What is the cause of the conflict in the Middle East a response to Bishop Riah Anglican Bishop of Ger

What is the cause of the conflict in the Middle East a response to Bishop Riah Anglican Bishop of Ger Thursday ', 16 March 2006, I attended a lecture by Bishop Riah, the bishop of Jerusalem, on the situation in the Middle East, All Hallows in the Wall Church in the City of London. The bishop was the Rev. Garth Hewitt, Amos Trust, who organized the meeting. Summary of the Bishop Riah speak. In his speech, he said that he fully the cause of peace in the Middle East, peace and origin, which, when in Jerusalem for the whole world. The cause for the lack of peace is the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the wall that separates Jerusalem from the West Bank, separating families and communities frustrated and freedom of movement for the Palestinian population. He said that 46% of the West Bank has already lost to Israel in order to make room for settlements. The settlers in Jerusalem number about 200,000, 200,000, with another the rest of the West Bank. He said that unemployment is 70%, 40-45% in the West Bank, 80% in Gaza. 53 Palestinians were killed per month and 4,000 Palestinian homes have been demolished since 2000. For the sake of Israel, which favors a two-state solution for the Arab world would accept, if Israel's borders of 1967 on the first. Critics of Israel are often accused of anti-Semitism. The Arab world is not anti-Semitic. The Arabs have with Jews for centuries would do so in peace if Israel does not act aggressively against the Arabs. The region could be a Switzerland of the Middle East with different people, side by side and exchange with each other and live in peace with one another. The church has an important role in restoring hope to the Palestinians. The call for divestment shows the anger of the Christians in the profession. Sanctions should be imposed on all goods imported into the territory of settlements. The occupation is the cause of the conflict. Terrorism is a response to this situation and if it is a fair solution. Responding to Bishop Riah speak. Arab rejectionism profession or the root of the conflict? The bishop said that it is perfect for peace. But the whole discourse, there was no mention of Arab rejectionism as the cause of the conflict. In 1948, 1967, 1973, Israel fought wars against Arab armies for their destruction. The problem is not the occupation, but Israel's existence. On 27 May 1967 Egyptian President Nasser, said: "Our main objective is the destruction of Israel." After 6 days of war, Israel offered the land for peace and recognition from the Arab world. This offer was rejected on the Khartoum Conference of the Arab League. On 1 September 1967 announced that a resolution of the three "no": "No peace, no recognition and no negotiations." In a matter of time Bishop Riah compared to 6 days of war to the wars in Europe. These were in the past, but now Britain, France and Germany are no longer open to war. This is a false comparison. Key elements of Arab society has the same view as Nasser on Israel, including the ruling party of the Palestinian Authority. The shock election victory of Hamas in the Fateh party in the Palestinian elections in January 2006 means that the govement of the Palestinian Authority is now in the hands of people who strive for the elimination of Israel. The Charter of Hamas, the movement, this is very clear. Article Six The Islamic resistance movement [Hamas] is a distinct Palestinian Movement which owes its loyalty to Allah, the Islamic way of life and trying to make the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine (that is, Israel and the West Bank and Gaza must ultimately to an Arab-Muslim unity). Article Eight Allah is its goal, the Prophet its model, the Koran its Constitution, Jihad its path and death for the case of Allah its sublime faith (ie as unalterable as the Koran is for Muslims). Article Eleven The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic waqfa (in possession of Muslims, can not be given the non-Muslims) in the generations and until the Day of Resurrection, no one can give up some or their or leave, or part thereof. This is the condition of [country] in Islamic Shari'a, and it is like all the countries conquered by Islam by force, and therefore waqfa countries in their conquest, for all generations of Muslims until the Day of Resurrection (that to once every Islamic country, the Islamic rule and remain until the end of the world. treaties or agreements which are contrary to all this is valid). Before the elections, Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al spoke during a demonstration in Damascus broadcast on Al-Jazeera TV (30/12/05): "Who can say, my brothers and sisters, when we celebrate on the