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Politics

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Bethlehem belongs to Hamas
Islam is now the predominant force in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christianity! This dramatic development occurred when the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, which is best known for blowing men, women and children to pieces in Israeli buses and restaurants, won a majority in Palestinian municipal elections in the Biblical town.

“Bethlehem is no longer our city,” a Palestinian Christian businessman, who asked to remain anonymous, told israel today. “Bethlehem has become a dangerous stronghold of Islamic militants.”

Under laws established by the late Yasser Arafat when the Palestinian Authority took control of Bethlehem in 1995, only a Greek Orthodox or Catholic Christian can be mayor of Bethlehem, so Hamas could not field its own candidate. No problem! Hamas simply installed a “Christian” ally, Walid Victor Batarseh, 70, an atheist and Marxist from the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Batarseh replaces Hanna Nasser, a moderate Christian who supported peaceful coexistence with Israel. By contrast, Batarseh is suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. His attorney is a member of Hamas and his organization, the PFLP, was behind the assassination of Israeli Cabinet Minister Rehavam Ze’evi, who was gunned down in Jerusalem in 2002. “This was legitimate retaliation for Israeli state terror,” said Batarseh.

The growing Islamic militancy in Jesus’ hometown is driving Christians out. “It is becoming impossible for Christians to live under the extremist Hamas-led government in Bethlehem,” said George, an Arab Christian who asked us not to use his full name. It was only because of our long friendship that George, whose family has lived in Bethlehem for centuries, agreed to speak to me.

“We have lost all hope of living here in Bethlehem,” he said, adding that Christians are moving to quieter pastures in Europe, the US, South America and Australia. “Batarseh is not a Christian, but an envoy of Islamic militants! I simply don’t understand how the Christian world watches the Moslems take over Bethlehem and does nothing. Where is Christian Europe? Likewise, Palestinian Christian clergy are also silent. Can you imagine the uproar if the tables were turned, if Christians took over Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed?”

Under Palestinian law, Christians must hold a majority on the 15-seat Bethlehem city council. So “Christians” now hold eight seats, and Islamic terror groups seven (Hamas has six seats and Islamic Jihad one). But since three of the “Christian” seats belong to the radical PFLP, Hamas effectively holds 10 seats on the council. In short, Hamas controls Bethlehem.

The apathy and disunity of the Christian population in Bethlehem strengthened Hamas. Many “Christians” do not practice their faith and have adopted the surrounding Islamic culture and thinking, especially with regard to radical Palestinian nationalism.

“The election shows the political disunity in Bethlehem,” Batarseh told israel today. “We have been elected to serve the people and the city council does not have anything to do with religion.” Batarseh admits that the PFLP is against the two-state solution acclaimed by the international community. The PFLP wants a one-state solution— Palestine.

Hamas city council members have tried to dispel the concerns of Christians by promising to develop the city. How? They will receive money from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to build more mosques and Islamic institutions, while drying up funds to churches and other Christian causes, including schools and hospitals. And that’s just what the dwindling Christian population of Bethlehem fears.

Photo: Islam confronts Christianity: Hamas supporters celebrate the group’s election victory in front of the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus

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