24 may 2014
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By Alex Shams
In advance of Pope Francis' visit to the Holy Land on Sunday, Bethlehem residents and officials have been busy covering the city in posters to celebrate his first official visit. Large banners depicting His Holiness beside President Mahmoud Abbas cover major intersections, while more humble posters hang from shops and homes welcoming him on behalf of individual Bethlehem families. In Bethlehem’s historic Manger Square, however, the Pope will be greeted by a dramatically different scene: huge renderings of classical European paintings of Biblical suffering, juxtaposed against contemporary photographs of Palestinian life. |
The startling images are part of a project entitled "In the presence of the Holy See" by the Palestinian Museum to welcome the Pope in an altogether unique way by examining the Palestinian experience in relationship to one of the land's most famous martyrs, Jesus Christ.
The banners include scenes of the lamentation of Christ beside a woman sifting through possessions after an Israeli attack on Jenin refugee camp and a man carrying away a body that is simultaneously a Palestinian killed by Israeli fire and the martyred Christ, among others.
Museum director John Persekian told Ma'an that the images are meant to help viewers, including the Pope, reframe the Palestinian issue and understand it through a more "humane" lens while also exploring the relevance of Christian teachings today.
"We were trying to take the Christian message and teachings and juxtapose them with the current situation, to help us think through what has happened over the last 66 years," he said.
"How do we understand these experiences in relationship to messages of faith, peace, love, forgiveness, and the existence of a just God?" he added.
The banners are being hosted not only in Manger Square but also in nearby Duheisha refugee camp, home to nearly 15,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes by Zionist militias in the 1948 war that led to the creation of the state of Israel.
In Jordan on Saturday, the pope met with Syrian refugee children, and on Sunday he plans to meet with children in Duheishawhere he will see the banners. As the Syrian conflict has driven a massive exodus from the country in recent years, the situation of Palestinian refugees -- who have been denied the right of return to their homes by Israel for 66 years -- looms large in the background.
"What does it mean to be humiliated for so long?" Persekian asks. "What does it tell us about faith of the dispossessed people?"
The juxtaposition of classical paintings beside black-and-white photographs creates a powerful parallel that highlights the universality of suffering even as it draws upon specific historical examples.
At the same time, Persekian says that the works hold a mirror up to the Western world and the disparate responses it has had to the suffering of the most famous Palestinian martyr Jesus and the suffering of his ancestors, the contemporary Palestinians.
"How has the world looked at and treated the Palestinians, especially the Western world where the majority is Christian? How have they applied these values?" he asked.
These questions will be at the forefront of many minds on Sunday, as the pope -- who is the head of a church of more than 1 billion people worldwide -- comes to visit the little town of Bethlehem.
The banners include scenes of the lamentation of Christ beside a woman sifting through possessions after an Israeli attack on Jenin refugee camp and a man carrying away a body that is simultaneously a Palestinian killed by Israeli fire and the martyred Christ, among others.
Museum director John Persekian told Ma'an that the images are meant to help viewers, including the Pope, reframe the Palestinian issue and understand it through a more "humane" lens while also exploring the relevance of Christian teachings today.
"We were trying to take the Christian message and teachings and juxtapose them with the current situation, to help us think through what has happened over the last 66 years," he said.
"How do we understand these experiences in relationship to messages of faith, peace, love, forgiveness, and the existence of a just God?" he added.
The banners are being hosted not only in Manger Square but also in nearby Duheisha refugee camp, home to nearly 15,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes by Zionist militias in the 1948 war that led to the creation of the state of Israel.
In Jordan on Saturday, the pope met with Syrian refugee children, and on Sunday he plans to meet with children in Duheishawhere he will see the banners. As the Syrian conflict has driven a massive exodus from the country in recent years, the situation of Palestinian refugees -- who have been denied the right of return to their homes by Israel for 66 years -- looms large in the background.
"What does it mean to be humiliated for so long?" Persekian asks. "What does it tell us about faith of the dispossessed people?"
The juxtaposition of classical paintings beside black-and-white photographs creates a powerful parallel that highlights the universality of suffering even as it draws upon specific historical examples.
At the same time, Persekian says that the works hold a mirror up to the Western world and the disparate responses it has had to the suffering of the most famous Palestinian martyr Jesus and the suffering of his ancestors, the contemporary Palestinians.
"How has the world looked at and treated the Palestinians, especially the Western world where the majority is Christian? How have they applied these values?" he asked.
These questions will be at the forefront of many minds on Sunday, as the pope -- who is the head of a church of more than 1 billion people worldwide -- comes to visit the little town of Bethlehem.
Fearing disruption by Jewish extremists when Pope Francis visits Jerusalem this weekend, police said on Friday they would issue restraining orders against 10 more activists, bringing the total to 15.
And just two days before the pope's arrival, police said that offensive "anti-Christian graffiti" was discovered on the outer wall of a church in the southern desert city of Beersheba, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.
A picture distributed by police showed Hebrew graffiti reading "Jesus = son of a bitch," prompting police to open an investigation. The attack comes after a wave of hate crimes against Christian sites and property by Jewish extremists in recent months.
Earlier, Rosenfeld said Jerusalem police chief Yossi Pariente had decided to slap another 10 people with restraining orders for the duration of the pope's visit to the city, which begins on Sunday.
On Wednesday, three young Jews were confined to house arrest on suspicion they were planning to disrupt the pontiff's two-day visit.
Restraining orders were also imposed on two students from a Jewish seminary at Mount Zion, where on Monday the pope will celebrate a mass at the Upper Room where Jesus held the Last Supper.
"We have taken some pre-emptive steps to distance people who, according to intelligence received, were intending to disrupt the visit," Pariente told Yediot Aharonot newspaper.
But police said they had no information about any attempt to harm the pope himself.
"We have no intelligence about plans to harm the pope himself, but there are plans to embarrass the State of Israel or to disrupt public order during this sensitive visit," he added.
Some 8,000 extra police officers are to be deployed on Jerusalem's streets for the duration of the visit.
Israel has been struggling to contain hate crimes by Jewish extremists targeting Palestinian and Arab property, including an increasing number of attacks on mosques and churches.
Despite scores of arrests, there have been no successful prosecutions, prompting concern from Christian leaders.
