by Jonathan Kuttab
Last week, Palestinian Christians following the Eastern Calendar celebrated Christmas. January 6 is recognized by the Palestinian Authority as a national holiday, with government and municipal offices closed for Eastern Christmas, just as they are on December 25 for Western Christmas and major Muslim holidays. This may come as a surprise to many Americans, who are still fed the line that Palestinian Christians are persecuted by the Palestinian Authority and that the dwindling Christian population is shrinking as a result of Islamic extremism rather than the ongoing Israeli occupation.
Netanyahu has also recently announced that Israel needs to be the “defender of Christians” throughout the region and that Israel would be prepared to act militarily to support and defend minorities, especially Christians in Africa and elsewhere. Already, Israel is interfering in Syria, here claiming to support the Druze minority, and it has moved into Somaliland with similar justifications. Now, he is aspiring to become a dominant regional power as a so-called defender of Christians.
All this sounds absolutely bizarre to Palestinians, who know Israel’s long record of harassment towards Christians, their churches, and their holy places. Christian priests in Jerusalem are spat upon and berated by religious Jews on a daily basis. Christian Palestinians face the same enmity, and their property and land is equally coveted by Israel because the state views them in the same light as it views their Muslim compatriots.
This became particularly clear to me this week as I visited the Christian village of Taybeh, in the Ramallah area of the West Bank. The ancient church in that village was attacked by Jewish settlers who also set fire to part of its property. Churches and church institutions in Gaza have been attacked and bombed by the Israeli army, including the third oldest Christian Church in the world, the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, as well as the Arab Al Ahli “Baptist” hospital in Gaza City. Israel is also moving to tax church property in Jerusalem in violation of the centuries old tradition of exempting such properties from taxation, a potential death blow for local Christian institutions.
A recently-leaked secret memorandum from AIPAC reveals that Zionist propagandists, after doing some field research, have decided that the best argument in support of Israel is to attack Islam. While support for Israel is rapidly declining, there still exists a lot of suspicion, ignorance and hatred for Islam and Muslims in the West. Americans, who may not feel much sympathy towards Israel these days, are still vulnerable to ads and arguments stoking fear of Islam and Shari’a law. References to so-called “Judaeo-Christian values” deliberately exclude and cast suspicion on Islam and Muslims as a dangerous or inferior “other,” while positing a unity of purpose between the state of Israel and Christians in the West. Interfaith activities often ignore Islam, seeking to project unity and affinity between Christians and Jews at the expense of Muslims.
It is important to firmly oppose such trends for a number of reasons. For one thing, the Muslim community in America is still very vulnerable, and it does not have access to the solidarity, resources, official backing and acceptance that the Jewish community has achieved after many years of discrimination and marginalization. While anti-Jewish attitudes still persist in some significant portions of the population, it is often quickly exposed and properly confronted. Private and official bodies are constantly on the lookout for anti-Jewish animus. Publications, speeches and statements are assiduously monitored and any hint of perceived anti-Jewish antisemitism is duly denounced and dealt with. This is as it should be. Unfortunately, the fight against such antisemitism has also been effectively weaponized to shield Zionism and Israel from criticism and to stifle any reasonable discussion of Palestine/Israel. Bias against Islam and Muslims, by contrast, is regularly tolerated, at times even celebrated, and hardly results in proper rebuke or serious consequences.
Another reason to oppose such trends is that the core issues between Israel and Palestinians are purely political, involving disputes over land and population. Viewing the situation as a religious conflict between Judaism and Islam (with Christianity weighing in on the side of the Jews, whom they persecuted in the past) is both inaccurate and dangerous. It pits groups against each other, with God supposedly taking sides. It also justifies the most extreme positions, as adherents of each faith feel they are doing God’s will when they oppose their infidel enemies. And with “God on their side,” it is both useless and even “sacrilegious” to give in to others who are considered heathen and infidels. This is true both for Jews and Muslims. Thankfully, since the times of the Crusades, Christians do not raise exclusive claims to the Holy Land in the name of their God. Yet, adherents of all three religions have a religious connection to the Holy Land, with sacred sites, places of worship and important pilgrimage interests in Palestine. This renders them vulnerable to manipulation and persuasion by political (often secular) elements in the name of their respective religions. In this sense, Christian Zionism, which provides a religious cover for pro-Israeli policies as a Christian duty, is as dangerous as Jewish fanaticism or Muslim fundamentalism.
Therefore, Netanyahu’s pronouncement that he sees Israel as the “defender of Christians” in the region is nothing more than a cynical ruse that should fool no one. Ask the Christians of Palestine how they feel about Netanyahu, Israel, and Zionism first.
And while you are at it, ask why despite repeated efforts, the Israeli prison services are refusing to allow a Christian Palestinian prisoner with whom we are in contact, a Catholic, to have a Bible with or have a priest visit him and administer the sacraments. The Israeli prison authorities state that such religious “privileges” could be given to regular criminals but not to so-called “security detainees.”
The unspoken truth is that many, particularly religious Israelis have more animosity towards Christians than even towards Muslims. This may be understandable in light of their bitter historic experiences with anti Jewish bigotry in the Christian West. Yet these attitudes are never admitted publicly in English, or in the West. It is more politically expedient to garner support for Israel by promoting a Jewish-Christian alliance against Muslims and Islam. This is the cynical truth behind Netanyahu’s proclamation that he is a defender of Christians.
Last week, Palestinian Christians following the Eastern Calendar celebrated Christmas. January 6 is recognized by the Palestinian Authority as a national holiday, with government and municipal offices closed for Eastern Christmas, just as they are on December 25 for Western Christmas and major Muslim holidays. This may come as a surprise to many Americans, who are still fed the line that Palestinian Christians are persecuted by the Palestinian Authority and that the dwindling Christian population is shrinking as a result of Islamic extremism rather than the ongoing Israeli occupation.
