Why did the Muslims torch the monastery? Were the monks drawing cartoons of Muhammad? Did they “talk about extreme, militant Islamists” in a way that “undercut the positive achievements that…Catholics have attained in…inter-religious dialogue with devout Muslims”? Or were they targeted merely for the crime of being Christians, as jihadis will eventually target every Christian they can reach — even those who desperately appease the jihadis and cower in fear that one day they may arrive at their churches, torches or rifles in hand?
“Arson attack at Bethlehem’s St Charbel Monastery, probably the work of Islamic fundamentalists, says Maronite leader,” Asia News, September 28, 2015:
Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – Sobhy Makhoul, the chancellor of the Maronite Patriarchate in Jerusalem, told AsiaNews that the fire that broke out over the weekend at St Charbel Maronite Monastery (pictured) in Bethlehem was deliberately set. “It was an act of arson, not a fire caused by an electrical problem, an act of sectarian vandalism by radical Muslims.”
The fire caused no casualties or injuries because the building is currently unoccupied and under renovation, but the damage is evident and the local Christian community is now fearful of further violence.
The arsonists “got inside a room that had a lot of stuff, including furniture,” said Sobhy Makhoul, because the building is undergoing restoration work. “The fire reached it and spread quickly throughout the structure.”
Police sources said that Muslim extremist groups have been active in the area and the culprits are already knows and should “be soon apprehended.”
For the chancellor of the Maronite Patriarchate, “The attack is sectarian in nature. It is anti-Christian, like many other incidents across the Middle East. Extremist groups operate in the area, including some Hamas cells. There are also some loose cannons that give vent to their ideology.”
The St Charbel Maronite Convent is located in Wadi Maali, a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Bethlehem. The building includes several rooms and a small chapel for prayer. The fire started in the basement and then spread to other parts of the building.
“Last month, the Palestinian Authority donated US$ 100,000 for some repairs to the convent,” Sobhy Makhoul said. “This was a gesture of gratitude towards the patriarch and a show of support for the institution’s restoration.”
Now the Christian community is concerned, he added, but “we must go on. We belong to this land. Our existence comes with tense situations. We have to absorb what happens, not just endure it.”
Of course, like in the case of the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha, on the Sea of Galilee, it is necessary for the Palestinian Authority to “prosecute those responsible so that justice is done. Every form of extremism by Jews and Muslims must be stopped,” he said.
Jews? Who torched your monastery again, Chancellor?
“As a Church, we condemn such acts of violence,” the Maronite official said. “In this regard, a lot of work has to be done to change the way preaching is done in mosques because far too often they provoke people and foments hatred. Anti-Christian hatred and violence should stop. (DS)
somehistory says
This kind of violence won’t stop until the beast of islam is dead…thrown into the lake of fire with all of the rest of satan’s works.
Jay Boo says
Liberals say peace can be achieved if we would only show MORE RESPECT for Islam.
Yes, it is time to have true peace in the “(occupied territories)” be insisting Muslim invaders stop their occupation of ancient Jewish lands and remove their Al Aqsa mosque from Jerusalem’s temple mount as well.
Muslims say that we should show respect for Islam.
In the year AD 1009 caliph al-Haki destroys the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, venerated by Christians as the site of Jesus’s burial and resurrection.
Moon god Muslims are as shameless as they are duplicitous.
Charli Main says
Well said. If the Muslim invaders of Palestine want land, they should go back to Saudi Arabia where their invader ancestors came from. Plenty of land for them there.
Gary says
Note to non-muslims:
Don’t equate Islam with terror.
Sincerely,
The President of The United States.
EYESOPEN says
Note to the Usurper-in-Chief:
You wouldn’t recognize the truth if it bit you in the @$$.
ESADMF.
Draki says
The Jews were referenced for a recent arson at a church in Galilee. A church memorializing the feeding of 5 thousand was damaged by Jews.
mortimer says
Koran 8.60 “Turhibunna” (terrorize them).
Nan says
What’s wrong with these people? It’s TurDucken, not TurBunny.
Angemon says
Too bad there’d no quran that reads “dialogue with the unbelievers wherever you find them” instead of “slay the unbelievers wherever you find them”.
Cecilia Ellis says
LMAO! There is a lot of potential here for “Writers Market.”
particolor says
I’m starting to get the feeling that they don’t like us !
Dr. Divinity says
Everyone must remember that islam is a CULT and can’t be equated with any religion.To stop islam the world must understand this and take appropriate action.
Joseph says
The clock is going tick, tick, tick up to the time when the infidel is not going to put up with this anymore.
When that time comes the blood of the Muslims will be on their own hands not ours. Our actions will be a *response* not attacks.
Huck Folder says
Is that ahmed’s clock?
Joseph says
Ahmed’s next clock may go tick, tick BOOM.
Our clocks go tick, tick, ****WAKE UP EVERYBODY….THEY WANT TO KILL YOU****
Nan says
Because they don’t accept that w have a right to protect ourselves, they’ll call it an attack.
particolor says
Noticed that have You ? They are Always the “Victim” ! Or else they would get nowhere !!
Al Kafir says
There are incidences of Jewish violence against Christians. This, however, occurs mainly in Israel proper. http://972mag.com/israels-not-so-stellar-record-on-treatment-of-christians/43325/
Also, the scale is more limited.
Joseph says
Al Kafir,
Like you say the so called violence is limited. I can and do understand some of the friction present. A friend of mine who is a Jew(one of many) was uncommonly leery of me asking questions about the Jewish faith. Finally he threw down the cards and asked me point blank on how I felt about the Jews. I explained that it is called Judaeo/Christian for a reason. My faith IS ROOTED in the Jewish faith the big difference being that I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the Messiah foretold in the Torah. I then told him that JESUS is a Jew so to have ANY ill will towards Jews is to have the same towards JESUS and that the Jews are the apple of GOD’S eye.
Only fools poke GOD in the eye.
After that him and I were good close friends. Do I understand some ill will between Jews and Christians? Yes I do because it is a two way street, there are some “so called Christians” that don’t particularly like Jews…………….SHAME ON THEM
abad says
Muslims want to kill you.
Christians want to convert you.