The Shocking Reality of the Treatment of Christians in the Holy Land by US-Funded Israel
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Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Christian populations in Israel and the West Bank have declined drastically since 1948 and 1967, with Bethlehem's Christian community shrinking from 100,000 to under 30,000.
- ❖Jewish religious extremists in Jerusalem reportedly spit on Christian clergy and vandalize churches, with no specific Israeli law against spitting on Christians for religious reasons.
- ❖The Israeli government restricts Christian access to holy sites like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Easter, citing 'safety reasons,' a practice unheard of for 1700 years.
- ❖The Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, an Israeli citizen, was denied access to his own Christian hospital in Gaza, which was bombed at least eight times during the conflict.
- ❖US Christian funding for the Holy Land disproportionately supports Jewish settlements, providing 'a drop in the ocean' for local Christian communities.
- ❖In contrast, Christians in Jordan enjoy full constitutional rights, political representation, economic integration, and protection under the Hashemite monarchy.
- ❖Jordan's Muslim King Abdullah II personally funded the restoration of the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and a Muslim family has held the keys to the church for centuries.
- ❖The guest, a Jordanian Christian businessman, states that Islam is an 'integral part of the culture' for Christians in Jordan, citing shared prophets and the veneration of Jesus and Mary in the Quran.
- ❖Both speakers attribute the rising extremism and instability in the region to external forces and the lack of a just solution for Palestinians, warning of severe consequences for regional stability and America's interests.
Insights
1Persecution of Christians in Israel and West Bank
The Archbishop details a significant decline in the Christian population in Israel and the West Bank, attributing it to forced displacement, ongoing occupation, and harassment by Jewish extremists. Specific examples include spitting on clergy, vandalism of churches, and severe restrictions on Christian worship during holidays like Easter by Israeli authorities. He notes that unlike in the US, there is no specific law in Israel against spitting on someone for religious reasons, allowing perpetrators to go unpunished.
Christian populations halved in 1948 and 1967 (, ). Bethlehem's Christian population dropped from 100,000 to under 30,000 (). Christian clergy are spat upon by Jewish extremists (, , ). Israeli government restricts Christian access to Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Easter (, ). Archbishop denied access to his own hospital in Gaza (). Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombed 8 times (). Settler violence against Christians in West Bank (). Extremist groups openly state their mission to 'cleanse Jerusalem of infidels' (). No law against spitting on Christians in Israel ().
2US Funding Discrepancy and Christian Zionist Influence
US taxpayers and Christian churches are major funders in the Holy Land, yet the Archbishop reveals that US Christian aid primarily goes to Jewish settlements, not to support the struggling indigenous Christian communities. He criticizes Christian Zionists for supporting policies that harm their Christian brethren, even leading to the confiscation of Christian land for settlements, under the justification of 'greater good' or a specific theological agenda (Dispensationalism).
US funds military and cultural/religious life in the region (, ). US Christian churches send more money to Jewish settlements than to Christians in Nazareth (, ). Christian Zionists justify harm to local Christians as 'sacrifice for a greater good' (, ). This ideology is seen as harmful to both Christians and Jews ().
3Flourishing Christian Community in Jordan
In stark contrast to Israel, Christians in Jordan are described as thriving, enjoying full constitutional rights, political representation, and economic integration within a Muslim-majority society. The Hashemite monarchy actively protects and supports Christian holy sites, with King Abdullah II personally funding the restoration of the Tomb of Jesus. This coexistence is attributed to constitutional equality, political stability, and a leadership that champions interfaith dialogue and compassion.
Christians in Jordan feel 'one' with Muslims (). Islam is an 'integral part of the culture' for Christians in Jordan (). Mary mentioned over 30 times in Quran, only woman named (, ). Christians have constitutional rights as equal citizens (). Christians are well-represented in parliament, government, army, and private sector despite being a small minority (). King Abdullah II personally funded restoration of Tomb of Jesus (, ). Muslim family holds keys to Church of the Holy Sepulchre since Saladin ().
4Escalating Extremism and Regional Instability
Both speakers observe a dangerous acceleration of extremism across the region, fueled by external interventions and the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They warn that the lack of a just solution for Palestinians, coupled with US military involvement, creates vacuums that are filled by radical elements, leading to increased suffering and destabilization, with minorities being the most vulnerable.
Extremism is increasing from all sides (, ). US military intervention creates vacuums filled by 'bad elements' (, ). Lack of a just solution for Palestinians destabilizes the region (). US funding 'killing in Gaza' without consequences (). Archbishop Naoum fears the future ().
Key Concepts
Status Quo
Refers to the long-standing historical arrangements governing holy sites in Jerusalem, particularly the shared custodianship and access rights for different religious communities. The episode highlights how this 'Status Quo' is being challenged or undermined in Israel, especially for Christians, while Jordan upholds it.
Dispensationalism
A theological framework, primarily within evangelical Christianity, that interprets biblical prophecy as a series of distinct historical 'dispensations' or eras. It often includes a belief in the necessity of Jewish return to Israel and the establishment of a Jewish state as a precursor to the Second Coming of Christ, influencing Christian Zionist support for Israel, sometimes at the expense of local Christians.
Quotes
"When we talk about Palestinian refugees today, they're all coming, or came, from what is called Israel today. What I think most Americans don't understand is a huge number of those refugees who were forcibly removed from their land were Christians."
"Christian supporters of Israel in the United States are writing off their Christian brothers in this region as terrorists."
"Sometimes we need to sacrifice for a greater good. Can you imagine this? Christians told you this? Yes, Christians!"
"The Christian churches in the United States send more money to Jewish settlements in the West Bank than they do to Christians in Jesus's town, Nazareth."
"The Israeli government is preventing Christians from celebrating Easter in Jerusalem. Yes, they are preventing Christians and pilgrims from celebrating Easter."
"My hospital in Gaza... it was bombed at least eight times during the war."
"I walk in the Old City, for example, if I'm wearing my suit, everything is fine. But sometimes, if I'm wearing my cross and my clerical robe, I might be treated differently by some groups. How are you treated? I might be spat on, for example. Have you been spat on? Yes. Really? Yes. More than once? More than once. Yes."
"There is no law in Israel against spitting on Christians?"
"When I come to Jordan, I feel more at home than I am in other places inside, in my homeland. Honestly."
"We are the first Christians. This is where Christianity started, isn't it? We are the first Christians."
"The Tomb of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was renovated by personal donations from King Abdullah himself. What!? The Tomb of Jesus renovated by the Muslim King of Jordan!?"
"The keys of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are still... they were not owned by any Christian denomination, because they couldn't agree, right? The Armenians, the Orthodox... So that key was handed over back then to Saladin. And until this very day, the keys are entrusted to an old Muslim family, the Nuseibeh family of Jerusalem."
"I don't think it would occur to most Americans that a Christian could be treated better here in Jordan than in Israel."
"If you want to truly protect Christian communities here, you have to invest in stability, and intervene peacefully, you know, economically."
Q&A
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