Fixed Blade Knives

The view of the conflict in the Middle East Anglican

On Thursday, March 16th, 2006, I attended a lecture by Bishop Riah, the Bishop of Jerusalem, the Middle East, east of All Saints Church in the city walls of London. Bishop was by Rev. Garth Hewitt, Amos Trust, who organized the meeting.

Bishop Riah Summary speak.

In his speech he said he was fully committed to be born in the cause of peace in the Middle East and the peace in relation to Jerusalem. The cause for the lack of peace is the Israeli occupation of West Bank separation barrier that separates Jerusalem from the West Bank, be separated families and communities and prevent the free movement the Palestinians. He said that 46% of the West Bank have been lost in Israel, to make way for the colonies. The settlers of the area of ​​Jerusalem numbers about 200,000, with another 200,000 in the West Bank. He said that unemployment is at 70%, 40-45% in the West Bank, 80% in Gaza. 53 Palestinians die months and 4,000 Palestinian Houses have been demolished since 2000.

For the sake of Israel advocates to accept a two-state solution in the Arab world if Israel extends to the limits before in 1967. Critics of Israel are often accused of anti-Semitism. The Arab world is not anti-Semitic. The Arabs lived for centuries Jews therefore have, there would be peace if Israel did not aggressively towards the Arabs. The region could become a Switzerland of the Middle East to live with different people side by side and trade with others and live in peace with one another. The church has a role in restoring the hope of playing the Palestinians. The call sales shows the anger of the Christians for the profession. Sanctions should be applied to all goods produced in settlements. The occupation is the cause of the conflict. Terrorism is the answer to these and stop if there is a settlement on the right.

Response to the Bishop Riah speak.

Arab rejection of occupation or the root of the conflict?

Bishop said he was completely committed to peace. But over the speech, there was no mention of the Arab refusal as the causes of the conflict. In 1948, 1967, 1973, Israel has committed wars against Arab armies, fought for its destruction. The problem was not the occupation, but Israel's existence. On 27 May 1967 Egyptian President Nasser said: "Our fundamental objective the destruction of Israel. "After six days of the war that Israel offered to return land for peace and recognition of the Arab world. This offer was in Khartoum Conference of the Arab League rejected. On 1 September 1967, a decision was issued announcing the three "no", "No peace, no recognition and no negotiations."

In the period from Bishop Riah questions to the Six Day War in European wars. They were in the past, but today Britain, France and Germany is no longer determined to go to war. This comparison is false. The most important elements in Arab society is the same opinion as that of Nasser brought Israel to express including the current ruling party of the Palestinian Authority.

The election crisis in the victory of Hamas, Fatah party in Palestinian elections in January 2006 means that the PA government is now the hands of people who are committed to the elimination of Israel. The Hamas Charter is unequivocal.

Article Six
The Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas] is a distinct Palestinian Movement which owes its loyalty to Allah, Islam comes from the way of life and strives to increase the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine (Israel and the West Bank and Gaza Strip has finally become an Arab Muslim
Company).

Article Eight
Allah is its goal, the Prophet its model, the Koran, the Constitution, Jihad its path and death for the case of the loftiest of God Faith (ie, that the Koran is immutable for Muslims).

Article Eleven
The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine an Islamic Waqf (Muslim is owned, non-Muslims) can enter through the generations and until the Day of Resurrection, we can not do without or in part, or they give up or partially. This is the [land] in Islamic Shari'a, and is comparable to all the countries of Islam conquered by force and thus the Waqf land in their conquest, for all generations of Muslims until the Day of Resurrection (ie once the whole country should be based on Islamic law and Islamic remain until the end of the world will be returned. No treaty or agreement, that it is valid) is inconsistent.

