Christians intimidated into showing up at a Hamas rally and agreeing that Hamas rule is just great. This is classic dhimmi behavior: historically, if the dhimmis knew what was good for them, they would sing the praises of their treatment by the Muslims, no matter how dire the reality. All too many Christians in Islamic lands, or descendants of those who lived in Islamic lands, continue to behave this way today. By Aaron Klein for WorldNetDaily.com (thanks to Morgaan Sinclair):
Christian leaders in the Gaza Strip were intimidated into attending and expressing support for a speech yesterday in which the territory's Hamas leader urged the worldwide spread of Islam, according to sources in Gaza's Christian community.Artinious Alexious, priest of Gaza's Greek Orthodox Church, and Emanuel Salum, a Catholic leader in Gaza, were at a major speech yesterday by Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas government in Gaza and deposed prime minister of the previously Hamas-run Palestinian Authority.
Also present were hundreds of gunmen, including members of a group, Jihadia Salafiya, suspected of carrying out anti-Christian attacks in Gaza such as the lobbing of grenades last September at Alexious' church.
Hamas banned most international media from covering the event, only allowing entry to journalists accredited by the terror group.
A major theme of Haniyeh's speech was the spread of Islamic values throughout the world, according to reporters in attendance.
Haniyeh also strongly denied Hamas had plans to take over the West Bank, as many recent reports had speculated.
The reporters present said at one point during his speech, Haniyeh spoke about the "excellent" situation for Christians living under Hamas rule in Gaza.
He pointed to the two Christian leaders in attandence, at which point to two raised their hands and nodded in agreement, witnesses told WND.
According to sources in Gaza's Christian community speaking on condition of anonymity, Alexious and Salum were intimidated into attending the speech. The sources said in recent weeks Haniyeh's office repeatedly called the Christian leaders to request they free their schedules to assist in yesterday's event.
"The priests thought it was a diplomatic way to threaten them and put pressure on them," said one source.
"After discussions within the Christian community leadership it was decided it would be dangerous not to assist in the meeting even though it would be very strange to see priests assisting in a meeting about the spread of Islam," the source said.
Christian leaders who live in Israel should speak up about the terror and intimidation that is happening to their fellow believers in Gaza and the West Bank. Christians who have immigrated to the West should speak up even more loudly in protest. I blame corrupt leaders like Patriarch Michel Sabbah and ordinary Arab Christians. They must speak the truth. Yes, many immigrated for better economic futures. But, they must tell the world over and over again that their MAIN reason for leaving their homeland was because of fear, of Muslim violence, destruction and death.
Some, such as the Melkite Archbishop of Nazareth and the Gallilee have spoken up. The media has ignored them and they have to be careful with their words lest they bring on even more persecution.
This is the same situation as in the Soviet Union where foreign tourists visited labour camps to hear the inmates talk about how wonderful communism was. The truth was that they had no choice. The two priests knew that if they refused to attend, then many of their congregation could be killed. Many have been killed, kidnapped, or raped, already while the West does nothing. Nor can they go to the Israelis because Israel under Olmert has made it clear that its only response will be more appeasement to the Muslims.
Christians who have immigrated to the West should speak up even more loudly in protest.
I agree entirely with that statement.
The only thing we don't know is whether any of them have been speaking but our media has ignored them, including the "conservative" FOX news.
On the rare occasion that I do see it convered it is exclusively by CBN.
Christians who have immigrated to the West should speak up even more loudly in protest.
I agree entirely with that statement.
The only thing we don't know is whether any of them have been speaking but our media has ignored them, including the "conservative" FOX news.
On the rare occasion that I do see this topic covered it is exclusively by CBN.
I have been trying to call attention to the support of Hamas by some liberal Protestant churches in the USA. BTW, Barack Obama is a member of the UCC.
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http://ucctruths.blogspot.com/
"Hamas Cheerleader Mahdi Bray speaks at Old South Church
Saturday, October 27, 2007
From Solomonia:
This just in from inside the Sabeel event. Muslim American Society official Mahdi Bray spoke from the PULPIT of Old South tonight. Here's a picture:
Do I need to remind you that this is the same guy who was caught on tape behind Abdurahman Alamoudi (now doing 25 years on terror charges) cheering for Hamas and Hizballah? Here's that video again:
Outrageous.
posted by UCCtruths, Saturday, October 27, 2007"
"Christian leaders in the Gaza Strip were intimidated into attending and expressing support for a speech yesterday in which the territory's Hamas leader urged the worldwide spread of Islam, according to sources in Gaza's Christian community."
....kinda like standing on the scaffold and putting the noose on your neck by yourself...and then yelling "PULL!"
"Christians in Islamic lands" -- That should be "Christians in Islamic-occupied lands".
The only lands Muslims have are those they stole from someone else.
So actually, we should say, "Muslims in Christian lands" or "Muslims in Jewish lands".
At what point did the Muslim occupation become legitimate?
Re Dhimmitude:
“No one can ever make you feel inferior without your consent.” ....
- Friedrich Nietzsche
"With the rarest exception, the Palestinian Christian Diaspora is a horrid bunch. The Levantine Christians in general tend to be more Dhimmi Arabist Islamo Islamophiliac morons than Mesopotamian, North African or sub-Saharan Christians. "
Would we behave differently if we were trapped in that situation with our families at risk?
You'd get a bullet in your head or members of your family would be harmed pronto.
The question is - what is being done to help them.
