Christians in Jerusalem

[EasterIssland]

found this in Twitter today about the current situation of Christians in Jerusalem (West bank and East Jerusalem) and the struggles they’re going through

https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/christians-in-holy-land-desperate-over-lack-of-work-and-upsurge-in-religious-hatred

The situation for Christians is especially desperate as most of them work in the tourism sector, which has been at a standstill since the conflict began.

The source told ACN that for Christians “wearing a cross can get you into trouble.
“Sometimes you have to hide your identity in your own homeland to avoid problems.
“The presence in the area of groups with increasingly radical elements makes our situation even more difficult.”

Christians in Jerusalem face the same persecution as Muslims do, at the hands of Israeli settlers. They often get spat on too unfortunately.

The spitting is particularly abhorrent and derogatory.

https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-761490

I'm sure people who think like this are extremists and do not represent the majority. However, there are people in authority in Israel who have openly shared similar views and I don't believe there has been enough done to challenge it and prevent such acts.

I opened the thread exactly 9 months ago. Not a comment. Yesterday I saw the report from rossing center who are based in Jerusalem. The first reply was yours with what about Christians in the Middle East. So the derailing and whatabouterism started with the first reply already. Felt a bit of “nothing to see here let’s focus on what is happening anywhere else and as it does happen let’s accept it as well in Israel” apologies if that wasn’t that your intention but it’s how it felt

I addressed this point above.

Gosh, this is terrible. I do actually acknowledge that some of Christian or moreover church history is pretty dark. But pretty much all that dark history was in Europe and the west. Middle Eastern Christianity was always much more positive. Jews, Christians, Muslims and others always were friends in the Middle East. Apparently Christians in the region also fell victim to medieval crusades. So, it's sad that some (I'm sure just a small minority) extremist Jews take out their anger about European (centuries old) crimes on their neighbours in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. It has nothing to do with them or their ancestors. Pretty much every religious tradition has some things in its history that they wish weren't there. We're not our ancestors...

I read an article about Palestinian Christians in which one guy described his encounter with an American Evangelical woman. ' It's ok ' he said ' I'm already a Christian.' To which she replied - ' how wonderful , when did you convert?'

Ps From The Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple is a great book about Christian and other minorities in the middle east.

So much ignorance amongst American fundamentalists. I'm hoping some are starting to wake up to the truth.

as well as Jordan there is a substantial Christian community in Lebanon but it is very very complicated politically.

I would actually not say that Christians are at the same risk as Muslims in Jerusalem but this has to do with the Temple Mount. That introduces a whole other layer of things, and the Jewish activists that are really focused on that issue are a whole other level. (To understand this, understand that the mainstream Jewish opinion is that we are forbidden to set foot on the Temple Mount because we don't know the site of the Holy of Holies. Forget the politics, I would never go up for that reason, no matter how much or for what reason I wanted to see it. This opinion is held by both Zionist and non-Zionist rabbis. The extremists who want to go up, and worse want to destroy the mosques and build the third temple, are not a huge group but they are really vocal and extreme.)

Ah, not heard of that. I'll check it out. Always seeking to inform myself...

This.

Christians don't do so well in many countries in the middle east, and particularly treated badly in many predominantly Muslim countries.

And because they’re treated badly in other Muslim countries are we suggesting we turn a blind eye about the attacks they’re suffering in Israel?

Nobody has said that. Why are you so determined to pick a fight?

I’m not determined on that. I’m determined to talk about Christians in Jerusalem which is the title of this thread

Ok, well I havent found much on that very specific question. Most material is written by people with a wider concern for Christians across the ME. There is a great deal published about that. I

@knitnerd90 I agree with everything you have said there, in particular about the minority extremists. My concern is that as the Israeli government now have a increasing number of these extremists in their government and also in positions of power. The mayor of Jerusalem is another extremist who spews hate speech about Muslims and Christians. The minority have now become more emboldened with their hate.

@knitnerd90 There has also been prominent Rabbis who have spoken up against the persecution of Christians by these extremists.

"Rabbi Shlomo Ammar, chief rabbi of Jerusalem, is also concerned about the attacks on Christians. He recently took the unusual step of releasing a scathing letter against Jews who attack Christians.
The letter, written in English, reads, “We were sorry to hear from non-Jewish clerics that a number of young Jews and some who pretend to be G-d-fearing, persecute them with curses, blasphemies and more, as they walk the streets of the city. No doubt, irresponsible people who are not at all observant of the Torah and its ways did this. We announce that such behavior is strictly forbidden.”

we can for example talk about the report done by the Rossing center that I linked to yesterday.

in case people don’t know who this organisation is :

The Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue is an interreligious organization based in Jerusalem which promotes an inclusive society for all religious, ethnic and national groups. Through education, encounter, research and consulting, the Rossing Center promotes better relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land.

Never suggested that. When everyone points at Israel it can be useful to show that surrounding Muslim countries aren't the good guys when it comes to how they treat Christians 🙄

Indeed why only focus on Israel when Christians are treated very badly throughout the ME? Negative towards Israel sees no end but not allowed to show others who are worse at all,? Strange that.

Indeed.

The parameters of discussion being shut down to only be critical of Israel and Christians whilst ignoring majority Muslim countries treatment of Christians is concerning.

Weird huh? Context matters. Now, if it had been framed as: over the last 100 years Christians have been persecuted across the ME, including several genocides, and the situation in most places has got worse in recent years, including in Gaza. One place where they traditionally felt safe was Israel, but the situation there is also worsening etc.

it wouldn't then look like the only reason a person might be interested in Christian minorities in the ME is because its another opportunity to bash Israel & Jewish people.

I agree.

Context and framing.

I guess the others don't matter

Yes, good point.