Arafat: Passion of the Christ 'impressive'

Jerusalem Post ^ | 20 March 2004

[Hal1950]

Yasser Arafat watched Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ on Saturday, and afterward a top aide compared Jesus' pain during crucifixion to the suffering of Palestinians in the conflict with Israel.

Nabil Abu Rudeneh, one of Arafat's closest advisers, watched the film along with the veteran Palestinian leader and a group of American and European Christians and Palestinian Muslim clerics.

"The Palestinians are still daily being exposed to the kind of pain Jesus was exposed to during his crucifixion," Abu Rudeneh said in a statement after he viewed the movie.

Arafat, who watched the film on a small TV set in his Ramallah office, said the movie was "historic and impressive."

The visiting Christians, Anglicans and Protestants, were from the United States, Canada and Britain, said Palestinian legislator Hannan Ashrawi, who also viewed the film. Arafat's office did not further identify the delegation.

Gibson's film graphically depicts Christ's final hours. The film has been a huge box office success, bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in its first two weeks in theatres in the United States and Canada.

The film has sparked controversy, and some Jews have said the movie will fuel anti-Semitism because it unfairly portrays Jews as the main force behind Jesus' crucifixion. Other critics have said the film is overly violent.

[Barnacle]

In the Mohammedan religion, it's OK to decieve non-Mohammedans for the purpose of furthering the Mohammedan agenda.

By contrast, Christianity seeks nothing but truth. The truth will set you free. And, no good can come from evil.

[Slings and Arrows]

Thank you very much. I was just following the premise to its logical conclusion.

[spectacularbid2003]

"The Palestinians are still daily being exposed to the kind of pain Jesus was exposed to during his crucifixion,"

Sounds like something Jimmy Carter would say.

[Eva]

I have been avoiding the thread for the same reason, but then I thought that I would stop and comment that the author seems to be copying the criticism of John Kerry for his foreign endorsements. They thought that if the wrong endorsements hurt Kerry, maybe they would do the same thing for Mel Gibson.

[Salem]

"Sounds like something Jimmy Carter would say."

But of course! Carter and Arafat were drinking buddies at one time, doncha' know.  

[lonevoice]

Yeah, Arafart's hypocrisy is just him being corrupt and evil, as always. Calling the film "historic" when Muslems don't believe in the Deity of Jesus, and they believe a body double was crucified in His place, is typical Arafart duplicity. Predictable and despicable.

[El Gato]

The Muslims honor Jesus as a prophet, but believe Allah substituted a look alike at the last moment to take Jesus' place. So it was not he real Jesus, but a copy who was tortured and crucified.

Oh...mmmm.. maybe that's why so many Muslim dictators have body doubles, with Saddam having had many of them.

Why do they think Allah pulled this switheroo?

[FreedomSurge]

They believe Jesus was a real prophet. They believe that Allah all powerful and all merciful would never allow one of his prophets to suffer as badly as Jesus suffered. Therefore Allah must have made a last minute switcheroo.