George Bush, Jerusalem celebration and Israel's 60th, Nicole Jansezian comments

George Bush

Heads of state, VIPs and the world's elite thinkers gathered to mark Israel's 60th anniversary at Jerusalem's convention center. It was a three-day conference replete with pomp and circumstance, sushi and wine and a sense of prestige permeating the building.

All eyes in Israel were fixed on the convention center when the guest of honor, US President George W. Bush, orated on the friendship between America and the Jewish state. In fact, all of Jerusalem revolved around the presence of these world leaders. Many city streets were closed to traffic and police patrolled every nearby neighborhood.

Meanwhile, at an event just a few miles away and unbeknownst to most residents, some 2,000 Christians gathered for a worship concert - in the shadow of Al Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock no less. Shofars were blown from the Old City ramparts kicking off a three-hour span of worship at one of the world's most contentious plots of real estate. This strategically located park stands in the gap between the City of David, where 24/7 worship went up for several years during King David's reign, and the sight of the first and second temples.

The two concurring events - political and spiritual - underscored the contrast of gatherings leading up to the May 14th celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary and explained the highly charged atmosphere in the land.

GOD TV event at the Davidson Center in Jerusalem

The commotion over Bush allowed for this event at the Davidson Center archaeological park to go unnoticed while God TV broadcast from there live, evangelist Benny Hinn spoke and Rueben Morgan and his band from Australia led worship.

I left the Bush speech and traipsed across the city to catch the end of the concert. I was admittedly in shock when I arrived. Anyone who has lived in Israel long enough knows that even a hiccup within the Temple Mount perimeter can lead to violence. How did Christians worshiping Jesus between revered sites of both Judaism and Islam not touch off World War III?

Far from the flashy, platitude-laden speeches at the Jerusalem convention center, the Old City was mysteriously empty and a peace uncharacteristic of Jerusalem saturated the atmosphere. Between a mosque and a synagogue, the name of Jesus was lifted up. Religious Jews, Muslims and other passersby stood by the railing to get a glimpse and hear the music.

Tony Blair and Shimon Peres

Thousands of Christian tourists had poured into the nation for various functions this month such as One Thing Israel, The Call Jerusalem, and the God TV tour. These earnest Christians from all over the world joined Israeli Messianic leaders in fasting and prayer at the convention center for "The Call Jerusalem." But the solemn assembly was quickly replaced with light jazz, futuristic decor and food and wine transforming the hall into a swank lounge for the presidential conference "Facing Tomorrow", organized by Israeli President Shimon Peres. Bush, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair presidents of several countries, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, media magnate Rupert Murdoch and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. They discussed the future of the world and "globalization," a word used several times during each speech.

With heavy hitters from both the Christian world and from the political arena all in Israel at the same time, it made for a swirling atmosphere of spiritual activity in the country. The convergence of these events that sought to set the course of this country was no coincidence. Perhaps One Thing, The Call and the God TV tour were divinely scheduled to set the tone before the globalization conference came to town and to counter its intentions.