CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL - UK ISSUE 5 | DEC-FEB 2017 MAGAZINE A TRUE FRIEND OF ISRAEL? O LITTLE TOWN OF THE ROYAL CONNECTION BETHLEHEM TO JERUSALEM Christians living in the Palestinian The extraordinary story of Territories and the battle for truth Princess Alice Introduction Welcome to Christians United for mailed and petitions Israel-UK’s fifth Edition of the TORCH signed CUFI Magazine. I trust you will find time during supporters have this busy period to enjoy our articles and been very active too. even share with visitors. We thank everyone involved. As we look forward to a happy Christmas with family and friends we are very The year 2017 marks several important aware that the enemies of Israel take anniversaries with the Centenary of the advantage of this season of “Peace and Balfour Declaration and 50 years since the Goodwill towards men” to promote reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. These their own distorted agenda. This year, at events will be highly contested by the anti- the same time as Christians celebrate Israel lobby so CUFI has a major role in Christmas, Jews around the world will the year ahead to stand up and speak out be celebrating Hannukah, the festival for Israel. of lights. Please continue to pray for the O LITTLE TOWN peace of Jerusalem and that the Light of We thank you for your continued support our Saviour will continue to shine in the for Christians United for Israel “for such a darkness. time as this”. OF BETHLEHEM During the Autumn, CUFI-UK has been Christians living in the Palestinian Territories and the battle for truth very active with advocacy for Israel with various petitions and campaigns. With Des Starritt over 10,000 emails sent to MPs, postcards Executive Director, CUFI-UK ethlehem – the place known In 1995 the Christian population of throughout the globe as the Bethlehem was 20,000, when Israel gave B birthplace of Jesus is a world apart the PA control of the city. Today there Contents from the “little town” featured in Nativity are approximately 7,500 Christians. In plays taking place across the country this December 2015, Christian Arab Father 3 O Little Town of Bethlehem Christmas. Gabriel Naddaf explained some of the Christians living in the Palestinian Territories reasons for this decline: and the battle for truth The “House of Bread” as it is known in 6 Hebrew, or “City of David” according to “While some contribute the decline to a 6 Donald Trump Luke’s Gospel, provided safe and secure range of factors, others are now openly A true friend of Israel? accommodation for the birth of Jesus. speaking of Muslim intimidation towards Yet the arrival of the Prince of Peace took the Christian community, including land 8 The Royal Connection to Jerusalem The extraordinary story of Princess Alice place in an uncertain and politically divisive theft, discrimination in public sector climate. employment, abuse, and economic 10 CUFI Watch - News in Brief hardships.” 8 Today, Bethlehem remains the focus 14 Israel: The Safest Place for Christians of the Christmas story, however now “While Palestinians being portrayed as in the Middle East controlled by the Palestinian Authority victims, even when they commit acts of (PA), followers of Jesus are decreasing in violence or terrorism, little attention is 16 The Christian Woman who Declared War on Hitler number and anti-Christian persecution is given to the Christian community who has rising. According to Open Doors, 1% of refused to engage in such acts. It seems 18 World’s Oldest Man Celebrated His Bar Mitzvah at 113 the Palestinian Territories population is that terrorism is only rewarded by the 16 Christian, with Islamic extremism being the media, not kindness and forgiveness.” Christians United for Israel UK main source of the decline and Muslim- PO Box 3837, Swindon, SN3 9DS Published by: background converts facing the most Pressure upon the Christian community Tel: 01793 862210 © CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL UK severe persecution. is felt significantly during the time when Web: www.cufi.org.uk All Rights Reserved CUFI.ORG.UK 3 many Christians celebrate Christmas. Let’s On Christmas Day itself, Muslim It portrays Jesus as the first Palestinian And if you think this Palestinian flavour of take celebrations in 2015 as an example: Palestinians hurled stones at the car martyr and first Palestinian refugee. In Christmas would never trickle down to the of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad other words, just as first century Jews local church in the UK – think again. In the lead-up to Christmas last year, the Twal, as he travelled to Bethlehem. Even “persecuted Jesus”, the Jewish State PA asked the municipality of Bethlehem before this attack, Palestinian Muslims set now “persecutes Palestinians”, the Let’s take the United Reformed Church (UK) not to set off fireworks and limit festive fire