Church Attacked by Israeli Terrorists
A lot of you have asked me if I city if I felt threatened or had any acts of violence or prejudice towards me since I am a Christian minority in an almost 95% Muslim city and my answer is, No.
I don't know how to explain this to a predominately western reader base I have on this blog. Even though we have different religions, we still have a respect for each other. There isn't any incident of defacing churches or anything. Even when we have activities in our churches many Muslims attend, it isn't a forbidden thing. The only thing that isn't looked upon well is if a Muslim and Christian marry, and even though it happens, the gossip is the only harmful thing that will happen.
I was prompted to write this entry after the incident in Nazareth and basically its dismissal as not an attempt as a terrorism act but instead labeled an act of "personal distress." I mean, I have a lot of personal distress but if I went and put an explosive in a Synagogue, I would for sure be labeled a terrorist because I am from the West Bank, not just a girl with "personal distress."
I am just so disappointed for not only what happened but I am more disappointed on how it is down played. And even if you read the al-jazeera article, it says "the worst ethnic violence in Israel, police killed 13 Arab-Israeli demonstrators who blocked a highway in October 2000, shortly after the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising," are people confused or something. The Arab-Israeli's are Palestinians who never left there home during the Israeli occupation, they are Palestinians. If that is considered ethnic violence, than why isnt the killings that happen in the West Bank and Gaza considered ethnic violence.
I have very little hope for this land. I hope to see freedom one day, but I don't think I will. Again, I am just a princess under occupation and I feel it.
posted by Palestinian Princess @ Sunday, March 05, 2006
19 Comments:
A mentally disturbed Jewish man and his Christian (!?) wife and child set off firecrackers in a Christian church and you blame the Israelis?
Let's look at some parts of the al-Jazeera article. The comments in brackets are mine.
"Habibi's daughter told investigators her parents had wanted to create a provocation to draw attention to their economic troubles and protest that two of their children had been taken from them by the Israeli authorities" [Source: Israeli police official]
Hrmm.. doesn't sound like they like Israel very much.
Several years ago, the family had sought political asylum in a West Bank town under Palestinian control for similar reasons. [Source: not given]
So these Israeli citizens want to live under Palestinian rule, and in their attempt to protest Israel, they harass and endager Palestinians. Quite an intelligent couple.
Finally we get to the interesting part:
But many Arabs dismissed the Israeli explanation, saying the government could have done more to prevent the attack and protect the Christian minority.
Lucy, are you one of these Arabs? If so, what do you think they could have done? I don't think those complaining really want more Israeli soldiers and/or police in their neighborhoods and guarding their churches. Should they have arrested and detained the couple? It's not like the guy is some radical right wing Jewish extremist (the beard notwithstanding) -- very few of them marry Christians!
I do agree with you about one thing -- this is definitely a terrorist attack. Protests do not involve setting off explosives (although we should differenciate between the not-so-harmless firecrackers (see http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=99383, (yes, I know, it's a right wing Israeli source) and the deadly bombings practiced by suicide bombers and others whose intent is to kill, not frighten). This is not a protest.
Nevertheless, terrorism is generally viewed as causing terror by targetting your intented target. Although the individuals in question do not appear to be terribly rational, I have to wonder, who were they trying to terrorize? Their fellow Christians?
I am not one of the Arabs... One of those Arabs are those Arabs living in Israel, remember I am a West Bank girl, you know the one living under occupation.
Those Arabs, are Arabs that want protection from the Israeli government... I don't get protection from the Israeli government, I just get harrassed and humiliated, I am not one of "their" people.
And if this man is deranged, so are the Palestinians who do suicide bombings, what is your point?
I am not one of the Arabs... One of those Arabs are those Arabs living in Israel, remember I am a West Bank girl, you know the one living under occupation.
Not quite true. You could believe that Israel should do more to protect Churches located in Israel.
And if this man is deranged, so are the Palestinians who do suicide bombings, what is your point?
Do you think suicide bombers are deranged? If so, I'm glad to hear it.
My point was not to differenciate between normal terrorists and deranged terrorists. My point was simply that you can't say that the family in question here was:
1. Part of some (possibly government affiliated) organization whose stated goals include the expulsion and/or death of Christians.
2. Viewed as martyrs to the Israeli cause by many, if not most, of the Israeli media, people, or government
3. Actually targetting those who anger them
[note that all three would apply to those who blow themselves up at Israeli checkpoints... or pizza stores (replace Christians in (1) with Jews, and Israeli in (2) with Palestinian]
Thus, I think these people are too stupid to even "merit" the title of terrorist. Dumbasses seems to fit better.
taahee... I wish I had a comment.
taahee...
Forgive my ignorance... but... huh?
