals with human misery. It could be stopped but so far no one has dared.

"By that time I had lost sense (sensation) in both my hands," an Eritrean torture victim told CBN News. "It was a result of the accumulated torture but mainly because (both) of my wrists were tied up so tightly, (and I was) hanged up from the ceiling for three days, the blood was cut off from my hands and the flesh started to literally drip from my hands."

Torture in the Sinai

This man is just one victim of this widespread modern-day slavery, kidnapping, and torture trade in the Sinai desert. There are many pictures and videos of this horrible practice on the Internet.

For this story, this Christian man from the African country of Eritrea is going by "Philip," but that's not his real name. CBN News covered his identity for his protection.

"In some cases, we were tortured simply because we were Christians," he told us, his chest trembling slightly as he spoke.

"Sinai was always a place for human smuggling, but since around two years ago -- even a bit more -- it started also to be a place of human torture," Shahar Shoham, director of Physicians for Human Rights, told CBN News.

Shorham has documented more than 1,300 cases of torture in the Sinai. Those survivors, like Philip, made it to Israel. But most of the cases of torture are not documented.

"They torture them in horrible methods, like hanging upside down from the ceiling, like using electric shocks, like burning them on their bodies," Shorham said.

Kidnapped for Ransom

This story begins in Eritrea, where many like Philip fled from its brutal dictatorship. He traveled to a United Nations refugee camp in Sudan. There he was kidnapped by a Bedouin tribe.

They transferred him -- along with many others -- through Sudan, Egypt, and all the way to the Sinai desert and their torture camps.

What happens next in these camps is diabolical.

"What they make you do is call your family and ask them for the money," Philip explained. "Usually they will do the asking. They will say, 'Either send this money or your brother will die or your father will die or your son will die.' It depends on whoever is picking up the phone."

"While you're talking to your family they would pour molten plastic on your body so that you would scream and perhaps they thought that would persuade your family to pay or collect the money faster," he said.

The tribesmen demand what for most poor Eritrean families is a king's ransom.

"The ransom fees can go up to $40,000 for an individual and even $50,000, and until the ransom fees (are) paid, the people will not be released," Shoham explained. The financial burden on the families is devastating."

Killing a Soul

Sister Azziza is a Catholic nun from Eritrea who is based in Jerusalem. She has interviewed many of the Sinai survivors.

"People are destroyed physically (and) psychologically because of what they know they did to their family, how they are living," Sister Azziza told CBN News.

But many do not make it out alive.

"We estimate that around 4,000 people died in the Sinai, some of them from torture," Shoham said. Many who were with Philip died.

"We couldn't help them; that was the most horrible thing," he recalled. "Some you know. You have experienced some of the harshest treatment in this world and yet they're dying and you couldn't do anything to help them. That was horrible."

Hanged Like Christ

Yet the torture and the dying go on.

CBN News talked with a 35-year-old Eritrean woman named Segen. She is five month's pregnant.

Meron Estefanos, an Eritrean human rights activist living in Sweden, arranged our conversation. The kidnappers give them cell phones so they can call their family and friends.

We talked via Skype, linking Sweden, Jerusalem, and the Sinai.

It was sobering. You could hear the strain in Segen's voice.

"They are asking for money every minute and they hit us and they put us -- they will make us lie down on the floor and you know their feet would be up and they would hit their feet and melt with melted plastic bags," Estefanos said.

"And so that way they cannot stand because they will torture their feet, and every day they hang them the way they hang Jesus Christ," she said.

"What does she mean when they hang them like Jesus Christ?" CBN News asked.

"They hang us the way He was hanged and they take off their clothes. While they are naked they will hang them. And they will just hit them with big bats like all day for hours," she said.

No Secret to the World

Many of the Etritreans, like Segen and Philip, are Christians. Many don't survive.

"There are around 7,000 that went through these torture camps and 4,000 that died. Those are huge numbers and I don't think that the world needs to keep quiet about that," Shoham said.

Philip miraculously survived and made it to Israel where he received life-saving medical treatment.

The location of these torture camps is no secret.

"Their location and whereabouts is known already by many high officials," human rights activist Majed El Shafie told CBN News.

"The only way out of this problem is for the international society or the international community to put pressure on the Egyptian government to release the victims, to stop these human traffickers," he said.

Shafie believes some of the American financial aid to Egypt could be used -- with conditions -- to help these victims.

"Every American listening to us right now -- not only Americans but anybody in the world -- can make a difference," he said.

"You can contact your congressman. You can contact your senator. You can show them that you care about these issues," he said. "If you send an email, or fax or make a telephone call, he can save a life."

Watch the video: Tortured in the Sinai

Much-Needed Winter Rains Douse Israel

CBNNews.com

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- Heavy winter rains following an interim day of sunshine swept across the country, raising the water level at the Sea of Galilee nearly 1.5 inches and causing flooding in some areas.

The much-needed rainfall is expected to continue through Thursday, with cooler and drier weather predicted for Friday.

Israel's rainy season usually begins around Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), when many Jews begin praying for abundant winter rains, and tapers off in early spring. That leaves a very long stretch of dry, arid weather when Mekorot, Israel's national water company, asks people to use water prudently in their daily lives.

The rainy season replenishes the Sea of Galilee, the nation's sole sweet water source, and the coastal aquifers. Melting snow from Mt. Hermon in the Golan Heights also helps raise the water level at the Sea of Galilee.

Palestinian State Suffers Setbacks in Europe

Sunday, November 30, 2014 |  Israel Today Staff

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Peace Process

Efforts to secure unilateral recognition of an independent Palestinian state suffered serious setbacks in Europe last week, despite warnings by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that, following Sweden's decision, far more countries were likely to recognize "Palestine" with or without the agreement of Israel.

On Wednesday, former, and possibly future, French president Nicolas Sarkozy urged members of his UMP party to vote against an upcoming motion in France's National Assembly demanding Paris follow Stockholm's example regarding a Palestinian state.

Similar motions recently passed in Britain, Ireland and Spain.

But Sarkozy, who reiterated that he was still in favor of the creation of a Palestinian state, was level-headed about what unilateral recognition would mean.

"I will fight for the Palestinians to have their state. But unilateral recognition a few days after a deadly attack and when there is no peace process? No!" he was quoted as saying by French media.

A similar opinion was recently expressed by new Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, a long-time and harsh critic of Israel's "settlement enterprise."

Israel's antagonists were certain that Koender would champion their cause. But in a surprising statement issued shortly after his appointment, the new foreign minister said: "The overwhelming majority, including the Dutch government, believes that it does not contribute to the priority issue of restarting negotiations if we all of a sudden go ahead [and recognize a Palestinian state] because Sweden also did it."

On a continent-wide level, a European Union Parliament vote on recognizing "Palestine" that was scheduled for last Thursday was postponed until mid-December following petitions to alter the resolution's wording.

The parliament's leading center-right party, the European People's Party, insisted that while it was in favor of a Palestinian state, recognition of such an entity must be conditioned on the successful conclusion of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

These European leaders appeared to have heeded Israel's warnings that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state would hand the Palestinian Authority all it demanded without the need for compromise or reciprocity, thereby effectively killing the peace process.

PHOTO: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas with then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a press conference in Ramallah in 2009. [Flash90]

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