Netanyahu has also recently announced that Israel needs to be the “defender of Christians” throughout the region and that Israel would be prepared to act militarily to support and defend minorities, especially Christians in Africa and elsewhere. Already, Israel is interfering in Syria, here claiming to support the Druze minority, and it has moved into Somaliland with similar justifications. Now, he is aspiring to become a dominant regional power as a so-called defender of Christians.
All this sounds absolutely bizarre to Palestinians, who know Israel’s long record of harassment towards Christians, their churches, and their holy places. Christian priests in Jerusalem are spat upon and berated by religious Jews on a daily basis. Christian Palestinians face the same enmity, and their property and land is equally coveted by Israel because the state views them in the same light as it views their Muslim compatriots.
This became particularly clear to me this week as I visited the Christian village of Taybeh, in the Ramallah area of the West Bank. The ancient church in that village was attacked by Jewish settlers who also set fire to part of its property. Churches and church institutions in Gaza have been attacked and bombed by the Israeli army, including the third oldest Christian Church in the world, the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, as well as the Arab Al Ahli “Baptist” hospital in Gaza City. Israel is also moving to tax church property in Jerusalem in violation of the centuries old tradition of exempting such properties from taxation, a potential death blow for local Christian institutions.
A recently-leaked secret memorandum from AIPAC reveals that Zionist propagandists, after doing some field research, have decided that the best argument in support of Israel is to attack Islam. While support for Israel is rapidly declining, there still exists a lot of suspicion, ignorance and hatred for Islam and Muslims in the West. Americans, who may not feel much sympathy towards Israel these days, are still vulnerable to ads and arguments stoking fear of Islam and Shari’a law. References to so-called “Judaeo-Christian values” deliberately exclude and cast suspicion on Islam and Muslims as a dangerous or inferior “other,” while positing a unity of purpose between the state of Israel and Christians in the West. Interfaith activities often ignore Islam, seeking to project unity and affinity between Christians and Jews at the expense of Muslims.
It is important to firmly oppose such trends for a number of reasons. For one thing, the Muslim community in America is still very vulnerable, and it does not have access to the solidarity, resources, official backing and acceptance that the Jewish community has achieved after many years of discrimination and marginalization. While anti-Jewish attitudes still persist in some significant portions of the population, it is often quickly exposed and properly confronted. Private and official bodies are constantly on the lookout for anti-Jewish animus. Publications, speeches and statements are assiduously monitored and any hint of perceived anti-Jewish antisemitism is duly denounced and dealt with. This is as it should be. Unfortunately, the fight against such antisemitism has also been effectively weaponized to shield Zionism and Israel from criticism and to stifle any reasonable discussion of Palestine/Israel. Bias against Islam and Muslims, by contrast, is regularly tolerated, at times even celebrated, and hardly results in proper rebuke or serious consequences.
Another reason to oppose such trends is that the core issues between Israel and Palestinians are purely political, involving disputes over land and population. Viewing the situation as a religious conflict between Judaism and Islam (with Christianity weighing in on the side of the Jews, whom they persecuted in the past) is both inaccurate and dangerous. It pits groups against each other, with God supposedly taking sides. It also justifies the most extreme positions, as adherents of each faith feel they are doing God’s will when they oppose their infidel enemies. And with “God on their side,” it is both useless and even “sacrilegious” to give in to others who are considered heathen and infidels. This is true both for Jews and Muslims. Thankfully, since the times of the Crusades, Christians do not raise exclusive claims to the Holy Land in the name of their God. Yet, adherents of all three religions have a religious connection to the Holy Land, with sacred sites, places of worship and important pilgrimage interests in Palestine. This renders them vulnerable to manipulation and persuasion by political (often secular) elements in the name of their respective religions. In this sense, Christian Zionism, which provides a religious cover for pro-Israeli policies as a Christian duty, is as dangerous as Jewish fanaticism or Muslim fundamentalism.
Therefore, Netanyahu’s pronouncement that he sees Israel as the “defender of Christians” in the region is nothing more than a cynical ruse that should fool no one. Ask the Christians of Palestine how they feel about Netanyahu, Israel, and Zionism first.
And while you are at it, ask why despite repeated efforts, the Israeli prison services are refusing to allow a Christian Palestinian prisoner with whom we are in contact, a Catholic, to have a Bible with or have a priest visit him and administer the sacraments. The Israeli prison authorities state that such religious “privileges” could be given to regular criminals but not to so-called “security detainees.”
The unspoken truth is that many, particularly religious Israelis have more animosity towards Christians than even towards Muslims. This may be understandable in light of their bitter historic experiences with anti Jewish bigotry in the Christian West. Yet these attitudes are never admitted publicly in English, or in the West. It is more politically expedient to garner support for Israel by promoting a Jewish-Christian alliance against Muslims and Islam. This is the cynical truth behind Netanyahu’s proclamation that he is a defender of Christians.
Jonathan Kuttab for:
Friends of Sabeel North America · PO Box 3192, Greenwood Village, CO 80155, United States.
A very good report and analysis of an ongoing very dangerous situation, it's been in the making for many decades now, and nowadays being used to its full extend, transforming the colonial acquisition of Palestine and the following transfer and elimination of the indigenous population into a religious pseudo war, a dirty political game engulfing the area and the entire world.
Mr. Kuttab is an inspired spokes-person for this Christian Palestinian/American organization, I have proudly used some of his words before on our blog, inspired words of courageous truth.
As always, my many thanks to all.
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