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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Bethlehem fears terror by Nativity gunmen |
| 2006-12-26 |
| Reports that Israel is considering allowing a group of gunmen who were deported in 2002 after hiding inside the Church of the Nativity to return home have left some Christian residents here seriously concerned for their safety. Thirteen of the gunmen were deported to different European countries, while another 26 were expelled to the Gaza Strip. The gunmen, belonging to both Fatah and Hamas, were holed up in the church for 39 days before European mediators reached a deal with Israel according to which the fugitives would be permitted to walk out unharmed. On Saturday, Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat announced that the deportees would soon be allowed to return to Bethlehem. The announcement was made following the summit between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem. While most Muslim residents here welcomed the news about the impending return of the gunmen, some Christian families expressed fear that the deportees would once again impose a reign of intimidation and terror in the city. "What a wonderful Christmas gift from Father Christmas, Ehud Olmert," commented a local businessman. "These men were responsible for a spate of attacks on Christians, including extortion and confiscation of property." He said the biggest threat came from those gunmen belonging to Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, whose members often targeted "peaceful" Christians. "I'm aware that most Christians living here are afraid to speak publicly about the issue, but the overwhelming majority was not unhappy when these thugs were deported from the city," he added. "Now some people here are once again worried because of the reports that they will return. They remember all the bad things that happened to the Christians when these gunmen were roaming the streets. People also remember how the gunmen mistreated the monks and nuns who were held hostage during the raid." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 You're such an optimist Zenster. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-12-26 17:53 |
| #1 Reports that Israel is considering allowing a group of gunmen who were deported in 2002 after hiding inside the Church of the Nativity to return home have left some Christian residents here seriously concerned for their safety. Thirteen of the gunmen were deported to different European countries, while another 26 were expelled to the Gaza Strip. The gunmen, belonging to both Fatah and Hamas, were holed up in the church for 39 days before European mediators reached a deal with Israel according to which the fugitives would be permitted to walk out unharmed. While recognizing Islam's pre-existing obsession with anti-Semetic genocide, the terrorist desecration (and that is what it was), of the The Nativity in 2002 was an Islamic Kristallnacht against all Christianity as well. I will even go so far as to say this is positive proof that the threat of destroying Mecca and Medina may need to end up being part of some final sword of Damocles forever held above the head of unreformed Islam. Even the United States' wholly justified and laudable military efforts against Islamism are woefully insufficient compared to what eventually will be required. The only thing you can count on is that the longer this is put off, the more horrible the resolution of it will be. Islam, as it stands, will force it to be that way. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-12-26 00:46 |