Posted on 08/05/2006 7:33:07 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Syria's Christians rally behind Hizbollah
"We are Arabs at the end of the day. Nasrallah is one of our own. He is realizing our dreams"
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Fri Aug 4, 2006 10:48am ET169
by Khaled Yacoub Oweis
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DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Seventy-seven-year-old Mona Muzaber lights a candle for Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah at the Orthodox Church of the Cross in the center of Damascus.
"I love him. I never felt Nasrallah was a religious zealot. He is a patriot who doesn't seek personal gain," she said. "I light a candle daily for him to remain under God's protection."
Israel's offensive against Lebanon has brought Christians in neighboring Syria closer to Nasrallah, a Shi'ite Muslim, reviving Arab nationalist feelings and blurring sectarian divisions.
Bishops and priests say Syria's Christians, a devout community of around three million out of a population of 18 million, identify strongly with Nasrallah's battle with Israel, which has occupied Syria's Golan Heights since 1967.
"Pray for the resistance, pray for Hassan Nasrallah. He is defending justice," Father Elias Zahlawi told the congregation at special mass held at the Lady of Damascus, a Catholic church.
Across Damascus Christians, like Muslims, sit glued to Nasrallah's al-Manar television, receptive to his portrayal of the war as one in defense of all Arabs, as well as Muslims.
At the biblical-era Straight Street, Khaldoun Uzrai hung the yellow flags of Hizbollah all over his liquor and grocery shop.
"We are Arabs at the end of the day. Nasrallah is one of our own. He is realizing our dreams," Uzrai said.
At least 720 people have been killed in Lebanon and 750,000 have been displaced by the conflict ignited by a cross-border raid in which Hizbollah seized two Israeli soldiers. Seventy-two Israelis have been killed, many by Hizbollah rockets.
NOT ENOUGH ROCKETS
Iyad Elias, a doctor working at a hospital in the mixed Jaramana district, wishes Hizbollah could unleash more rockets on the Jewish state.
"Nasrallah transcends religion and ethnicity. Unfortunately he does not have the firepower Israel has," he said.
Jaramana has been a main receiving center for thousands of Lebanese refugees, mostly Shi'ite from the south. They have been housed in schools, mosques, monasteries and private homes.
Thabet Salem, a leading political commentator, said Nasrallah brought out nationalist feelings which have been dormant for years as Israel dealt the Arabs a series of defeats.
"Nasrallah extols the Muslim nation, but he is also seen as a symbol of a national liberation movement. No wonder Christians feel such affinity to him," Salem said.
A leading Christian businessman called Nasrallah "the uncrowned Arab king".
"Unlike most Arab rulers, Nasrallah is not an agent. After all he sacrificed his son," the businessman said, referring to Hadi Nasrallah, who was killed at 18 fighting occupying Israeli forces in south Lebanon.
Al-Rooters employs a lot of Muslim propagandists
The way Christians live under slammite rule is well known. This story is BS.
They're rooting for the other side.
More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.
How come I do not believe this is true?
Arabs first, Christians second? Well, that would describe the American religious left also.
nominal Christians
I don't believe this story for a moment.
Go figure.. INBREEDING?.. who knows.. Some people are stuck on stupid..
And we have guys like Pat Buchanan. I think there are some Christians who actually admire Islam because of it's stand on moral issues, who really do see Western culture as decadent, just as Islam sees it.
KHALED YACOUB OWEIS
RUETERS NEWS SERVICE
More and more of the reports and photos used to steer people's opinions to the hard Left are being supplied by Arab Muslims.
The Muslim religion clearly states that it is the duty of a good Muslim to lie to the infidels. The Muslims are liars, the MSM are traitors.
Something like that
Western culture is NOT decadent?..
This is gonna be good.. how do you support that concept?..
True Islam is more or less Satanic.. at least Islam is what Satanic would be if there were a Satan.. Pretty much Islam is Satans bathroom and Western Culture is his trash can.. Satan seems pretty much at home on this planet.., currently..
I see they have to go to "free" Syria to find the support for Nazrullah.
Strange that they can't find any Lebanese Christians to talk to.
My solution: Israel came about by an act of the British military, it could go away by a similar act today. Let the Arabs run the territory known as Israel, the UN could police the area to protect Jews, if needed. The area would be a democracy and the Jews would have full rights of citzenship.
If it turns out that there is a God, I don't think that he's evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever.
"My solution: Israel came about by an act of the British military, it could go away by a similar act today. Let the Arabs run the territory known as Israel, the UN could police the area to protect Jews, if needed. The area would be a democracy and the Jews would have full rights of citzenship."
You clearly don't understand the Zionist movement.
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