Last week, President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed the delegations from more than 40 countries to kick off a one-day Mideast summit in Annapolis, Maryland. The purpose, according to President Bush, was to secure a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. One of the issues to be discussed was the status of Jerusalem.

Why Jerusalem? Here's a quick history lesson.

Jerusalem remains a bone of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem (captured in the 1967 Six-Day War) has been particularly controversial, as Palestinians view this part of the city as the capital of a potential Palestinian state.The status of a "united Jerusalem" as Israel's "eternal capital" has not been officially recognized by the international community.

Almost as soon as the Israeli flag was hoisted over the site in 1967 at the conclusion of the Six-Day War, Israelis lowered it on the orders of General Moshe Dayan and invested the Muslim Waqf (religious trust) with the authority to manage the Temple Mount-Haram al-Sharif in order to keep the peace. In the years since, the Waqf has remained relatively independent of Israeli control. Because of this informal understanding between Israel and the Waqf, Muslims have assumed that Israelis don't care much about the place and their current interest is just another excuse to cheat Palestinians out of what is rightfully theirs.

The Haram al-Sharif, revered as the site of Mohammed's ascension to heaven, is one of the three holiest places in Islam (the other two being Mecca and Medina). Muslims would never simply "give" control of it to the followers of another religion. Nevertheless, the Temple Mount is Judaism's holiest site--so holy that many religious Jews will not set foot on the hill lest they inadvertently tread on sacred and forbidden ground. Equally important, it is a site of great national significance. In the eyes of many Israelis, the "return to Zion" that Jews living in Israel believe they have effected was completed by the capture of the Temple Mount.

So back to the Roadmap for Peace that Bush and Rice are seeking. Isn't helping to seek peace between the Israelis and Palestinians a noble cause? One doesn't have to read far into the Bible to see Jerusalem's importance. It is mentioned in Scripture some 811 times, including the fact the Mount of Olives located in Jerusalem is the place where Jesus will one day return. Consider this verse: "I [God] have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there . . . in this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen . . . I will put My name forever (2 Chr. 6:6; 33:7).

So what about our country's part in urging Israel to give up more of its land? Read this:
"I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage . . . they have divided up my land" (Joel 3:2).

The Roadmap for Peace will probably become more like a roadmap for judgment. Instead, of trying to be impartial to those who vow to destroy Israel, we need to support Israel, every day in every way. We should never urge Israel to give up more land. And we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps. 122:6).

Then we need to stay tuned. The summit in Annapolis is over, but the subject of Jerusalem is far from over. It will play a huge part in the endtime. We would be wise to pay attention.