to a Christmas tree in the village of purported descendants of Jesus. Despite Christmas worship resource, for example. lights and decorations. Christians were Al-Zababdeh. Further to this, Palestinian how outrageous this teaching might One of its calls to worship has the following apparently discouraged to celebrate while protesters were disguising themselves seem to those that know their Bible, it is verse: “Palestinians were being killed” by Israelis in Santa Claus costumes and throwing becoming increasingly popular among – when in fact this was at the height of last stones at Israeli soldiers while reportedly some Christians. Upon hearing about the “Come let’s worship God year’s Palestinian stabbing attacks against shouting “Allahu Akbar”. The Western reported victimisation and suffering of Let’s be filled with awe, wonder and that Israelis. But the real reason, it turned out, media, however, failed to associate these fellow believers in the Palestinian territories, profound grace was due to threats by Islamic extremists actions in any way to Islamic radicalism. many of these Christians are moved to Seen in Jesus, the Palestinian carpenter. to target Christians and their holy sites. Christians across the Middle East are support the Palestinian cause – especially The Holy Child.” Reports say that Palestinian security forces being persecuted to great extremes, those living in the birthplace of Jesus. And arrested 16 men affiliated with Islamic yet when it comes to the Palestinian the anti-Israel movement is taking full Christian charity Amos Trust has published State or other jihadi groups, during the Territories it continues to follow the advantage of these blatant anti-Semitic lies. their astonishing Children’s Christmas festive period. narrative that Israel alone is only to blame Activity Pack for 2016. In their retelling for the predicament of Christians living Last year Palestinian leader, Mahmoud of the Nativity story, it includes replacing there. Abbas, gave this Christmas message with the tree with the “separation wall” (The almost echoes of Yasser Arafat: security barrier used by Israel to protect Blaming Israel is sadly endemic not only itself from terrorists). It tells of the Magi in our media but in many churches in the “We celebrate the birth of Jesus, a who cannot visit the birthplace of Jesus West. In fact there is an entire movement Palestinian messenger of love, justice and because, coming from the East, they are among pro-Palestinian Christians that peace, which has guided millions from the on the other side of the wall; the shepherds has joined hands with Islam for the moment that his message came out from are prevented by neighbouring settlements, purpose of delegitimising, isolating and a small grotto in Bethlehem over 2000 and Mary and Joseph, who are Jews destroying Israel with a seditious version years ago. His message resonates among coming from the direction of Jerusalem, of Replacement Theology. Also known as all of those who are seeking justice and have to go through the “massive check- Palestinian Liberation Theology, the rise among our people who have been the point” to get to Bethlehem. of this teaching perpetuates the narrative guardians of the holy sites for generations. that Jesus was not a Jew, but a Palestinian Jesus’ message resonates in our prayers for And a glance at one of the downloads and that Israel has no historical or our people in our capital Jerusalem, who available on the popular and otherwise theological right to exist. This absurd continue to resist the Israeli attempts to very good All Age Worship Resources assertion is made despite the fact that turn the city into an exclusive Jewish place.” website incorrectly refers to the region as the Bible identifies Jesus as a Jew, the son “1st century Palestine”. of a Jewish mother, who, as a Jew, lived The theme of the Christmas Eve celebration in Judea and celebrated Jewish festivals in Judea and Samaria, also referred to For Christians, it is important to accurately annually in Jerusalem. The Roman Empire as the West Bank, was “All I Want for portray the Biblical account of the only changed the name of “Judea” to Christmas is Justice”. Mahmoud Al- birth of Jesus and we must be aware “Palestina” one hundred years after Habbash, the Supreme Sharia Judge and of the deceptive narrative that aims to Jesus’s death. Mahmoud Abbas’ Adviser on Religious and delegitimise and demonise Israel. In doing Islamic Affairs joined the festivities: so we have a wonderful opportunity to stand with Israel and the Jewish people. Blaming Israel is sadly “Christmas is also a Palestinian holiday, Meanwhile, let us also pray for persecuted because Jesus, peace be upon him, was Christians living in the Palestinian territories endemic not only in Palestinian. He was born in Palestine; lived and throughout the Middle East, especially our media but in many and was sent [as prophet] to Palestine.