"Threats to Christians and Christian properties are also increasing in Europe and America".

That will surprise many people who don't realise that Christianity has always been the most persecuted religion on Earth.

Anglican theologian, Ephraim Radner, wrote: "There is no safe place in the world or in our churches within which to be Christian".

This article is contradictory almost to the point of meaninglessness!

It acknowledges that the problem extends beyond Jerusalem, then criticises the Christian Leaders for inviting Palestine and Jordan to participate on the spurious grounds that it would "undermine Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem" then criticises those same leaders for not calling for dialogues with Palestine and Jordan.

Typically pathetic article from Singer. No where in it is any recognition that the 'radical groups' are Jewish Settlers. However the linked letter from the Christian leaders, though diplomatic in the extreme, does say:

"Yet radical groups continue to acquire strategic property in the Christian Quarter, with the aim of diminishing the Christian presence, often using underhanded dealings and intimidation tactics to evict residents from their homes, dramatically decreasing the Christian presence, and further disrupting the historic pilgrim routes between Bethlehem and Jerusalem."

This is just more illegal land dispossession by settlers with the tacit support of the Israeli government.

For Singer to be accusing Christian leaders of 'playing anti-Israeli games' is utterly dishonest

«These venerable clergymen should surely be also focusing on threats to Christians and Christian property not only in the Holy Land - but throughout the Middle East. Yet these communities did not rate a mention in their statement»

If Israel is being asked to help Christians in their plight while other countries around are not, then isn't this a compliment to Israel?

All it means is that Israel is willing to listen and is open to help the Christians, while others are not. Knowing this to be the case, how could anyone be blamed for NOT banging their head on the wall in asking for something they can tell in advance that they won't get?

As for challenging Israel's sovereignty in Eastern Jerusalem, that is a patriotic, pro-Israel act, wishing to free Israel from its painful self-damaging 54-year occupation.

People believe as they choose and most always based on self serving interest....absence of truth guarantees this.
If in doubt ask....how many religions are on this planet....and all espousing their own unique offerings in the name of GOD.
How many are right?

Dear Delivery,

What relevance, if any, has your question with the topic at hand?

But since you asked,
«how many religions are on this planet....and all espousing their own unique offerings in the name of GOD. How many are right?»,
there is only one religion.
The variations between what religious people offer to God and what names they use to refer to their religious beliefs and practices and to God, are just due to their varied individual, social, cultural and geographical circumstances. It's no big deal.

Find the dots and join them

#Steele Redux

Why did you deliberately fail to quote the immediately preceding paragraph of the Christian Leaders statement:

"We acknowledge with gratitude the declared commitment of the Israeli government to uphold a safe and secure home for Christians in the Holy Land and to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the tapestry of the local community. As evidence of this commitment we see the government’s facilitation of the visit of millions of Christian pilgrims to the holy sites of the Holy Land. It is therefore a matter of grave concern when this national commitment is betrayed by the failure of local politicians, officials and law enforcement agencies to curb the activities of radical groups who regularly intimidate local Christians, assault priests and clergy, and desecrate Holy Sites and church properties."

Is this acknowledgement by the Christian leaders too much for you to acknowledge?

Any problems caused by the failure of local politicians, officials and law enforcement agencies in Jerusalem can only be solved by Israel alone working co-operatively with these Christian Leaders - not in a dialogue with "Palestine" and Jordan.

Jordan's record on Jerusalem was appalling when it occupied East Jerusalem between 1948 and 1967:

"Upon its capture by the Arab Legion, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City was destroyed and its residents expelled. Fifty-eight synagogues--some hundreds of years old--were destroyed, their contents looted and desecrated. Some Jewish religious sites were turned into chicken coops or animal stalls. The Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, where Jews had been burying their dead for over 2500 years, was ransacked; graves were desecrated; thousands of tombstones were smashed and used as building material, paving stones or for latrines in Arab Legion army camps. The Intercontinental Hotel was built on top of the cemetery and graves were demolished to make way for a highway to the hotel. The Western Wall became a slum area."
http://www.sixdaywar.org/content/jordanianocuupationjerusalem.asp

And the Christian Leaders have the temerity to invite Jordan to a dialogue on Jerusalem together with some entity calling itself "Palestine"?

