To divide or not to divide...ah, that's the Jerusalem Question

In my blog this week I thought I would bring you up to date on what is happening with the status of the government in Israel and the dialogues between the Palestinians and the Israelis especially as it concerns Jerusalem. (By the way, let me recommend a powerful book for your reading. It is titled, Fight for Jerusalem, and was written by Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. You might remember that a few weeks ago I had written and stated that it appeared the government of Prime Minister Olmert was on the verge of collapse. One party within his fragile coalition had withdrawn and it appeared a second party was also leaving. But that party, called Shas - the party of the religiously conservative and orthodox - has remained. In spite of various calls for its departure, the Shas leadership has remained steadfast. The leadership has insisted that they will bolt from the Olmert government when the division of Jerusalem becomes a topic for discussion with the Palestinians.

But, there is the rub. President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni have been conducting secret negotiating sessions regarding the "core issues" leading to a 2-State settlement. Both have admitted to various newspaper organizations that the subject of the division of Jerusalem has been discussed. However, the Prime Minister's office has denied those reports. It is obvious that someone is not telling the truth. From what I have been reading, I am convinced that the subject of Jerusalem has not only been discussed, but that the division of the city will become a reality perhaps as early as sometime next year; that is, unless the Israeli people - who overwhelmingly have voiced their opposition to a divided Jerusalem - act.

That brings us back to that religiously conservative Shas party. If they would exit the Olmert coalition, then the Israeli government would collapse as Olmert would no longer have a majority of votes in the Knesset. Two things could then happen. First, Olmert's party - known as Kadima - could choose new leadership and try to form a new coalition; or second, national elections could be called and a new government put into place. According to latest Israeli polls, if new elections were held, the Likud party would emerge victorious and Benjamin Netanyahu would become Prime Minister.

Jerusalem is the key. The city God has chosen upon which to have His name dwell is of utmost importance. It is certainly a place that will bear watching these next weeks and months. I will keep my eyes focused there and will report to you from time to time what God is doing there. In the meanwhile I challenge you to remember the responsibilities to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).