Israel/Pal areas

While talk today about Rapture predictions are increasing in regularity, some biblical prophecies affecting Christians, Muslims and Jews have stood in place for millenniums.

One such prophecy concerns the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel, which is said to be the site where all the nations will gather to worship when the Messiah returns.

The Temple Mount has been one of the most hotly disputed religious sites of worship for the past few centuries and has been one of the main points of tension between Israel and Palestine, as both Jewish and Muslim authorities have been locked in a stalemate over what to do with what is believed to be a temple visited by the presence of God. more >>

Palestine and Israel have agreed to meet in Jordan for their first talk in over one year. Analysts are skeptical as to whether the countries will be able to move forward in peace talks.

Israeli envoy Yitzhak Molcho and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat are set to meet today in Jordan, along with international mediators. Erekat spoke with The Associated Press yesterday and said, “We hope that the Israeli government would reciprocate the Jordanian efforts by announcing cessation of settlement activities and the acceptance of the concept of the two-state solution.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement saying, “We welcome and support this positive development. We are hopeful that this direct exchange can help us move forward on the pathway proposed by the Quartet.” more >>

A transgender man has shocked Israelis by becoming the first in the Middle East country to give birth to a baby, similar to a case involving a transgender U.S. man who had three children.

Yuval Topper, who reportedly stunned hospital staff in September when he showed up in the emergency room seven months pregnant, has recently given birth, the Israeli news site reports. Ynetnews did not reveal the sex of the baby, which was delivered at Sheba Medical Center.

Topper, 24, was born a woman and had a sex change operation three years ago, Ynetnews reports. more >>

The town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born witnessed the highest turnout of tourists and Christian pilgrims in more than a decade amid the weekend’s Christmas celebrations at the ancient Church of the Nativity.

As the night fell in this Palestinian West Bank town, the Israeli military in charge of monitoring people’s movement counted some 100,000 visitors, which included foreigners and Arab Christians from Israel, according to The Associated Press.

Last year, Bethlehem attracted a crowd of about 70,000. more >>

Moshe Katsav, Israel’s former president, reported to Maasiyahu prison today to begin serving a seven-year sentence.

Katsav was elected in 2000 and served until 2007, when he was forced to resign after several women came forward with allegations of rape and sexual harassment. In December 2010, he was convicted on accounts of rape, sexual harassment, and forceful indecent assault against three women.

Three months later, Katsav was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to report to the prison in November. He reported to Maasiyahu today to begin his sentence. more >>

There is growing fear in Israel that wins by Islamists in the Egyptian election could signal a growing change in the countries’ relationship.

The history of Egypt’s relationship with Israel is one based in war and mutual distrust. In 1979, a peace treaty was signed as part of the Camp David Accords, Israeli and United States leaders.

The peace treaty ensured a mutual recognition of Egypt and Israel, and ended the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Now Israeli leaders fear that Egypt’s new government may seek to break the peace treaty. more >>