Ok, ok... Israeli's are the best... They can do no wrong. Those people meant no REAL harm, poor deranged things... U got me, you win...
taahee...
((Walks away with tail between legs))
((Walks away with tail between legs))
You have a tail? And Jews have horns... no wonder everything is so peaceful.
Hrmm. Perhaps I'm not Arab enough (or liberal enough) but where did I say they meant no harm? I included a link about someone who was killed from a firecracker (heart attack), and said that they were probably terrorists. What I said was that (at least two of) the people in question were attacking their own people (!?) and were in no way shape or form acting on behalf of the "Israelis".
But if you'd like, I'll go away...
No, No... I'm just in a bad mood today... I think I better get off the computer and get my self a diet cola or something. I will comment tomorrow, or when I feel a bit better...
((And no, I don't have a tail!))
Lucy,
Usually I enjoy reading your perspective, but here I don't understand your sarcasm when SR is making what seems to be a valid point. Not only is the man disturbed, but he has no support from any group.
Hamas is actively encouraging the suicide bombers, supporting them, and helping them plan missions. So is Islamic Jihad. So is Al-Aksa. The Israelis, on the other hand, provided no support at all for this nutcase -- in fact, he was angry at them, married to a Christian woman, and why he targeted a church is a mystery to every sane person.
One side is government supported terrorism, the other, a government-condemned act by a nutcase. If he had put the firecrackers in the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem it would have been no different from the Israelis' perspective.
And that makes all the difference in the world.
If Hamas had tanks and uniforms, would rightwingers still consider them all as terrorists instead of legitimately elected officials?
Daedalus,
I pray for the day Hamas has tanks, uniforms and a country. At that point they will no longer be able to hide behind the word "refugees" and finally the world will be able to watch their mass destruction on TV as the bombs, tanks and air forces combine to wipe them, and their people, from the planet so that folks around here can finally remember what it is like to breathe.
As for the church, it was just another excuse for the infant-mentality Pally's and their ungrateful Arab-Israeli brothers to release their uncontrollable tensions like babies have to. When one lives like an animal one acts like an animal - primitive drives and no self-control.
Here's a link to wonderful Arab who shares her thoughts - any comments?
http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak=null
I have seen her before... I like her thoughts very much, but on the other hand, her use of the word "muslim" isn't that correct, I guess she should say Muslim Arab or soemthing, because I have been to Turkey which is a 99% Muslim country and they are really modern...
And on the other hand, not all muslims can be identified as backwards.
I think I have a solution for the problem. I think someone should just nuke the Middle East, then the world can go ahead and be civilized and wonderful as they all are, especially the wonderful people and civilization of the west.
Wow, I am a pawn... Everything she says is right, except for the part where she condemned the muslims and praised everyone else who isn't muslim, you know...
I don't think Afghani's are better off, I don't think Iraqi's will be either, and I don't think palestine will ever be free...
But what I do think will happen, is one day there will be a rude awakening to the Western people when they realize that they themselves have been played, and convinced that they are free and democratic and the best when in reality they have just been pawns themselves of propoganda and what not.
As an Israeli arab who has allot of family in Nazareth, I am truly saddened over this event in the church. While I don't think the government is to blame totally for this attack, I do blame them for the lack of respect which includes protection & money (most monies come from charities in europe) that they have for the christian holy sites in Israel.
The one good thing that I find out of all of this is that Christians & Muslims have all come together and marched in protest. Their has been a huge wedge between Christians & Muslims in Nazareth ever since Muslims tried to build another mosque next to the church & would have overshadowed it. The ratio of Christians to Moslems is very low in this holy christian city. This has been one of the last true arab towns left in Israel. Jews have built a city surrounding it all around on top of the hills and call it "Nazareth Elite".
How is the government at all to blame? It was a mentally deranged couple with no ties to anyone.
Are the police to tail every nut?
I see you have Adolf Berkeley trying to manipulate you. Soon you'll see how the jews control all of the governments, press, and money and how the holocaust really never happened.
Anonymous:
You wrote that you "blame them for the lack of respect which includes protection & money (most monies come from charities in europe) that they have for the christian holy sites in Israel."
Can you substantiate that? I.e., do you have any data or proof that Israel does not protect Christian sites? As a non-Christian, I'm not terribly familiar with the precise details.
Also, Jews have built a city surrounding it all around on top of the hills and call it "Nazareth Elite". Just to clarify... Elite is a transliteration of the Hebrew; it means High (as in Nazareth Heights), not the English meaning of a superior location.
Very nice. Obviously nothing to do with nazereth.
You are a Christian? That is so cool. I am one too.
Bill
http://billscott1974.blogspot.com/
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