Crawl back under your rock - you anonymous Jew-hater.

#Aidan

Sorry you think my article is meaningless so let me spell it out for you in a few words:

1. Problems in Jerusalem should be discussed and resolved between the Christian Leaders and Israel.

2. Problems in Jordan should be discussed and resolved between the Christian Leaders and Jordan.

3. Problems in "Palestine" should be discussed and resolved between the Christian Leaders and "Palestine".

Why do the Christian Leaders draw attention to the problems existing in the Holy Land - but only call for a dialogue on Jerusalem and nowhere else in the Holy Land - and then not with Israel - the sole responsible authority in Jerusalem - but also with Jordan and "Palestine" who have no jurisdiction there?

Hope you now can understand my article and my analysis that the Christian Leaders were playing overtly anti-Israel political games when they issued their statement.

Why do you find that so difficult to comprehend?

"Crawl back under your rock - you anonymous Jew-hater".

He hates everyone. Probably hates himself.

The usual diversionary post from Singer. While we are on the desecration of cemeteries he brings up something that happened 75 years ago while this is happening today.

"The Israeli occupation authority today resumed the destruction of the historic Muslim cemetery of Al-Yusufiya near the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

Head of the Islamic cemeteries committee Mustafa Abu Zahra said that an Israeli municipal crew escorted by police forces stormed the cemetery and began bulldozing and digging, destroying Palestinian and Arab graves.

He added that several local residents intervened, but police forces expelled them from the yard and prevented them from entering it to protect the graves of their relatives."
http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211025-israel-continues-to-raze-palestinian-graves-in-east-jerusalem/

Next you have completely failed to acknowledge the 'radical groups' as Jewish. We both know why that is.

Finally your use of the term Jew-hater has become so reflexive now it has zero meaning to anyone who is the subject of it, however in my opinion it so utterly debases the experiences of the Jewish people, especially during the Holocaust, that any person with any respect for what happened would never think to use it in the manner you do.

Indeed the case could well be made by some that you are this site's premier Jew hater by an incredibly large margin and that you should slink away in shame.

Society is defined by it's acts....
Germany is accused of the Holocaust at any convenient political point in time.
Their crime....Imprisoning and killing their social prisoners en masse.
How is Israel different....they don't kill their prisoners on masse, they do so over a period of time in an open air prison called the West Bank and Gaza, always claiming justification, so the world accepts and becomes indifferent to the plight of the Palestinians.
The fact that the UK and US engineered the plight of the Palestinians to the Israelis speaks for itself.
...but things change over time and the acts of the Israelis towards the Palestinians will be remembered more clearly than the 'Holocaust' and without the building of memorials.
The Jews have always run to the vacuous Christians for support against 'those not aligned with it's views' and then claim infringement of sovereignty against them at the first opportunity.
As I said 'society is judged by it's acts, not it claims of justification through entitlement.
To those quick to respond in defending their ignorance and self interest, I was raised and lived as a Catholic....until I saw that the social majority, religious or otherwise, have an agenda which has little to do with humanity and even less than their deity of choice.

#Steele Redux

Up to your usual tactics.

The diversionary post is yours - something you always engage in
when you don't have any response to my reply to your nonsensical crap.

Just change the subject and go off onto another topic - the alleged vandalising of a Moslem cemetery that has nothing to do with threats to the Christian communities in Jerusalem but is raised by you in an attempt to besmirch Israel. I won't play your game.

