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Source: The Star Ledger
Author: Maha Munayyer Kabbash
Date: July 31, 2006
As an American-born Christian of Palestinian descent, I have read
with interest that the House is considering a bill to "protect"
Palestinian Christians from so-called "persecution" by the Palestinian
Authority and Palestinian Mus lims. While I appreciate the bill's
recognition that Palestinian Christians form the world's oldest
Christian community, the bill falsely suggests that the problems facing
Palestinian Christians arise from the Muslim community, not from the
Israeli occupation. The bill's sponsors failed to consult Christian
communities in the oc cupied territories.
If they had, they would have learned that the greatest problems
facing all Palestinians -- Christians and Muslims -- are the route of
Israel's separation wall, hours-long delays and harassment at military
checkpoints and the resulting difficulty for everyday Palestinians in
reaching jobs, schools and health facilities. The Israeli government
does not care whether a Palestinian living in the West Bank is Christian
or Muslim. It has not exempted either group from military incursions,
economic strangulation or malnutrition. If our representatives want to
show concern for Palestinian Christians, they should pressure Israel to
end the 39-year-old illegal occupation that has caused all Palestinians
to suffer immensely. |
