Via the Wall Street Journal, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations,Ron Prosor, wrote the following piece, which includes :
The Middle East may be the birthplace of three monotheistic religions, but some Arab nations appear bent on making it the burial ground for one of them. For 2,000 years, Christian communities dotted the region, enriching the Arab world with literature, culture and commerce. At the turn of the 20th century, Christians made up 26% of the Middle East's population. Today, that figure has dwindled to less than 10%. Intolerant and extremist governments are driving away the Christian communities that have lived in the Middle East since their faith was born.
The scene unfolding in the Middle East is ominously familiar. At the end of World War II, almost one million Jews lived in Arab lands. The creation of Israel in 1948 precipitated an invasion of five Arab armies. When they were unable to annihilate the newborn state militarily, Arab leaders launched a campaign of terror and expulsion that decimated their ancient Jewish communities. They succeeded in purging 800,000 Jews from their lands.
Today, Israel, which I represent at the United Nations, is the only country in the Middle East with a growing Christian population. Its Christian community has increased from 34,000 in 1948 to 140,000 today, in large measure because of the freedoms Christians are afforded.
So, sadly, after Arab and Islamic regimes ethnically cleansed their countries of their Jewish populations, they are now turning on their more numerous Christian brethren. It is sad that in the UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is more concerned with dealing (or rather NOT dealing)with the consequences of gay marriage than he is his fellow Christians. It should also be noted that the former Chief Rabbi of the UK, Jonathan Sacks, spoke out about middle eastern Christians a couple of years ago, in a debate in the House of Lords:
Is it now down to us Jews to speak up for Christians, given that their own leadership is impotent and unable to give a voice to their fellows in the middle east?
UPDATE : 21/4/2014
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteI don't think we're 'the only ones', but the media in the west seems to be determined to forget the plight of Christians in the middle east, just as they have done with the Jews of the middle east. To reflect,even for an instant, would mean that the Arab muslims were not the victims in the ills of the middle east...
Hannah
DeleteIndeed. And don't forget Christians don't control the media anymore, but secular lefties in state controlled news outets (BBC, C4) who have more sympathy for Hamas than they do Israel, let alone Christians.
I'm surprised at how little fellow Christians seem to care about their fellows in the middle east; is this because by and large they are not protestants or something (Christian Orthodox I understand, which is why Russia is being more muscular toward this than others, e.g. in Syria)? I'm not talking about launching another 'crusade', but there just seems to be a reluctance to talk about who is doing the persecuting here, especially with Warsi, the 'faith' minister in charge of UK policy there. Cameron is a salesman who will say anything to get re-elected. If he really did 'God' or Jesus then he wouldn't have done gay marriage.
ReplyDeleteEsther,
DeleteCould be so.
It could also be because the UK "isn't a Christian country".See post I'm about to put up, above.
You are a critique of Christianity& hate born again believers !!! So what's this about you supporting it in the middle east?!!
ReplyDeleteThere is a BIG difference between following a religion or disagreeing with it and sticking people into ovens. I don't hate Christianity I merely do not follow it. Therefore if I am asked what do I think about that religion I'll give an honest if scathing answer. But that doesn't mean I want to some how slaughter Christians en masse which is happening in the ME right now (except Israel).
DeleteA couple things to consider.
ReplyDeleteThe media generally likes to deal with organizations that have governing bodies that can make official statements. There is more awareness at the grass roots level than would be apparent given only media stories. But the media isn't engaged with individual churches. They want PR depts.
Many of the churches that have PR depts are old churches shot through with liberalism. They are going to be concerned to avoid any message that steps on a preconceived narrative about Muslim victimization. Plus they are ideologically committed to the notion that conflict is a result of misunderstanding and power imbalance. They resist the idea that some conflicts are intractable.
Finally some might be afraid to say anything for fear of provocation. This is a real concern and a legitimate judgment call. Christians in the West have very little actual ability to actually do anything. A statement of principle might make us feel better but have bad consequences for others. Again, I don't present this as a general principle but as a subject for consideration.
carl
Carl,
DeleteI see your point, except that fear of provocation. In the 1930s various American organisations wanted to boycott Hitler. It didn't do anyone any good, but I don't believe if the protests hadn't have been made that he Reich would not have done what it did. The same goes for Christians in the middle east- their card is marked I'm afraid. And the silence will just make people think they can get away with such atrocities, until there are no Christians left. The propaganda will be the same as it has been with Jews- e.g. Christianity started out in Mars or whatever, but the ME has ALWAYS been Muslim. Also should the 'west' intervene? That is the rub. The only way to stop this is via military intervention, but no-one has the will, backbone or national security interest to intervene. So people will suffer. But until the muslim-arab- palestinians who thrive on victimhood, this will be one group of victims -like my ancestors- whose story will go undocumented, unlamented by the bulk of the world's media and trendy opinion formers.
Is it any surprise that Israel is a safe haven, not just for Jews, but also Christians?
ReplyDeleteNonsense! Great Britain IS A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY. you lot just have to fit in with OUR Christian laws. none of this jewish sharia law or kosher slaughter thanks matey!
ReplyDelete