Palestinian Christians battle Israel barrier route

Associated Press ^ | Apr 24, 2013 2:51 PM EDT | Diaa Hadid

[Olog-hai]

Palestinians in this Christian village are hoping the new pope can succeed where others have failed—pressing Israel to drop plans to build a stretch of its West Bank separation barrier through their picturesque valley.

Since Vatican properties are affected, residents have appealed to the Roman Catholic Church to use more of its significant influence in the Holy Land to reroute the barrier, even as local Catholic leaders hold a special protest Mass in threatened orchards each week. The Vatican has called on Israel not to seize the lands, but local Palestinian Catholics want the new pontiff to lean more heavily on Israel. …

Beit Jala is a postcard-pretty Christian town of 16,000 in the overwhelmingly Muslim West Bank. … Yet the village feels hemmed in. It abuts the biblical town of Bethlehem on one side. On another, barbed wire separates Beit Jala from the Jewish settlement of Har Gilo. …

“If the church stands with us, we would have our land. Israel is scared of the church and her voice,” said Rev. (Ibrahim) Shomali. …

[Olog-hai]

If these were really Christians, they would not use the name “Palestinian” to describe themselves and they would join with Israel and help them against the Muslims. Shomali’s tone is very anti-Israel, is what I perceive.

[Stepan12]

It was one of these self described Palestinian Christians who allegedly became a serial murder of black people in the United States (I say allegedly because I don’t know if the trial is going on and I want to be legally precise).

[mardi59]

You are right. And being Christian they would also know that God Himself gave that land to the israelis.

[Gay State Conservative]

I think it’s very reasonable to assume that the large majority of “Palestinian” Christians are good,decent,respectable people...just as is the case with Arab Christians in general.One would think that Israel might give them special consideration in various matters.of course the Israelis would have to be at least somewhat careful to guard against frauds.

[RugerMini14]

Beit Jala is a postcard-pretty Christian town of 16,000 in the overwhelmingly Muslim West Bank

hmmm. what could possibly go wrong?

[onyx]

Thanks very much, dearest Yehuda. I read the article and even ran a search on this Ibrahim Shomali. Found his FaceBook page, checked out his "mentor", and whatdayaknow, he's Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, who goes out of his way to state, that just because he's Palestinian, it doesn't mean he's "pro-Palestinian." Sure.

It pains me that the Vatican has already written a letter in support of these people's wishes, and I hope the Vatican either stays out of it, or sides with Israel. How stupid can it and they be? The Temple Mount belongs to the Jewish people, NOT the Moslems. The Moslems have NO business in Jerusalem.

[Olog-hai]

Thanks for the detail.

[wardaddy]

Christian Arabs or Palestinians or Lebanese and their relationship with Israel is more complicated than freepers can often keep up with

Some Christian Arabs cozy with Israel.....SLA...the Gemayels...and others

Some Christian Arabs prosper in Israel

Others... one I know personally....lost their lands in 1947...

Some even took up arms.....George Habash....Wadie Haddad ...Hannah Alawari.....all Terrs

Twice as many Christians in Israel proper as in West Bank or Gaza

They used to control Lebanon till Hasemite shia and Hezbollah won out....and ruined Lebanon

Its simply not as cut and dried as many here like the world to be

I have spent much time in region ....and some in Leb in hot times

My ex FIL was leb phalange

He was allied with Saad Haddad...former head of SLA

They loved Israel and particularly Ariel Sharon