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Religion
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Title: Peace through equality for all(plight of Palestinian Christians)
Source: Institute for Middle East Understanding
URL Source: http://imeu.net/news/article003596.shtml
Published: Nov 16, 2006
Author: Bernard Sabella
Post Date: 2006-11-18 15:51:02 by scrapper2
Keywords: Palestinian Christians, Holy Land, Israel
Views: 349
Comments: 12

In the land where Jesus once walked, Palestinian Christians face extinction. With nearly 500,000 Palestinian Christians worldwide, only 170,000 remain in the Holy Land. They belong to 15 different Churches, some still using Aramaic, the language Christ spoke. But the traditions of service and continuity of Christian communities in the very birthplace of Christianity may soon disappear.

With its establishment in 1948, Israel drove nearly 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, among them 50,000 to 60,000 Christians. Some neighborhoods in Jerusalem where mostly Palestinian Christians lived, such as Qatamon, emptied overnight and were seized by Israel for newly-arrived Jewish immigrants.

As a child, I heard my parents speak of their home in Qatamon. Though painful, the conversations were always infused with hopes of return. Their generation died holding onto those cherished memories. Nevertheless, they never lost hope for a solution and were always willing to compromise to resolve their people's tragedy.

Yet the tragedy of 1948 continues today with the emigration of our youth. An unbearable political and economic situation, exacerbated by Israel's separation wall, is literally pushing us out of our homeland.

In Jerusalem, which I represent in the Palestinian Legislative Council, we must prove to Israeli authorities that Jerusalem is our "center of life," or risk losing our residency rights. Yet, the wall has cut thousands of Palestinians off from Jerusalem. Movement into the city is restricted, limiting our youth's educational and employment prospects. My constituents are routinely denied building permits to accommodate their growing families. Despite Israel's claims, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem terms these policies which have no security rationale, a "quiet deportation."

In Bethlehem, the town of the Nativity, conversations dwell on the economic and social hardships caused by the wall. Bethlehem and Jerusalem, seven miles apart, were twin cities, particularly in tourism and Christian pilgrimage. But the wall has severed connections between the two.

Bethlehem residents cannot go to Jerusalem to attend Church or family weddings, baptisms and funerals without permits from Israeli authorities. These are nearly impossible to obtain. Sick people need a permit as well to receive medical care in an Israeli hospital just three or four miles away.

If the hermetic closure of Bethlehem and Israel's draconian measures of control continue, new waves of emigration by our Christian Palestinian youth are inevitable.

Our experience as Palestinian Christians is closely linked to that of the Palestinian people as a whole. Historically, Christian-Muslim relations in Palestine have been based on what we call "the dialogue of life" as we work together, our children go to school together and we share the same bitter and sweet conditions of life. We are proud, as Palestinian Christians, to have contributed such leaders as the late intellectual Edward Said, spokesperson Hanan Ashrawi, and current PLO envoy to the U.S. Afif Safieh. We work with our Muslim compatriots to end Israel's military occupation and establish a viable, geographically-contiguous, democratic and secular Palestinian state at peace with itself and with its neighbors. In fact, according to a recent poll conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, only three percent of Palestinians support Islamic rule. The vast majority supports secular nationalism.

Our relations are periodically tested by outside developments such as His Holiness the Pope's recent comments on Islam. Acts of Church vandalism in the West Bank and Gaza followed, and troubled us all, Christians and Muslims, particularly in light of centuries of Muslim respect for Christian and Jewish communities, both here and elsewhere in the Middle East. We were supported by our Muslim neighbors, religious leaders and the Palestinian National Authority in condemning these acts and promising to pursue the perpetrators. Muslims sat side by side with Christians in churches that were vandalized.

Christians and others in America who have our true interests at heart would help us most by urging even-handed U.S. policies. The blockade of the Palestinian government that began in March must end. A cease-fire must be observed by both sides, not only by Palestinians. Negotiations must be based on international law and human rights, and if conditions are imposed for talks, they must be reciprocal on both parties.

This land belongs to no single people. Peace will come when no group dominates and excludes others. Christ's message of love and tolerance will be heard in the Holy Land when the equality of all God's children is again respected. The vital bridge that Palestinian Christians constitute between the West and the Arab world would then be preserved for the benefit of future generations.

***Bernard Sabella, a Roman Catholic, is the Christian representative of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Legislative Council. An expert on Christians in the Holy Land, he is currently touring the United States.***

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#1. To: robin, Burkeman1, gargantuton, christine (#0)

I recall that you four were raised Catholic(?)so this article might interest you, although the message conveyed is a mix of depressing/comforting news - Palestinian Muslims and Christians are very supportive of one another so neither stands alone in the midst of these deplorable circumstances. The article is written by a Roman Catholic representative.

scrapper2  posted on  2006-11-18   16:16:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: scrapper2 (#1) (Edited)

No honey, I'm a Baptist, but my husband's Catholic.

Palestinian Muslims and Christians are very supportive of one another so neither stands alone in the midst of these deplorable circumstances. The article is written by a Roman Catholic representative.

