|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: Israel's Purging of Palestinian Christians |
 |
|
Interesting article:
Israel's Purging of Palestinian Christians
| Quote: |
There is only one problem in selling this image to the West: the minority of Christian Palestinians who have happily lived under Muslim rule in the Holy Land for centuries. Today, in a way quite infuriating to Israel, these Christians confuse the picture by continuing to take a leading role in defining Palestinian nationalism and resistance to Israel's occupation. They prefer to side with the Muslim "fanatics" than with Israel, the Middle East's only outpost of Judeo-Christian "civilisation".
The presence of Palestinian Christians reminds us that the supposed "clash of civilisations" in the Holy Land is not really a war of religions but a clash of nationalisms, between the natives and European colonial settlers.
Inside Israel, for example, Christians have been the backbone of the Communist party, the only non-Zionist party Israel allowed for several decades. Many of the Palestinian artists and intellectuals who are most critical of Israel are Christians, including the late novelist Emile Habibi; the writer Anton Shammas and film-makers Elia Suleiman and Hany Abu Assad (all now living in exile); and the journalist Antoine Shalhat (who, for reasons unknown, has been placed under a loose house arrest, unable to leave Israel).
The most notorious Palestinian nationalist politician inside Israel is Azmi Bishara, yet another Christian, who has been put on trial and is regularly abused by his colleagues in the Knesset.
Similarly, Christians have been at the core of the wider secular Palestinian national movement, helping to define its struggle. They range from exiled professors such as the late Edward Said to human rights activists in the occupied territories such as Raja Shehadeh. The founders of the most militant wings of the national movement, the Democratic and Popular Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine, were Nayif Hawatmeh and George Habash, both Christians.
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
spinario
Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: daegu
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:29 am Post subject: Re: Israel's Purging of Palestinian Christians |
|
|
| Big_Bird wrote: |
The presence of Palestinian Christians reminds us that the supposed "clash of civilisations" in the Holy Land is not really a war of religions but a clash of nationalisms, between the natives and European colonial settlers.
|
i would add to this. after Hamas began to control the Palestinian parliament, nationalism - mainly, palestinian - was officially subdivided between moderate (Fatah) and ultra.
now, even if Israel is open to negotiations with the PLO, how can it deal with a two-headed monster? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Israel's Purging of Palestinian Christians |
|
|
| spinario wrote: |
i would add to this. after Hamas began to control the Palestinian parliament, nationalism - mainly, palestinian - was officially subdivided between moderate (Fatah) and ultra.
now, even if Israel is open to negotiations with the PLO, how can it deal with a two-headed monster? |
Israel has worked hard at dividing the Palestinians politically since the occupation began. Remember the Village League? And if you recall, they've worked very hard to nurture Hamas, as a viable threat to the PLO, from the get go. Sadly, at least for the Palestinians, it looks rather recently like the Israelis have met with a certain amount of success. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