Also on Friday, two Jerusalem men were detained for questioning after putting up flyers "condemning Christianity and the pope." They were later released but handed orders to stay at least 150 meters (yards) from the pope, Rosenfeld said.
Meanwhile, West Bank officials said around 3,000 members of the Palestinian security forces were to be deployed for Sunday's papal visit to Bethlehem, a third of whom would be from the elite presidential guard, a spokesman told AFP.
And just two days before the pope's arrival, police said that offensive "anti-Christian graffiti" was discovered on the outer wall of a church in the southern desert city of Beersheba, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.
A picture distributed by police showed Hebrew graffiti reading "Jesus = son of a bitch," prompting police to open an investigation. The attack comes after a wave of hate crimes against Christian sites and property by Jewish extremists in recent months.
Earlier, Rosenfeld said Jerusalem police chief Yossi Pariente had decided to slap another 10 people with restraining orders for the duration of the pope's visit to the city, which begins on Sunday.
On Wednesday, three young Jews were confined to house arrest on suspicion they were planning to disrupt the pontiff's two-day visit.
Restraining orders were also imposed on two students from a Jewish seminary at Mount Zion, where on Monday the pope will celebrate a mass at the Upper Room where Jesus held the Last Supper.
"We have taken some pre-emptive steps to distance people who, according to intelligence received, were intending to disrupt the visit," Pariente told Yediot Aharonot newspaper.
But police said they had no information about any attempt to harm the pope himself.
"We have no intelligence about plans to harm the pope himself, but there are plans to embarrass the State of Israel or to disrupt public order during this sensitive visit," he added.
Some 8,000 extra police officers are to be deployed on Jerusalem's streets for the duration of the visit.
Israel has been struggling to contain hate crimes by Jewish extremists targeting Palestinian and Arab property, including an increasing number of attacks on mosques and churches.
Despite scores of arrests, there have been no successful prosecutions, prompting concern from Christian leaders.
Also on Friday, two Jerusalem men were detained for questioning after putting up flyers "condemning Christianity and the pope." They were later released but handed orders to stay at least 150 meters (yards) from the pope, Rosenfeld said.
Meanwhile, West Bank officials said around 3,000 members of the Palestinian security forces were to be deployed for Sunday's papal visit to Bethlehem, a third of whom would be from the elite presidential guard, a spokesman told AFP.
Palestinian workers hang a banner bearing a portrait of Pope Francis on May 23, 2014 in a street of the West Bank city of Bethlehem
Pope Francis arrives in Jordan Saturday at the start of a Middle East tour aiming to boost ties with Muslims and Jews as well as easing an age-old rift within Christianity itself.
The Vatican has billed Francis' first visit to a region roiled by religious and political differences as a "pilgrimage of prayer," saying the pope will shun bulletproof vehicles in favor of open-top cars despite security concerns.
Israeli authorities have moved to lessen the possibility of trouble by issuing restraining orders against 15 Jewish extremists this week, ordering them to stay away from sites being visited by the pope, after a string of hate attacks on Christian sites.
"It will be a purely religious trip," the pope told some 50,000 pilgrims at his last general audience in St Peter's Square before his three-day visit that takes him to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Francis said the main reasons for the trip were to meet with the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I -- a key Orthodox leader -- and "to pray for peace in that land, which has suffered so much."
That ceremony in which he will take part in a special joint prayer with Bartholomew on Sunday in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre -- venerated as the place of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection -- is seen by the Vatican as the highlight of the visit.
The meeting is fitting, given that Francis has made ecumenism, the ideal of unity of the Christian Churches, one of the priorities of his papacy.
He will also meet with Muslim and Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
Israeli President Shimon Peres, in an interview with French daily Le Figaro, said he attached "great importance" to the pope's trip, calling Francis "a man of noble humility."
"I don't think the visit is going to bring the signing of a peace deal tomorrow, or even the organization of a conference, but I am sure that it will make a substantial contribution because the pope respects all cultures and all religions," he added.
The 77-year-old Argentine pope has already set the tone for a trip rich in symbolism by inviting two old friends from Buenos Aires to join him, Jewish Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim professor Omar Abboud.
'Oasis of peace'
In Jordan, Francis will meet King Abdullah II, hold mass in a stadium in Amman and, on the banks of the River Jordan, hear first hand of the suffering of Syrian refugees, offering an opportunity for the pontiff to reiterate his calls for an end to the three-year war.
He is also expected to touch on a key concern of the Vatican, the forced migration of Christians from the Middle East.
"Because of the global popularity that Francis enjoys, if he comes to the Holy Land and says 'I have your back' it may mean something to Christians. The world is paying attention when Francis speaks, unlike Benedict. It may have a greater resonance," John Allen, Vatican expert for the Boston Globe, told AFP.
Although only 250,000 Jordanians identify themselves as Christian -- in a country of seven million Muslims -- Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur said the visit would show the kingdom as an oasis of peace in a turbulent region of "blood, wars, and repression."
Francis will pray on the banks of the River Jordan for the victims of the Syrian conflict and meet some the families among the 600,000 refugees who have sought shelter in Jordan.
Early Sunday, the pope will make the short helicopter ride to Bethlehem where he will meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas before chatting to children from a Palestinian refugee camp and lunching with refugee families.
He will then fly to Tel Aviv where he will be greeted by President Peres before heading to Jerusalem.
'Balanced'
On Monday, the pope will visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and meet the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein, visit Israel's national cemetery on Mount Herzl and go on to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.
He is then set to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and celebrate mass in the Cenacle, the place where Christians believe Jesus held the last supper.
Skorka said the pontiff would try to avoid political pitfalls in the sensitive region by dividing his visits equally between Jewish Israeli sites and Muslim or Christian landmarks in Palestinian territory.
"He will try to be balanced," Skorka told journalists in Jerusalem.
The Cenacle stop has inflamed the ultra-Orthodox and nationalists since Jews revere part of the building as the tomb of King David and it is at the center of long-running negotiations with the Israeli government over prayer rights, with the Vatican hoping it will be given a right to use the site.
Israel has said there is "no intention to transfer to Vatican sovereignty or ownership the Tomb of David or the Cenacle."