Why don't you just answer these questions:
1. Why did you deliberately fail to quote the immediately preceding paragraph of the Christian Leaders statement that I drew to your attention acknowledging with gratitude the declared commitment of the Israeli government to uphold a safe and secure home for Christians in the Holy Land and to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the tapestry of the local community?

2. Do you think it appropriate that the Christian Leaders should consider Jordan being a party to any dialogue on Jerusalem with Israel after what Jordan did to Jewish properties in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City between 1948 and 1967 after having driven out every Jew living there in 1948?

Stick to the subject matter of my article or stay hidden under your rock.

#Special Delivery

Return to sender.

A Holocaust denier and an avid Jew-hater delivered to OLO in one package.

You make Steele Redux look like an angel. You both deserve each other. Or maybe you are one and the same person using different anonymous names. No wonder you are ashamed to publish your real name with views like yours.

Jew-hatred is apparently consuming your life. Visit a psychiatrist to try and get it out of your system.

Bloody hell Singer, you have a hide.

You were the one whose post included the beat up:

“The Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, where Jews had been burying their dead for over 2500 years, was ransacked; graves were desecrated; thousands of tombstones were smashed and used as building material, paving stones or for latrines in Arab Legion army camps. The Intercontinental Hotel was built on top of the cemetery and graves were demolished to make way for a highway to the hotel.”

All I did was respond in kind.

As to me not providing additional and irrelevant material grow up. What I posted was in order to inform others that the fringe groups you were referring to in your article were Jewish, because you didn't. The rest is dross.

# Singer...

Sticks and Stones Singer
just sticks and stones....

as is said...one is assessed by his words and defined by his actions.

In your case I would suggest you learn to read instead of ranting and tilting at windmills on like a Jewish Don Quixote

#Steele Redux

You still duck and weave in refusing to answer these questions:
1. Why did you deliberately fail to quote the immediately preceding paragraph of the Christian Leaders statement that I drew to your attention acknowledging with gratitude the declared commitment of the Israeli government to uphold a safe and secure home for Christians in the Holy Land and to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the tapestry of the local community?

2. Do you think it appropriate that the Christian Leaders should consider Jordan being a party to any dialogue on Jerusalem with Israel after what Jordan did to Jewish properties in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City between 1948 and 1967 after having driven out every Jew living there in 1948?

Why the continuing reluctance to answer these questions?

BTW -the Christian Leaders did not think it relevant to identify the radical fringe groups as being Jewish. Was your motivation in doing so designed to incite hatred against all Jews? Do you always seek to identify a perpetrator's religion when a crime is committed - or is religion only relevant when they are Jews?

A Jew-hater you are and will always remain.

#Special Delivery

Let me know how your psychiatric assessment works out.

More blah, blah, blah from you Singer.

Give it a rest.

The "settler communities" are specifically named by the Archbishop of Canterbury in relation to the statement.

http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/archbishops-warn-concerted-effort-drive-christians-holy-land

Calling out the extreme antics of the illegal settlers is not being anti-Israeli at all despite your headline. This is little to do with the Palestinians or the Jordanians and your pitiful efforts to muddy the waters is just more of your usual obfuscation and dross.

Of course violence of the Jewish illegal settlers towards Christians in Jerusalem is nothing new. This is a report from 4 years ago:

"Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem and the most senior Christian leader in the Holy Land, told the Guardian: “Today the church faces a most severe threat at the hands of certain settler groups. The settlers are persistent in their attempts to erode the presence of the Christian community in Jerusalem.

“These radical settler groups are highly organised. Over the last years we have witnessed the desecration and vandalism of an unprecedented number of churches and holy sites and receive growing numbers of reports from priests and local worshippers who have been assaulted and attacked.

“Where the authorities are concerned, this behaviour goes largely unchecked and unpunished.”"

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/01/christians-in-jerusalems-old-city-under-threat-from-settlers

Singer trying to say this is a Jordanian and Palestinian authority's problem is just inane.

