One of the defining features of Palestinian culture is the unity between Christians and Muslims. The Palestinian resistance against Zionism was born in the writings of prominent Palestinian Christians, such as Isa al-Isa and Khalil Beidas (both editors of papers and the latter was also a pioneering Arab poet).

With the exception of Yasser ‘Arafat, the most recognized face of the Palestinian armed resistance is George Habash; founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. A majority of Palestinian Christians count Muslim friends, and vise-verse.

While Palestinian Christians are proud of their heritage, stand steadfast in the face of Israeli aggression, and fly the flag of Palestine; there exists amongst them a high rate of emigration.

The reason for this is that the occupation makes life often unbearable for all Palestinians, but Christians emigrate at higher numbers than Muslims due to the fact that 1) they are on average wealthier and more educated and thus can more easily move and obtain visas 2) they are more likely to have relatives aboard who can take them in.

But Israel likes to state that the reason Christians leave is because of trouble with Muslim intolerance. This is, of course, another Israeli lie. Some American Christians have expressed concern for Palestinian Christians because they strongly believe (as I do) that a Christian presence must be maintained. When they criticize Israel for being the cause, Israel always retorts that it is not the occupation that is the problem and just blames Muslims, and given how often Muslims and Islam have been degraded too many people readily accept this Israeli lie to cover up the brutality of the occupation.

There is no tension between Muslims and Christians, who both equally suffer under occupation and both equally resist the injustice that is Zionism.

But the state of Israel has worked to divide Palestinian Christians and Muslims in a game of “divide-and-conquer”. But Palestinians are well aware of this and strongly rebuke Israel’s sedition efforts knowing that only the common enemy of Zionism would win if Muslims and Christians do not remain brothers.

And this is not just me saying this, but the U.S. State Department itself has finally noticed and is criticizing Israel for its nefarious schemes and its discrimination against Christians and Muslims:

The U.S. State Department’s 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom has accused Israel for the first time not only of “discrimination” against Muslims, but also against Christians and non-orthodox Jews. The report also accused Israel of generating trouble among the religious groups.

According to the report:

“Both Muslim and Christian Palestinians accused Israeli officials of attempting to foster animosity among Palestinians by exaggerating reports of Muslim-Christian tensions.”

The report also criticized Israel’s policy towards the protection of holy places:

“The 1967 Protection of Holy Sites Law applies to holy sites of all religious groups within the country and in all of Jerusalem, but the Government implements regulations only for Jewish sites. Non-Jewish holy sites do not enjoy legal protection under it because the Government does not recognize them as official holy sites. At the end of 2008, there were 137 designated holy sites, all of which were Jewish. Furthermore, the Government has drafted regulations to identify, protect, and fund only Jewish holy sites. While well-known sites have de facto protection as a result of their international importance, many Muslim and Christian sites are neglected, inaccessible, or threatened by property developers and municipalities. The Christian pilgrimage sites around the Sea of Galilee face periodic threats of encroachment from district planners who want to use parts of their properties for recreation. In the past, only diplomatic interventions have forestalled such efforts. Such sites do, however, enjoy certain protections under the general Penal Law (criminal code), which makes it a criminal offense to damage any holy site. Following a 2007 order by the High Court to explain its unequal implementation of the 1967 Protection of Holy Sites Law, the Government responded in March 2008 that specific regulations were not necessary for the protection of any holy sites. The Government did not explain why it therefore promulgated regulations for Jewish sites but not for non-Jewish sites.

Read the full report.

There are a thousand and more reasons to be opposed to Israel. And everyday provides a new one on this hateful, racist, undemocratic, apartheid, and terrorist state.