Pope Francis arrives in Jordan Saturday at the start of a Middle East tour aiming to boost ties with Muslims and Jews as well as easing an age-old rift within Christianity itself.
The Vatican has billed Francis' first visit to a region roiled by religious and political differences as a "pilgrimage of prayer," saying the pope will shun bulletproof vehicles in favor of open-top cars despite security concerns.
Israeli authorities have moved to lessen the possibility of trouble by issuing restraining orders against 15 Jewish extremists this week, ordering them to stay away from sites being visited by the pope, after a string of hate attacks on Christian sites.
"It will be a purely religious trip," the pope told some 50,000 pilgrims at his last general audience in St Peter's Square before his three-day visit that takes him to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Francis said the main reasons for the trip were to meet with the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I -- a key Orthodox leader -- and "to pray for peace in that land, which has suffered so much."
That ceremony in which he will take part in a special joint prayer with Bartholomew on Sunday in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre -- venerated as the place of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection -- is seen by the Vatican as the highlight of the visit.
The meeting is fitting, given that Francis has made ecumenism, the ideal of unity of the Christian Churches, one of the priorities of his papacy.
He will also meet with Muslim and Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
Israeli President Shimon Peres, in an interview with French daily Le Figaro, said he attached "great importance" to the pope's trip, calling Francis "a man of noble humility."
"I don't think the visit is going to bring the signing of a peace deal tomorrow, or even the organization of a conference, but I am sure that it will make a substantial contribution because the pope respects all cultures and all religions," he added.
The 77-year-old Argentine pope has already set the tone for a trip rich in symbolism by inviting two old friends from Buenos Aires to join him, Jewish Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim professor Omar Abboud.
'Oasis of peace'
In Jordan, Francis will meet King Abdullah II, hold mass in a stadium in Amman and, on the banks of the River Jordan, hear first hand of the suffering of Syrian refugees, offering an opportunity for the pontiff to reiterate his calls for an end to the three-year war.
He is also expected to touch on a key concern of the Vatican, the forced migration of Christians from the Middle East.
"Because of the global popularity that Francis enjoys, if he comes to the Holy Land and says 'I have your back' it may mean something to Christians. The world is paying attention when Francis speaks, unlike Benedict. It may have a greater resonance," John Allen, Vatican expert for the Boston Globe, told AFP.
Although only 250,000 Jordanians identify themselves as Christian -- in a country of seven million Muslims -- Prime Minister Abdullah Nsur said the visit would show the kingdom as an oasis of peace in a turbulent region of "blood, wars, and repression."
Francis will pray on the banks of the River Jordan for the victims of the Syrian conflict and meet some the families among the 600,000 refugees who have sought shelter in Jordan.
Early Sunday, the pope will make the short helicopter ride to Bethlehem where he will meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas before chatting to children from a Palestinian refugee camp and lunching with refugee families.
He will then fly to Tel Aviv where he will be greeted by President Peres before heading to Jerusalem.
'Balanced'
On Monday, the pope will visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and meet the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein, visit Israel's national cemetery on Mount Herzl and go on to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.
He is then set to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and celebrate mass in the Cenacle, the place where Christians believe Jesus held the last supper.
Skorka said the pontiff would try to avoid political pitfalls in the sensitive region by dividing his visits equally between Jewish Israeli sites and Muslim or Christian landmarks in Palestinian territory.
"He will try to be balanced," Skorka told journalists in Jerusalem.
The Cenacle stop has inflamed the ultra-Orthodox and nationalists since Jews revere part of the building as the tomb of King David and it is at the center of long-running negotiations with the Israeli government over prayer rights, with the Vatican hoping it will be given a right to use the site.
Israel has said there is "no intention to transfer to Vatican sovereignty or ownership the Tomb of David or the Cenacle."
23 may 2014
A church in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba was defaced with anti-Christian graffiti attacking Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary on Friday in the latest in a string of attacks by suspected Jewish extremists targeting Palestinian Christian sites.
Beersheba church defaced in new anti-Christian 'price-tag' attack
According to the Jerusalem Post, the graffiti on the church in the old city of Beersheba read: "Jesus = Son of a whore."
Spokesman for the Israeli police Luba Samari confirmed the incident, and said police have opened an investigation into it.
The attack comes only two days before the Pope is due to visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, amid a wave of attacks against Christian holy sites and property that have occurred inside Israel in the last few months.
On Wednesday, Israeli police said they were putting a number of known Jewish extremists under house arrest for the entirety of the Pope's visit in order to prevent disruptions.
Beersheba church defaced in new anti-Christian 'price-tag' attack
According to the Jerusalem Post, the graffiti on the church in the old city of Beersheba read: "Jesus = Son of a whore."
Spokesman for the Israeli police Luba Samari confirmed the incident, and said police have opened an investigation into it.
The attack comes only two days before the Pope is due to visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, amid a wave of attacks against Christian holy sites and property that have occurred inside Israel in the last few months.
On Wednesday, Israeli police said they were putting a number of known Jewish extremists under house arrest for the entirety of the Pope's visit in order to prevent disruptions.
Anti-Christian graffiti on the walls of Deir Rafat Catholic convent on April 1, 2014
By Dorgham Abusalim
Dorgham Abusalim is a master's candidate in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He writes frequently on Palestinian and Israeli affairs in Arabic and English.
The mid-1990s were a time of hope and optimism for many Israelis and Palestinians. At the time, it seemed that the Oslo Accords might actually be going somewhere.
Much of that excitement can be attributed to two leaders who came together then: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Their unforgettable 1993 handshake continues to shine some light on the immense darkness that followed.
And by 1994, the gradual restoration of Palestinian rights and sovereign governance and the slowly untangling of the security needs of both sides, shaped the most concrete deal since the early 20th century.
Of course, the agreements were the outcome of tough compromises, not least because of their heavy legal and technical character; and because they undoubtedly were brought to life as part of a five-year interim plan that would lead to the successful settlement of final status issues. Not much was settled, and while the prospect of the ensuing five years seemed tumultuous then, Arafat and Rabin remained committed to the principal goal: peace.
