RICE PUSHES FOR PALESTINIAN STATE BY JANUARY

Negotiations between Israel and PA continue at a "crazy" pace, agreement on dividing Jerusalem is "closer than ever," and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is pushing for a nearly-complete agreement on a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria by January.  So reports Aaron Klein of WorldNetDaily (WND).

Secretary Rice, completing a visit to the region Tuesday, has been pressing Israel to sign a document by the end of the year that would divide Jerusalem.  Rice says Israel must agree to a Palestinian state capital in Jerusalem - Israel's own capital - and a full Palestinian state in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. 

The Rice Compromise: Israel Remains in Jerusalem for 1-5 Years - Klein quotes top diplomatic sources involved in the talks as saying that Rice has been pushing for a "compromise" between Israel and the PA that would involve Israel's withdrawal from eastern Jerusalem, including most of the Old City, within one to five years.

The Israeli team, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, is willing to conclude an agreement on a Palestinian state by the end of the year, but wants to leave talks to decide the fate of Jerusalem for a later date.  The PA team, however, wants a deal by January on all core issues, including the Holy City.

The Rice compromise asks Israeli leaders to bend and agree to promise sections of Jerusalem to the PA - but not to actually withdraw before one to five years have passed.  President George W. Bush would then, just days before his term in office ends, issue an official letter guaranteeing U.S. support for the agreement. Israel National News, Arutz 7)

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: U.S. RADAR BASED IN ISRAEL
 

The agreement last month for the deployment of a U.S. radar system in the Negev, which will bolster Israel's defense against Iranian or Syrian surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, will have historical significance as the first American base on Israeli territory. Israel has always had reservations about such a possibility and preferred to "defend itself by itself" and retain maximum freedom of action. The radar will be operated by civilians employed by the company that builds the system, and by two U.S. soldiers.

OCTOBER 5, 2008

The first Sunday of October has been designated as the global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.  This day of prayer is not at a single location, but rather a worldwide event uniting believers in prayer for Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6, Isaiah 62:6).

This year's event is supported by co-chairman Robert Stearns, co-chairman Jack Hayford, Kay Arthur, John Hagee, Ravi Zacharias, Michael W. Smith and many others. 

All Christians have a spiritual heritage and responsibility to pray for the city over which Jesus wept; the city to where He will soon return.  The current crisis over Jerusalem has global ramifications and impact, and will only be fully resolved by God working through the prayers of His people.

 JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 5

 PRAYER FOCUS

TOP U.S. OFFICIALS - Use the IFA Top 120 Officials bookmark (available on the  "Current Prayer Guides" page at IFA's Web site:  Prayer Calendars) and intercede as the Lord leads for President Bush, Vice President Cheney, the Cabinet and Administration, the Supreme Court, and the 110th Congress as it reconvenes after Labor Day.

Intercede for wisdom and a biblical posture regarding foreign policy toward Israel and the Middle East. Intercede for cooperation between the Bush Administration and Congress to pass God-appointed and necessary legislation in the midst of national elections.

ELECTIONS - In 69 days U.S. voters will elect a President and Vice President, an entire House of Representatives, one third of the Senate, scores of state and local officials, and vote on important marriage and other referenda. Intercede for mercy and good government, and that Christians take time to examine candidates, positions and issues on the basis of biblical truth, virtue, and character.

Affirm the sovereignty of Christ (Ps 75:7; Col 1:9-20; Rev 1:5) over all candidates, debates, and campaigns. Intercede that godly local, state and national pro-life, and traditional family candidates be granted resources, workers, media exposure, and favor with voters.

EVANGELISM  - Offer thanksgiving to the Lord for exhibiting mercy, grace, and redemption in the midst of natural disasters, economic hardships, and political turmoil. Intercede that the Lord use the severity and judgments in this season to open and prepare hearts for the gospel and the reception of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Intercede for anointing upon all who are called as evangelists and upon all forms of local church and mass evangelism underway across the U.S. and worldwide. Pray for fruitful Internet evangelism, Bible study, and discipleship.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the first woman to run on a Republican Party presidential ticket. The 44-year-old Gov. Palin is a mother of five.

Although Alaska only has about 700,000 people, the state has outsized strategic importance because it contains some of the richest mineral resources in the world, including some of the largest known oil reserves in the U.S. Before her selection as running mate, Gov. Palin served as an informal energy adviser to Sen. McCain, saying she has spoken with the Arizona senator about the need to drill more in places like Alaska.

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U.S. MILITARY TO TRANSFER ANBAR SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES TO IRAQI FORCES

The top Marine Corps general said yesterday that the U.S. military will hand over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces next week in Iraq's western province of Anbar, paving the way to reduce the 25,000-strong Marine contingent there and free up more Marines to go to Afghanistan.

The Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. James T. Conway, said Anbar no longer requires such a large number of Marines, who would be better employed fighting in Afghanistan, where he said the Taliban insurgency is "growing bolder."  Attacks in Anbar have fallen to the lowest level since the war started in March 2003, even as thousands of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers have withdrawn from the province this year, said Conway, who recently met with U.S. and Iraqi commanders in Anbar." (Washington Post, 8/28/08)

TROPICAL STORM GUSTAV ON BRINK OF EXPLOSION

The storm has moved across Jamaica with torrential rain today, picking up speed as it headed toward Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico.

As New Orleans prepares for Gustav, it is also solemnly marking the third anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Where will Gustav hit? Track guidance has been pretty consistent in bringing it ashore between northeast Texas and Alabama. The majority of computer models predict a landfall in Louisiana, west of New Orleans. 60 people were reported killed when the storm hit Haiti and the Dominican Republic earlier in the week.

POSSIBLE POSTPONMENT OF REPUBLICAN CONVENTION - The prospect of a land-falling hurricane during the Republican convention has captured the attention of the McCain/Palin campaign, which may consider postponing the convention. (FoxNews.com). If Gustav meaningfully impacts New Orleans, it will test what all levels of government have learned since Katrina. The amount of spin from political pundits on the preparation and response effort will no doubt rival Katina.

OIL PLATFORM AND REFINERIES THREATENED - U.S. oil and gas platforms and pipelines are most concentrated in the waters south of Louisiana and east of Texas. Offshore fields in the Gulf accounted for 26 percent of total U.S. crude production and 12 percent of natural gas output in April, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Producers including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP Plc evacuated workers from platforms in the Gulf region.

TROPICAL STORM HANNA - Further east in the Atlantic, tropical storm Hanna continues to hold its own. It is expected to strengthen to hurricane intensity. Many models now suggest Hanna will drift to the southwest towards the southern Bahamas by the middle of next week. (National Hurricane Center, Bloomberg 8/29/08)

EVACUATIONS BEGIN IN LOUISIANA