Articles

Until recently, the presence of Palestinian Christian has rarely been worthy of resurrection with an abundance of journalism dedicated to airing the cultural, social and religious divide between Muslims and Jews. Their unconsciounable exclusion from tertiary and school curricular references invites inquisitive journalists (students, academics and other groups) to ask an assortment of questions : When did 'these' Christians convert from Islam? Why have they raised their voice of reason during the current wave of violence? Why isn't the Australian- Palestinian Christian community raising awareness of their bretheren's pain in the media! How come the Australian churches and fair dinkum champions of a fair-do have not raised their voice against tales of oppression screened in the nightly News ? And who don't the migrant churches(Greek, Lebanese, Maltese etc) voice solidarity with them as they have towards South Africa, East Timor and Yugoslavia!?

Why have Christian Palestinians become a most taboo subject next to 'anti -semitic', ' racial discrimination' and 'ethnic cleansing' defies principles of fairness.

I will address myself to two of several main factors which have contributed to their pain and eventual exodus. The first is the Arab official attitudes , ones that contradict laws of common sense and reason. Their subservience to American policy dictated that they are in a state of no war and no peace. Paralised by their despotic rulers, oil rich states care less about influencing an American peaceful initiative in the Holy Land than piling up billions of petro dollars. They would rather deny their population basic forms of human right , continue to please a distant superpower that continue to show their people much contempt and a bestial image in their films and television. Any official stance protesting an ongoing suffering of their so-called racial brothers in the Holy Land is never aired outside their opulent palaces.
One is struck by the indignity of university administration in oil rich countries of the Gulf who have rejected approving teaching posts to native Christian academics ' as a result of their religious affiliation'. Whether this reflects an official policy or whether this is a coincidental attitude of exclusion, the immediate shock often causes many of those affected to feel as if they are helplessly hurled to the lions.

Another blow was dealt by the Australian church, Anglican, Catholic, Baptist, Uniting and the like. Until recently the Australian church shied from acknowledging the presence of Arab Christian Palestinians. The politics of omission has served its architects in making their congregation endure religious stereotypes which the Anglo media forced on Palestinian Christians, and absolve them paying the price perpetrated during WWII atrocities. I find it hard to forgive failure of pilgrim Australians to resist Western propaganda against "native' population. They conveniently battle for the liberation of their oppressed Christian population in South Africa, East Timor, Ireland and Aceh but shy away to do the same for their counterparts in Bethlehem, Nazareth and East Jerusalem.

They conveniently forget that reconciliation demands repair, and just peace requires speaking against justice. What is happening today to Palestinians is no longer part of God's plan to bring salvation his chosen people in the old testament. And that He would not allow one nation to suffer so another would thrive. It is the very sense of betrayal and abandonment which makes their traumas and despair deeper. Some have been able to stand form in the faith , and held fast in the traditions of salvation. They have managed to halt emigration and strengthen themselves, through consolidation with Muslim Palestinians under a nationalist umbrella, causing unsympathetic missionaries, human rights advocates and other principled Australian with no pastoral role to play.

Others, a total of 500,000 Palestinian Christian worldwide receive little mention in school books, popular or academic discourse, multicultural literature and activities, radio talk backs, inter-faith celebrations. Wounds inflicted half a century ago fester still. Their dwindling number and influence a a major peace broker has shrunk. Estimated to have been 20 of the West Bank and Gaza population their number dwindled to 2 percent; and from 95% in Bethlehem alone to 15% today.

Why do they leave?

B'Tselem, an Israeli Human Rights Group note: "Massive land confiscation from Palestinians to build for Jews (settlers) increases overcrowding in Palestinian neighbourhoods.. Both Jews and Palestinians build illegally. Yet the response of the government is not equal. While the [latter] is responsible for less than 20% illegal construction, nearly 70% of the demolitions are carried out on the [former}." The confiscated land surrounding Bethlehem, East Jerusalem and Beit Jala (Gilo) belonged to Christians for centuries.

Said a staff member: " Being a Christian does no entail privileges or positive discrimination. Sniping bullets do not distinguish between religious persons, uprooted olive trees, bulldozed houses, or vacated schools as Christian or Muslim"
As a dwindling minority is further destroyed through desperation, forced emigration and spiritual dissolution their churches have become 'authentic' caretakers for the tourist museums sans worshippers.

Mutual concerns of the suffering between Muslims and Christians are real. Their unprincipled enemies have claimed that tension between them is mounting - as Muslim activism increases, Christian activism views itself as the lost cause.

Despite all of this native Christians never felt abandoned by God; their faith and sacrifice are as strong as ever. throughout the world. This despite the so-called peace process of Oslo is perceived as an instrument which furthers their oppression and concentrates the injustice. They have a mission which is to tell us of 50 years of pain that was overlooked by many Western Christians They also have a particular role to play as bridges for a just peace for their children and those of the Muslim and Jewish faiths.

Abe W. Ata is a Bethlehm born Australian
Christian & a Senior fellow
at Melbourne University