In Brief . . .
World News Review
"Holy" Land Far From Holy
The nation of Israel is often called the Holy Land, but that isn't an apt description of its inhabitants' present lifestyle.
Israeli Justice Minister Yosef Lapid reported in August that there are as many as 3,000 prostitutes in his nation today. An additional element of sadness to the story is that the prostitutes did not choose this life. The Russian mafia lures women in destitute situations with assurances of a better life. It takes them to Egypt and then smuggles them into Israel.
The women have to "work off" what they "owe" for transportation to their new country. Their smugglers charge them between $4,000 and $10,000 each. Fox News reported that each one earns about $200,000 year for her "masters," which adds up to an annual take of about $62 million for the smugglers.
Of course, the reason the scheme is profitable is that there are Israelis and tourists who are the "customers." In plain language, they are committing fornication or adultery. Not only are they injuring themselves (and their spouses) physically and spiritually, they also are making it possible for vile men to take advantage of women who simply want to live free and earn a decent living.
The Israeli government is taking steps to interdict the smugglers. But until its citizens individually commit to obeying the Seventh Commandment, the crime will continue to pay, and the smugglers will continue their evil trade.
Government in turmoil
On a related topic, fractures within the ever-contentious Knesset threaten to bring down the Sharon government over its policy on settlements in the Gaza strip. Three government ministers, including former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are threatening to resign.
Ironically, Prime Minister Sharon initially helped lead the way for Israelis to settle in this mostly Palestinian territory on the Egyptian border. Now he is trying to lead the way for the dismantling of the Israeli towns there in his pursuit of peace with the Palestinians.
Jewish settlers are angry with Mr. Sharon for this turnabout in policy. Many of them paid with blood in battles with Palestinian militias that tried to force them out. Now it seems to them that their government is abandoning them.
Of course, Mr. Sharon's objective is to find a way for Jews and Palestinians to live together in harmony. But hatred runs too deep for peace to take root.
Israel will again be a Holy Land, but only after Christ returns and establishes a new government in Jerusalem.
Javier Solana—the Face of the EU
Javier Solana is the European Union's foreign minister. His full title is "Secretary-General of the Council of the EU and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy." And he is every bit as influential as the lofty title implies. Here is his schedule for just seven days in October:
• Meet with minister for foreign affairs for Macedonia to discuss that country's progress along the road to integration into the EU.
• Issue a statement of support for the recent Kosovo elections, criticizing the Kosovo Serbs for their low turnout.
• Participate in meeting of all EU chiefs of police to discuss European security and defense—an immensely important matter in a time of great terrorist threat.
• Meet with NATO's North Atlantic Council, which is responsible for the security of member states and is the most important decision-making body of NATO, according to its handbook.
• Visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Khartoum, Sudan. Addis Ababa is hosting a meeting of the African Union (AU), whose forces are entering the Sudan to try to end the genocide occurring in Darfur. The EU has promised to finance over half of the AU's costs. Dr. Solana is meeting with the Sudanese government in Khartoum to help negotiate continued efforts to end the 22-year civil war.
• During the same visit, meet with representatives of Somalia to help facilitate its peaceful reunification.
• Meet with the Palestinian Authority's minister of foreign affairs, Nabeel Shaath, to help get Israel and the Palestinans back on track toward peace. Frustrated with the virtually defunct Road Map to Peace, the EU wants to resuscitate it and is launching what it calls the Street Map to Peace.
• In the same time frame, issue a public statement of praise for the Israeli Knesset's decision to pull its settlements out of Gaza.
As we go to press, there are reports that Yasser Arafat is seriously ill. Should Arafat die, Dr. Solana will undoubtedly have a hand in helping the Palestinians regroup and redefine themselves under new leadership.
Clearly, Dr. Solana is a busy man, but more than that, his work shows that the EU is extending its footprint of influence throughout greater Europe, the Middle East and in North Africa.
In a startling development, Dr. Solana says that the EU is considering sending "a police mission on the ground" to help train Palestinian security forces, which must police Gaza if the Israeli army pulls out. Think of that—European troops in Israel to help ensure peace. Students of Bible prophecy will immediately think of Christ's warning, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near" (Luke 21:20). A police mission is not the complete fulfillment of this significant prophecy, but it shows how readily it could be fulfilled.
—Contributor: Cecil E. Maranville
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