Humph! Memo from Virginia to "bishop" Matta:
I just lost respect for the Copts. This "bishop" or whatever this bogus PLO/PA Quisling puppet calls himself and his lot can go kiss my Dixie tailpipe.
Posted on 04/06/2005 5:30:48 AM PDT by SJackson
Official PA website features article: Jews Have No Rights in Al-Quds: Egyptian Christian Copts
Jews Have No Rights in Al-Quds: Egyptian Christian Copts 6 April 2005
By Hamdy Al-Husseini
www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=4&id=1776 [Official PA website]
CAIRO, April 5, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - Egyptian Copts refused on Tuesday, April 5, to take part in any conference on proclaimed Jewish rights in the holy city of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).
"Jews can't turn black into white and claim sacred rights in Al-Quds," Bishop Salib Matta, member of the Orthodox Copts Council, told IslamOnline.net.
"True that Jews used to live in Al-Quds for a while, but they lived like any minority before the birth of Jesus Christ and then they were scattered across the globe and returned as occupiers to establish their state on the rubble of Palestine."
Media reports said last month preparations were underway to organize a conference in a European capital grouping Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders on the religious rights of each faith in Al-Quds.
Matta said the Israeli claims of having rights in Al-Quds are part of stereotypes circulated by Jews.
"They, to mention but a few examples, claim that they are the 'chosen people of God,' forgetting the fact that they were regarded as such only before the advent of Christianity and Islam."
No Evidence
Bishop Rafiq Girgis, director of the Catholic Church press office in Cairo, said there is no evidence that Jews had sacred rights in Al-Quds.
"But we can't deny them the right to enter the holy city to enjoy its spiritual aura," he said.
Al-Azhar said on March 27, that Jews have no religious rights whatsoever in the holy city.
"Al-Quds is a Palestinian right that should be given back to the Palestinians," said Fawzi El-Zefzaf, chairman of Al-Azhar's Interfaith Dialogue Committee.
Raouf Abbas, professor of history in Ein Shams University, said since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, Israeli archeologists and historians tried in vain to find any Jewish monument to get a foothold in the city.
"They might now resort to such talked-about conferences to get what they failed to have through excavations," he said.
Mohammad Abu Ghadir, professor of Hebrew in Al-Azhar University, added that Israeli archeologists had failed to prove that the so called "wailing wall" was part of alleged "temple of Solomon."
Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which includes Al-Aqsa Mosque, represents the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict because of its religious significance for Muslims.
Jews claim that their alleged Haykal (Temple of Solomon) exists underneath Al Haram Al Sharif. Al-Haram Al-Sharif was the first Qibla (direction Muslims take during prayers) and is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka'ba in Makkah and Prophet Mhuhammad's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj (the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad).
Palestinian archeologists have warned that ongoing Israeli excavations weakened the foundations of Al-Aqsa mosque, cautioning it would not stand a powerful earthquake.
Political Agenda
Matta said Egyptian Copts are only for conferences on interfaith dialogue, which call for tolerance and peace.
"But we reject any religious conferences with political and hidden agendas," he told IOL.
Girgis saw eye to eye with Matta on the conference's purpose.
"We reject to participate in conferences that take religion as a facade to pass their political agenda," he told IOL.
Matta added that Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria has set a good example by calling for Arabizing Al-Quds and banning any Copt to visit the holy lands as long as they are still occupied by Israel.
Up to 400 Palestinian Christians demonstrated in Al-Quds last month to protest reported land sale by the Greek Orthodox Church to Jewish investors.
The protestors marched from the Holy Sepulchre Church to the Greek Orthodox patriarchy holding aloft Arabic and Greek placards reading: "Keep the Church for the Orthodox Arabs," and "Yes to the Arabization of the Church."
Nice. They think that if they hitch their skirts high for the muslims they will stop persecuting them. OK, whatever respect I had for them I lost it today. Let them have whatever fate they deserve.
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
The leadership of the Copts in Egypt is made up of stooges for the government. They get perks, while the average Copt gets persecuted. This doesn't surprise me one bit. If you want to know how the average Copt thinks about the leaders of his church, go back and read some of the comments made following the Jersey City murders....that'll give you a whole new perspective, and also explain why these screamingly un-Christian statements would be made.
An unfortunate similarity to many of the "Christian" churchmen under Communism and Nazism. Obviously there were a great many honorable exceptions, but most clergy were happy to go along to get along.
Trouble with tiny fish in a tinier pond is that they lose contact with the real world.
Perhaps someone should remind this person that Jerusalem is part of Israel, as it was long before that idiot dirteater invented his cult, and is not likely to be allowed into arab hands any time soon. This is of no small interest to billions of non-Jews.
When was the last time that you heard of "ultra orthodox" Jews killing anyone for disagreeing with them? If the "ultra orthodox" are so dangerous why are the gays allowed to hold their sex convention in Jerusalem?
What do "ultra orthodox" Jews have to do with the Coptic Christians anyway?
I have a Coptic guy in my office active in the Houston Coptic community. He's a decent fella, gotta talk to him. However, the subject is senstive. Need to figure out how to best put it not to offend him.
Historical perspective: Coptic Christians aided in the slaughter during the massacre of the Jews of ancient Alexandria.
You are asking him too many questions. Do not try to confuse him even further.
"Al-Quds"???? Al-Quds, my foot.
" Jews Have No Rights in Al-Quds: Egyptian Christian Copts"
Who asked them, in the first place? Who cares about their opinion?
Izshak Rabin?
What makes you think Yigal Amir is an "ultra orthodox"?
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