WEB EXCLUSIVE

Consequences of Dividing the Holy Land, Part 1

By C. Hart
Middle East Correspondent

CBN.com – U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell arrived in Saudi Arabia on May 14th, the day after at least 34 people lost their lives, including seven Americans and nine terrorists, in a multiple suicide bombing allegedly carried out by Al Qaeda forces. Reports indicate it was the deadliest attack on Americans since September 11, 2001. In Powell's recent visit to Israel, he encouraged Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government to refrain from causing obstacles in the Road Map process, asking officials to set aside their objections to the Palestinian "right of return" issue. He also asked both Israel and the Palestinians to offer confidence-building measures towards the beginning of a new dialogue, and he said he expected Israeli settlement activity to end. This is the first in a two-part series that deals with the subject of how nations pushing for a diplomatic solution in the Middle East must also deal with the consequences of their actions.

JERUSALEM Recently, U.S. meteorologists reported that in a wave of bad weather there were 325 tornadoes, 535 major windstorms, and 1,350 hailstorms. It was the most active seven-day period of tornadoes in U.S. history. At least 44 people died in America's Midwest, along with injuries, and damage to homes and buildings reported in Kansas, Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Tennessee. There were also torrential downpours in Indiana, Kentucky, and Iowa.

Bill Koenig is co-author of the book titled, Israel, the Blessing or the Curse. He is president of Koenig International News service, and in viewing his web site, it is obvious that he keeps a watchful eye on the pledges of the Bush Administration concerning Israel, as well as weather patterns in America.

CBN News asked Koenig if the latest U.S. storms and tornadoes that have devastated Midwest towns have any correlation to current events in Israel. "Yes," said Koenig. "There have been four different tornado incidents when we have been directly involved with the covenant land. It is a repercussion. When the covenant land of Israel is at risk, or her property, the land of the United States and its property is at risk, as well." Koenig explained that this is a warning to America. "We have another wave coming in soon. And, at the same time, Israel has never been at greater risk. What's happening right now, regarding the tornadoes, people could say it is a terrorism event, but this is straight from the heavens, because these storms are extraordinary in size, magnitude and significance."

While Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has stated on more than one occasion he will not negotiate with Palestinian leaders under "fire," some U.S. officials have chosen to ignore these comments. Directly following the suicide bombing on April 30th at Mike's Place in Tel Aviv, Bush administration officials formally presented Prime Minister Sharon and newly elected Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen with the Road Map. It appeared to some Israelis to be a "map of reward" to the Palestinians for their perpetuation of terror. Then, a terrorist killed an Israeli man as he drove to work in Samaria on Sunday, May 11th. This attack happened within hours of Israel easing the closure restrictions on Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Leaders here were responding to Colin Powell's pressure on Israel to offer confidence-building measures to the Palestinians. The attack was the fall-out of that pressure.

Despite 50-60 daily terror alerts in Israel, security forces have been able to avert 90 percent of the suicide bombings before they could be carried out. Good intelligence work has contributed to the effort, as well as alert soldiers and citizens who have also, on several occasions, been able to stop a bomber from carrying out his mission fully meaning, less loss of life, and fewer injuries. However, Koenig explained that since December 1, 2001, twenty suicide bombings occurred when Israeli leaders stated that they were in agreement with a Palestinian state being established. Koenigs research also indicates that when U.S. officials are directly, actively involved in applying pressure on Israel, negotiating with top ranking officials here, the results are more terrorist attacks, especially suicide bombings. "Minor ones are followed by big ones", said Koenig.

He points out that the day before the suicide bombing occurred at Mikes Place, Prime Minister Sharon had stated that Israel would do whatever it takes to achieve peace. According to Koenig, Israeli officials should be more cautious in what they agree to in negotiations with the international community, and in what they declare, publicly. "And, the more that Israel cooperates, the worse it will get," he claimed.

Meanwhile, President George W. Bush will go down in history as being the first U.S. president to officially present a plan of Palestinian statehood in a speech before the U.N. General Assembly, on November 10, 2001, when he declared a two-state solution in the Middle East Israel and a new Palestine state. Bush brought this idea to the forefront of U.S. foreign policy, and has continued to do so in numerous speeches, diplomatic meetings conducted by his administration, and now through the Road Map initiative. "No President had ever gone there before," said Koenig.

When Bush further outlined his plan for the Middle East in his June 24, 2002 speech in America, it seemed to be widely accepted. However, confusion settled in on how to interpret his outline, especially when the State Department took over and began getting international support. While Sharon continued to favor the Bush plan, the U.S. State Department, working with other countries, formed the Quartet (involving, the European Union, the U.N., and Russia), and they wanted a more central role as arbitrators of the Road Map. Sharon has wanted only to work with Bush and has not wanted the Quartet to interfere in how peace negotiations play out between Israel and the Palestinians. The question remains: Will Israel be able to follow Bush's outline of June 24^th, or be forced to comply with the State Department's interpretation of that outline spelled out in the Road Map?

This confusion seems to have now pitted one U.S. government department against the other. According to Koenig, "The irony of this whole thing is that we've got the Defense Department against the State Department. None of the Defense Department officials are in favor of the Road Map." Koenig said there is divisiveness and infighting between the departments. "God is going to allow the State Department to be the 'point man.' The last three months have been Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's moment. Powell and Rumsfeld are competitive. Rumsfeld has won great favor in Washington. Now, its Powell's moment. It is going to be a massive failure," Koenig said.

The level of action against the new peace plan has increased dramatically, yet, Bush insists on moving forward on the diplomatic track, letting the State Department have free reign in this matter. Still, Koenig points out that Bush has assigned Jewish hardliners to key positions in his administration, with a concentration of officials related to the Defense Department, and Koenig thinks that shows Bush is more committed to Israel's position than he will reveal, publicly. Furthermore there are media reports indicating Bush is not fully supporting the Road Map, but rather going through the motions. Analysts go so far as to say that Bush and Sharon believe the plan will not succeed. Koenig said there has been a realization in the Bush camp that State Department diplomacy does not work in the Middle East, but military action does, citing the recent successful military campaign in Iraq.

While diplomats from the Quartet rush forward with the new plan, Koenig foresees troubling times ahead for Israel, politically. "The Palestinians have accepted the Road Map. So, the pressure is going to start shifting on Israel. Bush was basically giving contingencies back in the spring that the terror had to stop first. What Powell, the world community and the Palestinians want now, is 'We'll stop terror, and you stop the settlements.'"

Koenig has been able to prove through his research that when Israeli settlements are touched, there are also occurrences of hurricanes, tornadoes, and major problems in the American economy. He explained that the settlement issue is what the international community will now use to pressure Israel to compromise land for peace. In Koenigs view, "The greater the pressure, the greater the proportionate event. Hurricane Andrew happened during the $10 billion loan guarantees to Israel that were frozen in 1991 and 1992. The ferocity of those storms was due to the pressure put on Israel from former President George Bush, Sr., and former Secretary of State James Baker."

As America continues to put pressure on Israel to abide by the concerns of the international community, we can expect to see more calamities in the heavens and on the earth, as men plan their ways, and the Lord divinely directs their steps.

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" Psalm 2:1

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