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Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August 2008, pages 58-59 Waging Peace What About Christians in Palestine?
DR. BERNARD SABELLA, author and sociology professor at Bethlehem University, discussed “The Decline of Palestinian Christians: Religious, Cultural and Strategic Implications,” at Georgetown University on April 23. An elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and executive director of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees for the Middle East Council of Churches, Sabella provided insight into what is happening to Christians in the Holy Land at the event, co-hosted by Churches for Middle East Peace, Foundation for Middle East Peace, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, and the Office of the President of Georgetown University. Dr. Sabella, a Palestinian Roman Catholic, broke the ice by commenting that, with his nationality and religion, he is an enigma to many—quipping that it’s like being a Russian Hindu or Buddhist. Turning serious, he pointed out that today there are not even 8,000 “indigenous Palestinian Christians” in Jerusalem, compared to 30,000 in 1945. The undeniable discrepancy is attributed to the fact that “we are leaving the Holy Land,” Sabella stated. A common explanation for that exodus, he noted, is that “Palestinian Christians are leaving because of Muslim persecution.” Despite differences in thoughts and practices, however, Sabella insisted that “religions...are not a reason to leave.” The results of a sociological survey found the more apt explanation to be that “it was really the political and economic situation that leads to their emigration,” he said, adding that the political and economic turmoil which is causing a declining Palestinian Christian population also is disaffecting Muslim and Jewish populations, who are leaving as well. In addition, he added, Western-based evangelistic groups that seek to convert Muslims “are doing us [Christians] a great harm.” There is a tacit agreement, in his opinion, that Middle Eastern Christians, Muslims, and Jews “do not proselytize each other.” While “religion is not the answer” for Palestinian-Israeli peace, Sabella commented, its importance cannot be downplayed either. He criticized the West for considering Palestinian Christians a “bridge” between Muslims and Jews. Noting that their influence is limited, he emphasized that “the real challenge is to get…a political agreement,” because “if Israel does not do its homework with its Palestinian neighbors, it will still have a problem.” Given Israel’s “separation policies,” along with no free movement for people and business and no future prospects, it is obvious why so many are leaving, Sabella told the audience. During Ramadan, Israeli authorities issued entrance permits only for men over the age of 45 into Jerusalem’s Haram al Sharif. If this worked, Dr. Sabella asked, “why not say OK for three months” and then lower the age to 40, then to 30, and so on? Why did Israel issue more than 500 permits for the Christian holy day of Easter, then cancel them due to a conflict with a Jewish holiday? Because, Sabella answered, Israel wants to continue the occupation. Sabella expressed the concerns of Palestinian Christians that Hamas may seek a strict imposition of shariah law. Israel is helping bolster support for Hamas, he pointed out, by not stepping up to the plate for peace negotiations, and by lacking a “vision for peace, [since] Israel only has a vision for security.” He cited as examples Israeli settlements in Jerusalem’s Old City and the Israeli government’s efforts to confiscate as many homes as possible to eliminate any future need of divisions with Israel’s “demographic menace.” Dr. Sabella suggested that “maybe one way out is to think Palestinian economy, culture [and] society can be encouraged to develop without direct Israeli intervention,” through alternate decisions that are independent of Israel. Perhaps a Palestinian Authority modeled after Jordan, he ventured, with Islamic law and civilian law. Palestinians must look to themselves, Sabella concluded, since their country is low on the U.S. list of “strategic interests.” —Nina Hamedani |
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