Preservation of Holy Sites 
Jodie Anderson 
For a small percentage of Christians they're  very aware of how this meeting in Annapolis carries serious consequences. For the  majority of Christianity and the church as a whole, has no clue.
Many have the mind set this war has raged for thousands of years and it will not impact us. Wrong, there are numerous ways it will impact us. So many that if we put them all on the table no one would agree, and once again we will have a theological battle.
However, there is one part of this situation that we all can agree upon if we all knew. So let us focus on this one area we can all agree on and get to the bare facts and what the results will be.
Basically, the bottom line is to return to the pre 1967 borders. So, what does this mean? All areas that was acquired after the war of 1967 must go back. This includes Judea, Samaria, and East Jerusalem.
Now let us look at what all is involved and what is at stake.
All of our holy sites in East Jerusalem will go under Palestinian Authority .They are saying all of East Jerusalem, which is more than the 1967 border.
Is this a bad thing?
At the time Bethlehem was given to the Palestinian Authority, Bethlehem  was 85% Christian, two years ago there were 15% Christian, and today it is less than 5%.
Bethlehem is a virtual ghost town. You can go there, but at your own risk so tours are sparse. Bethany now is not an option since it is behind the security wall. It can happen with planning but is rarely done.
Now East Jerusalem the areas we will lose will be :
1. Garden Tomb which is located outside the Old City walls north of the Damascus Gate. Nearby is a barren knoll, according to some fits the description of John 19:20 Golgotha. Several feet down is a tomb that many believed that of Joseph of Arimathea.
 This area is surrounded in tranquility. An area of worship of believers all over the world weeping and praying and worshiping at a holy site they feel so dear to them.
2. Pool of Bethesda-Located near the Lion's Gate in the Old City. This is the area believed where Jesus healed the man that had been ill for 38 years. John 5:2-9.
3.Via Dolorosa-" Way of Sorrows." Located along the road by Christian Quarter Road, and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
4. The Upper Room- Traditional site of the Last Supper, and also known as Holy Zion. Located just outside the Old City walls on Mount Zion.
5. Golden Gate- Also known as the Eastern Gate located East of the Temple Mount. This is the area that Jesus will return, and is now sealed off.
6. House of Caiaphas- this is the area Jesus predicted Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed. It also contains several underground prisons which is believed to have held Jesus  before his trial.  This also is believed to be the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas.
7. Garden of Gethsemane -Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, just above the Kidron Valley. This is the area the disciples were told to be on guard while Jesus prayed to the Father. Shortly afterwards he was arrested.
8. Mount of Olives - This area is where Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday.
This area is one of the most important sites of Jerusalem. It plays such a key role in the life of Jesus and the Christian faith.
9.The Mount of Ascension- This is located at the peak of the Mount of Olives and is considered the site of ascension. Acts 1:8-12. Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you in heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
 These are the major part of the holy sites of the New Testament not to count a vast number of sites in the Old Testament located in East Jerusalem.
I remember as a child so many of us were raised singing the song " We're Marching to Zion" the beautiful city of God. It is amazing how this word Zion has ended up in a political quagmire of a Presidential legacy. Christian Zionist now are viewed as a radical instead of humble Christians that believe to preserve the holy city.
Each year that I come to these sites I am amazed at how many people from all over the world with all different nationalities , different denominations weeping and worshiping in the areas where the ultimate sacrifice was made. We have enjoyed these sites since after 1948, and we can go there in safety and not fear for our lives. The Israeli government has assured  our safety. Not the UN, but the IDF and Israel police. As you walk and worship these areas you constantly see their presence and know they respect and protect us to worship freely.
Jerusalem is mentioned over 600 times in the Old Testament and several hundred times in the New. Interesting enough it is not mentioned one time in the Koran. This is the only holy sites we have, we do not have Mecca or Medina and as Christians we could never even enter theses cities. To assure  safety for all generations, all holy sites have to stay under Israel's sovereignty.
Bethlehem should have been a litmus test for us to see what it will be like not under Israel control. Each year it will be less and less of Christian presence. We owe this to our children and grandchildren to secure our holy sites so all faiths can worship in safety.
Church this is not a time to be silent. This is an abomination, and this is the time for the church to rise.
President Eisenhower said it so eloquently. Appeasement is nothing more than surrender on the installment plan.
Our holy sites have been placed on a installment plan.
After Annapolis we will see exactly what will be lost and what  boundaries of East Jerusalem are going, so we can see the direction we need to go to assure safety of all to worship in Zion the beautiful city of God!