# Singer

“The densely populated enclave has detected the presence of the Omicron variant, which was extra burdens on the health sector,” Al Jazeera’s Youmna Sayed reported from Gaza, adding that Israel, which is blockading the coastal enclave, continued to prevent the entry of vital medical devices."

A little reminiscent of Nazi like behaviour Singer

Oh as to the psychiatric assessment, I looked in the mirror and decided I was quite rational in my behaviour.
However in your case I'd have your mirror checked.

# Steele Redux

Two new comments from you besmirching the Jewish People - yet in neither will you answer these questions I have already asked of you several times:

"1. Why did you deliberately fail to quote the immediately preceding paragraph of the Christian Leaders statement that I drew to your attention acknowledging with gratitude the declared commitment of the Israeli government to uphold a safe and secure home for Christians in the Holy Land and to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the tapestry of the local community?

2. Do you think it appropriate that the Christian Leaders should consider Jordan being a party to any dialogue on Jerusalem with Israel after what Jordan did to Jewish properties in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City between 1948 and 1967 after having driven out every Jew living there in 1948?"

Why the continuing reluctance to answer these questions?

BTW - neither the Archbishop of Canterbury nor the Greek Orthodox Patriarch mentioned that the settler groups were "Jewish" - but you were very keen to identify them as "Jewish". Please - then -also answer this question:

"The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch did not think it relevant to identify the settler groups as being Jewish. Was your motivation in doing so designed to incite hatred against all Jews? Do you always seek to identify a perpetrator's religion when a crime is committed - or is religion only relevant when they are Jews?

And another question for you to answer:

Where did I say: "Singer trying to say this is a Jordanian and Palestinian authority's problem is just inane"?

What I did say was exactly the opposite: that Jordan and "Palestine" have no part to play in any dialogue with the Christian Leaders on threats to Christians in Jerusalem because it is not their problem to deal with.

Is your Jew-hatred that blind that you can keep on making a complete and utter fool of yourself?

Answer the above questions or crawl back under your rock.

#Special Delivery

I thought that when you looked in the mirror you would have seen yourself Sieg Heiling Adolf Hitler and the Nazis "imprisoning and killing their social prisoners en masse.." (your words). You really need to get some psychiatric help.

No wonder you post comments anonymously. You are obviously ashamed to disclose your real identity for holding such a horrendous view - which is understandable. Your work mates, family, friends and associates would probably be shocked - unless they hold similar views.

But take heart - psychiatric assistance can help you get rid of abhorrent views such as this. Getting back your identity is worth the trouble. Mental disturbance needs to be addressed and overcome.

When you can freely post comments in your own name - you know you have been cured.

Forget looking in the mirror. Look for a good psychiatrist.

So half the Israelis are "Jew-haters":

http://www.fourals.com/2022/01/01/brother-of-the-idf-chief-of-staff-i-and-50-of-the-people-in-israel-oppose-the-occupation/

#Yuyutsu

I have previously identified you as a Jew-hater following this exchange that came after numerous comments posted by you:

You stated:
"As for Jew-hatred, grow up: most people actually tend to like Jews, but nobody, saintly as they may be, can expect to be liked by absolutely everybody and there is no group of people in this particular world without its haters, including even Australians."

My reply:
"I agree - and you have shown by your comments in relation to the creation and continued existence of the world's one Jewish State that you are one of those Jew-haters.

Go wallow in it."

Go and join your fellow anonymous Jew-haters - #Steele Redux and #Special Delivery - in rooting for the end of the world's one Jewish State existing among 57 Islamic States

Singer you really are a flog mate.

Besides throwing out the Jew-hater slur even to fellow Jews your utter hypocrisy know no bounds.

You raise the desecration of Jewish cemeteries around 80 years ago but when I raise the recent desecration of Palestinian cemeteries you do one of your little dummy spits.

I already answered your first question so go read it.

