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Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Palestinian Christians: History, Current Situation, and Challenges

Palestinian Christians are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, with a history that begins around 2,000 years ago during the time of Jesus and the Apostles. They are the people who have continuously inhabited the Holy Land, the birthplace of Christianity, and are often referred to as the "Living Stones" of the Christian world.

History and Origins

Palestinian Christians are descendants of the Jews, Arameans, and other local peoples who converted to Christianity during the first century. Over the centuries, as Arab culture became dominant, they became Arabic-speaking Christians. They have a long history of peaceful coexistence with Muslims and have been an integral part of Palestinian society and culture.

Population and Geographic Distribution

Throughout history, Christians were a significant part of the population in Palestine, but today their numbers have declined dramatically.

* Population Decline: Before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, Christians made up about 10% of the Palestinian population. Today, they constitute only between 1% and 2% of the total population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

* Current Population:

* West Bank: Approximately 47,000 Christians live here, mostly concentrated in cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour.

* Gaza Strip: The Christian community in Gaza is very small, and its numbers have fallen below 1,000 due to the Israeli blockade and ongoing conflicts.

* Within Israel: There are about 120,000 Arab Christians who are Israeli citizens; many of them also identify as Palestinian.

* Diaspora: The majority of Palestinian Christians (over 50%) now live abroad, with large communities established in Latin American countries like Chile and Honduras, as well as in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Christian Denominations

Palestinian Christians belong to numerous denominations, primarily the following:

* Greek Orthodox: The largest and main community.

* Latin (Roman Catholic): The second-largest community.

* Melkite Greek Catholic: An Eastern Catholic Church that is in communion with the Roman Catholic Church but follows Byzantine traditions.

* Other Denominations: There are also smaller Protestant groups such as Lutherans and Anglicans, as well as Eastern Orthodox denominations like Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox.

Current Situation and Challenges

Palestinian Christians, like their Muslim compatriots, face numerous political, economic, and social challenges, which are the primary drivers of their emigration.

* Israeli Occupation and Conflict: This is the main cause. Checkpoints that restrict freedom of movement, the Separation Wall that divides the West Bank, the expansion of illegal settlements, and violence make daily life difficult. They often need special permits to visit their holy sites, which are frequently denied.

* Economic Hardship: Due to the conflict and blockades, job opportunities are scarce and the economy is unstable. This creates a lack of future prospects for young people, pushing them to leave for other countries.

* Political Instability: The decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict has dimmed hopes for peace and created a state of insecurity.

* The Special Situation in Gaza: Christians in Gaza face a double hardship: they suffer from the Israeli blockade and also face societal pressures under Hamas rule.

Role in Society

Despite being a minority in number, Palestinian Christians continue to play a vital role in society. They are a highly educated community with many leaders in politics, business, education, and healthcare. For example, a certain number of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council are reserved for Christians, and the mayoralties of Bethlehem and Ramallah are designated for Christian candidates. They often emphasize their Palestinian national identity over their religious one and work hand-in-hand with Muslims in the struggle for Palestinian liberation.

Sunday, July 20, 2025

The Origin of the State of Israel: From a Terrorist Group,'

Of course. Here is the English translation of that text:

"Since I was young, I have made it a habit/principle never to speak ill of or use a derogatory name for any person or group. Now, after writing a blog post about Israel with the title, 'The Origin of the State of Israel: From a Terrorist Group,' I feel uneasy and uncomfortable."

It is important to compare how the major countries and organizations that designate Hamas as a "terrorist group" today viewed the pre-state Zionist militant groups (Irgun, Lehi, Haganah) in the past.

The short answer is: The main ruling power at the time, the British Government, did indeed officially designate the more radical groups like Irgun and Lehi as "Terrorist Organizations."

Here is a detailed breakdown by organization:

1. The British Government

* Their Position: The British Government was the ruling authority (Mandatory Power) in Palestine at the time and was the primary target of Irgun and Lehi.

* How They Were Designated: Following their attacks, especially catastrophic events like the King David Hotel bombing which killed many civilians and government staff, the British Government officially declared Irgun and Lehi to be "terrorist organizations" and condemned them in the strongest terms. This terminology was explicitly used in the British Parliament and in official documents. For the British, these groups were terrorists attacking their administration with illegal methods.

2. The United Nations

* Their Position: The UN was a new organization, formed in 1945, and was attempting to mediate a solution to the Palestine problem.

* How They Were Designated: While the UN as a body was more reserved with direct, official labels, it strongly condemned their violent acts. A key event was the assassination of the UN's own peace mediator, Count Folke Bernadotte, by the Lehi group. Following this, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 57, which explicitly called on the provisional government of Israel to bring the "terrorist groups" to justice. This is clear evidence that the UN itself viewed the act as terrorism.

3. The United States

* Their Position: The U.S. position was more complex. On one hand, it had to support its ally, Great Britain, and maintain relations with Arab nations. On the other hand, there was significant sympathy for the Jewish cause after the Holocaust and political pressure from Zionist lobby groups within the U.S.

* How They Were Designated: The U.S. government officially condemned the acts of violence but was less forceful in applying labels than the British. However, a crucial point is that in 1948, Albert Einstein, along with other prominent Jewish intellectuals, wrote a letter to the New York Times denouncing Menachem Begin (leader of Irgun) and his political party, describing them as "terrorists" and "fascist" in their methods. This shows that even within the United States, the actions of these groups were viewed as terrorism by many.

Comparison and Key Differences

While there are similarities in how Hamas is designated today and how the Zionist groups were designated in the past, there are also critical differences.

* Historical Context: The 1940s was an era of decolonization, with many national liberation movements emerging worldwide. The political and legal definition of "terrorism" was not as precise or as widely codified as it is today in the post-9/11 era.

* The Outcome: This is arguably the most significant difference. The movements of Irgun and Lehi were ultimately successful. Their leaders became prime ministers of Israel, and their main armed force, the Haganah, became the state's official military (the IDF). As the saying goes, "history is written by the victors." Once they succeeded in establishing a state, their past actions could be reframed as a "national liberation struggle" or a "war of independence." Hamas, in contrast, has not yet achieved its stated goal of statehood and remains a non-state actor in conflict with an established nation.

* The Target: The primary target of the Zionist groups was the "British colonial government." The primary target of Hamas is the "State of Israel and its citizens." This distinction also influences how their actions are perceived internationally.

Conclusion

The historical record clearly shows that the same types of entities that label Hamas a terrorist group today (especially the British government and the UN) also used the "terrorist" label for groups like Irgun and Lehi in the past.

However, the key difference lies in the outcome. The success of becoming a state-builder versus remaining an unsuccessful armed resistance movement is the decisive factor in how these groups are remembered and defined today.