Dec. 01
“President-elect Barack Obama named the Iranian threat and the effort to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians as two of the top three issues facing the incoming US secretary of state, in announcing Hillary Clinton as his choice for the post Monday.”
Dec. 02
“Israel wants to strengthen its relations with the EU and change what it calls Europe’s ‘outdated’ perception of the Jewish state in the hearts and minds of Europeans, the country’s foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, told MEPs on Tuesday.”
Dec. 03
Dec. 03
Dec. 03
Dec. 03
“With an incoming US president who intends to shift course on American foreign policy, an internal European Union document indicates that Europe plans to seize a leading role in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking from next year.”
Dec. 05
“Israeli soldiers and police stormed a disputed building in the biblical city of Hebron on Thursday, dragging out 250 young settlers in a raid meant to send a warning to Jewish extremists fighting to keep what they see as God-promised land.”
Dec. 05
“Christian leaders across denominational lines are signing onto an ecumenical letter that urges President-elect Barack Obama to make Israel-Palestinian peace a priority in his incoming administration.”
Dec. 07
The European Union launches its first naval operation on Monday — to fight pirates off the coast of Somalia. “It will have robust rules of engagement,” according to EU high representative Javier Solana.
Dec. 08
“Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stated publicly that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have reached a secret agreement.”
Dec. 09
“I have never believed that there is a secret United Nations plot to take over the US. I have never seen black helicopters hovering in the sky above Montana. But, for the first time in my life, I think the formation of some sort of world government is plausible.”
Dec. 10
Dec. 10
An updated EU security strategy — drafted by high representative Javier Solana — is expected to be adopted at an EU summit Thursday and Friday.
Dec. 11
“Ireland looks set to hold a second referendum on the EU’s Lisbon Treaty next year, having almost secured a series of concessions by the other EU states on its key demands.”
Dec. 12
“Israel has proposed to annex 6.8 percent of the West Bank and take in 5,000 Palestinian refugees, the chief Palestinian negotiator said Friday, speaking for the first time in detail about the year-long US-backed negotiations that failed to produce an agreement.”
Dec. 13
As much as we hate to admit it, our joy often depends on our circumstances. That’s no problem when our stocking is full, but where can we find joy when it’s empty?
Dec. 14
“The diplomatic group on the Middle East peace process, or quartet, will meet Monday at United Nations headquarters, a few weeks before the change of administration in Washington. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and high-ranking EU officials will attend the meeting under the leadership of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.”
Dec. 15
“The United Nations and its diplomatic partners in the search for Middle East peace — the European Union (EU), Russia and the United States — called today for an intensification of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, urging both sides to take the necessary steps to reach this goal.”
Dec. 17
A reader wants to know, “Do you have specific reasons why you feel [the 10-nation alliance] is likely the WEU vs. a future build out of the G8?”
Dec. 19
“US President George W. Bush, poised to finish his presidency without the Middle East peace deal he once said was in reach, declared Friday that Israelis and Palestinians have made great strides toward settling decades of conflict.”
Dec. 21
MinistryWatch.com released its 2008 list of “Donor Alert Ministries” — 30 Christian ministries that have fraudulent financial practices.
Dec. 22
“Peaceful co-existence cannot take root unless we have strong alliances not only across nations but across faiths, through values we hold in common.”
Dec. 24
Forget what you want. This Christmas do you have what you need?
Dec. 27
“The European Union’s top foreign-policy official on Saturday condemned as ‘unacceptable’ the death of Palestinian civilians in Israeli air-strikes and called for an end to violence.”
Dec. 28
“The European Union faces one of the oddest baton changes in its history next week. France, in the inexhaustible shape of Nicolas Sarkozy, will hand over the presidency of the EU to an inexperienced Czech government split between a Euro-negative President and a Euro-positive Prime Minister.”
Dec. 28
Megachurch pastor Rick Warren told a sold-out banquet audience at the 8th annual Muslim Public Affairs Council convention that churches and mosques must team up to solve the world’s problems.
Dec. 30
What happened in 2008 that indicates the Day of the Lord is near?
Dec. 31