My answer to the National Geographic

[holyland]

It's just a hunch, but I kinda get the feeling that Israel and its supporters are just desperate for a Christian Muslim war.  I have been reading an article entitled The Christian Exodus from the Holy Land in the June 2009 issue of the National Geographic.  One sentence, why many sentences caught my eye, but here's one:

Today, native Christians in the Levant are the envoys of a forgotten world, bearing the fierce and hunted spirit of the early church." It goes on to say that their communities have dwindled from about a quarter to 8 percent of what they once were.  And it goes on to say the reasons are first, economic without stating that Israel's economic war on the West Bank and The Wall have destroyed Christian businesses.  It then goes on to say that another reason is to escape the region's violence without saying that it is Israeli violence against both Christian and Muslim in the West Bank that they were escaping.  And then it goes on to say that the 3rd reason is that they have relatives in the West, who can help them.

The article characterizes the Christians as the more moderate members of the population implying of course,  Gracias a propaganda judea en perpetua ad naseum, that Muslim equals terrorist.  And interestingly enough, later in this article the writer talks about Christians who are bodybuilders and carry M-16s in Lebanon, which is interesting in light of the fact that it is the stereotypical and in fact, the real Israeli who does just that.  It then says that most Americans have never heard of Christians in the Holy Land, thinking that Christianity was invented in Italy or something.   One has to wonder were it is these Christians think Bethlehem is exactly and where the nativity scene, the birthplace of Christ is, Bethlehem, Pa. maybe?

Then there is the so-called subtle sub text with which they wack you over the head.  The wars in the Middle East is characterized as a new crusade led by those crazed Christian Zionists.  No mention of Israel, of course, though it does delve into the Maronites of Lebanon, characterizing them as being at war, perpetually with Shiites.  The author doesn't mention Sabra and Shatila, the massacres of Palestinians by Lebanese Christians or the fact that those Lebanese Christians were backed up by Ariel Sharon and the Israelis.  It also doesn't mention that the reason that the Palestinians were in Lebanon because they could not be in Palestine.  

The article does mention the July 2, 2006 war with Israel.  Or rather it characterizes what was another Israeli bombing campaign against civilians as a war.  He does mention that this strengthened Hezbollah.  He does mention that the economy is now very unstable with unemployment at 20%, but does not mention the Israeli bombing campaign that destroyed $12 billion infrastructure and killed 1500 civilians.  Then there is a quote from a Christian who says, " Hezbollah controls everything on the other side of the road.  And those guys are crazy, they have rocket launchers, RPGs, you name it, all supplied by Iran.  Will always protect or near us and our families, no questions asked.  These days, if it turns into shooting, were we lose.  So now we believe in peace."

Quite a verbal barrage from a poor Christian Lebanese who have seems to have no anger at the Israeli attack on his country least according to the National Geographic.

The article later goes on to point out that for young hopefuls who have returned to Palestine from the West there is no water.  It then goes on to detail the wife's statement that she hates the Israelis, but that it is a sin to hate so, she fights her hatred.  It doesn't mention that it is the Israelis, who take the water from them.  Another over-sight?

The article ends with a an image of this young couple in the Old City caught in a mob of Christian pilgrams from all over the world.  The final statement is that of a wife, who says, "Do you see how it is?  This is our home, and it's like we're not even here."  Notice the rather heavy-handed implication that Christians are being pushed out not by the Judaization of Jerusalem, but by other Christians.  Oy vey!

I now need to take the time to see who might have bought the National Geographic.  My guess is that the new owners are not Christian.  It could be the new owners are Zionist Jews.  Maybe, just maybe.

Here's a look at the destruction wrought by the Israelis in 1996 alone.  

Damage to the Lebanese Infrastructure During The Israeli Operation "Grapes Of Wrath" -- April 1996
According to the United Nations

1. Townships and villages hit
51 partial damage
30 intermediate damage
17 extensive damage
98 total damaged out of 159 in the region
2. Housing Units
5,718 partial damage
1,053 intermediate damage
430 total destruction
3. Damage to institution
1 hospital
17 clinics
57 schools
6 governmental buildings
60 churches and mosques
4. Damage to installations
2 major water reservoirs
91 water tanks
72 electrical lines
102 telephone lines
124 roads extensive destruction
227 roads partial destruction
5. Damage to commercial sector
99 industrial and artisan plants
1,420 shops and stores
52 farms
6. Damage to vehicles
377 cars destroyed
36 agricultural tractors destroyed
479 cars damaged

The following figures were reported by the Higher Relief Committee, on 27 April, 1996.
Refugees: 250,000
Killed: 175
Injured: 300
The Lebanese daily L'Orient -le Jour reported that 164 were killed and 350 were injured.