Much has been said about the genuine commitment of the two leaders. Fingers were pointed quickly at violations of the accords. All the while, blame games, a staple of Israeli-Palestinian politics, overshadowed the prospective potential of what would have been.
Then came November 4, 1995.
Yigal Amir, an Israeli Jewish law student, assassinated Rabin during a rally supporting the Oslo Agreements at Tel Aviv's Kings of Israel Square. The prime minister’s death caused a massive international outcry not only over the life of a man dedicated to peace, but also over the peace process itself.
All the doubts, skepticism and gloom that lurked beneath the surface became real. Too real. At his first court appearance, Amir was not moved by his criminal act. In fact, he praised it, insisting that "according to the Halacha (Jewish religious law), you can kill the enemy."
What went wrong?
Amir's understanding of Jewish law is not relevant. What matters is the mentality and reality that fed such monstrous thinking.
Today, more than ever, Israeli citizens who settled illegally in Palestine are at liberty to commit all sorts of crimes, from vigilante vandalism up to murder. Of course, not all crimes are the same. Yet, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that these crimes are a product of a mentality not so different from the one that led to Rabin’s death: a systematic rejection and hatred of Palestinians and whoever works with them to reach peace.
To complicate things more, we no longer know when are we at peace or at war. How else could Amir justify his crime by saying "my whole life, I learned Halacha. When you kill in war, it is an act that is allowed."
It is safe to say this mentality has only gotten worse since 1995. The recent alarming rise of illegal settler crimes is the proof. While in earlier years these crimes seemed exceptions to the rule, today they are the rule. What is even more alarming is that the perpetrators are religious zealots whose sole aim is the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands. In their thinking, all is fair game: vandalism, harassment, forced eviction, home demolition, stone throwing, shooting, beating, burning, and as history has shown, assassination.
No law governs them, and no security measure is enough, not least because the Israeli government is not interested in preventing such crimes, let alone holding the perpetrators accountable. In fact, repeated calls from governments, NGOs, and the United Nations urging Israel to prevent these crimes fell on deaf ears. It's not hard to understand why: a government made up of some high-ranking ministers who themselves are illegal settlers will not do that.
Meanwhile, Christian Palestinians have come to bare the brunt of some of these crimes, as manifested in a wave of hate attacks against churches and other Christian sites across the region in recent months.
The Pope is coming
Many analysts have so far speculated about the visit of Pope Francis and what it could mean for Israel and Palestine.
It has been said that it could potentially mean a recognition of Palestinian suffering. On the other hand, the Pope could turn a blind eye to Israeli violations.
In reality, no one knows what the the visit will mean. Papal visits are not a new thing in these countries, however, and the Catholic Church has historically made an effort to stay away from the political rights and wrongs of the conflict. His Holiness has even himself pointedly said that he is not planning to get involved in politics.
But, in fact, every move, every word, and every gesture by the Pope will be scrutinized, politically. The agenda of the Papal visit already generated numerous political opinions, whether because of a scheduled meeting with Palestinian refugees, or a visit to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. In short, the Pope can emphasize the purely religious aspect of his visit, but he cannot escape the politics.
The Pope's fresh outlook on the role of the Church and his insistence on becoming closer to the people has caused today's sense of hope, which is not so different from Rabin's mid-1990s effort. Many Papal statements in recent months have focused on social justice, religious dialogue, and caring for those who suffer. For Palestinian suffering broadly, and Palestinian Christians specifically, the Pope's prayers and purely religious aims are synonymous with the politics of the land.
Yet, this reality of Palestinian Christian affairs is being overshadowed by a mundane symbolic gesture: foregoing the traditionally bulletproof roof-top popemobile. Much like Rabin’s rallying efforts, the Pope is not paying full attention to reality on the ground, especially the negative aspects.
Take for instance a widely circulated video footage by two filmmakers, illegal settlers were caught saying "we killed Jesus ... we're proud of it" in addition to hateful and profane language. Similar sentiments were expressed by illegal settler vandals spraying "Jesus is garbage," and "death to Christians" on the walls of two Christian sites in Jerusalem.
The failure of Rabin's government to adequately stem the rising tide of Jewish religious extremism in Israel -- too often seen as a problem whose main victims were Palestinians -- is part of the circumstances that led to his own killing. Meanwhile, the Pope's symbolic gesture of openness is not on par with the negative reality Christians are facing today in the Holy Land, beset by Jewish extremism on one side and a seemingly never-ending Israeli occupation on the other.
What consequences could the Pope's inability to recognize the dire situation facing his flock in Palestine lead to for himself?
There is a saying in Palestine that goes: Hatet eidy a’la albi ("I'm grabbing my heart in my hand"). It is often said when unpredictability is in the air.
As Bethlehem is busy dressing up in its finest to welcome the Pope, the celebratory hopes must not overshadow history's lesson, nor the need for a long-overdue, loud, and clear affirmation of Christianity's timeless role in Palestine.
By Dorgham Abusalim
Dorgham Abusalim is a master's candidate in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He writes frequently on Palestinian and Israeli affairs in Arabic and English.
The mid-1990s were a time of hope and optimism for many Israelis and Palestinians. At the time, it seemed that the Oslo Accords might actually be going somewhere.
Much of that excitement can be attributed to two leaders who came together then: PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Their unforgettable 1993 handshake continues to shine some light on the immense darkness that followed.
And by 1994, the gradual restoration of Palestinian rights and sovereign governance and the slowly untangling of the security needs of both sides, shaped the most concrete deal since the early 20th century.
Of course, the agreements were the outcome of tough compromises, not least because of their heavy legal and technical character; and because they undoubtedly were brought to life as part of a five-year interim plan that would lead to the successful settlement of final status issues. Not much was settled, and while the prospect of the ensuing five years seemed tumultuous then, Arafat and Rabin remained committed to the principal goal: peace.
Much has been said about the genuine commitment of the two leaders. Fingers were pointed quickly at violations of the accords. All the while, blame games, a staple of Israeli-Palestinian politics, overshadowed the prospective potential of what would have been.
Then came November 4, 1995.
Yigal Amir, an Israeli Jewish law student, assassinated Rabin during a rally supporting the Oslo Agreements at Tel Aviv's Kings of Israel Square. The prime minister’s death caused a massive international outcry not only over the life of a man dedicated to peace, but also over the peace process itself.
