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December 27, 2005
Its the Muslims, Stupid
"Do not be afraid to preserve your Christian heritage and Christian presence in Bethlehem." So sayeth Pope John Paul II.
FACT: Recent statistics show that the Christian Arab population numbers approximately 2.4 percent of the total population. This is a significant decrease from 1948, when the figure was approximately 20%. (New York Times, 31 December 1995).
FACT: the Christian population in Israel has more than quadrupled since 1948. In a census conducted by the British mandatory authorities in 1947, there were 28,000 Christians in Jerusalem. Since 1948, this number has increased from 30,000 (all of Israel) to approximately 146,000 as of 1993 (Jerusalem, seventh edition; Israel Information Center, 1995). This more than 200% increase is largely seen as a result of Israel’s policy of guaranteeing freedom of worship to all religions in all places.
"Thousands of tourists and pilgrims gathered in Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations Saturday, bringing a long-missing sense of holiday cheer to Jesus' historic birthplace. ... But Israel's imposing separation barrier at the entrance to town dampened the Christmas spirit and provided a stark reminder of the unresolved conflict." So sayeth Sarah El Deeb, staff writer for the AP.
"For centuries, pilgrims from around the world converged on the Palestinian town of Bethlehem at Christmas, packing Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. ... In 2002, Israel began building a 25-foot concrete wall around the city, severing it from Jerusalem and the northern West Bank. Today, the streets of Bethlehem are quiet." So sayeth the San Francisco Cronicle.
"A towering wall of gray concrete slabs, 30 feet high, cuts across what was once the main road into this town from Jerusalem. Just inside the barrier, past a new Israeli security terminal, a once-bustling neighborhood has become a ghost town. Shops are shuttered or empty, and the streets are deserted. ... The deteriorating economy has led to a steady exodus of the city's Christian residents." So sayeth the Chicago Tribune
FACT: "Contrary to the Chronicle report and scores of other media accounts, there is no barrier that encircles Bethlehem. A fence exists only where the Bethlehem area interfaces with Jerusalem, and only a small segment of the fence is a concrete wall, which Israel says is meant to prevent gunmen from shooting at Israeli motorists."
The PA leadership maintains that it seeks peace, with guarantees of religious freedom. Unfortunately, the facts show otherwise.
FACT: Today, the PA-controlled Wakf prevents Jews and Christians from praying on the Temple Mount, an area considered to be of religious and historical importance to the Christian religion.
FACT: Many mosques have mushroomed adjacent to and usually taller than churches. Loudly amplified Moslem sermons have been aired during Christian services, including the Pope's April 2000 address in Nazareth. The Moslem broadcasts were so loud, in fact, that the Pope was forced to halt his speech until Moslem call to prayer was concluded.
FACT: Anti-Christian rhetoric is common in official PA broadcasts. For example, in a Friday sermon on October 13, 2000, broadcast live on official Palestinian Authority television from a Gaza mosque, Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya proclaimed: “Allah the almighty has called upon us not to ally with the Jews or the Christians, not to like them, not to become their partners, not to support them, and not to sign agreements with them.”
FACT: The treatment of Christian women, like that of Moslem women in PA-controlled areas, is also oppressive in nature. Accused of wearing “permissive” Western clothing, there have been many cases of intimidation and harassment reported by Bethlehem Christian women. Even more alarming, there have been frequent reports of rape and abduction of Christian women (especially in Beit Sahur).
FACT: Without prior consent of the church, Yasser Arafat turned the Greek Orthodox monastery near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem into his domicile during his visits to the city.
FACT: On July 5, 1997, the PLO seized Abraham's Oak Russian Holy Trinity Monastery in Hebron, violently evicting monks and nuns.
FACT: During the 2000-2002 Palestinian War of Terror, the PA's Tanzim militia chose the Christian town of Beit Jala to shoot at Jerusalem. They were specifically positioned in or near Christian homes, hotels, churches (e.g., St. Nicholas), and the Greek Orthodox club.
FINAL FACT: The Christians in PA controlled areas have begun to pray in secret. Some are applying to move to Israeli-controlled areas, where they are assured the right to worship freely.
"All this talk about Israel driving Christians out and causing pain is nonsense," a Bethlehem Christian community leader told WND. "You want to know what is at play here, just come throughout the year and see the intimidation from the Muslims. They have burned down our stores, built mosques in front of our churches, stole our real estate and took away our rights. Women have been raped and abducted. So don't tell me about Israel. It's the Muslims."
Posted by LindaSoG at December 27, 2005 07:05 AM
Comments
Can some one direct me to information as to why the Jews have been so hated throughout History?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Martice E. Wise, Sr.
Posted by: Martice E. Wise, Sr at December 28, 2005 12:40 AM
Martice,
Aish HaTorah's "Exploration of Anti-Semitism" is thought to be a good one and can be found here:
http://www.aish.com/seminars/whythejews/index.htm
I hope this helps you, and thank you for visiting my site.
Linda
Posted by: LindaSoG at December 28, 2005 06:52 AM