Citaat:
Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Tamam
Palestina:
Palestijnse kinderen spelen buiten hun Deir Latin kerk in Gaza op kerstmis 2012.
Israel:
een artikel van maart dit jaar met wat feiten opgesomd hoe Israel systematisch ook christenen weert:
How Israel Targets Its Palestinian Christian Citizens
bron:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nadim-...b_5396594.html |
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Christy Anastas, in a powerful video released last month, eloquently describes the terror that she and her family endured in Bethlehem under Palestinian Authority rule.
http://unitedwithisrael.org/a-plea-f...n-territories/
For centuries, Bethlehem was a Christian city, with believers comprising around 80% of the population as recently as 50 years ago. Today, however, it is less than 15% Christian, and that number continues to dwindle. Bethlehem is increasingly occupied by Muslims, some of whom exert great pressure on their Christian neighbors.
http://unitedwithisrael.org/will-pop...an-christians/
Since the Oslo Accords, it’s been the unspoken rule that “what happens to Christians in Bethlehem stays in Bethlehem.” That is beginning to change, however, thanks to young, courageous Christians like Christy Anastas.
More Palestinian Christians Beginning to Speak Out
In a hard-hitting video released in April, Christy described what life was like for her and her Christian family in Bethlehem, and why she has begun to speak out against the multiple injustices, lack of free speech and abuse of women in her hometown.
“Breaking through the silence and fear faced by so many Palestinians,” Luke Moon reported, “Christy described how her uncle, a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem, had to pay the al-jizyah, protection money that is often levied against non-Muslims. After some time her uncle refused to pay…. Because of his refusal to pay up he was murdered in front of his house.”
Christy even dared to say that if she had been Israel’s Prime Minister during the Second Intifada, she too would have put up a security barrier to stop the suicide bombings. This is especially poignant, because her family home is surrounded by the wall – on three sides.
Palestinian Christians
Author asks: Will Pope Francis hear about the abuse of Palestinian Christians while visiting Bethlehem? (Photo: Atta Jaber/Flash90)
Her story is alarming – she has received political asylum in Britain because of death threats from one of her own family members; others have disowned her. During a recent interview, I found Christy to be not only brave and eloquent, but utterly convincing.
And now, perhaps thanks to her courage, others are also speaking out.
Recently a young Bethlehem man – who will remain unnamed – told me about an attack on a Christian church. I passed it on to Dexter VanZile, who posted the story for CAMERA SnapShots.
“A Bethlehem Greek Orthodox Church (St. George’s Church — Khadar — near Beit Jala) was attacked by Muslims during its annual St. George’s Day services on May 6. … Some local Muslims either tried to park a car too close the church and/or tried to enter the church during a service honoring St. George — the initial instigation isn’t clear. …Several then started throwing stones at the church.”
Windows were broken, one worshipper was stabbed, and several others were injured. We later learned later that a young man’s face was badly beaten, requiring two surgeries. And as a smart-phone video revealed, the police didn’t arrive promptly enough to prevent damage, injuries and terror.
Treatment of Palestinian Christians is ‘an Open Scandal’
Those aren’t the only stories. Now that the silence has been broken, reports abound about confiscated Christian property, honor killings and sexual molestation.
Will the pope hear about these abuses against Christians?
VanZile, who is Catholic, is doubtful. “The pope’s trip to Bethlehem highlights the bind Christians are in. If he doesn’t go, he misses an opportunity to show people how important the city is to Christians world wide. But when he does go, his presence will be used to score propaganda points to demonstrate just how wonderful Christians have it under the PA.
Palestinian Christians
Christy Anastas, in a hard-hitting video, tells the truth about life for Palestinian Christians. (Photo: legalinsurrection.com)
“It’s just a mess. It’s an open scandal and everyone knows it, but no one can really talk about it.”