Sunday, April 22, 2012

Hit job on Israel anticipated on "60 Minutes" tonight

Elder of Ziyon From CBS' preview of tonight's 60 Minutes: Christians of the Holy Land - Bob Simon reports on the slow exodus from the Holy Land of Palestinian Christians, who say life in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become too difficult. Harry Radliffe is the producer. It looks like this is going to be another of those typical news articles on how horribly Israel treats Christians in the territories, the type that usually crop up every Christmas. The meme goes like this: Christians are leaving Palestinian territories, and this has accelerated since the second intifada, so it must be Israel's fault. In Bethlehem, where they used to be the majority, they can no longer maintain their businesses because of stifling Israeli restrictions. What the meme doesn't explain is that the Muslim population of Bethlehem has actually increased in the same time period, as has the total population of Bethlehem. So how can Israeli policies only be affecting Christians and not their Muslim neighbors who also have businesses and family there? (I looked at the demographic issue in Bethlehem in 2007.) n reality, it is the Muslims who are forcing the Christians out, exactly as they are in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and every other Middle Eaat country - except for Israel. Here are some links to articles over the years that show this to be true: In 2005, Muslims instigated a pogrom against the Christian village of Taybeh over rumors of an affair beteeen a Christian man and a Muslim woman. (The woman was murdered by her own family.) In early 2007, many Christians in Bethlehem started talking openly about how they are persecuted by their Muslim neighbors - including how the Muslims were stealing their land. Similarly, it is notable that in 1967, Fatah - the leading political party of the PA - directly threatened Christian pilgrims to Bethlehem. This 2008 article goes into great detail of the Muslim persecution of Christians in the territories. In Gaza, the few remaining Christians are keeping a low profile and hoping that Hamas doesn't notice them. Michael Oren's article this past Easter is a must-read. Bethlehem is not the only city where Muslims have forced out the Christian majority. Ramallah was also once a Christian town, and now there are virtually none left. Chances are, 60 Minutes tonight will tell you none of this.

4 comments:

Francois Aerts said...

I am afraid there is no future anymore for Christians in the Middle East, the best they can do is emigrate to Europe or the US. They are being sandwiched between Islamic and Jewish aspirations, and if they stay there, they will end up being the losers of this struggle for the possession of the land. They have no real power, the power is in the hands of the PA and the Knesset. Point taken ?

Anonymous said...

Israel has every right to exist, but not where it is deemed illegal by the entire world, and international law. Bob Simon's 60 minutes piece was right on point, and finally gave a much needed perspective on the destructive intent of the Zionist state with how it infringes, and terrorizes the indigenous people of the land. I expect the blog author will be too afraid to post my truths..

hydr0l1c5 said...

Muslims don't have 200 Nukes. Muslims don't have the right to vote in Israel. The piece wasn't about "Muslims", it was about Israel, It's walls, It's Check Points, It's treatment of Christians as opposed to the rights of Jews. Beauracracy just to get a freakin' permit to go to work or shop in Israel. Get with it, Israel will be the root cause of any Middle East Holosaust by bombing Iran, a nation who has never started a war and is not working on building Nukes. A peaceful nation who has never threatened Israel like Israel has been threatening Iran with Military Action for no good reason, DAILY.

GS Don Morris, Ph.D./Chana Givon said...

It is your fear that shines through your comments. Other than the total disregard for the facts, the truth your collective comments ideally represent the willingness your side goes to, with no shame I add, to intentionally misrepresent facts on the ground. Remember this: In writing about the situation of Christians in PA zones, don;t leave out the pogrom in a Christian village [Taiyba or Taybeh] east of Ramallah. Some years ago a Muslim young woman from a Muslim village worked in the office of a Christian businessman in the Christian village [Did he own a brewery??]. It seems that they had an affair & she got pregnant. When her family discovered this she was killed & her Muslim fellow villagers made a pogrom in the Christian village, burning cars, beating people, attacking homes, burning some etc.
Doc