In solidarity with the people of Gaza, Bethlehem cancels its annual Christmas festivities. #Palestine #Christians

Church of Nativity photo by Isam Telhami

 

Shibley Telhami

@ShibleyTelhami

 

In solidarity with the people of Gaza, Bethlehem cancels its annual Christmas festivities.

Under the shadow of war in Gaza, Jesus’ traditional birthplace is gearing up for a subdued Christmas... "More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel’s blistering air and ground offensive against Gaza"

Shibley Telhami

@ShibleyTelhami

 

Cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to Bethlehem's tourism-dependent economy: “The economy is crashing. But if we compare it with what’s happening to our people and Gaza, it’s nothing.”

Manger Square Bethlehem Palestine

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy. But joyous revelry is untenable at a time of immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, said Mayor Hana Haniyeh.

“The economy is crashing,” Haniyeh told The Associated Press on Friday. “But if we compare it with what’s happening to our people and Gaza, it’s nothing.”

More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel’s blistering air and ground offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers, according to health officials there, while some 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. The war was triggered by Hamas’ deadly assault Oct. 7 on southern Israel"  ... READ MORE

 https://apnews.com/article/bethlehem-west-bank-israel-hamas-war-a42bbd967c27a68f71f8aace59387963

 [AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES or quotes or watch videos IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

My letter to the Washington Post RE Shibley Telhami's EXCELLENT op-ed "How Israel’s Jewishness is overtaking its democracy"

Discrimination is treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing is perceived to belong to rather than on individual merit.

RE How Israel’s Jewishness is overtaking its democracy By Shibley Telhami
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/03/08/how-israels-jewishness-is-overtaking-its-democracy/?postshare=7211457441647491&tid=ss_tw

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine (& America ...etc...)]

Dear Editor,

Kudos to Shibley Telhami for writing such a frankly honest, well researched, carefully thought out, sensible and compassionate op-ed "How Israel’s Jewishness is overtaking its democracy" ... and Kudos to the Washington Post for publishing it.

We are warned by Telhami that right now in Israel "79 percent of all Jews, including 69 percent of Hilonim (secular Jews) say that Jews deserve “preferential treatment” in Israel — so much for the notion of democracy with full equal rights for all citizens."

From afar, preferential treatment might sound and seem relatively harmless at first glance, but please look at the horrific ramifications and the very real plight and suffering of countless Palestinian men, women, and children as numerous "pro-Israel" pundits, politicians, religious leaders, propagandists, and apologists worldwide camouflage Israel's misguided quest to oppress and impoverish the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land as a struggle for "Jewish" freedom and security. 

The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict has been galvanizing bigotry, extremism, escalating violence and despair- making the entire region much less safe, much less secure, and much less free as Islamists follow Israel's myopic lead of scorning respect for universal human rights and the rule of fair and just laws. 
 
In 1946, horrified by the Nazi Holocaust, " world leaders decided to complement the UN Charter with a road map to guarantee the rights of every individual everywhere." This carefully thought out international Bill of Rights became The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  Article 27 of the universal declaration wisely states with visionary hope that " Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

Communities and countries that value peace and progress value every child (regardless of supposed race or religion), investing emotionally, intellectually and financially in providing opportunities for all to flourish. Religion should be a personal private matter: Every individual has their own personal idea of what God is and/or isn't. We might employ prayers, rituals and traditions shared by others, but to be Jewish, or Muslim, or Christian, or Buddhist, or Hindu, or whatever is to be a unique individual with a unique life story still unfolding. 

A just and lasting peace and security for all people, regardless of their supposed race or religion, is in every one's best interest: Ending the Israel-Palestine conflict with a fully secular two state solution based on FULL respect for international law and universal human rights to free both Israel and Palestine from the chaos and cruelty of the current situation is the best way forward.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES
The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

My letter to the Washington Post RE The power and weakness of inciting violence

American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) is strictly opposed to all acts of violence against civilians. The Task Force advocates the development of a Palestinian state that is democratic, pluralistic, non-militarized and neutral in armed conflicts.

RE The power and weakness of inciting violence
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-power-and-weakness-of-inciting-violence/2014/12/05/120dedca-74c3-11e4-9d9b-86d397daad27_story.html

Dear Editor,

I thought Shibley Telhami's "The power and weakness of inciting violence" was very interesting, and quite helpful in understanding one aspect of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. 

Fully respecting citizenship rights and responsibility, international law, and all the many United Nations resolutions pertaining to ENDING the Israel-Palestine conflict with a fully secular two state solution should help convince majorities on both sides to support an end to the conflict.

Worldwide bigots, activist-entertainers, religious tyrants, ivy tower cynics, naive naysayers and bully brigades might try to keep stoking hostilities... but once there is an actual fully sovereign free Palestine living alongside Israel and Jordan in peace and security, outsiders and hate mongers will have to find another hobby.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES
Palestinian Refugees (1948-NOW) refused their right to return... and their right to live in peace free from religious bigotry and injustice.

UNITED NATIONS

• About Palestine
  • Government of the State of Palestine
  • Palestine Liberation Organization
  • Diplomatic Relations
• Status of Palestine
  • Membership Application
  • Resolutions & Reports on Status
• Mission Documents
  • Statements
  • Identical Letters
  • Press Releases
  • Mission Reports on GA
• UN Resolutions
  • General Assembly
  • 10th Emergency Special Session
  • Security Council
  • The Wall – Landmark Documents
• Conferences
• Palestine Programmes
• International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 2014

 
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To honor a tragic history, we must work for peace : "The only way to honor our tragic histories is to create a future for our children free of man-made tragedy. This means making peace fully, completely and without reservation, between Israel and Palestine." Ziad Asali

AMERICAN TASK FORCE ON PALESTINE:

A Moderate Palestinian Group Struggles As Hope For A Two-State Solution Wanes

STAY CONNECTED... Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to: Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries

"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?

The Golden Rule... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

CSPAN video of a fascinating and very informative discussion regarding Israel and Palestine and America hosted by the Wilson (Woodrow) International Center for Scholars

July 7, 2014

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Academics and former government officials talked about Palestinian politics, including the discovery of three kidnapped Israeli teens found dead in the West Bank that sparked protests in Jerusalem. http://www.c-span.org/video/?320301-1/israelipalestinian-conflict

Watch video of ATFP Senior Fellow Hussein Ibish speaking in a panel on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Rob Danin, Shibley Telhami and Aaron David Miller hosted by the Wilson Center.