All the doubts, skepticism and gloom that lurked beneath the surface became real. Too real. At his first court appearance, Amir was not moved by his criminal act. In fact, he praised it, insisting that "according to the Halacha (Jewish religious law), you can kill the enemy."
What went wrong?
Amir's understanding of Jewish law is not relevant. What matters is the mentality and reality that fed such monstrous thinking.
Today, more than ever, Israeli citizens who settled illegally in Palestine are at liberty to commit all sorts of crimes, from vigilante vandalism up to murder. Of course, not all crimes are the same. Yet, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that these crimes are a product of a mentality not so different from the one that led to Rabin’s death: a systematic rejection and hatred of Palestinians and whoever works with them to reach peace.
To complicate things more, we no longer know when are we at peace or at war. How else could Amir justify his crime by saying "my whole life, I learned Halacha. When you kill in war, it is an act that is allowed."
It is safe to say this mentality has only gotten worse since 1995. The recent alarming rise of illegal settler crimes is the proof. While in earlier years these crimes seemed exceptions to the rule, today they are the rule. What is even more alarming is that the perpetrators are religious zealots whose sole aim is the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands. In their thinking, all is fair game: vandalism, harassment, forced eviction, home demolition, stone throwing, shooting, beating, burning, and as history has shown, assassination.
No law governs them, and no security measure is enough, not least because the Israeli government is not interested in preventing such crimes, let alone holding the perpetrators accountable. In fact, repeated calls from governments, NGOs, and the United Nations urging Israel to prevent these crimes fell on deaf ears. It's not hard to understand why: a government made up of some high-ranking ministers who themselves are illegal settlers will not do that.
Meanwhile, Christian Palestinians have come to bare the brunt of some of these crimes, as manifested in a wave of hate attacks against churches and other Christian sites across the region in recent months.
The Pope is coming
Many analysts have so far speculated about the visit of Pope Francis and what it could mean for Israel and Palestine.
It has been said that it could potentially mean a recognition of Palestinian suffering. On the other hand, the Pope could turn a blind eye to Israeli violations.
In reality, no one knows what the the visit will mean. Papal visits are not a new thing in these countries, however, and the Catholic Church has historically made an effort to stay away from the political rights and wrongs of the conflict. His Holiness has even himself pointedly said that he is not planning to get involved in politics.
But, in fact, every move, every word, and every gesture by the Pope will be scrutinized, politically. The agenda of the Papal visit already generated numerous political opinions, whether because of a scheduled meeting with Palestinian refugees, or a visit to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. In short, the Pope can emphasize the purely religious aspect of his visit, but he cannot escape the politics.
The Pope's fresh outlook on the role of the Church and his insistence on becoming closer to the people has caused today's sense of hope, which is not so different from Rabin's mid-1990s effort. Many Papal statements in recent months have focused on social justice, religious dialogue, and caring for those who suffer. For Palestinian suffering broadly, and Palestinian Christians specifically, the Pope's prayers and purely religious aims are synonymous with the politics of the land.
Yet, this reality of Palestinian Christian affairs is being overshadowed by a mundane symbolic gesture: foregoing the traditionally bulletproof roof-top popemobile. Much like Rabin’s rallying efforts, the Pope is not paying full attention to reality on the ground, especially the negative aspects.
Take for instance a widely circulated video footage by two filmmakers, illegal settlers were caught saying "we killed Jesus ... we're proud of it" in addition to hateful and profane language. Similar sentiments were expressed by illegal settler vandals spraying "Jesus is garbage," and "death to Christians" on the walls of two Christian sites in Jerusalem.
The failure of Rabin's government to adequately stem the rising tide of Jewish religious extremism in Israel -- too often seen as a problem whose main victims were Palestinians -- is part of the circumstances that led to his own killing. Meanwhile, the Pope's symbolic gesture of openness is not on par with the negative reality Christians are facing today in the Holy Land, beset by Jewish extremism on one side and a seemingly never-ending Israeli occupation on the other.
What consequences could the Pope's inability to recognize the dire situation facing his flock in Palestine lead to for himself?
There is a saying in Palestine that goes: Hatet eidy a’la albi ("I'm grabbing my heart in my hand"). It is often said when unpredictability is in the air.
As Bethlehem is busy dressing up in its finest to welcome the Pope, the celebratory hopes must not overshadow history's lesson, nor the need for a long-overdue, loud, and clear affirmation of Christianity's timeless role in Palestine.
|
The Presidential higher Committee on Church Affairs has released a series of videos this week to coincide with the visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land.
The three-day visit kicks off Saturday when Pope Francis flies to Jordan. He will travel on to Bethlehem early Sunday, then to Israel, where he will spend the rest of the day and Monday in Jerusalem before heading home. In a video from Gaza, entitled "Messages from Palestine," residents ask the pope not to the forget the plight of Gazans living under siege. |
Two days before Pope Francis arrives in the Holy Land, Israelis and Palestinians were putting the finishing touches Thursday on a flurry of festive preparations for the visit.
Municipal workers in the West Bank city of Bethlehem were busy hanging huge banners in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, where Francis will celebrate mass on Sunday.
Giant posters of the pontiff with Palestinian leaders were also being mounted on lampposts near the main Israeli checkpoint leading to the city.
Local Christians and pilgrims are hoping to get a glimpse of the pope, even from afar, as he passes through Bethlehem and Jerusalem to visit holy sites and meet other religious leaders on a visit the Vatican has billed as a "pilgrimage of prayer."
"I'm happy the pope is coming, but also worried he might not deliver a strong enough message of support for Palestinian Christians," said Louis Michel, who runs a souvenir stall outside the Church of the Nativity.
'Purely religious'
Francis said on Wednesday his trip would be "purely religious," aimed at praying for peace in the Middle East and improving relations with other branches of Christianity.
Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, an old friend of Francis, said the pontiff would try to avoid political pitfalls in the sensitive region by dividing his visits equally between Jewish sites in Israel and Muslim or Christian landmarks on Palestinian territory.
But on the Palestinian side of Israel's vast separation barrier, people feel the visit will retain a political edge regardless.
Marwan Barghouti, one of the leaders of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, who has been in prison since 2002, urged the pope to end Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.