As to the second Jordan has far more legitimacy than Israel in this since it isn't forcing illegal settlers on to the Palestinian people.

And you keep banging on about people being anonymous on this site. Mate, everyone is except for the authors. If you want to keep spreading your poison in the form of articles then signing off on them is the proper thing to do. But you do so with the understanding that forum members are not obliged to identify themselves. My actual name is known to quite a number of former forum members but I think general anonymity works for OLO.

If you don't like it then go somewhere else.

Dear David,

«Go and join your fellow anonymous Jew-haters»

I can understand why this would suit your agenda, I even begin to suspect that this was your real motive for posting your articles here on OLO all along since 2008 - to facilitate the hatred of Jews by giving us the [false] impression that all Jews were like yourself.

Nevertheless I must disappoint you: I do not hate Jews and have no inclination or interest in doing so.

I happily and proudly support Israel and the 50% of its citizens who would like to see Israel terminating its self-harmful occupation of those territories it took over in 1967.

I want Israel to have a glorious future, within its original and most legitimate territory. I would also be happy for other (non-Israeli) Jews who so wish, to take over the territories in question, following Israel's withdrawal, and form there as many Jewish states as they like.

#Yuyutsu

You speak with forked tongue.

You have previously stated:
"I see that you refuse to recognise Israel as an independent country that stands on its own and acts solely on the will of its citizens, who owe nothing to any other bodies - Jewish or international, either current or historical."

You statement clearly indicates that you do not agree that Israel is the Jewish National Home and that recognition was given to the historical connection of the Jewish People with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country by the League of Nations and confirmed by the United Nations.

Jews from around the world are free to return and resettle in their homeland without restriction.

Claiming that Israel is not the Jewish National Home is a clear manifestation of Jew-hatred

#Steele Redux

I have asked you this question three times:
"1. Why did you deliberately fail to quote the immediately preceding paragraph of the Christian Leaders statement that I drew to your attention acknowledging with gratitude the declared commitment of the Israeli government to uphold a safe and secure home for Christians in the Holy Land and to preserve the Christian community as an integral part of the tapestry of the local community?"

You have finally answered:
"I already answered your first question so go read it."

Please tell me what your answer was and where I can read it.

Dear David,

«You statement clearly indicates that you do not agree that Israel is the Jewish National Home»

Indeed. How would you feel if some stranger came and demanded the keys to your nice house which you worked hard to build and even risked your life and limb for, claiming that they [who contributed nothing] should share it equally with you?

«and that recognition was given to the historical connection of the Jewish People with Palestine»

Ah, like the swindler who tells you "your grand-grand-grandfather owed my grand-grand-grandfather a million dollars, now give them back to me"...

Do you realise how many different people have an historical connection to the land which you [shamefully] call "Palestine" (a particularly degrading name the Romans invented to humiliate the Jews for their revolt - you should be considered a Jew-hater just for using this name) or parts thereof? Practically everyone today (perhaps excluding the aboriginals, American Indians and Inuits, but certainly including the so-called "Palestinians") can make similar claims of "historical connection" through their ancestry, possibly also through their affiliation with Jesus who lived there.

Anyway, who needs recognition?
And from such rogue illegitimate organisations even?
Israelis are no beggars - they worked hard and fought hard for their country, that is how they have it now, not by anybody's donation.

«Jews from around the world are free to return and resettle in their homeland without restriction.»

Mainly so and it is ex gratia, courtesy of the people of Israel who may change that anytime in future if so they choose.

I said "Mainly", because there are still some exclusions at present, including:
1) Certain convicted criminals, despite being Jewish.
2) Jews by paternal lineage, whose neither their mother, maternal grandmother or maternal grand-grandmother were Jewish.
3) Ex Israelis who renounced their Israeli citizenship.
4) Jews who might endanger public health.
5) People who converted to Judaism through the conservative or reform Jewish streams.
6) Unaccompanied minors.
7) Those who do not intend to live in Israel permanently.

