Peace. It's probably not stretching things to say that most people want peace—in their homes, their neighborhoods, their countries. One region of the world that is notorious for not being peaceful is the Middle East. The unrest there goes back many centuries, and is chronicled in the Bible. Just flipping through the Book of books will bring you face to face with the names of modern-day Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Their borders have fluctuated down through the ages, but their names remain the same. And if you listen to the news, you're aware of the ebbing and flowing tension among them.

In such a fluid environment, is it possible to find any lasting peace? Centuries ago a writer in the Hebrew Bible reported that "they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel" (I Kings 22:1). Accepting that as historically true, we can hope and pray that since peace was once possible between Syria and Israel, it is possible again today. And hope is one reason why the government of Turkey has been reaching out to its southernmost neighbor, Syria, and to Israel, with whom Turkey has close ties, by facilitating indirect peace talks between these two long-time enemies.

Last spring the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert surprised many people when it "confirmed a decision to conduct indirect peace talks in a 'serious and continuous way, in order to achieve the goal of comprehensive peace.'" An expert on Syria from Tel Aviv University was also quoted as saying that "if the prime minister of Israel said to [Syrian President Bashar al-As-sad] that he's ready to withdraw to the Sea of Galilee, a very serious obstacle has been removed" (The Christian Science Monitor, May 22, "Israel confirms Golan Heights talks with Syria").

This is not the first time that peace talks have taken place between Syria and Israel, and as with almost any dispute between countries, the issue of borders is playing an important role. The Turkish facilitated discussions, held in Istanbul, have led Israel and Syria into talking about an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights (Biblical Bashan) in exchange for Damascus severing ties with Iran and guerrilla movements hostile to Israel, notably the Palestinians of Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah.

The "very serious obstacle," which it now seems possible to remove, is Israel's unwillingness to give back to Syria the control of the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias), which the strategic Golan Heights overlooks, in exchange for peace. Of course these are talks—not direct negotiations—and there will likely be plenty of resistance to overcome before either country can make a full commitment on paper. For some Israelis, Syria's desire for Israel to withdraw to the border as it existed before the June 1967 Six-Day War could pose major problems. Giving up this land would hand Damascus control of the eastern shore of the lake, which is arid Israel's main source of fresh water.

Israel has been afraid that if it were to withdraw clear down to the water line, it would lose its water rights. This could also pose a potential security threat to Israel. In addition, such an Israeli withdrawal would give Syria access to the lake's resources of water, fishing, and tourism, putting it in seeming competition with Israel for these valuable, life-giving elements.

This is where our prayers for these negotiations can make a huge difference. Specially affirming that God's love can break down fears of competition and scarcity will help. In spiritual fact, the resources each country needs have never been, nor will they ever be, limited or lacking. God's provision for each individual—including each nation—is complete, so there doesn't have to be competition. It's our individual and collective beliefs about resources—the feeling that the world is finite and that we have to battle for what we need—that fill us with fear. True resources are spiritual, constantly pouring forth from Soul, from infinite Spirit, and God bestows them without partiality.

Safety is another issue of importance because the Golan Heights is a strategically powerful location. It is vital to understand that all the parties involved respond to divine Principle, and that their purpose is to affirm Life, not death. Despite appearances, in reality Israelis, Syrians, Iranians, Palestinians, and Lebanese are children of a common Parent, the one infinite Spirit. As such, they are all blessed by their loving Father-Mother God with plentiful ideas that supply their daily needs—including fresh water, risk-free security, and permanent peace.

For a long time, greed and fear have gripped both Israel and Syria, paralyzing these countries from making any moves toward reconciliation. But in the context of these recent bilateral discussions, both countries are now showing signs of neighborliness, mutual trust, and a willingness to negotiate, allowing peace talks to start moving forward once again.

Naive optimism about any lasting solution to such a deeply rooted situation is not practical. But specific prayer in support of the ongoing peace talks is an effective response that anyone anywhere can undertake, and it is vital to the progress between these nations. There still remain hurdles—in the form of human opinions about each country, fear on all sides, and questions about trust when there has been so much betrayal in the past. But today there exists a precious opportunity for everyone who believes that the power of prayer can help normalize ties, not only between Syria and Israel but among all Middle Eastern countries—and extending to nations worldwide.

The acknowledgment of the presence and power of God's kingdom here on earth (within human consciousness) is Christianly scientific prayer. It heals not only sickness and disease but also sin—false beliefs of fear, lack, limitation, revenge, malice, distrust. It can guide those in authority on all sides (mediating and mediated) to find the perfect solution, the one that has already been formed in the one divine Mind and that is ever present as its spiritual idea. Accompanying this perfect peaceful solution are the power and willingness to implement it.

Preconceived notions challenge getting peace talks of any kind started or resumed. If thought stays stuck in the narrow rut of human history, revenge, and distrust, there's little hope for the positive, progressive change that comes through lifting thought into higher realms, allowing one to see any situation from a more spiritual view, the true view, which is God's view. It's possible that both Syria and Israel have begun to see the futility of hostility, and are now ready to move in a more cooperative direction. This current environment of willingness and a Golden Rule attitude on both sides brings with it the blossoming hope for comprehensive peace in the region.

Even though Turkey is currently playing a valuable role as a key regional mediator in the Middle East, from a spiritual standpoint the Christ is the one mediator between God and men. As the Bible puts it: "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5). This does not mean that Jesus must come again to bring us peace. The Christ that Jesus expressed fully is here for all time. The Christ is God's message to humanity.

It was Jesus who removed the most serious obstacle the world will ever face—the belief of inevitable death. Today those at the negotiating table have equal access to the same Christ-message. Their understanding and following of this message of peace must unite them in purpose and progress toward permanent reconciliation, adjusting all motives and acts to the will of God.

As we continue praying for the countries in this region of the world, we can rejoice and look forward to the day when the Middle East will be a spiritual model, famous for successful negotiation and restoration of brotherly love, united under the reign of God's comprehensive, harmonious, perfect peace plan.

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