"The Church played a key role by putting its tremendous moral weight behind ending (South African) apartheid. We are confident this moral voice will contribute to ending occupation," he said in a letter addressed to Francis.
Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun told AFP as she watched some 200 municipal workers hanging banners in Manger Square that "this is how Palestine is -- religion and politics are interconnected."
Many of the banners have been produced by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Museum, and combine biblical paintings of suffering with photos of modern-day Palestinians being evicted from demolished homes or dragged away wounded from clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Flags and barriers
In Jerusalem, preparations for the pontiff's arrival are somewhat more muted, overshadowed by a stepped-up security and police presence.
Some 8,000 extra police officers are to be deployed on Jerusalem's streets for the duration of the visit.
On Wednesday, Israel placed three young Jewish extremists under house arrest on suspicion they were planning to disrupt the pontiff's visit, police said.
Restriction orders have already been imposed on two students from a Jewish seminary at Mount Zion, where the pope will on Monday hold a mass at the Upper Room where Jesus held the Last Supper.
The ground floor of the same building is revered by Jews as the tomb of King David, prompting several weeks of protest linked to the pope's visit.
And the innumerable police barriers set up inside the Old City's Christian quarter are often more noticeable than the 1,000 or so Israeli, Vatican and Jerusalem municipality flags that town hall has begun putting up.
Movement will be severely restricted in the Old City, which is home to many Palestinian Christians.
"They say it's for security, but it's political," grumbled Elias, a spice shop owner who only gave his first name.
"They want to make it seem like we (Christians) don't exist."
The three-day visit kicks off Saturday when Francis flies to Jordan. He will travel on to Bethlehem Sunday morning, then to Israel, where he will spend the rest of the day and Monday in Jerusalem before heading home.
Municipal workers in the West Bank city of Bethlehem were busy hanging huge banners in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, where Francis will celebrate mass on Sunday.
Giant posters of the pontiff with Palestinian leaders were also being mounted on lampposts near the main Israeli checkpoint leading to the city.
Local Christians and pilgrims are hoping to get a glimpse of the pope, even from afar, as he passes through Bethlehem and Jerusalem to visit holy sites and meet other religious leaders on a visit the Vatican has billed as a "pilgrimage of prayer."
"I'm happy the pope is coming, but also worried he might not deliver a strong enough message of support for Palestinian Christians," said Louis Michel, who runs a souvenir stall outside the Church of the Nativity.
'Purely religious'
Francis said on Wednesday his trip would be "purely religious," aimed at praying for peace in the Middle East and improving relations with other branches of Christianity.
Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka, an old friend of Francis, said the pontiff would try to avoid political pitfalls in the sensitive region by dividing his visits equally between Jewish sites in Israel and Muslim or Christian landmarks on Palestinian territory.
But on the Palestinian side of Israel's vast separation barrier, people feel the visit will retain a political edge regardless.
Marwan Barghouti, one of the leaders of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, who has been in prison since 2002, urged the pope to end Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.
"The Church played a key role by putting its tremendous moral weight behind ending (South African) apartheid. We are confident this moral voice will contribute to ending occupation," he said in a letter addressed to Francis.
Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun told AFP as she watched some 200 municipal workers hanging banners in Manger Square that "this is how Palestine is -- religion and politics are interconnected."
Many of the banners have been produced by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Museum, and combine biblical paintings of suffering with photos of modern-day Palestinians being evicted from demolished homes or dragged away wounded from clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Flags and barriers
In Jerusalem, preparations for the pontiff's arrival are somewhat more muted, overshadowed by a stepped-up security and police presence.
Some 8,000 extra police officers are to be deployed on Jerusalem's streets for the duration of the visit.
On Wednesday, Israel placed three young Jewish extremists under house arrest on suspicion they were planning to disrupt the pontiff's visit, police said.
Restriction orders have already been imposed on two students from a Jewish seminary at Mount Zion, where the pope will on Monday hold a mass at the Upper Room where Jesus held the Last Supper.
The ground floor of the same building is revered by Jews as the tomb of King David, prompting several weeks of protest linked to the pope's visit.
And the innumerable police barriers set up inside the Old City's Christian quarter are often more noticeable than the 1,000 or so Israeli, Vatican and Jerusalem municipality flags that town hall has begun putting up.
Movement will be severely restricted in the Old City, which is home to many Palestinian Christians.
"They say it's for security, but it's political," grumbled Elias, a spice shop owner who only gave his first name.
"They want to make it seem like we (Christians) don't exist."
The three-day visit kicks off Saturday when Francis flies to Jordan. He will travel on to Bethlehem Sunday morning, then to Israel, where he will spend the rest of the day and Monday in Jerusalem before heading home.
22 may 2014
Several hundred Palestinian Christians from the Gaza Strip have been allowed to leave the besieged Palestinian territory to travel to the West Bank for Pope Francis's upcoming visit, officials said Thursday.
"Israel allowed around 650 Christians in Gaza to travel to the West Bank during the pope's visit" this weekend, a security official told AFP .
Dozens of pilgrims passed through the Erez border crossing Thursday morning, an AFP correspondent said, referring to the Israeli-controlled personnel crossing from the Strip, which is run by the Hamas movement.
Pope Francis arrives in Jordan on Saturday before traveling to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, then to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
"This visit honors Palestinians and recognizes them as a people, and acknowledges their rights," said 22-year-old Milad Ayyad, whose mother will go while he is left behind.
Israel has only allowed Christians over 35 years of age to go.
Minerva Saba, a 54-year-old woman who lost a son during an Israeli military operation in Gaza in 2008, called on the pope to "come to Gaza and pray with us in our church, to see how people live here."
"Christians are a minority in Gaza and they have many problems which the pope must hear about," she said.
Gaza is home to only some 1,500 Christians out of an overwhelmingly Muslim population of 1.7 million people. Most of them are Greek Orthodox, and only about 130 Roman Catholic.
They have been targeted in a few attacks by militants since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007. A hand grenade exploded in the courtyard of a Roman Catholic church in Gaza City in February, and in 2011, a bomb targeted the director of Gaza's Anglican hospital, who escaped unharmed.