Have_mercy,
This has not been my experience. The congregation at my Parish is around 70% Palestinian Christian and my parish is quite large. About half are US-born and the other half more recent immigrants from Palestine/Israel.
Those with Israeli citizenship appreciate it and the others express a desire for Israeli citizenship should if it was available. They pull no punches that Israeli policies have been pro-Muslim and blatantly unjust to Christians. The parents of many lost their homes and family property in 1948 when the Haganah destroyed the Christian towns of the Galil such as Kafr Bir'im. This, along with other anti-Christian discrimination is the reason that many distrust and dislike the Israelis. However, they distrust the Muslims even more. As one told me recently, "at least the Jews don't rape our sisters."
Most these Israeli/Palestinian Christians also carefully distinquish between the anti-Christian policies of the Haganah and the Labour governments with the policies of the Irgun and its political successors. In 1948 the Christians stayed absolutely neutral. In fact, not a single Palestinian Christian served in any of the Arab armies fighting to destroy the new Jewish state. The Irgun recognized this and its leaders such as Menachem Begin hoped to win Christian support. This was entirely possible until the Haganah's attacks which failed to distinquish the Christians from the Muslims.
This resulted in Palestinian Christians becoming some of the rightist Herut Party's most loyal supporters. When Herut became Likud, the Christians voted with over a 90% margin for Likud contributing to begin's landslide victory. Begin then tried to restore Kafr Bir'im and the other villages to their Christian owners but was blocked by other members of the coalition. The Christians never forgot Begin's heroic efforts on their behalf and remain loyal to Likud, although a significant portion did vote for the Yisrael Beytenu party in the last election.
Today, most Palestinian Christians are hoping that Netanyahu can win the next election but they don't really trust him since, as one Palestinian told me recently, "He sold out both the Christians and Jews of Hebron". Still, nothing can be worse than the corrupt dhimmi Ehud Olmert remaining in power.
On the other side of the Green line, the Jordanian monarchy was careful not to purposely alienate its Christian subjects. Nevertheless, they saw that living under even a comparatively moderate monarchy still threatened their existence. When Israel took the West Bank, many Christians hoped for a better life. Those hopes would be dashed when Israeli policies turned out to be even more pro-Muslim than the Hashemites.
Bethlehem mayor Elias Freij literally begged Prime Ministers Levi Eshkol and Gold Mier to annex Bethlehem, Ramallah and the other Christian cities into Israel. He was rebuffed every time both because of Labor's shortsighted policies and because of the undue influence of the American state department. By the time Begin became Prime Minister, annexation was no longer an option.
As for the propaganda... that part is more the Western media than the Christian rand and file. Dhimmis like Hanan Ashrawi, Naim Ateek, or Azmi Bishara represent only the Western liberal elite who fund them and in the case of Bishara or Ashrawi, the Muslims who vote for them. While the vast majority of Palestinian Christians are Melkite or Orthodox, Ateek and Ashrawi are converts to Western liberal Protestantism while Bishara is a non-religious Commie.
Sadly, this vast majority of Palestinian Christians do not have a voice. Most struggle to maintain their businesses and livelihoods and have little time for politics. However, there is an opportunity especially with the Christians living in Bethlehem and even in Nazareth. These Christians live under the threat of Muslim violence every day and are willing to be organized if Israel will allow it.
Just like Lebanon thirty years ago a Christian militancy is now possible. Perhaps a Christian militia armed and trained by Israel. This potential "Kataib Filistin" based on the Lebanese model would be able to take on Hamas in ways Israel won't dare. Unfortunately, it will take real leadership in Israel to make this happen.
Thank you for the excellent and timely contribution, Provoslavni.
"For the most part, Palestinian Christians in the West are Dhimmis par excellence. They are indoctrinated fools who routinely praise Hamas and Hizbullah and go at the offense if you mention the state of affairs that their relatives live under in the Muslim-run territories."
Don't forget that they have families living back in Palestine. Even in the West, they find themselves having to watch what they say.
What I want to know is, may Christians celebrate Guy Fawkes Day in Gaza?
Looking over Aaron Klein's pieces I think he has a very simple minded and very often factually incorrect presentation of what is going on. Some of his pieces are really nothing more than vitriol.
I think Provoslavni has more of a handle on the issue. There were and ARE Israeli state policies in favor of Moslems against Orthodox and other Christians.
The blackmail,threats, and attempts to corrupt the Greek Patriarchate have gone to the point where the AJC had to endorse the new guy Theophilos to pointed let the Israeli government know it had gone too far with what was an over the top land grab.. (Theophilos is meeting with several Jewish American leaders, Evangelical leaders, and others in Washington today and tomorrow.)
"M.E. Christians who identify themselves as Arabs tend to take the Islamic side"
That is absurd and simply false.
You are conflarting criticism of certian policy of Israel with taking the "Islamic side." That is a truism and one could easily say the majority of American Jews "take the Islamic side" on certain issues.
Klein is simply not a journalist. Have you seen his book? This person is not exactly credible.
Have_mercy,
There's no denying that many Pali-Christians living in the West were often anti-Israel based on such events as the destruction of Kfir Birim and Tikrit. An injustice that Israel ought to correct for its own interests.
Currently, however, this dhimmitude is true only for those who either have no relatives still in Palestine/Israel or have not recently visited their ancestral homeland. Almost without exception, those who spend even a few days in Ramallah, Betlehem, or even Nazareth, will come back with a completely different outlook.