Dear Marilyn and the Doves,         After taking note of the unprecidented explosions taking place in the Crab Nebula on April 12 2011, I felt certain God was once again signally mankind to the consequences of spiritual warfare. Whatever you bind on Earth is bound in Heaven. This was true before time began. Look at the material marked in bold     God has used the Crab Nebula before to demonstrate this same principle. Back in 1054, the Crab Nebula first exploded making spectacular light visible during daytime hours. It first exploded in 1054 after the Great Schism occured between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church.     Today, once again the Crab Nebula annouces renewsd spiritual warfare between islam and Christianity. Now that Hamas and Fatah have joined forces, how long will it be before open warfare resumes? God knows, I suspect it will begin this Summer, but certainly no later that September 2011. Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem.                                                           In Christ,                                                                    Mike Curtiss   Published on United States Institute of Peace (http://www.usip.org)   Palestinian Territories Image:  Short Description:  Through a focus on regional context and internal dynamics USIP’s work on the Palestinian Territories seeks to comprehensively address the complexities of its conflict with Israel through policy relevant analysis, public outreach, and innovative programming with partners in the region, all aimed at building support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.   Map Countries:  West Bank Featured Resources:  Israel, the Palestinian Territories and the Arab-Israeli Conflict [1] The Current Situation   With talks with Israel stalled, the West Bank leadership undertook a campaign in late 2010 and early 2011 to rally international support for the declaration of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Palestinians are building support for a United Nations vote in September 2011 on a resolution declaring Palestinian statehood. On April 12th, a report from the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process described as a "significant achievement" the progress made on the Palestinian state-building front, indicating that in six areas, the Palestinian Authority is well-positioned for the establishment of a state. Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton suggested that a renewed Obama administration push towards Arab-Israeli peace would be forthcoming. Seemingly buoyed by the U.N. endorsement of the state-building project, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that the United States needed to move fast and decisively on a strong peace plan before the September push for statehood recognition. In April 2011, the caretaker government in Egypt [2] brokered a unity deal between Hamas and Fatah. Since 2007, these two rival factions have been operating as separate de facto governments of Gaza and the West Bank, respectively. The deal calls for the formation of an interim unity government that would prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections for the end of 2011. While Palestinian unity has been regarded as a necessary condition for an independent Palestinian state, the unity deal raises questions regarding prospects for a negotiated peace since Israel, along with Western powers, have always refused to deal with Hamas because of its refusal to recognize Israel and to renounce violence. Take a more in depth look at the current situation in the Palestinian Territories [3] Learn about USIP's Recent Projects and Initiatives on the Palestinian Territories [4] Learn about USIP's work in Israel [5]