Johann Hari writes an article that shows, completely without context, the suffering of pregnant palestinians and, of course, repeats the lie that if Jesus lived today, he would be a palestinian. No, if Jesus lived today, he would be a Jew. There was this thing about Mary and Joseph and Israel 2,000 years ago. They were, gee, Jewish. If you’re going to bring them into twenty-first century Israel, they’re still going to be Jewish, and probably wouldn’t be allowed in Bethlehem, since it is an entirely Jew-free town.
This article is written for something called the Independent Appeals which is, as far as I can tell, about as un-objective as a newspaper can get. There are thirteen articles. Three of them are on the palestinians. Only one is about Darfur, which is suffering a far worse humanitarian crisis than the palestinians. The articles mention absolutely no context, except to say that the Israelis have been bombing Gaza since the murder of her soldiers and the capture of Gilad Shalit by Hamas. Here’s one such article, about the shortage of medical equipment in Gaza. I would like to point out that Hamas refused $50 million worth of medical supplies for Gaza, insisting on the cash instead, which Israel would not allow. Not that the Independent publishes facts like that. It ruins their worldview. If they did, how could they publish such heart-tugging words like these:
Gaza’s blood banks have been crumbling for years. The Israeli siege made it extremely hard to get machine parts into this congested strip of land, that is home to one-and-a-half million people. Then the international boycott that followed the election of Hamas cut off the funds that Shifa used to purchase even simple equipment, such as blood bags and testing kits. Earlier this year the blood bank ran out of hepatitis C testing kits.
“If things carry on deteriorating,” Dr Suleiman warns, “soon we will have to make a terrible choice – stop screening blood for diseases like HIV and hepatitis, or stop putting out blood altogether.”
So, that baby Jesus article? It’s yet another one comparing the palestinians to Jesus, simply because they now occupy the land once populated by the Jews of Israel, a fact that never seems to make it into these bullshit tearjerker pieces.
In two days, a third of humanity will gather to celebrate the birth pains of a Palestinian refugee in Bethlehem – but two millennia later, another mother in another glorified stable in this rubble-strewn, locked-down town is trying not to howl.
Fadia Jemal is a gap-toothed 27-year-old with a weary, watery smile. “What would happen if the Virgin Mary came to Bethlehem today? She would endure what I have endured,” she says.
No, Jesus was not a “palestinian refugee.” He was a Jew, born to a Jewish mother and a Jewish father. There was no such land as “Palestine.” Back in Jesus’ day, there was Judea and Samaria, but no “Palestine.” So that would, I think, make Jesus a Judean. But don’t let facts get in the way of your rhetoric. It’s that time of year, when the Jews make the baby Jesus cry.
Don’t they ever get tired of writing crap like this?
(h/t: Robert M.)
This is the wrong place, Meryl. We know that Joseph, Miriam and baby Joshua were Jewish, like us.
Write to the letters page of the Independent, or indescribably boring, as it’s colloquially known. Tell them.
They would never publish a well reasoned letter refuting their positions. They only publish screaming rants from Jewish sources, in their continuing effort to make Jews look more like terrorists than Hamas.
You are right that when Jesus was here 2000 years ago he was a Jew. Born of a Jewish woman, raised a Jew, and died a Jew. You are wrong, however, that if He was here today He would not be allowed into Bethlehem. When He returns He will be allowed anywhere He wants to go, including Bethlehem.
“He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31 RSV) “Then The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations as when He fights on a day of battle. On that day His feet shall stand on The Mount Of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward [see Earthquake!]. And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then The Lord your God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.” (Zechariah 14:3-5) “For The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 RSV)
This is the propaganda that the media in the UK [and Europe] publishes on a consistent basis. Its no wonder that Israel and all Jews are villified in that country [and Europe again].
Don, I’m not wrong. I didn’t say if he “returned.” I said if he were here today.
Please don’t witness on my blog. I am Jewish, as are most of my readers, and I don’t want to see it here.
Saint Matthew, please….
God knows I’m not a Christian, but how incredibly offensive this must be to anyone who is, equating every pregnant palestinian arab woman with the mother of Jesus. Some of these women already plan to encourage their offspring to blow themselves up in Israeli malls and buses.
To the extent there were modern medical services in Gaza and the “West Bank” before the election of Hamas, they were left over from the pre-Oslo days when Israel set them up. But never mind…
And, naturally, not one word about the reason for the horrible humiliating checkpoints. This may win the award for the most biased, distorted article I’ve seen all year.
if Jesus were alive today and entered bethelehem when he was killed by the same palestinian arabs, the media would point out how justifiable the murder was
Meryl,
I saw this article in the a.m. linked from the Drudge report. It is the most offensive and distorted thing I have ever read. Must…not…let….blood…pressure…rise….
love and hugs, j
Meryl said : But don’t let facts get in the way of your rhetoric. It’s that time of year, when the Jews make the baby Jesus cry.
Later she said: Please don’t witness on my blog. I am Jewish, as are most of my readers, and I don’t want to see it here.
One taunt can’t be returned with another? How eloquent!
Meryl – I care about Israel and my friends who live there, perhaps not in the same way you care about it. For most of the post, I actually agreed with you, but you then end up slapping me and other Christians out of whatever animosity that you hold against Jesus, even though we stand as some of the most ardent supporters of Israel. So much for tikkun olam. Though at times you may think it, we’re not the enemy. Neither is Y’shua.
(BTW – I’m not condoning Don’s extended witness – merely pointing out the irony of your reply. Also Happy Chanukah – May God’s face shine upon you in this coming year and may He bless you with a new and exciting job!)
Meryl – on second thought, maybe I misread what you wrote or intended – if that’s really the case, then I’m sorry and please strike the prior comment. (Except for the Chanukah salutation and the prayer!)
You did misread what I said.
The newest fad in world media is to pretend that Jesus would have been a palestinian if he lived today. Go back and check last year’s archives.
This year, it’s even more blatant and bigoted.
As for the phrase “makes the baby Jesus cry,” it’s something I picked up from Michele Catalano. It’s sarcasm. But not direted at Christians.
There’s only one way for me to describe this.
The comparison to Mary in this Independent Whatever ranks up there as the stupidest f—–g thing I think I’ve read in my entire life.
“Don’t they ever get tired of writing crap like this?”
Evidently not.