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Israel-Palestine Mission Network Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (new friend!) A Texas Lutheran's Voice for Middle East Peace Holy Land Christian Foundation |
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Christians of the Holy Land
by Ben White
from al Jazeera
A recent report by CBS show 60 Minutes on "Christians of the Holy Land" has received a lot of attention, not least for the embarrassing contribution by Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren.
It is interesting that Israel (and its advocates) have been so concerned about the impact of a short segment regarding the challenges faced by Christian Palestinians under Israeli military occupation. In fact, Ambassador Oren himself only recently tried to exploit Christians for propaganda purposes - only to find that they objected to his cynicism.
The Israeli government has long tried to suggest that the emigration of Christian Palestinians is the result of a "jihad" being waged by "terrorists" or "fundamentalists". There are obvious advantages to this strategy, particularly its dependence on pre-existing prejudices and stereotypes in the West. But it also seeks to neutralize a potentially damaging threat: that people around the world will see Christian Palestinians leaving their historic homeland due to Israeli colonization and occupation.
In 1948, Christian Palestinians were not spared the devastation of the Nakba, when Israel destroyed hundreds of villages, and expelled up to 90 per cent of the Palestinians who would have been inside the new state. The hundreds of thousands prevented from returning home included 35 per cent of all Christians in pre-1948 Mandate Palestine. Haifa's Christian population, for example, was reduced by 85 per cent. Some Christian Palestinians became citizens, but their land remains confiscated.
The Rapture in America: History and Influence
a video by Derek Sims
The Rapture: History and Influence in America from Derrick Sims on Vimeo.
60 Minutes on the Exodus of Christian Palestinians
Resources for the Study of Christian Zionism and Christian Zionists
From the Interfaith Commission of the National Council of Churches (USA)
Why We Should be Concerned about Christian Zionism
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ARTICLES and MULTI-MEDIA PIECES ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISM AND CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS font>
Sabeel Makes a Statement at the Christian Zionist Parade in Jerusalem
What Christians Don't know about Israel
Note: This article was written in 1998 by the late Grace Halsell. Sadly it remains relevant today.
American Jews sympathetic to Israel
dominate key positions in all areas of our government where decisions are
made regarding the Middle East. This being the case, is there any hope of
ever changing U.S. policy?
The answer to achieving an even-handed Middle East policy
might lie elsewhere—among those who support Israel but don’t really know
why. This group is the vast majority of Americans. They are well-meaning,
fair-minded Christians who feel bonded to Israel—and Zionism—often from
atavistic feelings, in some cases dating from childhood.
I am one of those. I grew up listening to stories of a
mystical, allegorical, spiritual Israel. This was before a modern political
entity with the same name appeared on our maps. I attended Sunday School and
watched an instructor draw down window- type shades to show maps of the Holy
Land. I imbibed stories of a Good and Chosen people who fought against their
Bad “unChosen” enemies.
In my early 20s, I began traveling the world, earning my
living as a writer. I came to the subject of the Middle East rather late in
my career. I was sadly lacking in knowledge regarding the area. About all I
knew was what I had learned in Sunday School.
As I would learn, the politics is about land, and the
co-claimants to that land: the indigenous Palestinians who have lived there
for 2,000 years and the Jews who started arriving in large numbers after the
Second World War. By living among Israeli Jews as well as Palestinian
Christians and Muslims, I saw, heard, smelled, experienced the police state
tactics Israelis use against Palestinians.
from standardnewswire.com
A major breakthrough in the evangelical world took place in Bethlehem
through a gathering of over 600 international and local Christians,
including renowned evangelical leaders. Organized by Bethlehem Bible
College, the conference, under the banner "Christ at the Checkpoint,"
addressed the issue of how to find hope in the midst of conflict. The
conference exceeded all expectations.
For the first time, a broad spectrum of evangelical believers met literally
at the "checkpoint," and engaged biblically on issues that have historically
divided them. Subjects included, Christian Zionism, Islamism, justice,
nonviolence, and reconciliation. These themes were intended to create an
ongoing forum for Christian peacemaking within the context of the Israeli
Palestinian conflict. These issues were discussed in the form of
inspirational messages, Bible study, interactive workshops, panels and site
visits.
Defying the temptation to despair, Palestinian Christians demonstrated
renewed hope to continue to stand against the injustice of occupation
nonviolently and forms of Christian Zionism that marginalize them. They also
acknowledged the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure
borders.
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© CHALLENGING CHRISTIAN ZIONISM, 2008