PH Quickie: Israel's Christmas "good will" is not so good
A Palestinian protester dressed in a Santa Claus costume holds a sign as he stands next to Israeli border policemen during a demonstration against the Israeli settlements and demanding for free movement for the Palestinians during Christmas near a checkpoint in the West Bank city of Bethlehem December 23, 2014.
by Kathryn Shihadah
December 11: Israel begins accepting applications from Gaza’s Christians who want to worship and visit family in Bethlehem and Jerusalem on Christmas. Gaza has only 1,050 Christians in a population of 2 million; over 950 reportedly applied to leave Gaza for Christmas.
December 12: Israel announces that 100 travel permits will be granted, but only to Jordan – none to Israel or Palestine. Church leaders in Israel and the West Bank protested that the decision infringes on their freedom of religion.
December 22: Israel reversed its decision, announcing that it would allow Gazans to travel to Jerusalem and the West Bank for Christmas – pending “security assessments.”
December 23: Out of 950 applications, Israel issued 193 permits to travel.
December 24: A total of 55 Christians ultimately made it out of Gaza for the holiday – of the 193 permits, many were random, with children approved but their parents rejected, or a husband approved but his wife rejected.
A few thoughts:
For those in doubt (and there are many): YES, Gaza is still under occupation
For those still living in an Israel fantasy world (stop living in denial): YES, Israel is a cruel oppressor
For those who just can’t understand why Israel is always picked on (open your eyes): YES, Israel is a human rights abuser.
And the United States is subsidizing it.