Spoke before the election of Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during a meeting in Damascus, was introduced to Al-Jazeera TV (12/30/05): "Who can say, my brothers and sisters, as we celebrate in this forum, the release of the West Bank as we celebrate the release of Jaffa, Haifa, Safed, and the Negev? When we celebrate the departure of the last Zionist from our land? Yes, some people ask when it will happen. Say, could soon. This is our faith in God. We have no doubt that the victory would come, and that just as we liberated Palestine from the Crusaders and the Mongols,
We are – pure and clean – the Zionist occupiers. "

Hamas is more extreme than Fatah, but the Palestinian National Covenant, the Charter of the Board of Directors of the PLO as the destruction of Israel through armed struggle.

Bishop Riah position counter I say that is the cause of conflicts in the Arab denial of the right of Israel to exist. The reason for the Israeli occupation the territories (Golan, West Bank, Gaza, Sinai), first was the Arab refusal to Israel. Can even say that the preservation of these areas in the Arab refusal, with the Sinai returned to Egypt when President Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel, but not back the Golan to Syria and the Syrian rejection of Israel.

What is with the Christian Arabs?

By Bishop Riah represents the interests of Arab Christians, one would expect him on aspects of the Islamic Hamas Charter care. It occurs in Gaza attacks on Christians and death threats by the Bible Society of the operation. Israel in 1967, before the freedom of the Arab Christians in their communities in a way that completely denied to organize in some parts of the Middle East, where Islamic fundamentalism has the power. In his speech, there was no mention of the situation of Christians in Muslim hands, the West Bank and Gaza. One could imagine that all their problems are the fault of Israel. In a conversation I had with an audience told me later that pushed Israel Christians in the West Bank, I did not agree with.

A report by WND (World Net Daily) 12.27.05 says: "All all this talk about Israel driving Christians and cause pain is nonsense, "a community leader told WND Bethlehem Christians." Want to know what this is going to come every year and see the intimidation from the Muslims. They burned our stores, built mosques in front of our churches, stole our homes and our rights were. Women were raped and abducted. So tell me not to Israel. What are Muslims. "The head of Bethlehem, Christians, like many in the streets here, would his Not mention names
for publication for fear of reprisals. The proof of what he says is not hard to find.

Muslim by birth, was Ahmad The Achwal converted to Christianity. Her house was a casual Christian Center, where he presents and other Christian literature to inform their community about their new faith. Ahmad El Achwal was introduced to Christianity by a fellow inmate in the central prison in Nablus. He was of the Palestinian Authority was the face theft Gold accused of charges for which he later tried and acquitted. Once word spread of his conversion to Christianity, was repeatedly harassed and abused. The forces of "security" PA raided his house, confiscated Bibles and other Christian religious books arrested and interrogated for days him for a long time and promised to end their suffering and even a job in the Palestinian Authority if they wanted to return to Islam. Ahmad El Achwal was repeatedly beaten. His life and his family were threatened. His car and his house was fire bombed by the men associated with the company PA security forces. The owner Fast Food praised the store refused to renew its lease, forcing him into bankruptcy. Eventually paid with his life by the simple desire to live according to their conscience.

Christians and Muslims, Christians, evangelism will not be tolerated
an affront to the norms and traditions in the PA-controlled areas. Despite the PA publicly announced the protection of religious freedom, Islamic law (Sharia) was adopted in the Palestinian constitution, and is the most important right of all Palestinians, regardless of their religious beliefs. Islamic law considers that conversion from Islam to the death penalty, which may explain why Ahmad El Achwal murderer were never found, tried, never, never, wanted by the local authorities.

On the night of Saturday, September 2nd, 2005, more than 500 Muslim men shouted from the surrounding villages, "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) in the Christian village of Taybeh, plundered the whole night, and burned 16 houses and numerous Cars. Several other houses were stolen jewelry, furniture and appliances. Many families were forced to flee. The attack on the village was by the accusation that a Christian Taybeh go to a Muslim woman from a nearby town dared triggered. During the attack one of the worst against Christians in the West Bank has for many years, these Attacks are not "casual".

