Bethlehem Christians Break Silence

Bethlehem Christians break the silence and openly complain about persecution by their Muslim neighbors. Jerusalem Post reporter Khaled Abu Toamheh writes:

But following an increase in attacks on Christian-owned property in the city over the past few months, some Christians are no longer afraid to talk about the ultra-sensitive issue. And they are talking openly about leaving the city.
"The situation is very dangerous," said Samir Qumsiyeh, owner of the Beit Sahur-based private Al-Mahd (Nativity) TV station. "I believe that 15 years from now there will be no Christians left in Bethlehem. Then you will need a torch to find a Christian here. This is a very sad situation."

Qumsiyeh, one of the few Christians willing to speak about the harsh conditions of their community, has been the subject of numerous death threats. His house was recently attacked with fire-bombs, but no one was hurt.

Qumsiyeh said he has documented more than 160 incidents of attacks on Christians in the area in recent years.

Incidents include land theft, fire bombings and death threats. Christians say their complaints to the Palestinian Authority have fallen on deaf ears.

Posted at 11:37 AM

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Comments

Islamophobia - the fear of people who want to kill you!

Posted by: Scipio at Jan 25, 2007 7:35:34 PM

if somebody built a prison wall around me, stopped paying tax revenues to my government (which has a great deal to do with the violence in gaza today), and continued to illegaly annex my land, i would perhaps consider relocating as well.

and no scipio, not all muslims as you so eloquently pointed out want to kill you. that is not islam. in fact, my last girlfriend was muslim, and contrary to popular american bloggery, she was, in fact, a human being.

Posted by: middle east resident at Jan 28, 2007 7:26:04 PM

middle east resident,

If someone sent suicide bombers into you, preached your destruction in every sermon, had a charter saying it could never be permissible to recognize your state, and fired rockets at you after, by evacuating territories, you had ended the stated reason for the hostility, you'd perhaps consider building a defense wall around them as well.

Not all Muslims want to give us the choice between conversion, dhimmitude or death, but most of them do. It's a fact, a sad but indisputable fact, that moderate Muslims are a tiny minority in Islam, and that they put their lives at risk if they try to speak out against their extremist brethren.

Posted by: ZionistYoungster at Jan 28, 2007 11:02:06 PM