podium , the liberation of the West Bank? When we celebrate the liberation of Jaffa, Haifa, Safed, and the Negev? When we celebrate the last Zionist from our land? Yes, some are wondering when this will happen. Say: 'You could be right. This is our faith in Allah. We have no doubt that victory will come, and like us the Liberation of Palestine by the Crusaders and the Mongols, there will again be - pure and clean - from the Zionist occupiers. "Hamas is the most extreme of Fatah, the Palestinian National Covenant, the leadership of the PLO charter for the destruction of Israel through armed struggle. I would be against Bishop Riah of the opinion that the root cause of the conflict is Arab rejectionism of Israel's right to exist. In fact, the cause of the Israeli occupation of territories (Golan, West Bank, Gaza, Sinai), was mainly Arab rejectionism in Israel. One could also say that the maintenance of these areas conces the Arab rejectionism, with the retu of Sinai to Egypt, when President Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel, but the Golan Heights back to Syria because of Israel's refusal in Syria. What do Arab Christians? As Bishop Riah, a Christian Arab interests, one would expect him to be conceed about aspects of the Islamic Hamas Charter. Already in the Gaza Strip, there are attacks on Christians and death threats to the Bible Society there. Israel in 1967, freedom of Arab Christians in their communities in a way that totally denied that in some parts of the Middle East, where Islamic fundamentalism has power. In his speech, there was no reference to the suffering of Christians in the hands of Muslims in the West Bank and Gaza. One might think that all their problems is the fault of Israel. In a conversation I had with a member of the public after he said that Israel has put pressure on Christians from the West Bank, which are much in agreement. A report in WND (World Net Daily) 27/12/05, said: "All the talk about Israel driving Christians and causing pain is nonsense," a Christian community leader told WND Bethlehem. "They want to know what is at stake, particularly during the whole year and the intimidation of Muslims. They bued our stores, built mosques in front of our churches, stole our property and our rights. The women were abducted and raped. So do not tell me about Israel. And 'the Muslims. "The leader of Bethlehem, like many Christians on the streets here, would not be his name for publication for fear of retaliation. The proof of what he says is not hard to find. Muslims bo Ahmad El Achwal is a convert to Christianity. His house was an informal Christian, where was the Christian literature and other communities in his new faith. Ahmad El Achwal to Christianity was introduced by another prisoner in the center of Nablus prison. He was accused by the PA to manage in stolen gold, which has tried and then acquitted. Once word of his conversion to Christianity, whose circulation has been repeatedly harassed and abused. PA security forces searched his apartment, confiscated his Bibles and other Christian religious books, questioned him for days and arrested him for a long time, promising an end to his suffering, and even a job in PA, where he retu to Islam. Ahmad El Achwal was repeatedly beaten. His life and the lives of his family threatened. His car and house were fire bombing of men, in conjunction with the PA security forces. The owner of fast-food shop rents declined to renew its lease, forcing him out of business. Finally, he paid with his life for the simple desire to live according to their conscience. Christian evangelization for Christians and Muslims are intolerable affront to the rules and traditions PA-controlled areas. Although the Palestinian Authority has publicly announced the protection of religious freedom, Islamic law (Sharia) in the Constitution and the PA is the main source of law for everyone under PA rule, regardless of their religious beliefs. The passage sight Islamic Sharia law is punishable by death, which may explain why Ahmad El Achwal killers were never found, are not brought to justice, never tried by the local authorities. Saturday evening, 2 September 2005, more than five hundred Muslim men from nearby villages, singing "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is great), the invasion of the Christian village of Taybeh, which raged through the night, and torched 16 houses and many cars. Several houses were looted, jewelry, fuiture and household appliances. Many families were forced to flee. The attack on the village was the accusation that a Christian of Taybeh man had the audacity to present a Muslim woman from a village nearby. During the attack, is one of the worst against Christians in the West Bank in many years, these attacks are in no way "sometimes." Terrorism