Terrorism and the security fence.

When Arafat signed the Oslo Accords of Palestine were needed to stop
Close to incitement to the destruction of Israel and the terrorist organizations. During the reign of Arafat's Palestinian Authority was a continuing incentive against Israel, with calls for Israel's destruction of the mosque and the school system. Glorification of terrorism is part of the lifestyle. We have clips and television stations PA Arab children who have only 5 are being indoctrinated with propaganda terrorism
against Israel.

19th August Palestinian clerics association deputy director Sheikh
Muhammad Ali was interviewed by Al-Manar Hezbollah TV. In the interview he spoke of jihad as the duty of all Muslims, and come from all parts of the conquest of Palestine by the jihad, not negotiations. Here are some fragments of what he said (information MEMRI) are.

"In terms of land, a land that was once the Muslims was one – is the duty of all Muslims to do whatever they can to liberate this country, where it is. In fact, many precious Muslim lands are under occupation today. Were forgotten, and Andalusia (Spain and Portugal) is an example. However, it is the duty of Muslims to liberate them. But as we talk about Palestine, Gaza, and therefore let us focus on this valuable piece of Muslim land, especially from Jerusalem
and Al-Aqsa belongs to all Muslims and became part of the Muslim faith.

"Give Allah willing, we will [Palestine] as conquerors and liberators, not through negotiations but through Jihad and resistance, because the hadith says," the Muslims kill the Jews "- was to kill, this divine prophecy, the file appears in the Hadith and the Koran denies the legitimacy or the normalization. any agreement, since there is only a matter of time, and Muslims to Jerusalem and finally release
Palestine recover. "

Since this is terrorism themselves been transformed into action, again and again with suicide attacks against Israeli civilians in cafes, buses and public places, it is clear that Israel had to do to avoid this. The appeal of the wall (which is for most a fence), Bishop Riah said nothing about terrorism as the cause for the building. The end of terrorism baiting and in fact base the need for peace in the region and influencing factors for this is are devout Muslims. West and the churches have something to tell together the world of Islam in no uncertain terms that until the problem of terrorism can not be without a path to follow for any peace process.

Israel's separation barrier is the product of Arab terrorism. Before September 2000 on the West Bank and Gaza Israelis to work, including the purchase and sale of Palestinians in Israel. Terrorism has everything changed. Unless the churches of this problem all the statements are empty platitudes.

As for the Colonies, I agree that there is damage to
Palestinian-Arab Population in terms of land confiscation and house demolitions. But in principle, the Arabs who live among the Jews in the 1967 borders of Israel before, then it should be possible be living among the Arabs for Jews in predominantly Arab areas. In fact, Gush Katif, the Gaza settlements, which have dismantled employment for about 5,000 Palestinians was in its agricultural development. Now that the settlers are passing greenhouses and agriculture in the region have been devastated and employment opportunities through the intended
The Palestinians left.

While it is true that the Palestinians are at very high
Unemployment, this is not true, all To cast blame for these in Israel.
Before Arafat took over the AP in 1993, the employment and living standards of Palestinians have been much better since they in the Situation in Israel will benefit from tourism and trade with Israel to work without restriction, were because of terrorism. The strikes and political terrorism has many Palestinian Employment opportunities destroyed. If an employer with a selection of people to work with him is facing, not go to their workplace as one strike, and it will work is, obviously
choose the ones that work. There is also the scandal of huge amounts of money were transferred to the PA by the European Union, America and the United Nations, without the benefit of the people, was given for the money transfer disappeared.

Conclusion.

Opposing Israel has the cause of the people on the left is united with Islam, condemned Israel, America and Christians believe in the Bible. The church's demarcation between those who support Israel and those who have to report it. Rational discussion of the problems is often very difficult, anti-Semitism accusations by one side and the support of a racist apartheid state on the other. It would be nice to continue the opportunity for discussion on these issues.

About the Author

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