Thanks for the ping.

"The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer."
---Henry Kissinger, New York Times, October 28, 1973

robin  posted on  2006-11-18   16:26:20 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: scrapper2 (#1)

Nice... I can only imagine what others at certain sites would say. Why, the Palestinians all left on the direction of their leaders back in 1948... and Israeli Christians are better off in Israel than the Christians in Palestine are, who are being attacked by Palestinian Muslims... why, this is just a myth no doubt, of Palestinian Christians and Muslims living side-by-side... lol...

Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later. --Allan Bloom

"The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time." -- Frank Zappa

gargantuton  posted on  2006-11-18   16:33:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: robin, All (#2)

No honey, I'm a Baptist, but my husband's Catholic.

Christians generally will find this article revealing and an antidote to all the false neocon and MSM propaganda about Muslims wanting to slit the throats of Christians everywhere or how Muslims want to convert everyone to Islam.

It's quite the opposite - at least in the Holy Land, if that situation can viewed as a microcosm of Muslims and Christians supporting each other and living in harmony. According to the author, a Roman Catholic representative, Muslims have been exceedingly supportive of Christians in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Anyone with FR account who wants to live dangerously and post this article there?

scrapper2  posted on  2006-11-18   16:36:30 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: scrapper2 (#4)

Christians generally will find this article revealing and an antidote to all the false neocon and MSM propaganda about Muslims wanting to slit the throats of Christians everywhere or how Muslims want to convert everyone to Islam.

How true that is. It is appallingly amazing how easily people buy into this lie of Muslims wanting to kill and convert everyone everywhere. It's just not so. I've met a few. Apparently they did not receive the neocon memo, because i was neither converted nor was my throat slit...

Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later. --Allan Bloom

"The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time." -- Frank Zappa

gargantuton  posted on  2006-11-18   16:45:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: gargantuton (#3)

Why, the Palestinians all left on the direction of their leaders back in 1948...

That's one of my all time favorite Israel Firster propaganda bits.

Burkeman1  posted on  2006-11-18   20:02:06 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: Burkeman1 (#6)

That's one of my all time favorite Israel Firster propaganda bits.

Ah yes, like this source

Even if that were true that the hundreds upon thousands of Arabs left at the behest of their leaders... I still can't figure out how that morally justifies the Israeli control of land, denial of the right of return to those who were told to leave, as well as the refugee camps... that one has me puzzled... I guess I will have to settle for my inability to understand the argument... but hey, the Israelis were, are and will always be the morally righteous victims in this conflict... oy...

Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later. --Allan Bloom

"The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time." -- Frank Zappa

gargantuton  posted on  2006-11-18   23:40:14 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: Burkeman1 (#6)

"When we occupy the land, we shall bring immediate benefits to the state that receives us. We must expropriate gently the private property on the estates assigned to us. We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border by procuring employment for it in the transit countries, while denying it any employment in our own country." - (12 June, 1895. Raphael Patai, ed., The Complete Diaries of Theodor Herzl, vol. 1 Harry Zohn. Trans., New York: Herzl Press and T. Yoseloff, 1960, pp. 88-89.).

Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later. --Allan Bloom

"The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time." -- Frank Zappa

gargantuton  posted on  2006-11-18   23:56:55 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: gargantuton (#5)

because i was neither converted nor was my throat slit...

laughing...

christine  posted on  2006-11-19   0:00:57 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: christine (#9)

get this.... we... talked!! *gasp*

Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later. --Allan Bloom

"The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time." -- Frank Zappa

gargantuton  posted on  2006-11-19   8:43:48 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: gargantuton (#10)

my sister took a trip to england last year. she related to me that she and her friend needed directions and approached a woman who was an Iraqi for help. the woman was startled when she realized they were americans and asked my sister, are you sure you want to speak to me in public? my sister was surprised and, of course, answered yes. they went on to converse for awhile and the woman was very sweet and very friendly. that experience was quite enlightening for my sister and her friend.

christine  posted on  2006-11-19   9:31:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: christine (#11)

my sister took a trip to england last year. she related to me that she and her friend needed directions and approached a woman who was an Iraqi for help. the woman was startled when she realized they were americans and asked my sister, are you sure you want to speak to me in public? my sister was surprised and, of course, answered yes. they went on to converse for awhile and the woman was very sweet and very friendly. that experience was quite enlightening for my sister and her friend.

That's a nice story. It highlights the unfortunate stereotypes that plague the preconceptions of both groups, and transcends them. I've talked to a few Arab Muslims, and in every instance did I come away with a better impression. Which is not to say I agreed with them, cause I've heard some wacky statements; but, I understood them better (and their culture, hopefully) while they understood me and America better (and we both realized that not all of the other is bloodthirsty, haha). It ain't much, but it's something.

Rock gives children, on a silver platter, with all the public authority of the entertainment industry, everything their parents always used to tell them they had to wait for until they grew up and would understand later. --Allan Bloom

"The disgusting stink of a too loud electric guitar; now that's my idea of a good time." -- Frank Zappa

gargantuton  posted on  2006-11-19   20:31:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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