"Comprised themselves of overwhelmingly Christian populations these Latin American countries remain apparently unconcerned as Christian Arabs are subjected to harassment and abuse that has seen a drastic diminution in their number living in that area of the West Bank exclusively occupied and controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA)".

So says Mr. Singer.

If from his own statement, as above, Mr. Singer himself is not able to comprehend that the Christian populations to which he refers, as well as all the other Christian populations around the globe, are far more concerned with the history of injustice, murder, mayhem, ethnic cleansing and apartheid, than they are about the possibility of a move to reduce their Christian numbers even more, regardless of the special importance of the area.

Well, how could he possible understand that?

The deaths, again quoted by Mr. Singer on the two recent bombings are disturbing, no doubt, (if they were carried out by Muslims at all), but they pale into insignificance compared to sixty years of death and inhumane cruelty, including the massacres at Shatila and Sabra, carried out as an on-purpose ethnic cleansing exercise by his Zionist masters who, even to this day treat with disdain the opinions of rest of the world, Christians included, as Israel moves bit by bit to the total annihilation of the Palestinian people, their only real objective.

The effort by Mr. Singer to curry support from Christians is somewhat late in coming and is simply so transparent as to test the intelligence of the readers of this article. He really has a low opinion of Australians and their ability to understand the truth.

Still, in his favour, he has produced yet another article to build up his credits as a voice for his homeland in the middle east.

David Singer writes:
“Certainly Christian Arabs in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would be feeling even more concerned as to their future following the recent outbreak of violence against Christians in Iraq and Egypt which saw:
•23 Coptic Christians die and 79 wounded on New Year’s Day when a car bomb was detonated outside a Church in Alexandria
•58 Christian Chaldeans killed and 76 wounded when Our Lady of Salvation Church was besieged in Baghdad last October"

Rhys Stanley responds:
“The deaths, again quoted by Mr. Singer on the two recent bombings are disturbing, no doubt, (if they were carried out by Muslims at all), but they pale into insignificance compared to sixty years of death and inhumane cruelty, including the massacres at Shatila and Sabra, carried out as an on-purpose ethnic cleansing exercise by his Zionist masters”

If Rhys had spoken with any Copts or Chaldeans they would have allayed any doubts he might genuinely had held. This latest incidents being the last in a long, long line of murders, rapes and kidnappings they’ve had to endure for generations.

But then, I suspect, the concerns Rhys expressed were more rhetorical than real; a perfunctory genuflection before quickly returning to his kick arse crusade against Zionism.

It is a pity that some allow their dislike for Zionism to blind then to the antics of Zionism’s big brother,who resides in most Arab polities and has exactly the same aspirations as his younger Zionist brother ,except, they be on behalf of Arab Muslims.

This is sad indeed, but is Mr. Singer suggesting that Israel should remain in the occupied territories and continue suffering the crippling moral consequences of being a military-occupier just for the sake of protecting the Christians there?

Undoubtedly, those poor Christians are terrified of the prospect of living under Muslim rule and prefer Israel to be there instead, but why should Israel be the victim of this situation? Israel should be allowed to withdraw and embark on the road of moral recovery. Someone else should be appointed by the United Nations to be responsible for protecting the Christians in the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem - what about, for example, those same-mentioned Christian South American countries that display such an enthusiastic interest in the region?

David,

Israel's leaders are on the record saying they don't want peace. Many Israeli leaders have been investigated for curruption and even a former president found guilty. Israelis can't be trusted.

You are not really conerned about Christians. You just want to try to co-opt Christians in your fight against Islam.

We should recognise the Palestinian state too.

# Rhys Stanley

Your views are not shared by the Pope according to this report on ABC News on January 11:

"Pope Benedict has asked governments to do more to ensure Christians can practice their faith without discrimination or violence.

He also called on Pakistan to repeal its anti-blasphemy laws.

Pope Benedict used his annual address to ambassadors to the Holy See to lobby for religious freedoms for Christians living in majority-Muslim countries.

Citing the recent attack on a Coptic Church in Egypt and the 46 people killed at a church in Iraq, the pontiff insisted Christians deserve to have their safety and civil rights protected.

In a rare move, he used his platform to demand that Pakistan change its blasphemy laws, which carry the death sentence for insulting Islam.

He said the laws were a pretext for violence against non-Muslims."

That part of the West Bank under Palestinian Authority control for the last 15 years comprises a Muslim majority with a rapidly shrinking Christian minority population being subjected to ongoing violence by the majority and forced to leave their place of birth for distant pastures.

You seem to be prepared to justify such Christian cleansing. The Pope does not. I know whose opinion I would accept on this issue.

#Yuyutsu

I am not suggesting Israel should remain in the West Bank to protect the Christian minority. That obligation is incumbent on the Palestinian Authority and has been for the last 15 years. It is an obligation the Palestinian Authority has consistently failed to perform. It should be condemned by all.

Israel's total withdrawal from the 5% of the West Bank it seeks to retain will not help the Christian Arab residents remaining in the other 95% one whit.

Wining and dining the likes of Abbas and Erekat in world capitals whilst such Christian cleansing is going on under their very eyes - and which they do nothing to stop - is one of the more bizarre outcomes of the existing political reality in the West Bank.

Your suggestion that the South American countries come in to protect the Christians is pure nonsense. Do you really believe Abbas would agree to a Latin American force being stationed in territory he now controls - Bethlehem and Bet Sahur - to protect the Christian residents from the violence that the Palestinian Authority has failed to stop over the last 15 years?

Give us a break.

#Dane

Your attempt to subvert the discussion on the violence that has caused the Christian community to leave the West Bank in droves over the last 15 years is pathetic.

Whilst apologists like you sprout such nonsense the Palestinian Arab Christians living in the West Bank will continue to be persecuted by the Palestinian Arab Muslim majority living there - encouraged to do so no doubt by the totally mindless opinions of people like yourself and Rhys Stanley who are not prepared to raise your voices against such excesses.