Christian groups say ties with Israel 'worst' ever [leftwing groups?]

Haaretz ^ | May 12, 2004 | Reuters

[yonif]

Christian organizations in the Holy Land say ties with the Israeli government are the worst ever and have accused the Jewish state of denying visas to some clergy - making them unwelcome in the place of Jesus' birth.

A group of 50 Christian leaders sent a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush asking him to help solve a "crisis" that left some institutions without sufficient staff.

"Relations of the churches and these institutions with the Israeli government may be the worst they have ever been," said the letter, sent to Bush last week and signed by Protestant, Catholic and evangelical leaders.

"Those of us with religious institutions in Israel and the Occupied Territories are no longer able to function normally."

Some groups said they felt Israel was singling out Christians - particularly Arabs - for increasingly harsh treatment.

Others thought they were targeted for appearing too sympathetic to the Palestinians.

Israeli officials said there was no policy of discrimination against Christians despite church complaints that visas for their staff and clergy were regularly denied or delayed.

The letter noted a West Bank barrier Israel is building in what it says is an effort to stop suicide bombers also impinges on pilgrims: "It separates ... Bethlehem from Jerusalem. For Christians worldwide, this structure is cutting off access to holy sites."

Christians constitute some 50,000 of the roughly 3.6 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

Christians said some church staff were made to wait months for visas, while others were denied. Arabs were particularly vulnerable because of Israeli security concerns.

"There is a lot of delay, and it is denied to some people like those who come from Arab countries," said Father William Shomali, treasurer for the Latin Patriarchate.

"I don't want to speak of persecution, but it is more like neglect ... It is not in the spirit of Jerusalem," he said.

Shomali said some Christians perceived there was an effort by the Israeli right wing to "Judaise" Jerusalem, also holy to Christians and Muslims.

But Israel blames bureaucracy, not bias, for the hold-ups.

"I think we solved all the problems," an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said. "It takes time when people are coming from Arab countries because we have to send the applications to security. They are the only ones, and sometimes it takes a little time."

The interior minister met with Christian representatives several weeks ago to work out any bureaucratic kinks, she added.

Yet Nancy Dinsmore, who has worked for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem for five years, said she was informed last week that her visa would not be renewed. She said she believed Israel was cracking down on Christians for political reasons, targeting those thought to be sympathetic to the Palestinians.

"I think we are pretty loud and outspoken. A lot of our ministries are service related. In doing this we draw attention to the appalling circumstances in which the community lives."

[yonif]

Ping.

[af_vet_1981]

"Those of us with religious institutions terrorist connections in Israel and the Occupied Territories are no longer able to function normally."

[thoughtomator]

It's harder to protect Christians when the Pope condemns the assassination of the mass murderers that threaten them. Security ain't free, and the ones complaining now would be the first to claim Israeli atrocity should the Palis kill a few.

[yonif]

bump

[antisocial]

Visit this site and you will see why some of these "Christian" groups are having trouble!
http://www.cmep.org

[thoughtomator]

Ah... "peace" idolaters.

[Alouette]

She said she believed Israel was cracking down on Christians for political reasons, targeting those thought to be sympathetic to the Palestinians.

Oh boo hoo hoo.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[Salem]

Yoni, buddy, I guarantee you the Israeli government knows exactly who their friends are.

The Evangelical Christian community I live with and all related organizations that community is affiliated with have no problems traveling in and out of Israel, nor do they meet any resistance whatsoever in their temporal ministry to the Jewish Nation.

Go to that site antisocial provided and head directly to the links page. That'll give you pretty good insight into what they are all about and where they are coming from. Any "Christian" group that would provide a direct link to the PA homepage or the World Council of Churches (which is simply a spiritual "tower of Babel") is, as thoughtomator stated, a "peace idolater" and no part of Him.

In the letter to President Bush, I don't recognize the name of one single signatory as anybody of significance in advocacy of the concerns of Israel, and a mess of religious institutions catering to the whims and notions of men, and not of G-d. Well, like the Unitarians (the Quik-E-Mart® of dead religious variety).

Yoni, the heart of HaShem is for His people Israel, as evidenced in His Word, the revelation of His character. Bible believing Christians (theological differences between the Jews and Christians duly acknowledged) purport to model His character, love, and grace. Therefore, their heart also should mirror that same great love for His people Israel. It just should.

As for those killing them, shooting them, blowing them up, threatening to wipe them off the face of the planet, hating them, or simply modeling an ambivalent attitude and adherence to humanist man-centered ambiguous notions of "peace" by negotiating with Israel's—and America's—sworn enemies who have no intentions whatsoever of accepting the Jews and letting them live in peace, well...

THEY NEED TO REPENT!

This is, I believe, the foundation of Christian support of Israel and the Jewish people living again in their G-d ordained land.





If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me. ~
    
MikeFromFR ~
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~

[yonif]

bttt

[Straight Vermonter]

Sigh, if only we had our own.

[TrueBeliever9]

The Marxist Council of Churches is against America and Israel.

[TrueBeliever9]

Strange - these people never complain about the Palestinian Terrorists who took over Bethlehem and desecrated the Tombs of the Patriachs!

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>>"Those of us with religious institutions in Israel and the Occupied Territories are no longer able to function normally."

Just melt two chocolate flavored Ex-Lax pieces in your coffee. You'll function just fine in a couple of hours.

[fishtank]

So true.

[Salem]

LOL!!  

[af_vet_1981]

Nancy Dinsmore

• Nancy Dinsmore grew up in Palo Alto, California.
• Nancy and Friends sign a petition. Isn't that cute ? ...
• Nancy Dinsmore the patron saint of Gaza ...

[Slings and Arrows]

Nancy Dinsmore the patron saint of Gaza ...

I thought the patron saint of Gaza was Saint Pancake.

[judicial meanz]

Absolutely correct!