Post by Teddy Bear on May 14, 2009 15:45:14 GMT
In his typical virulently anti-Israel presentation, Aleem Maqbool, the BBC middle-East reporter, gives a 'human interest' story about the of Christians there as purely the result of evil Israel, neatly tying it to the Pope's visit to the area. Naturally the BBC won't 'pick up' on this vile bias until pressure is applied and their forced to acknowledge it long after the damage has been done.
The opening lines already set the stage Pope Benedict XVI has said he hopes for an end to Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement that divide Palestinian families and limit access to holy sites. Many Palestinian Christians have emigrated in recent decades to escape the pressures of conflict and Israeli occupation.
In another article on the subject by Tim Franks, also a BBC reporter, it's actually a surprise in BBC terms to see him acknowledge that Privately, some Christians in Bethlehem say another factor sometimes motivates their decision to leave - concern about the rise of radical Islam - but they are unwilling to put such views on the record.
Be in no illusion as to what happens to any residents of Palestinian controlled territory that put their 'masters' into a negative light, and why Christians there are "unwilling to put such views on record", or why instead they would want to appease the militant strategy by blaming Israel. Unfortunately too much of the media is ready to report it as it stands without any kind of attempt to modify the 'party line'.
You will notice in Maqbool's article that there is no mention of Palestinian terrorism that has led to the status quo except to present it as "this is what Israel claims is the reason, but we all know they have ulterior motives". Fortunately I'm old enough to remember the year 2000 when Barak offered Arafat 97% of original Palestinian lands back and complete autonomy as an opening to further negotiation when the Pallys decided instead to launch the intifada. The fact that if they had agreed on peace instead of terrorism as the way forward there would not be conflict or walls affecting the happiness of this couple, but I'm sure this is all too much 'depth' for the BBC to notice.
In the BBC eyes, unless evil Israel endures terrorist acts until the Zionist State ceases to exist, without affecting the lives of those perpetrating these acts, this kind of articles will continue to run unabated.
The opening lines already set the stage Pope Benedict XVI has said he hopes for an end to Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement that divide Palestinian families and limit access to holy sites. Many Palestinian Christians have emigrated in recent decades to escape the pressures of conflict and Israeli occupation.
In another article on the subject by Tim Franks, also a BBC reporter, it's actually a surprise in BBC terms to see him acknowledge that Privately, some Christians in Bethlehem say another factor sometimes motivates their decision to leave - concern about the rise of radical Islam - but they are unwilling to put such views on the record.
Be in no illusion as to what happens to any residents of Palestinian controlled territory that put their 'masters' into a negative light, and why Christians there are "unwilling to put such views on record", or why instead they would want to appease the militant strategy by blaming Israel. Unfortunately too much of the media is ready to report it as it stands without any kind of attempt to modify the 'party line'.
You will notice in Maqbool's article that there is no mention of Palestinian terrorism that has led to the status quo except to present it as "this is what Israel claims is the reason, but we all know they have ulterior motives". Fortunately I'm old enough to remember the year 2000 when Barak offered Arafat 97% of original Palestinian lands back and complete autonomy as an opening to further negotiation when the Pallys decided instead to launch the intifada. The fact that if they had agreed on peace instead of terrorism as the way forward there would not be conflict or walls affecting the happiness of this couple, but I'm sure this is all too much 'depth' for the BBC to notice.
In the BBC eyes, unless evil Israel endures terrorist acts until the Zionist State ceases to exist, without affecting the lives of those perpetrating these acts, this kind of articles will continue to run unabated.
Palestinian Christian couple's divided life
Pope Benedict XVI has said he hopes for an end to Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement that divide Palestinian families and limit access to holy sites.
Many Palestinian Christians have emigrated in recent decades to escape the pressures of conflict and Israeli occupation. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports on the problems faced by one young couple who have stayed.
At a Catholic church in the West Bank, 24-year-old accountant Sameer Khoury, is praying that he will soon be reunited with the girl he wants to marry.
He lives near Bethlehem. Nadine, who is 22, is trapped in the Gaza Strip.
"We started seeing each other five years ago," says Sameer. "We are engaged, but we haven't met for a year because Israel doesn't let us move around freely."
"It's so hard to be forced to be separated from the one you love. Every time I see a couple together, my heart hurts"
Bethlehem is becoming increasingly suffocated. Israel continues to build its barrier. It says it is to stop potential bombers, but a concrete wall now runs well inside the boundaries of this Palestinian city.
Other restrictions imposed by the army around the West Bank, on the grounds of security, hamper movement.
So while tourists and pilgrims from all over the world visit the holy sites, for Palestinians themselves, it is not always easy to get Israeli permission to go to Bethlehem.
For those living in the Gaza Strip, it is virtually impossible.
In Gaza, just a couple of hours away by car (if you have a foreign passport and an Israeli Government press card), the feeling of being cut off from the outside world pervades.
Israel has said it has closed the territory's crossings to weaken Hamas and the militants who have fired rockets across the border.
