US Congress 'misinformed' about plight of Christians in Holy Land

Christian Palestinian have expressed dismay at a resolution submitted to the House of Representatives by Texan congressman Michael McCaul, which claims that they are being persecuted by the Palestinian Authority.

Open Bethlehem's chief executive Leila Sansour, a Christian from Bethlehem, has sent a letter to congress expressing her community's shock at the "gross misrepresentation of the real threat facing Christians of the Holy Land" and has urged congress to "pay heed to the real threat to the oldest Christian community in the world.

The letter dated 13 June states: "We are disappointed by the latest resolution drafted by congressman McCaul and congressman Crowley purporting to act on our behalf. The resolution seriously misrepresents the situation facing Christians in the Holy Land."

"The ill-conceived resolution accuses the Palestinian Authority of discrimination towards their own Christian community and blames it for the current wave of emigration of the Christians from the region. The resolution was drafted without any consultation with churches or Christian organizations in the Holy Land.

"The resolution ignores the numerous calls from churches in Jerusalem and Bethlehem - and the overwhelming body of reports from international human rights organizations - that warn of the devastating effect of the Israeli system of closure, collective punishment and the construction of the wall. In the Holy City of Bethlehem, the wall forcefully expropriates most of Bethlehem's valuable land and historic landmarks, depriving many Christian families of their homes, barring access to family and jobs in Jerusalem and all the lands that are on the other side of the wall.

"By perpetuating the misconception that it is their Muslim neighbours and the Palestinian Authority who are creating this crisis, rather than policies imposed by the Israeli government, congressman McCaul is further entrenching the problems facing the Christian community rather than helping to address them.

"The Open Bethlehem campaign was created to address the state of emergency in Bethlehem with full support from the Patriarchs of the churches in Jerusalem and all Bethlehem Civil institutions. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI received the first Open Bethlehem passport, lending his support to the campaign alongside international figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Jimmy Carter.

"Open Bethlehem is encouraged by the interest shown by churches and church leaders across the US and the work of Rep Henry Hyde who has sought to bring congress's attention to the plight of Christians in Palestine. In a letter to the White House last Friday, Rep Hyde stated that the Wall and expanding settlements are: 'irreversibly damaging the dwindling Christian community.' The report says that 'the Bethlehem area is home to over 20 Israeli settlements and there are plans to build more. The settlements and the barrier completely encircle the Christian triangle of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour (Shepherd's Field).' 'In addition to causing housing and land shortages,

"this construction physically obstructs the Bethlehem community from its spiritual, cultural and economic lifeline in Jerusalem.' Since 2000, approx. 3,000 Christians from Bethlehem have emigrated. The UN states that: 'This economic emigration will have a long-term impact on the multi-cultural character that has defined the city of Bethlehem for centuries.' Leila Sansour says: "Palestinian Christians could very soon become unsustainable as a community. Their erosion will mean an end to sacred Christian traditions that go back to the time of Jesus, and an end to the presence of Christianity in the Holy Land.

"At this critical time it is imperative that Christians around the world act and speak responsibly about this issue. It is imperative that those who want to see an open, democratic and peaceful Middle East engage honestly with our plight." Church leaders from across the Christian denominations have criticised the resolution. In the letter to US congress Open Bethlehem has urged the formation of a fact-finding mission from congress that would help representatives become closely informed about the situation.

For more information see: www.openbethlehem.org