and the security barrier. When Arafat signed the Oslo Accords were asked the Palestinians, rather than incitement to destroy Israel and to shut down terrorist organizations. Under the rule of Arafat, the Palestinian Authority broadcast incitement against Israel continues, with the call for the destruction of Israel from the mosques and the education system. The glorification of terrorism in the way of life. We extracted from the PA and Arab TV stations with children aged 5 to be indoctrinated with the incitement to terrorism against Israel. On 19 August the Palestinian Clerics Association Deputy Director Sheikh Muhammad Ali was adopted by Hezbollah Al-Manar TV. In this interview, he jihad as the duty of all Muslims, and the subsequent conquest of Palestine by all the jihad, not negotiations. Here are excerpts of what he said (information from Memri). "In relation to all land, a piece of land, at some point in possession of Muslims - it is the duty of all Muslims to do what they can to liberate this country, wherever that is. It 'true that many Muslim countries are under occupation today valuable. You have forgotten, and Andalusia (Spain and Portugal) is an example. However, it is the duty of Muslims to liberate. But since we are in Palestine, in Gaza, and so on, to ensure that this valuable piece of Muslim land, especially as Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque are all Muslims, and have become a part of the Muslim faith. "Allah willing, it [Palestine] as conquerors and liberators, not through negotiations but through Jihad and resistance, because the Hadith goes: 'And the Muslims to kill Jews" - there is killing involved. This divine prophecy in the Koran and Hadith, challenges the legality of normalization or any agreement, because it's only a matter of time, and Muslims to liberate Palestine and Jerusalem again. "Given that this terrorism is a reality and now back with suicide attacks on Israeli civilians in cafes, buses and public places, clear Israel had to do something to prevent this. Complaint in the wall (mostly a fence) Bishop Riah said anything about terrorism as the cause for the construction. The end of terrorism and incitement is the fundamental need for peace in the area and the main influence on people to do this are religious Muslims. The West and the churches should be said that the Islamic world it is not clear that as long as the terrorists is not addressed, there is no way in the future, for any peace process. Israel of the security fence is the product of Arab terrorism. Before September 2000, Israelis crossing the West Bank and Gaza Strip to buy and sell, the Palestinians have been traveling to Israel to work. Terrorism has changed everything. Unless you address the churches that all his statements release are empty platitudes. In relation to settlements, I agree that there is injustice done to the Arab-Palestinian population in relation to the destruction of houses and land. But in principle, like the Jews among Arabs living within the borders of 1967, Israel, and so it should be possible for Jews to live among Arabs in predominantly Arab areas. In fact, the Gaza settlement of Gush Katif, now dismantled, the employment of some 5,000 Palestinians in its development of agriculture. Now that the Jewish settlers have greenhouses and agriculture in the region are the trash and the employment opportunities offered by the system for the Palestinians. If it is true that the Palestinians are suffering from high unemployment, it is not likely to lay all the blame on Israel. Before Arafat in 1993, the PA in employment and living standards for the Palestinians have been much better, because they were able to work in Israel, the benefits arising from tourism and trade with Israel, without the restrictions that are about as a result of terrorism. Terrorism and Palestinian political strikes destroyed many job opportunities. If an employer with a selection of people who were with him, not going to work, due to a strike was called, and those who work, who will naturally choose those who work. In addition, there is the scandal of large sums of money to be donated to the PA by the European Union, America and the United Nations, which have disappeared without the people, for the money. Conclusion. Israel has opposed the popular cause of the accident, which combines with Islam in the denunciation of Israel, America and the Bible believing Christians. The church is divided between those who support Israel and those who denounce it. Rational discussion of issues is often very difficult, with allegations of anti-Semitism, which is in progress on the one hand, and the support of a racist apartheid state on the other side. It would be good to have the opportunity to continue discussions on these issues.