February 11, 2004

Conversions

[Bethlehem, West Bank] Yesterday the Israeli newspaper Haaretz had two interesting pieces that I'd like to pass along. The first was a story about Tourism Minister Benny Elon who asked Christian missionaries to try to convert Islamic militants.

"Elon told the Christians that Israel would not accept any missionary attempts to convert Jews, but suggested they turn their attention to Muslim militants in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. 'Go to mosques and bring the light to the Muslims. Remind all the Muslim killers that thou shall not kill. Make them good Christians and good people.'"

I found this sort of amusing -- please convert Muslims and show them the light -- but don't you dare offer the same light to the Jews! (It is actually illegal in this democratic state to share the good news with Jews.) And while we're at it, in addition to the "Muslim killers," I'd also like to remind the Jewish and Christian killers that thou shall not kill.

I had lunch yesterday with both a Palestinian Christian and a Palestinian Muslim who posed the following -- what if all Palestinian Muslims converted to Christianity? Then what would the Christian community around the world do? Would their support still side with the Israelis? What would happen to the state of Israel? Would we have an American policy of support against Christians? I think it's an interesting question. (And if you think about this, remember that the oldest Christian communities in the world are still right here.)

The second piece that caught my attention was a letter to the Editor, called "Keep the barrier close to the Green Line." It was written by Jessica Montell, Executive Director, B'Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. I'd like to share a part of the letter with you:

"No one denies that Israel must protect its citizens from attack, and has the right to construct a barrier to do so. Yet a barrier built along Israel's own territory would be equally -- if not more -- effective in preventing attacks, without harming hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and without harming Israel's standing in the international community. In fact, a barrier along the Green Line would be half as long as the current route, and thus could be built in half the time, at half the cost and be twice as easy to patrol."

It also amuses me when I read that the Israeli government says the separation wall is merely temporary. I know it is temporary. The occupation is merely temporary too. 37 years temporary so far. Sooner or later the wall will fall, but it sure doesn't look that way. 25-ft high concrete walls look pretty permanent.

Detained Men at Bethlehem Checkpoint