January 25, 2002 Volume 2 Issue 19

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All articles linked to this newsletter are for reference only.

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Arafat's Corner Growing Smaller
By Randy Loudenslager

With his area of mobility reduced to a few city blocks and Israeli soldiers visible from his office windows, Yassar Arafat's vocation as head of the Palestinian people may be about to come to an end. Even the Europeans, usually vocal champions and financial sponsors of the Palestinian Authority, have distanced themselves from the PA's 74 year old leader. The Bush administration has spoken in favor of Israel's isolation of Arafat, the worst blow to any legitimacy Arafat may have had left. Israel, during this brief moment of the world's resentment being displayed against Arafat, has put him into the political version of checkmate. All that is left is for Israel to determine how they will unseat Arafat. Assassination has been ruled out, leaving exile or continued confinement as the two remaining options. Arafat may yet draw enough support from some radical elements to make his demise a bit messy for Israel, but it will resemble the desperate gamble of a doomed man rather than any significant uprising.

Arafat is reduced to playing his last desperate diplomatic cards. He has sent a letter to China asking her to exert her influence to alleviate his situation. Russia has spoken up on the issue and declared that they will be a more prominent player in the peace initiatives between Israel and the Palestinians.

Europe at this point is crying the blues over perceived losses from Israeli destruction of the European financed Palestinian infrastructure. Russia will not prop up Arafat, but is positioning herself to take advantage of whatever happens after Arafat. America is still Israel's backbone, but will hold Israel to her Oslo agreements of exchanging land for peace with the Palestinians. Israel will not exile Arafat intentionally because they don't want a globe trotting Arafat interfering with his successor. Israel will continue to close the vice slowly, intent on letting the Palestinians replace Arafat themselves. This will serve Israel's aspirations for peace by giving legitimacy to Arafat's replacement, whereas exiling Arafat will give the impression of the next leader as being a puppet of Israel. Watch Russia! President Putin may walk in and steal the show from America after Arafat falls, by initiating his own peace accord for Israel and her enemies.

God gives wisdom to those who seek him, walk in the Spirit and ask him. Today is the day brothers and sisters that we put down our anxieties about this life and watch for the signs. Events will begin to move at an ever quickening speed, those that do not stay in the Spirit and allow Him to keep their eyes open will be easily deceived. A life in Christ is not about our safety but about our salvation! It is not about seeking self but about seeking the kingdom to come! That which you serve will master you! "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." Matthew 24:24-25. "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with . . . the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Luke 21:34-36.