[continued...]

[...continued]

«Jews from around the world are free to return and resettle in their homeland without restriction.»

Return? Have they ever even visited there?
Resettle? Have they ever lived there?

They should either say "thank you" to Israel, the current landlord and accept its generous conditions, or go settle elsewhere in their "homeland": perhaps in the West Bank?

«Claiming that Israel is not the Jewish National Home is a clear manifestation of Jew-hatred»

Let us talk about it once some aboriginal person comes to your door and demands a room to live in your house and you invite them happily in, or are you perchance an aboriginal-hater for refusing them?

#Yuyutsu

Lot of hot air from you that does not alter your expressed view that Israel is not the Jewish National Home.

I categorize people who hold that view as Jew-haters.

«I categorize people who hold that view as Jew-haters.»

The Romans hated the Jews for rebelling against them and therefore, in revenge, named the land of Israel after their ancient arch-enemies (long gone by then, over 600 years earlier), the Philistines.

I therefore categorize people who call the land of Israel "Palestine" as Jew-haters.

Regardless of what powerful organisations (such as the United-Nations) might back them, I also categorize people who leech their cousins, demanding that they must share their hard-earned homes with them, as parasites.

Nevertheless, I urge the general readership of this forum to avoid rashly becoming Jew-haters based only on the behaviour of this one Jew, the author. By far, the vast majority of Jews are good and descent people, unlike him at all.

#Yuyutsu

More meaningless mumbo-jumbo from an unrepentant Jew-hater who refuses to accept that:
1. Israel is the Jewish National Home reconstituted under the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine and the UN Charter and
2. Jews have the right to "close settlement" in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) on State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes, as authorised by the same Mandate and UN Charter.

Dear David,

«1. Israel is the Jewish National Home reconstituted under the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine and the UN Charter»

There you go again. You are a Jew-hater because you adore this rogue group of clowns as well as the dirty Romans who cruelty coined that word which you just used to humiliate the Jews. That same rogue body, BTW, also issued many anti-Semite and anti-Israel declarations, I suppose you agree with those just as well because they were issued by your beloved organisation.

I need not go further because there is no such place as "Palestine", but I can return the favour if you kindly tell us where you live:

You see, I have friends who are in need of housing and would be very happy to live in your home. I can also arrange a dignified conference with great speeches, all wearing clown hats who will officially take a vote to hand over your home to my friends. You may then go and build your new home in Judea, Samaria or even Gaza if you prefer the dry weather.

«2. Jews have the right to "close settlement" in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) on State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes, as authorised by the same Mandate and UN Charter.»

Well here, though I have no respect whatsoever to this group of clowns, I happen to agree with you on the specifics of their declaration:

Yes, Jews should well be able to settle in Judea/Samaria/West-Bank, create their State there and do as they please with that land, its trees and its natives. So long as Israel is out of there, I don't mind what the other Jews are going to do.

#Yuyutsu

Wow - so now you are an advocate for two Jewish States in former Palestine!!

The PLO, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine won't be too happy with you!! They don't want even one Jewish State in former Palestine and certainly no Jews.

Dear David,

«Wow - so now you are an advocate for two Jewish States in former Palestine!!»

Just to show that you never previously bothered to read my posts.

Here, for example, a random selection of my replies:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=21714#381612
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=21681#381267
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=19444#345637
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=19898#351870
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=18970#338296

BTW, I do not ADVOCATE for any number of Jewish states because that would be none of my business. All I repeatedly said is, well if Jews want it then let them have it, so long of course as Israel is out of the picture.

«The PLO, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine won't be too happy with you!!»

So what? They wouldn't be the first nor probably the last who are not happy with me, yourself for example...

They don't count. Yes they are a loud and bothersome mob but they are weak and [should there been no repercussions from the rest of the world,] Israel could defeat them all single-handedly just with its military marching brass-band.