Anti-Muslim sentiments are nothing any of us are surprised about anymore. Especially since September 11, 2001 when the world changed overnight, Muslim-bashing has become second nature to some and accepted by most in the western world in particular. What is not as common is seething, racist hatred towards Christians. The predominantly Christian West would be appalled by the anti-Christian ranting heard today in Palestine – not by Palestinians but by Israel’s belligerent Jewish settlers. Yesterday, in response to the Israeli government evacuation of the illegal Migron settlement outpost, angry settlers torched a door to the Latrun Monastery, just outside of Jerusalem, scrawling racist graffiti on its walls such as “Jesus is a monkey”. Several months ago, in February, “Death to Christianity” was painted on two churches in Jerusalem with offensive profanities against Jesus slashed across their walls. Anti-Christian sentiments are indoctrinated in Israeli government circles as well, even if they are not the overall trend. In July 2012, right wing Knesset member Micheal Ben Ari was videotaped tearing up the New Testament calling it an “abominable book.” While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Ben Ari’s actions, no punitive measures were taken against him. The increasing anti-Christian sentiments in Israeli society, namely Jewish settlers in the West Bank who carry out these acts of vandalism as part of their “price tag” policy could have a silver lining. While the torching of mosques, the desecration of Qurans and anti-Muslim graffiti often goes unnoticed in the West, an attack on Christianity and Jesus may not. The Palestinians, of course see attacks on both religions equally as despicable and clear evidence of Israel’s settlers lack of respect for other faiths and human beings. Unfortunately however, those who could actually have an influence on the Israeli government are western powers, which are overwhelmingly Christian. So, when a Baptist, Methodist, Protestant or Catholic in the United States or Europe see citizens of their number one ‘friend’ in the Middle East completely disrespecting their faith and prophet, the hope is, this will prompt some level of self-reflection. That is, if the United States in particular is bent on being so blindly supportive of Israel, shouldn’t there at least be some reciprocal respect for their faith and beliefs? The settler population has been allowed to wreak havoc for years on the Palestinian population, Muslims in particular, basically because the Israeli government has given it a free hand or at least turned a blind eye to their openly racist views. Countless mosques have been broken into, burned, copies of the Quran torn up and offensive phrases such as “Mohammed is a pig” scrawled on Palestinian village walls. The US and Europe usually suffice with offering a tepid condemnation of the act while the attacks rarely make it into the mainstream news. And even if a settler attack on Muslim sites does find its way into the headlines, anti-Muslim sentiments have become so accepted, they are not taken seriously or worse, they are categorized as justified responses. Attacks on churches and on Jesus’ name may not go over as easily. The United States has very strong faith-based communities who take their religion seriously. To see such racism and hatred against Christianity by citizens of a country they consider their “other half” will hopefully shock them into reality. Perhaps now the West will pay more attention to the lethality of West Bank settlements and the poison it spews on all those around them, Christians and Muslims alike. It is time the United States and Europe take a more active stance against Israel’s settlement policies. The most recent tirade of anti-Christian outbursts may open their eyes to just how harmful settlements are and bring them to the long overdue conclusion that all settlements and settlers must go. Joharah Baker is a Writer for the Media and Information Department at the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). She can be contacted at mid@miftah.org.
Read More...
By: Julie Holm for MIFTAH
Date: 18/06/2012
By: Kevin William for MIFTAH
Date: 11/06/2012
By: Joharah Baker for MIFTAH
Date: 14/06/2010
By the Same Author
Date: 16/11/2023
Date: 08/11/2023
Date: 08/07/2023
Date: 17/05/2023
|