Christian groups say ties with Israel 'worst' ever

[Scurrilous]

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/426759.html


<snip>

"Christian organizations in the Holy Land say ties with the Israeli government are the worst ever and have accused the Jewish state of denying visas to some clergy - making them unwelcome in the place of Jesus' birth.

A group of 50 Christian leaders sent a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush asking him to help solve a "crisis" that left some institutions without sufficient staff.

"Relations of the churches and these institutions with the Israeli government may be the worst they have ever been," said the letter, sent to Bush last week and signed by Protestant, Catholic and evangelical leaders."

<snip>


"Some groups said they felt Israel was singling out Christians - particularly Arabs - for increasingly harsh treatment.

Others thought they were targeted for appearing too sympathetic to the Palestinians."

[ret5hd]

1. "Others thought they were targeted for appearing...

too sympathetic to the Palestinians."

maybe after some of these xians get over there they see that things aren't always as they are portrayed on u.s. television

[checks-n-balances]

2. You're right, but the Christians referenced in the article are different

from the fundies you're probably talking about. Believe it or not, the people in the article who are having a hard time are just about polar opposite from the ones over here who REALLY don't know what's going on.

The US and most Christians in the US are almost totally ignorant of the Christian population in Palestine, the oldest existing Christian communities in the whole world. Many of them have been adversely affected, especially lately, by US-Israeli policies (vigorously supported by fundy Christians here). These is a population mostly forgotten throughout the world and their story is rarely told.

Here are some great books on the subject that I would recommend to anyone here at DU (I've read the first three):

I AM A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN
by The Rev. Mitri Raheb (a Lutheran)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/sim-explorer/explore-items/-/080062663X/0/201/2/none/purchase/ref=pd_sxp_more_0/103-1840886-5675020

WHOSE LAND? WHOSE PROMISE?: WHAT CHRISTIANS ARE NOT BEING TOLD ABOUT ISRAEL
by Gary M. Burge
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0829815457/ref=pd_sim_books_2/103-1840886-5675020?v=glance&s=books

ANXIOUS FOR ARMAGEDDON: A CALL TO PARTNERSHIP FOR MIDDLE EASTERN AND WESTERN CHRISTIANS by Rev. Donald E. Wagner (A Presbyterian)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0836136519/ref=pd_sim_books_3/103-1840886-5675020?v=glance&s=books

BLOOD BROTHERS
by Elias Chacour (Melkite priest)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0800793218/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/103-1840886-5675020

JUSTICE AND ONLY JUSTICE: A PALESTINIAN THEOLOGY OF LIBERATION
by Naim Stifan Ateek and Rosemary Radford Reuther
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/088344545X/ref=pd_sim_books_3/103-1840886-5675020?v=glance&s=books