www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Palestinian Christians under attack by Muslims

I'm always amazed at those who blaim Israel for all or most of the problems faced by Palestinian Christians. It has always been the situation that Christians fair far worse with Muslims than they do with Israel. Here's an article pointing out some of the severe problems Christians face in Palestine.

"Some argue that the territories are such a disaster that anything could happen to anybody�that the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad are all equal-opportunity human-rights violators. I don't think that's correct. I think it happens much more to Christians than to Muslims. And I think it happens most of all to Muslims who find Jesus and take upon themselves the death sentence of being an apostate. They're more in danger than anyone else.

The Palestinian Christians don't see any future there. If they're not sitting on their suitcases, they're already living in Berlin or Chile or Belize or Toronto or Detroit. A lot of these cities have more Arab Christians than the cities that they came from, like Bethlehem, Ramallah, Taibe, and others."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/103/42.0.html

CDL

This features a rather twisted account of what actually took place in Taybeh. It is an example of shallow journalism--and that is a charitable term for it.

People interested in other Christian perspectives from Palestine can contact Fr. Raed in Taybeh at taybeh@lpj.org or Maria Khoury, the great writer of Christian children's books, at Khourymaria@hotmail.com. There is also the Sabeel organization. And to see what we're able to do as Christians and Muslims working together in Palestine overall, please go to www.pcwf.org. [pcwf.org.]

Last year the FBI showed up at my job and interviewed me about Palestine, saying that the inquiry came from the Israeli government. Imagine a government so powerful that it requests or orders the FBI to do what it wants and then get what it wants. One of the agents, a so-called "fundamentalist Christian," thought that the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek Catholic Church were mere sects. When I attempted to correct this, he did one of the more dramatic double-takes I have ever seen. It ends happily: our PCWF still today cooperates with Christians and Muslims in Palestine and is a source of bridge-building between the communities. And the agents have left me alone.

Also please note the short but helpful areticle from taybeh in the Jan. 1 issue of Horizons, issued by the Eparchy of Parma. The lamps mentioned in the article can be obtained from our PCWF.

Faithfully,

bob r.

Bob,

Neither of your links worked. Could you see if there is an error in the address. You mention bridge building opportunities. Since we plan to travel to Israel both this year and next I would like to meet with Father or someone there. Do you have a way to contact anyone there?

CDL

I don't know why the links don't work. You can either write me at rjrossi@navicom.com and I can send you links and addresses and recommend people or you can try web searches. I will be honored to help you meet and stay with Palestinian Christians.

Let's try these addresses and organizations. If these don't work, look these good people up on the web or contact me privately.

HOLY LAND TRUST--a wonderful effort of Christians and Muslims working together. HLT Director Sami Awad is a Christian running for a seat in the Palestinian legislature. Try hlta@p-ol.com and hltb@p-ol.com and see www.holylandtrust.org. [holylandtrust.org.]

MARIA KHOURY--A Christian living in Taybeh. She writes Orthodox children's books. Her family owns Taybeh Brewery. Try Khourymaria@hotmail.com. She knows the entire village and lives near Fr. Raed.

FR. RAED--Priest at the Latin Church in Taybeh. His address is as I gave it to you. He also has a webpage. You can stay at the Latin Convent in Taybeh and make arrangement through him. Try Taybeh@lpj.org again, please.

PALESTINE CHILDRENS WELFARE FUND--the charity I help administer is at www.pcwf.org. [pcwf.org.]

SABEEL--A Christian Palestinian organization, primarily protestant. They are at www.sabeel.org [sabeel.org] and their e-mail is sabeel@sabeel.org. Sr. Elaine Kelly, a Roman Catholic nun, does much work with them here and she is a brilliant writer on Mideast affairs. Try friends@fosna.org for Sr. Kelley.

FR. LABIB KOBTI--Palestinian Latin priest serving here in the US. His website and magazine are called Al-Bushra and can be viewed at http://www.al-bushra.org/. Go to http://www.al-bushra.org/mos-chr/0mos-chr.htm for an interesting read.

SALT FILMS--They are protestants who served with both Latin and Greek Catholics in Palestine until recently. They have a wonderful DVD available which highlights the life of a Latin Catholic Palestinian teacher. They can be reached at www.saltfilms.net. [saltfilms.net.]

I tried these links and they are all working. I hope that this helps.

Faithfully,

bob r.

Perhaps these links will work better:

http://www.holylandtrust.org./index.html

palestine@holylandtrust.org

http://www.pcwf.org/

THANKS!

bob r.

Bob,

I have to laud your perseverance at bringing us this information. I am sure that it will help enlighten all as to the situation that is current in the Holy Land.

Thank You!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Christianity Today is basically an american evangelical magazine they might be predesposed to favor Israel and to put all the blame on Palestinian Muslims but every account I have ever heard from the Francisans in the holy land who live in Palestine everyday say the same thing whehter they be on interviewed CNN or EWTN. THey are being attacked on both sides and see Israel and Muslims as hating the Christian community.
They have no refuge nor any allie in the are this is why they are leaving.
THis is what is closer to the truth.

Shlomo Carson Daniel,

I do love that you try so hard to prove your points, even though you are wrong. The reason that most of Middle Eastern Christians on here and in the Middle Eastblame Israel about the plit of Christian Palestinians is because the VAST majority of Christian Palestinians lived and live in the Nazareth area, which is wholly within the State of Israel.

Secondly, we have critized the other countries in the region about the repression they do, but what gets to us is that we are financing the repression of our co-religious through our taxes.

Lastly, what I find very appalling, is that you would believe such a story that has NO backup evidence. Why is it you would believe someone who does not live nor know the region over those who do? Why is it why Christian Palestinians complain about how the checkpoints have destroyed there lives there you discount it, but are willing to believe non-co-religious?

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon