Russia Landmark Claim In Jerusalem?

This headline certainly caught my eye this morning!

The title of the article is "Russia's Jerusalem Land Claim Worries Israelis" and it details how the Russians are coming to downtown Jerusalem, reclaiming ownership of a landmark with the approval of the Israeli government, just as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visits Moscow to try to iron out serious policy differences between the two countries.

After years of contacts, Olmert's Cabinet agreed Sunday to hand over the small tract known as Sergei's Courtyard. The area, which once accommodated Russian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land, now houses offices of Israel's Agriculture Ministry and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.


The site, named for Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, a son of Czar Alexander II, was built in 1890 and is part of the larger Russian Compound, most of which Israel purchased 45 years ago. It paid in oranges because it lacked hard currency.

The property includes a lush garden and the massive buildings around it - a turret-like structure at the intersection of two downtown streets and the sand-colored fortress-like wings leading from it.

The timing of the gesture is clear. After years of relatively smooth relations, serious problems have cropped up between Israel and Russia. One concerned Russia's summer invasion of Georgia, which has become a close ally of Israel in recent years. More importantly, Israel is concerned about Russia's role in helping, or not stopping, the nuclear program of Israel's archenemy, Iran.

Israel TV described the transfer as "Russian autonomy in downtown Jerusalem."

I wonder how this will play out and fit in with the entire Gog-Magog Prophecy? One thing's for sure, however, is that a presence of this magnitude by Russia in the holiest city of the world in these particular times is not a coincidence.

Posted in: How Close Are We?,Israel And Middle East