But the policy means the lives of many Palestinians there - including members of Gaza's 2,000-strong Christian community - have been all but put on hold.
Sameer's fiancee, Nadine, is a lawyer in Gaza City.
She is desperate to join Sameer in Bethlehem. But she has been told she does not meet the Israeli criteria for a case that requires permission to leave Gaza on "humanitarian grounds".
So she has no way of getting to the West Bank, and there are no imminent prospects of that changing.
"I need to go to Bethlehem to be with the man I love," she tells me. "God meant us to be together.
"I'm just waiting to get married, waiting to start a family with Sameer.
"Everything for me is dependent on that Israeli permit to get out of Gaza to go to the West Bank.
"Really, I am waiting to be able to start my life."
Prayers of resistance
Of course, these issues affect all Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, not just the estimated 2% that are Christian.
The leader of the Latin Church in Gaza, Father Emmanuel Musallam, says it is a difficult time to think of spirituality.
Sameer's case does not qualify for a special permit from Israel
"We cannot speak with the world as other Christians," he says.
"For now, more than anything, we are involved in the resistance.
"When we pray, we pray for peace. When we hope, we hope for an end to the Israeli occupation. When we meet together, we talk of our suffering as Palestinians, not as Christians."
Father Emmanuel vehemently talked down any suggestions of tensions between Palestinian Christians and Muslims.
"We are suffering together under the occupation and with war and this blockade," he says.
"We all need to go to Jerusalem, we all need to go to the holy places. But also, simply, we all need to see our country."
For Pope Benedict's visit to Bethlehem, church officials say that Israel has issued special permits to about 100 Christians from Gaza to attend, though not all those that received them have been allowed out.
Those that have, must return to Gaza before their short-term permit expires.
Nadine's name was not on the list, but she says she has faith that she will be able to be with Sameer soon.
Pope Benedict XVI has said he hopes for an end to Israeli-imposed restrictions on movement that divide Palestinian families and limit access to holy sites.
Many Palestinian Christians have emigrated in recent decades to escape the pressures of conflict and Israeli occupation. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool reports on the problems faced by one young couple who have stayed.
At a Catholic church in the West Bank, 24-year-old accountant Sameer Khoury, is praying that he will soon be reunited with the girl he wants to marry.
He lives near Bethlehem. Nadine, who is 22, is trapped in the Gaza Strip.
"We started seeing each other five years ago," says Sameer. "We are engaged, but we haven't met for a year because Israel doesn't let us move around freely."
"It's so hard to be forced to be separated from the one you love. Every time I see a couple together, my heart hurts"
Bethlehem is becoming increasingly suffocated. Israel continues to build its barrier. It says it is to stop potential bombers, but a concrete wall now runs well inside the boundaries of this Palestinian city.
Other restrictions imposed by the army around the West Bank, on the grounds of security, hamper movement.
So while tourists and pilgrims from all over the world visit the holy sites, for Palestinians themselves, it is not always easy to get Israeli permission to go to Bethlehem.
For those living in the Gaza Strip, it is virtually impossible.
In Gaza, just a couple of hours away by car (if you have a foreign passport and an Israeli Government press card), the feeling of being cut off from the outside world pervades.
Israel has said it has closed the territory's crossings to weaken Hamas and the militants who have fired rockets across the border.
But the policy means the lives of many Palestinians there - including members of Gaza's 2,000-strong Christian community - have been all but put on hold.
Sameer's fiancee, Nadine, is a lawyer in Gaza City.
She is desperate to join Sameer in Bethlehem. But she has been told she does not meet the Israeli criteria for a case that requires permission to leave Gaza on "humanitarian grounds".
So she has no way of getting to the West Bank, and there are no imminent prospects of that changing.
"I need to go to Bethlehem to be with the man I love," she tells me. "God meant us to be together.
"I'm just waiting to get married, waiting to start a family with Sameer.
"Everything for me is dependent on that Israeli permit to get out of Gaza to go to the West Bank.
"Really, I am waiting to be able to start my life."
Prayers of resistance
Of course, these issues affect all Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, not just the estimated 2% that are Christian.
The leader of the Latin Church in Gaza, Father Emmanuel Musallam, says it is a difficult time to think of spirituality.
Sameer's case does not qualify for a special permit from Israel
"We cannot speak with the world as other Christians," he says.
"For now, more than anything, we are involved in the resistance.
"When we pray, we pray for peace. When we hope, we hope for an end to the Israeli occupation. When we meet together, we talk of our suffering as Palestinians, not as Christians."
Father Emmanuel vehemently talked down any suggestions of tensions between Palestinian Christians and Muslims.
"We are suffering together under the occupation and with war and this blockade," he says.
"We all need to go to Jerusalem, we all need to go to the holy places. But also, simply, we all need to see our country."
For Pope Benedict's visit to Bethlehem, church officials say that Israel has issued special permits to about 100 Christians from Gaza to attend, though not all those that received them have been allowed out.
Those that have, must return to Gaza before their short-term permit expires.
Nadine's name was not on the list, but she says she has faith that she will be able to be with Sameer soon.