The following is an observation from a trip to the northern part of Israel...
Conversation overheard in a hotel in Israel....
"Don't get them confused..... Palestinians are not Arabs! Arabs live in Arab countries like Egypt, Jordan and Syria.... Palestinians live in Palestine, therefore they are not Arabs. Arabs want peace with Israel, Palestinians do not. Arabs that live in Israel are not Palestinians, they are Arabs....."
Those are the words of a group leader of an Evangelical group that is visiting Israel. He was discussing the situation in Israel/Palestine to his group after a visit to the Palestinian city of Jericho.
I spoke to a number of these visitors that were absolutely shocked by the situation in the Occupied Territories. They were amazed at the difference of living conditions on the 'other side' of the wall. I was able to convey the message to them that the poverty that exists there is due to the oppression suffered at the hands of the zionists. I asked them how it would be if they were not able to work, not able to send their children to school, not able to visit family members, not able to get to a hospital when necessary...none could conceive of these horrors.
My comments were met by sympathetic ears,and hopefully will serve as 'food for thought' compared to the words of the group leader.
His mission is to bring 'Christians' to Israel to literally walk in the footsteps of Jesus and get a sense of the 'gathering of the exiles' to the Promised Land which will herald in the new Messianic Era and the second coming of their Messiah.
That's all fine and dandy.... but what about the Palestinians? Do they have to be painted as the children of satan whose only purpose in life is to destroy that Jewish state? Do they have to be detached from their own people and dehumanised in such a way as to appear as a total non entity? The struggle of the Palestinian people is an integral part of the struggle for peace in this region, a goal that can only be achieved when they are recognised as a nation.
It is bad enough that the Palestinian people are denied statehood, now their very identity as Arabs is being taken away from them.
At one point in history ignorance was considered bliss... that no longer carries much weight these days. Every opportunity is available today to learn the truth about anything, anywhere.... unless you don't want to or don't want anyone else to. In that case, it is no longer ignorance, it is dishonesty and deceit.
Bottom line is this type of ignorance and hatred must be fought against at every level. One must not remain silent... the truth must be heard.
The words of the group leader can become a reality... the part about 'Palestinians live in Palestine' Palestine MUST become a reality... not an occupied nation. Palestine MUST become a state... an ARAB state.