The war in the Gaza Strip has not only political but also profound cultural and theological implications. Particularly in Western societies, a disturbing rise in antisemitism is evident—often masked as legitimate criticism of the State of Israel. At demonstrations, slogans openly calling for Israel’s destruction appear, employing motifs and symbols from Christian tradition. Jews, especially Israelis, are portrayed as crucifying a modern Jesus—the Palestinian.
Particularly misleading and emotionally charged is the equation of Palestinian children’s suffering with the biblical massacre of the innocents by King Herod—a portrayal that feigns historical depth but deliberately stages accusations of guilt. This resurgent antisemitism draws heavily on decades of media-effective propaganda by key Christian Arab figures in the Middle East. Using modern communication tools, old narrative patterns are reactivated, casting Jews as perpetrators while Palestinians are presented as suffering Christ-like figures. The crucifixion of Christ is thus transposed into a modern context—with Israel as the alleged persecutor.
These interpretive patterns are not new, but they are experiencing a renaissance, significantly influenced by Christian Arab intellectuals, theologians, and activists....
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