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Arab Spring Sending Shudders through Christians in the Middle East

(Hudson Institute-New York) Khaled Abu Toameh - In his annual Christmas message to the world, Bethlehem mayor Victor Batarseh called for a comprehensive boycott of Israel. "We call for boycotting Israel culturally, educationally, in sports, economics and trade," Batarseh declared. The Bethlehem mayor's Christmas message completely ignored the fact that the "Arab Spring" has been anything but a blessing to Christians living in Arab countries. According to Rita Daou of Agence France Presse, "The rise of Islamist movements in countries swept by the Arab revolutions has sent shudders throughout the region's Christians who fear for their survival." The Palestinian Authority has done little to protect Christians against assaults by Muslims - including rape, intimidation, land theft and financial extortion. But these are all "sensitive" issues that many Christian leaders do not want to discuss in public out of fear of being accused of serving Israel. This is why many leaders of the Christian community deliberately ignore what happened in 2002 in Bethlehem, when dozens of Muslim gunmen stormed the Church of Nativity and hid inside for five weeks. Israel remains the only place in the Middle East where Arab Christians feel protected and safe.
2011-12-20 00:00:00
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