An Indigenous, Alien Minority
Contradictory but how else describe Christian Palestinians? Born in the territories, they are Christian by inheritance and through personal choice. Their status in a majority-Muslim environment is at suspicious arms' length from their Muslim counterparts. Who, it seems, will recognize them as Palestinian, if viewed from the perspective of chafing under Israeli oversight, but who also consider them seriously square pegs in a society that admits to recognizing the valid presence only of round ones.They've seen their churches desecrated by Palestinian militias, their homes have been summarily optioned at times for use by both Fatah and Hamas militants in the ongoing "struggle against the occupier". There were times when Palestinian Christians' lives were as much endangered as those of Israeli citizens during the Al Aqsa Intifada.
Their numbers in the area around Jerusalem have diminished by ten thousand through emigration, from 50,000 to 40,000 residents. While, as a minority religious group, they have always suffered from persecution in a surrounding culture that admits to no sanctioning of the presence of any religion other than Islam in what are seen to be Arab-Muslim lands, their situation as a barely-tolerated group has been complicated in the last 20 to 40 years because of the ongoing conflict.
And of those 40,000 who remain a good proportion would leave as soon as possible if it were given to them the opportunity to do so; to be accepted as refugees in their countries of choice. Palestinian Christians suffer neglect, they are despised by their Muslim counterparts and are often enough victimized because of their religious adherence. They're effectively caught between Arab Muslim hatred and terrorism targeting Israel, and Israeli defensive manoeuvers.
In a landscape viewed as sacred to so many millions of faithful around the world, those inheritors of the birthplace of Christianity live lives of unease and fear for the future. Yet Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance in Bethlehem; at the very least the jolly man's figurines are sold in great numbers near Manger Square, alongside those of the crucified Christ. Islam views Jesus Christ kindly, as a major figure, a great prophet in the Muslim hagiography - but as a Muslim touchstone.
Among Arab Christians there is no monolithic hierarchy of belief, their faith is divided among more than a dozen interpretations of Christianity, many of which appear to be at loggerheads among one another, each viewing the other as a reflection of the light dimmed. Yet it is not necessarily their Muslim brethren they blame for their unsustainable lifestyle, but the oppressive Jewish presence, by default.
Jews may not be in the habit of murdering Arab Christians as Arab Muslims are, but the larger problem is identified as "the occupation and all that it produces - the economic, social, medical and educational hardships." Closures, curfews, checkpoints and the all-encompassing barrier wall that Israel saw itself requiring to protect its citizens from ongoing murderous attacks by fervent "martyrs" have continued to make life untenable for all Palestinians.
The solution may seem simple enough; cease the murderous agitation, the bitter attacks, the ongoing search for better vehicles through which Jewish blood may be successfully shed, and the closures, curfews and checkpoints will be relaxed. Until such time as Israel feels confident that the situation has sufficiently lapsed toward a position where she can entirely ease these constraints while in the process of suing for peace with the Palestinian Authority.
Admittedly, it is not the Palestinian Christians who can influence this sea change in attitude and behaviour, but just as they suffer so too do the Palestinian Muslims. Many of whom also seek to leave their country of origin to settle abroad where they hope to find a more reasonable, more hopeful way of life. It is the greater population of Palestinians who must awaken themselves to the reality that they will only be able to advance their lives when peace finally reigns.
The propaganda fed them by Fatah and Hamas that the entire geography is theirs, to be re-taken in a final successful series of Intifadas or terror raids against Israel should be seen for what it is; a fanatically tribal throwback to earlier eras when opposing populations settled all their grievances with bloodshed. Israel itself must re-think her priorities and settle for less than what she currently occupies.
"When Israelis say that Christians leave because of Muslim pressure, it is not the major factor, however there is some truth to that, too. There is a lack of order and a weak central government in the territories while at the same time there has been a rise of Islamic parties across the Arab world who have the perception that Christians elsewhere have taken Israel's side in the conflict. Islamic parties say that Islam is the solution and this has marginalized Christian Arabs."
A rather succinct summing-up by an Israeli Palestinian Christian dean of academics at the Bethlehem Bible College. Neither side in the conflict - Israel or the Palestinians, can hope to have everything they wish to retain or to achieve before finalizing a peace agreement. On the Palestinian side the first need is to halt terror attacks; on the Israeli side, it is to halt building on land that will have to be restored to 1967 borders.
That done - and would that it were as easily accomplished as it is to state - Arab Christians will find themselves established in either society with the opportunity to continue life as they conceive it should be for themselves and to advance themselves economically, socially and politically.
In the best of all possible worlds. Should that best ever raise its shining head of hope.
Labels: Israel, Justice, Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, December 23, 2007
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