Posted on 01/01/2004 8:10:31 AM PST by JohnHuang2
The Bethlehem exodus
Posted: January 1, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
I was touched by the global press corps' "impassioned lament over Yasser Arafat being barred by Israel from attending the Christmas celebration at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem."
Canada's Globe and Mail headlined their story "No Christmas in Bethlehem for Arafat." "Poor Yasser!" "Evil Israelis!" The London Guardian headlined its story, "Arafat Barred From Christmas Celebrations".
The Scotsman lamented, "Little Christmas Goodwill for Arafat." A special chair was set aside in "honor" of Arafat, draped with his kaffeiya and prominently featured in all the network news broadcasts.
Ahem. This might be a good time to point out the fact that Christmas is a Christian holiday. The Church of the Nativity is built over the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Yasser Arafat is a Muslim who does not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It isn't as if Israel barred him from Mecca during Ramadan. (In fact, Israel would love for him to go – and not come back.)
This might also be an excellent time to discuss the new Palestinian constitution that will govern the planned Palestinian state. Here are a few highlights from that document. Article 5 says, "Arabic and Islam are the official Palestinian language and religion. Christianity and all other monotheistic religions shall be equally revered and respected." What Article 5 grants with one hand, Article 7 takes back with the other. "The principles of Islamic Sharia are a major source for legislation."
So other "monotheistic" religions are to be "respected" but have no judicial status. Under Islamic law, Christians and Jews are "dhimmis" having essentially no legal status. Christians in a new Palestinian state will be subject to Islamic law which is based on the Quran.
The Quran teaches, "Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three [the Trinity]." But there is no god but Allah. And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them" (Surah 5:73). A true Christian believes that Jesus is God and man united in one person forever – so, he is guilty of blasphemy under Islamic law.
Hundreds of Christians have reportedly already been arrested and imprisoned by Palestinian police for holding Christian services or publicly professing their faith without a permit.
The PA, of course, protests loudly that they are dedicated to protecting the holy places sacred to Christians and Jews. They also claim dedication to preserving freedom of worship for adherents to all three religions.
Doesn't anyone remember the Palestinian takeover of the Church of the Nativity a few years ago? Or that they used the Birthplace of Christ as a toilet? Or that any Jew seeking to worship at the Jewish holy site of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron is likely to die there?
And most ironic, does anyone remember that the current uprising allegedly began when a Jew (Ariel Sharon) attempted to worship at the Temple Mount, the holiest place in Judaism?
The Palestinian Authority is already notorious for its complete lack of regard for the truth. They've broken – without exception – every single agreement they've signed with the Israelis since 1993.
The Palestinian constitution continues their long standing tradition. It begins by saying the "state of Palestine" is an "indivisible unit based upon its borders on the eve of June 4, 1967." Apart from the fact it means all of Jerusalem is part of Palestine, it fails to recognize that on June 4, 1967, the "state of Palestine" was really part of the state of Jordan. Why didn't the Jordanians give the Palestinians a state when they ruled there for over 19 years?
Article 3 doesn't even pass the laugh test: "Palestine is a peace-loving state that condemns terror, occupation and aggression."
The Palestinian constitution also says unequivocally that "All residents of this territory shall be subject to Palestinian law exclusively" – meaning a Palestinian Christian can be tried, convicted and condemned for not acknowledging Allah as the "one, true god."
So what punishment would quoting this foundational claim of Jesus bring: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man can come to the Father but by Me"? The Quran labels such a statement as blasphemy against the Prophet, Allah and Islam. About Jesus, the Quran says, "NEVER DID ALLAH TAKE TO HIMSELF A SON, and never was there with him any [other] god" (Surah 23:91).
Which explains the mass exodus of Christians from Bethlehem since Arafat took over. In June, 1967, the majority of the population of Bethlehem were Christians – today they number no more than 5 percent. And most of these would leave if they had the means to do so.
Under Israeli "occupation", the Christian Palestinians flourished. Not only have the Muslim PA persecuted the Christians, they have come in to their shops and taken jewelry and other wares as part of a "tax."
Since the PA took over, the Christian tours that used to flood into Bethlehem have all but ceased because of the Muslim terrorism. Christian merchants, whose families have been there for centuries, have fled to other countries. Many have even immigrated to Israel.
I personally had many Christian Palestinian friends in Bethlehem. Almost all of them are gone. Many are in the United States.
So forgive me if I do not shed a tear for Yasser Arafat being barred from Bethlehem. That is the very least "punishment" I think he deserves.
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