Like other Gaza Palestinians, Christians have also suffered as a result of the severe Israeli-imposed economic blockade since 2007.
"Israel allowed around 650 Christians in Gaza to travel to the West Bank during the pope's visit" this weekend, a security official told AFP .
Dozens of pilgrims passed through the Erez border crossing Thursday morning, an AFP correspondent said, referring to the Israeli-controlled personnel crossing from the Strip, which is run by the Hamas movement.
Pope Francis arrives in Jordan on Saturday before traveling to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, then to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
"This visit honors Palestinians and recognizes them as a people, and acknowledges their rights," said 22-year-old Milad Ayyad, whose mother will go while he is left behind.
Israel has only allowed Christians over 35 years of age to go.
Minerva Saba, a 54-year-old woman who lost a son during an Israeli military operation in Gaza in 2008, called on the pope to "come to Gaza and pray with us in our church, to see how people live here."
"Christians are a minority in Gaza and they have many problems which the pope must hear about," she said.
Gaza is home to only some 1,500 Christians out of an overwhelmingly Muslim population of 1.7 million people. Most of them are Greek Orthodox, and only about 130 Roman Catholic.
They have been targeted in a few attacks by militants since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007. A hand grenade exploded in the courtyard of a Roman Catholic church in Gaza City in February, and in 2011, a bomb targeted the director of Gaza's Anglican hospital, who escaped unharmed.
Like other Gaza Palestinians, Christians have also suffered as a result of the severe Israeli-imposed economic blockade since 2007.
Israel has decided to place under house arrest three young Jewish extremists suspected of planning to disrupt Pope Francis' visit to the Holy Land this weekend, police said on Wednesday.
"The police and Shin Bet (security service) have taken out restraining orders against several right-wing activists who, according to information from Shin Bet, are planning to commit provocative acts during the pope's visit," police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP.
Samri, who did not elaborate on what it was thought they intended to do, said the restraining order would apply for four days.
Media said the three activists were to be put under house arrest on Thursday, two days before Francis arrives in the region. The Israeli army would back the measures.
Pope Francis begins his visit to the Holy Land on Saturday when he flies to Amman and meets Syrian refugees before traveling to Bethlehem, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
He will meet with all the main Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders, but only briefly.
There has been opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews over perceived Vatican designs on holy sites in Jerusalem.
Israel, which will deploy an extra 8,000 police throughout Jerusalem for the pope's visit, has already strengthened security around Christian sites targeted in a wave of vandalism blamed on Jewish extremists.
US officials said Wednesday that they supported the pope's visit to the Middle East.
But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington "would certainly be concerned about any rise of anti-Christian or anti-religious sentiment that's growing there.
"Obviously we condemn that type of rhetoric and behavior," she told reporters.
Restriction orders have already been imposed on two students from a yeshiva Jewish seminary at Mount Zion, where the pope is to hold a mass in the Cenacle, the reputed scene of Jesus' last supper, on Monday.
Two gatherings of ultra-Orthodox Jews and nationalists at the site also known as the Upper Room, and another is scheduled to be held there on Thursday.
The lawyer for one of the activists said the restriction infringed on his client's right to freedom of expression.
"Israel is becoming a undemocratic country that silences protesters," the lawyer Itamar Ben-Gvir told AFP.
Israel's top police officer on Sunday vowed that Jewish extremists would not be allowed to spoil the upcoming visit of Pope Francis.
"There have been attempts here -- principally as we get closer to the visit itself -- by some extremists to try and make a provocation, and create a bad atmosphere before the visit," Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino told reporters.
"We have absolutely no intention of tolerating this."
"The police and Shin Bet (security service) have taken out restraining orders against several right-wing activists who, according to information from Shin Bet, are planning to commit provocative acts during the pope's visit," police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP.
Samri, who did not elaborate on what it was thought they intended to do, said the restraining order would apply for four days.
Media said the three activists were to be put under house arrest on Thursday, two days before Francis arrives in the region. The Israeli army would back the measures.
Pope Francis begins his visit to the Holy Land on Saturday when he flies to Amman and meets Syrian refugees before traveling to Bethlehem, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
He will meet with all the main Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian leaders, but only briefly.
There has been opposition from ultra-Orthodox Jews over perceived Vatican designs on holy sites in Jerusalem.
Israel, which will deploy an extra 8,000 police throughout Jerusalem for the pope's visit, has already strengthened security around Christian sites targeted in a wave of vandalism blamed on Jewish extremists.
US officials said Wednesday that they supported the pope's visit to the Middle East.
But State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington "would certainly be concerned about any rise of anti-Christian or anti-religious sentiment that's growing there.
"Obviously we condemn that type of rhetoric and behavior," she told reporters.
Restriction orders have already been imposed on two students from a yeshiva Jewish seminary at Mount Zion, where the pope is to hold a mass in the Cenacle, the reputed scene of Jesus' last supper, on Monday.
Two gatherings of ultra-Orthodox Jews and nationalists at the site also known as the Upper Room, and another is scheduled to be held there on Thursday.
The lawyer for one of the activists said the restriction infringed on his client's right to freedom of expression.
"Israel is becoming a undemocratic country that silences protesters," the lawyer Itamar Ben-Gvir told AFP.
Israel's top police officer on Sunday vowed that Jewish extremists would not be allowed to spoil the upcoming visit of Pope Francis.
"There have been attempts here -- principally as we get closer to the visit itself -- by some extremists to try and make a provocation, and create a bad atmosphere before the visit," Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino told reporters.
"We have absolutely no intention of tolerating this."
In a region marked by sectarian division, Israel is trying to bring its Christian Palestinian population on side in a move aimed at splitting them from their Muslim compatriots, experts say.
This Israeli charm offensive has recently led to the army calling for the first time on Arab Christians to sign up for military service, and in a newly-passed law which formalizes a distinction between Christian Palestinians and Muslims.
"We and the Christians have a lot in common," MP Yariv Levin said at the time.
"They're our natural allies, a counterweight to the Muslims who want to destroy the country from within," said Levin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party which sponsored the bill.
It is a discourse in keeping with the neo-conservative world view of a "clash of civilizations" between the Judeo-Christian West and Islam which has been embraced by Netanyahu - a close ally of both the US Republican right and the Zionist evangelicals.
