URGENT
Prayer and Fasting for French Envoy to Israel
June 22-24
The trip of President Sarkozy to Israel is officially confirmed and as such, we are providing some information concerning his visit to Israel.
The following is from Guysen news:
This is a trip that is not shaping up to be easy for Nicolas Sarkozy.
He will go to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The political difficulties faced by Ehud Olmert, the weakening of his government and the acceleration of the development of construction in Judea-Samaria would have been able to derail the trip of the President.
These arguments only caused a moment’s hesitation at the Elysée and were not convincing enough to postpone a trip already planned for a long time.
The Purpose of the Trip
Inject a new momentum in Franco-Israeli diplomatic relations which have remained positive since his election.
Click here for more details (IN FRENCH from the Franco-Israeli Foundation)
Nicolas Sarkozy will have to deftly juggle between the pressures linked to his commitment to Israel without compromising his draft proposal for a Mediterranean union that has already meet the frank opposition from Arab leaders.
Delicate Situation: the coming of the Syrian President on July 14 (not well perceived by the Israeli people).
Another delicate point: the famous Peace Canal in the Dead Sea sponsored in part by France which should bring together Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians. This project is already in the sights of the environmental movement in the region, which fiercely opposes it.
In short, this visit is eagerly awaited in Israel but has already raised many disputes. Nicolas Sarkozy will have to use his diplomatic tact.
Prayer Requests
1. Continue to pray that this trip is upheld until the end. When we understand the fragility of the situation, anything can always switch in one direction or another, even if the trip is officially maintained.
* This year, several other heads of state have cancelled their trip to Israel for various reasons, which is seen here as a fear of commitment to come alongside Israel.
2. Pray for the agenda: always the most delicate and most difficult to manage. Pray that God raises his hand above, that His will be done above that of men and that the agenda is confirmed as soon as possible.
* The French delegation wants to be very economical and including MEDEF businessmen in order not to be "trapped" by the religious overtone of the situation.
* The Knesset will be on the agenda of the President, a place where then President Mitterrand gave a speech that “marked the minds” => Nicolas Sarkozy will want to hit hard and this time the speech to the Knesset may be an important element of his trip.
3. Pray that the visit will be centered on Israel and the Franco-Israeli relationship and not on the Palestinian territories: pray that everything goes as planned and despite the different pressures.
4. Pray for protection: that this visit is immune to any attacks (3,000 people are expected on Monday evening), security is on high alert.
5. Pray for the Franco-Israeli Relationship: that the pre-1967 ties between France and Israel may be restored, renewed, and strengthened.
* The France Israel Foundation will be part of the delegation. FIF certainly offers a new and important tool to the bilateral relationship. Pray that the favor of God be upon this tool and its leaders. Pray that Nicolas Sarkozy can fully discover or rediscover the importance of the existence of the FIF. Pray for a time of recognition, blessing, a time of coming together between the French and Israeli companies.
6. Pray that the route of Israel is open to France (since the main Arabic road has prevailed so far.
7. Do not forget to pray for the media.
* It seems important not to overlook this point in prayer. We know that very often, French media tend to “go where the wind blows” as we say. Pray that the voice of the press is a true and fair vote. Pray at the same time for a change of mentality of the French press, that another voice rise up in France and from France, that of integrity.
* Pray that the press does not misuse the purpose of this trip to make people focus on the presence of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. That there be no distractions.
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Click here for a complete prayer point document (IN FRENCH from Objectif France)