Gatestone Institute
- For Palestinian Christians, the destruction of the ancient Byzantine church ruins is yet a further attempt by Palestinian Muslim leaders to efface both Christian history and signs of any Christian presence in the West Bank and Gaza, under the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas. A growing number of Christians feel they are being systematically targeted by both the PA and Hamas for being Christians.
- Bulldozers were used to destroy some of the church artifacts; some Palestinian Christians accused both Hamas and the PA of copying ISIS tactics to demolish historic sites.
- “Where are the heads of the churches in Jerusalem and the world?… Where are the Vatican and UNESCO? Where are the leaders and politicians who talk, talk, talk about national unity and the preservation of holy sites? Or is this a collective conspiracy to end our existence and history in the East?” — Sami Khalil, a Christian from the West Bank city of Nablus.
- The plight of Palestinian Christians does not interest the international community. That is because Israel cannot be blamed for demolishing the antiquities. If the current policy against Christians persists, the day will come when no Christians will be left in Bethlehem.
Hamas has destroyed the ruins of an 1800-year-old Byzantine church that was recently unearthed in Gaza City. |
“I think that silence is up to the stage of conniving. But the question is where are the artists to preserve our Christian Heritage? Where are the heads of the churches in Jerusalem and the world? Where are the bishops? Where are the Vatican and UNESCO? Where are the leaders and politicians who talk, talk, talk about national unity and the preservation of holy sites? Or is this a collective conspiracy to end our existence and history in the East?”Another Christian, Anton Kamil Nasser, commented: “Whether it was a church or something else, this is a form of intellectual terrorism and retardation.” Abdullah Kamal, a staff member at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, said: “Regrettably, the silence over this destruction of this Heritage and historic site in our country is tantamount to a crime.” A Christian woman from East Jerusalem remarked: “Shame on us. If this happened under the Jews, they would have turned the site into a museum.” Yes, all is not well under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas for this minority. It is no secret that a growing number of Christians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip feel that they are being systematically targeted by both the PA and Hamas for being Christians. The ravaging of the ancient Byzantine church in Gaza is just one example of the disregard disrespect with which the Palestinian Authority and Hamas deal with their Christian residents. In yet another incident that has enraged Christians, the Palestinian Authority police last week arrested a prominent Christian businessman in Bethlehem, Raja Elias Freij, 60. The Palestinian Authority claims that Freij was arrested for threatening a merchant from Bethlehem — a charge he and his family and many Christians strongly deny. Last weekend, several Christians staged a protest in Bethlehem’s Manger Square to demand the release of Freij and accused the Palestinian Authority of religious discrimination against him. The plight of Palestinian Christians does not interest the international community. That is because Israel cannot be blamed for demolishing the antiquities. If the current policy against Christians persists, the day will come when no Christians will be left in Bethlehem and pilgrims visiting the city will have to bring their own priest with them to lead the prayers.
Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in Jerusalem.Source: GATESTONE]]>