It is not the first time Israel has tried to align itself with its "natural allies" in the predominantly Muslim Middle East. It did so in Lebanon in the 1980s by backing the Christian Phalangist militia and its ally the South Lebanon Army against their Muslim opponents.
"There is indeed a significant decline in the condition of the Christians in the Middle East," said professor Gabriel Ben-Dor, head of national security studies at Haifa University.
"In Israel, this is perceived as the moment to improve the standing of the Christian minority in Israel," he explained, saying it would also "significantly improve" Israel’s international standing.
But ahead of a key visit to the Holy Land by Pope Francis which begins on Saturday, this apparent strategy of divide and rule has Israel's Palestinian community worried.
'They are Palestinians'
Israel's Palestinian population -- descendents of some 160,000 Palestinians who remained after Israel was established in 1948 -- today numbers 1.4 million, 130,000 of whom are Christians.
Military service is not compulsory for Israel's Palestinians, except for the tiny Druze community, and only around 100 Christians volunteer for service each year, army figures show.
But last month, Israel said it would start sending enlistment papers to all Christian Arabs of military service age, angering Palestinian MKs who accused the government of seeking to divide Christians from Muslims.
The reaction of the Christian Churches was not slow in coming.
In Nazareth, the largest Palestinian city in Israel, the Greek Orthodox Church sacked one of its priests after he publicly encouraged young Christians to join the army to understand "the importance of serving and getting involved in the country in which they live and which protects them."
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which represents the Roman Catholic Church, protested against the army's decision to seek a tenfold increase in the number of Christian recruits annually.
"The issue is that these Christians are Palestinian," said Michel Sabbah, patriarch between 1988-2008 and the first Palestinian to hold the post for centuries.
"If you accept yourself as Palestinian, you must be logical with yourself -- you don't go into an army which maintains occupation on Palestinians, or kills Palestinians.
"You have to be a good citizen inside the state of Israel, but being a good citizen does not imply that you are ordered to kill your brothers who are Palestinians," he said.
Playing the sectarian card
Opponents accuse nationalist right-wing elements within Netanyahu's coalition of playing the "sectarianism" card and seeking to create a divide between Christians and Muslims.
"I don't think that Israel is serious about integrating Arab Christians in Israeli society on the basis of full, equal-rights citizens. This is a clear attempt to split the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel," said political analyst Wadie Abu Nasser.
"If Israel is serious, why does discrimination continue vis-a-vis the Druze who serve in the army? And why it doesn't allow Palestinian refugees of Christian background to come back?" said Abu Nasser, a former spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate.
If the strategy succeeds, it will only be "in a very limited way," he said.
"Israel's strategic mistake is not to reply to regional instability in positive ways.
"Making peace with the Palestinians and offering full equality to all of its citizens are the best guarantees for Israel's future in the region."
This Israeli charm offensive has recently led to the army calling for the first time on Arab Christians to sign up for military service, and in a newly-passed law which formalizes a distinction between Christian Palestinians and Muslims.
"We and the Christians have a lot in common," MP Yariv Levin said at the time.
"They're our natural allies, a counterweight to the Muslims who want to destroy the country from within," said Levin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party which sponsored the bill.
It is a discourse in keeping with the neo-conservative world view of a "clash of civilizations" between the Judeo-Christian West and Islam which has been embraced by Netanyahu - a close ally of both the US Republican right and the Zionist evangelicals.
It is not the first time Israel has tried to align itself with its "natural allies" in the predominantly Muslim Middle East. It did so in Lebanon in the 1980s by backing the Christian Phalangist militia and its ally the South Lebanon Army against their Muslim opponents.
"There is indeed a significant decline in the condition of the Christians in the Middle East," said professor Gabriel Ben-Dor, head of national security studies at Haifa University.
"In Israel, this is perceived as the moment to improve the standing of the Christian minority in Israel," he explained, saying it would also "significantly improve" Israel’s international standing.
But ahead of a key visit to the Holy Land by Pope Francis which begins on Saturday, this apparent strategy of divide and rule has Israel's Palestinian community worried.
'They are Palestinians'
Israel's Palestinian population -- descendents of some 160,000 Palestinians who remained after Israel was established in 1948 -- today numbers 1.4 million, 130,000 of whom are Christians.
Military service is not compulsory for Israel's Palestinians, except for the tiny Druze community, and only around 100 Christians volunteer for service each year, army figures show.
But last month, Israel said it would start sending enlistment papers to all Christian Arabs of military service age, angering Palestinian MKs who accused the government of seeking to divide Christians from Muslims.
The reaction of the Christian Churches was not slow in coming.
In Nazareth, the largest Palestinian city in Israel, the Greek Orthodox Church sacked one of its priests after he publicly encouraged young Christians to join the army to understand "the importance of serving and getting involved in the country in which they live and which protects them."
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which represents the Roman Catholic Church, protested against the army's decision to seek a tenfold increase in the number of Christian recruits annually.
"The issue is that these Christians are Palestinian," said Michel Sabbah, patriarch between 1988-2008 and the first Palestinian to hold the post for centuries.
"If you accept yourself as Palestinian, you must be logical with yourself -- you don't go into an army which maintains occupation on Palestinians, or kills Palestinians.
"You have to be a good citizen inside the state of Israel, but being a good citizen does not imply that you are ordered to kill your brothers who are Palestinians," he said.
Playing the sectarian card
Opponents accuse nationalist right-wing elements within Netanyahu's coalition of playing the "sectarianism" card and seeking to create a divide between Christians and Muslims.
"I don't think that Israel is serious about integrating Arab Christians in Israeli society on the basis of full, equal-rights citizens. This is a clear attempt to split the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel," said political analyst Wadie Abu Nasser.
"If Israel is serious, why does discrimination continue vis-a-vis the Druze who serve in the army? And why it doesn't allow Palestinian refugees of Christian background to come back?" said Abu Nasser, a former spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate.
If the strategy succeeds, it will only be "in a very limited way," he said.
"Israel's strategic mistake is not to reply to regional instability in positive ways.
"Making peace with the Palestinians and offering full equality to all of its citizens are the best guarantees for Israel's future in the region."