Beginning Of The End?

Myriads at Western Wall Praying Against Annapolis Concessions

(IsraelNN.com) An estimated 25,000 people took part in a mass prayer service at the Western Wall against the Israeli government's positions at the Annapolis summit.

The prayer service (video) was followed by a massive protest, co-sponsored by the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea and Samaria (Yesha), near the Prime Minister's residence. The protest is entitled, "It Will Blow Up in Our Face."

Once again.

At the time of the Western Wall prayer vigil, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was meeting in Washington with U.S. President George Bush in preparation for the Annapolis summit on Tuesday.

The front line of religious-Zionist rabbis, led by Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Mordechai Eliyahu, called for the public to attend the Western Wall prayers. MK Uri Ariel (National Union party), among those who initiated the prayer service, said, "It is critical for us to offer prayer to our Father in Heaven when the Prime Minister wants to sell our national homeland. We are here [at the Wall] to say that we trust in G-d, and that Olmert has no mandate to give up Jerusalem."

Another organizer, Rafi Atiyah, told Arutz-7's Chizky Ezra, "The feeling of despair that has overtaken some of the public has not escaped the eyes of the rabbis who called for the prayer service. But while this feeling can lead to a dead end and to a sense of helplessness, it can also be an opening for a new type of genuine and mature turn to G-d; to a taking of responsibility from a new, pure angle. It could be that out of this tiredness, we will come to the realization that it's not we who control the situation. We sometimes think that if we act, protest, settle the Land, teach, and do all sorts of things, that everything will be OK.

"But today, we are coming to the Western Wall with humility, awe, and serene faith. We return the ball that has been repressed in our hearts for the past two-plus years, and that is threatening to choke us, to our Father in Heaven. We plead with Him that He will show us the way, and that we can be partners with Him in our Redemption. We want to work with Him, to sanctify His Name."

Via Arutz-7/IsraelNationalNews.com

Our friend, Carl in Jerusalem, provides excellent analysis of the demise of the Bush Doctrine and pressure being exerted upon Israel to commit suicide.

During the run up to the Annapolis Conference, it has always had the appearance of being nothing more than Munich redux.

As such, too busy laughing his ass off, Reinhard Heydrich was unavailable for comment.

Also at A Tangled Web

Shocker: Palis Skeptical of Annapolis Summit

Naturally, it's Israel's fault. Short of Israel just letting themselves be overrun by the terror gangs, one can't envision the Palestinians being happy about any outcome.

Most Palestinians are sceptical Tuesday's Annapolis peace conference can speed the creation of a state of their own but many still hope it may lead to improvements in living conditions and security.

Officials and analysts said the attendance of fellow Arabs including Saudi Arabia and Syria at the talks near Washington would also bolster Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas and help isolate his militant domestic opponents like Hamas.

"The Palestinians are under no illusion that the peace process to be launched at Annapolis will lead to much progress on the peace front because Israel has not shown seriousness in reaching agreement until now," said analyst Abdel-Majod Sweilem.

"But there is a belief the year that will follow Annapolis, during which negotiations will take place, may lead to some kind of temporary halt to the deterioration in the economy and internal security."

Chief among aspirations for Palestinian voters are economic growth and freedom of movement, both of which they see hampered by Israeli security measures. They also want to see Israel meet commitments to stop Jewish settlement and confiscating land.

By the same token, Hamas and other opponents who have condemned Abbas for even talking to Israel, stand to make political gains at his expense if Israel fails to take steps to improve daily life immediately after Annapolis, analysts say.

"If people don't feel the difference after Annapolis, the opposition will be given ammunition against Abbas' policies," analyst Ali Jarbawi said.

But he doubted Hamas had the strength to seize power in the larger, Israeli-occupied West Bank as it did in the Gaza Strip in June: "I don't believe they will have enough ammunition to change the status quo in the West Bank as they did in Gaza. Abbas' legitimacy is intact because there is no alternative."

Israel has been the one bending over backward to accomodate these people and like we said, nothing they say or do will ever satisfy their enemies.

Israel Matzav has more on Annapolis.