The Grinch That Destroys Christmas

People are too lazy to learn the facts, and as during Hitler's notorious regime, people blindly follow what is easy and convenient for them. Christians and Jews need to unite to propagate the truth about how the Palestinians purposely take away opportunities of growth from their own, so as to keep them subjugated by their corrupt "government". This is not new. Jews have always been blamed for the problems of others. Thanks for the truth that you print!

Posted by: ruth at Dec 12, 2007 5:14:50 PM

Israel needs to tell the world to go straight to hell in a hand basket and stand up to the threats and bad mouthing just as Iran does. I am sick and tired of Bush and his lackey C. Rice ranting with their pacifist rhetoric. Not being a Jew, I will fight for Israel just as I would for the United States of America. To hell with Islam. The Christian world needs to stop being such pansies and support Israel.

Posted by: Robert M. Copley Sr. at Dec 12, 2007 5:22:11 PM

As a Christian, I have no doubt about Muslim persecution of Christians and Jews alike. As a matter of fact, they persecute anyone else who don't believe as they do. It is written in their Koran for all to see, if they have any doubt. It actually instructs Muslims how to sabotage Jews and Christians. I won't give the passage numbers because it won't do any good. Those who want to believe otherwise, "prefer" to have their head buried in the sand. If they really wanted to know the "TRUTH", it's very easy to go to "Barnes and Noble" and pick-up a plain paper back issue for three or four dollars and read for themselves, the TRUTH!!! It is there in black and white for the whole world to see.

Posted by: Charles Allen at Dec 12, 2007 6:09:04 PM

Once again, Christians gather in Manger Square to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Dignitaries from around the world jostle for air time on CNN and solemnly proclaim 'peace on earth.' Indeed, all are welcome to praise this day …all except the blood relatives of Jesus himself ! If Jesus were to suddenly appear outside of Bethlehem, he would be lynched, and his family and disciples denounced as 'West Bank Settlers.'

The Baby Jesus never heard a single word of Arabic. All of the players in his drama were Jews – Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Apostles. His final days were played out in a Jewish temple. There was not a single mosque on the planet, and the fiction of 'palestine' would be invented by his Roman murderers only after his death.

Each year, the festivities in Bethlehem are orchestrated by groups which have devoted much of these last two millennia to the repression and murder of those who gave birth to Christianity. Christian leaders line up before microphones to once more libel the Jews, even while their co-religionists suffer horrific discrimination and death in Nigeria, Indonesia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt ... and "palestine."

Good will toward men .. indeed !

Prof. Steve Berger
mberger@post.tau.ac.il

Posted by: Steve Berger at Dec 12, 2007 6:09:08 PM

As much as i hate the british media, i think you just misread sarcasm as we see later in the article. I don;t think it's bad, just porrly written.

"The truth is very different. The parlous position of Palestinian Christians, indeed the difficult position of most Christians across the Arab world, is a consequence not of Israeli aggression but of growing Islamist influence. Israel goes out of its way to honour sites and traditions sacred to other faiths while the radicals who are driving Palestinian politics seek to create an Islamist state in which other faiths, if they survive at all, do so with the explicit subject status of dhimmis. But when it comes to Israel’s position in these matters it’s still a case of O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see them lie."

Posted by: daniel at Dec 12, 2007 6:30:03 PM

I AM SO TIRED OF RESPONDING TO ORGS LIKE SABEEL AND OTHERS THAT IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE ME VOMIT. LET ALL OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS THAT MOCK, DEFAME, INJURE BY WORD OR DEED ANY JEW ANYWHERE DIE AND BE DONE WITH IT. THERE IS REALLY NOTHING TO BE DONE AFTER ALL THIS TIME. IT'S SIMPLY HOPELESS TO TALK TO THESE PEOPLE.

Posted by: Manny at Dec 12, 2007 6:42:38 PM

As a Catholic my dream has always been to go to the holy land. I guess that will never happen. When is the rest of the world going to realize what the plan of these extremest is.For muslims to have control over the world. If you don't believe me, look at whats happening in England,you can't even teach about the holocaust.

Posted by: at Dec 12, 2007 6:47:33 PM

Prior to 1967, what kind of access did Christians have to sites such as Bethlehem and others? The world in general seems to have forgotten that
(a) it was Israel that was attacked in 1967 and in defending herself took back Jerusalem,
(b) Jerusalem (and Bethlehem) was designated as an International City by the U.N. Mandate that created Israel and in 1948-49 the Arabs attacking the fledging country took Jerusalem from the world,
(c) it has been Israel that opened up all these sites, including that of Bethlehem, to Christians around the world.
The world seemingly has Israel to thank for the Jewish baby the Christian season of Christmas is all about.
The world seemingly has Israel to thank for opening up access to the sites that, prior to 1967, had been denied to the Christians.
So why is the majority of the Christian world not thankful to the Israelis, rather than calling for their destruction?
Just as with the Protocol of the Elders of Zion, vitriolic lies are still being spread regarding the Jews in order to incite people against the Jews.
Has the whole world forgotten that these sites had been denied to them until 1967?

