The Europeans have always yearned for a central role in world diplomacy in general and the Middle East in particular. Two things stand in their way. First, American dominance, which forces the other international players onto the bench. The twilight hours in Washington, when one administration is packing its bags and the other has yet to move in - is a once in four or even eight-year opportunity for the Europeans to take center stage. In just two more days they will have to return to feeding on the crumbs from the table the Americans set up for them, known as the Quartet. And that is only on the condition that Barack Obama leaves that impotent institution in place.

Second, a simple and easy-to-digest initiative such as a cease-fire is one of those rare occasions when Europe can manage to formulate a coherent policy involving the Arab-Israeli conflict. Such an opportunity must not be missed, even at the price of embracing Israeli politicians - the same ones who conducted the operation that killed hundreds of children, buried hundreds of millions of euros under the rubble and sparked protest demonstrations and floods of criticism in the European media.

It almost sounds like something I'd write in relation to how this plays into Bible prophecy, doesn't it? The Beast of Bible prophecy is trying to become a dominant power in the world, particularly in the Middle East, and will do whatever it must to achieve that. It will even buddy up to Israeli leaders it doesn't truthfully respect a great deal to meet that end goal - anything to gain a greater piece of power in the last days! That's what the revived Roman empire is all about and there's no let-up in sight.

Hope and Reluctance

The following is an excerpt from a Jerusalem Post article that highlights how desperately the European Union wants to get the upper hand in Middle East diplomacy before the new administration in Washington throws its hat into the ring and how reluctant Israel presently is to play along:

"It is urgent that a dynamic of negotiations is launched... to create a Palestinian state," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said. "An international conference should be organized quickly with this in mind."

A senior Israeli diplomatic official, however, dismissed Sarkozy's idea as a non-starter. "France and Egypt have been pushing the idea of an international conference for years, but it is not going anywhere," the official said. "Why would Israel be interested in an international conference? So it could invite more pressure on itself?"

All of this makes for some interesting watching, doesn't it? The EU wants to be a peace broker, but Israel doesn't believe it's going anywhere. And why? Because the EU never has anything to offer Israel at these events other than requests for greater restraint to be shown by Israel and for Israel to offer more of its covenant lands to its enemies in the empty hope that it will bring peace. These failed tactics are what Israel foresees coming whenever anyone offers to hold a get-together to discuss Middle East peace which is why there is never going to be peace in the Middle East until the prophesied Antichrist becomes involved in a seven-year covenant of peace that has some teeth to it - one that can be confirmed (or made strong), most likely by international peacekeepers being dedicated to the region composed of forces both sides can agree to.

How will all of this mess ever be resolved? It's a question I ask myself often. Nonetheless, as we see in a Haaretz article, "French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to host in the coming months an international conference in Paris to advance stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks."

Of Sarkozy's plans, Haaretz tells us (emphasis added mine):

The goal of the conference, the paper reported, is to reach a peace accord within a year, and it will be held a few weeks after a meeting of European foreign ministers in Egypt due to take place in February.

The form of the summit will reportedly be similar to that of the one the United States hosted in Annapolis in late 2007.

In closing, it would appear the next major date on our calendars concerning the quest for Middle East peace is February 2009 when, for what seems to be the umpteen thousandth time, diplomats from around the globe will try and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, by virtue of doing so, bring peace to the troubled region by February of 2010.

Time will tell how the Beast will fare in bringing peace to the Middle East this time, assuming this next event comes off as scheduled. Win, lose or draw, these latest developments reinforce that we are getting closer, both conditionally and chronologically, to the Rapture of the Church, an event that will occur without warning sometime before the advent of the Antichrist occurs via the confirmation of a seven-year covenant of Middle East peace. (Daniel 9:26-27)

Keep watch, Christians! Our redemption draweth nigh!