Posted by: Miriam at Dec 12, 2007 7:45:48 PM

After reading the article from NG, once again, I am seeing that I need to cancel my subscription to this magazine. The article, like many others over the years on various subjects, is biased, inaccurate, and not at all helpful. Why is it that the Muslims are not held accountable? Why is it that the Jews are always held to a higher standard?

Posted by: Annie at Dec 12, 2007 9:04:45 PM

I find it interesting that a popular, Fundamentalist Christian television network--and Fundamentalist Christians in general--unequivocally support Israel. The so-called "Liberal" Christians are some of the most virulant Anti-Semites that I have ever met. Of course they like to cloak it in condemnations of Israels policies toward the Palestinian Arabs. I have seen the contrast over and over again whenever dealing with "Liberal" Christians and Fundamentalists. The "Liberal" will typically tell me in so many words that for a Jew that I am okay but those Jews in Israel are just terrible. I guess in a way they want to make me into their pet Jew so they can make a claim to not being an Anti-Semite but at the same time making all other Jews fair game. The Fundamentalist on the other hand almost worship us to the point of embarrassment.

Posted by: Jack at Dec 13, 2007 1:00:35 AM

Whilst on a trip to Israel rcently my tour group took 44 of us to a Bible College in Bethlehem. Whilst there we were subjected to some serious political manouvres - maps were produced which were a total fabrication, the old one sided story sprang forth... sadly 38 out of 44 were not well informed and drank it in. Three of us spoke out the truth in protest. I left the West Bank that day not wanting to go back - ever. Israel - our hearts and minds are with you all the way - some of us do speak out and will stand with you to then end. Stay blessed. Ruth - Manchester. UK

Posted by: Ruth at Dec 13, 2007 2:02:00 AM

When the Israeli's were in control Before the Islamists took over Bethlehem was open to all religions, now it is partially closed and the Christians lost out, with the palestinians in control most people are afraid to go there as well. Too bad they didn't read the rest of the command 'I will curse them that curseth thee'(Israel)

Posted by: molly fettner at Dec 13, 2007 4:33:09 AM

I womder why the world is guiet at what is hsppening to the Christians in Bethlehem.,Nazerath.
That no Nativity progam was broadcast last year. Where have 70,000 Christiams diappered too. Mostly to North Israel as Israeli Citizens. No other country would take them.
No out cry from Rome only those whose eyes are shut and their ears plugged can only cry out at what Israel is doing.. No one heard the cry when Hitler went ofter the Jews
they do not hear or see what is happening to the Christians ezcept the Jews.
Wake up World it is later than you think,they are more brazen and they think that by their methods of intimidation there will no one to stand up to them, They are wrong as
we talk softlty but we carry a big stick.

Posted by: Murray Gorelick at Dec 13, 2007 5:42:53 PM

Propagandists miss no opportunity to propagandise, and where better to do it than a BBC forum. Honest Reporting, as your perceptive article prophesied, here we go:

Added: Friday, 14 December, 2007, 17:37 GMT 17:37 UK

As a Christian Palestinian from the holy land, Christmas for me in the birth love and renewal at the threshold of every new year.

Despite the cruel and harsh occupation of the birthplace of Jesus Christ, Bethlehem, by Israel, we insist on celebrating this sacred feast with its both religious and secular faces where our Muslim friends share us our joy and vibrant decorations. A fact that embodies the true meaning of Christmas with love among various religions.

Farah Hanna, East Jerusalem, Palestine

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Posted by: Bryan at Dec 23, 2007 9:16:19 AM

Will people stop visting Bethlehem and spending currency, give then mothing, its full of vagabonds. Until Israel regains Bethlehem it will remain the dump that it is.

Posted by: David at Dec 25, 2007 3:37:34 PM

islam ,muslims ,= by by freedom
see today pakistan Ms benazir bhuto

Posted by: djodjo at Dec 27, 2007 5:34:34 PM

I'd like to see Honest Reporting make more of the Bethlehem article in National Geographic than simply providing a link to NG's website. National Geographic has a huge educational influence as it is made available in school and public libraries. This article deserves a campaign of its own to refute the incomplete historical analysis and slanted journalism in the article.

Posted by: Michael and Alanna Katzenberg at Jan 5, 2008 12:44:52 PM