"On Sunday, April 22, CBS` "60 Minutes" ran a shockingly biased episode, "Christians of the Holy Land" by Bob Simon. Even the always diplomatic Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren called the show a "hatchet job" on Israel. You can watch the program here." -- StandWithUs.com

I have chosen not to watched 60 Minutes for the past 25 years or so, ever since the program started being a messenger for the anti-gun folks. I also think 60 Minutes has decided it has to do at least one anti-Israel segment annually.

Israel’s Ambassador to the USA took the program’s latest anti-Israel segment to task even before it aired. No matter, the segment aired on April 22nd nicely sandwiched in between Holocaust Remembrance Day and Israeli Memorial and Independence Days.

The Oslo Agreement was the death knell of the Christian communities in areas that were turned over to Arafart and the Palestinian Authority. Life was made a living hell for Christians. Do you remember how the White House Spokesman Stephanopoulos had to get the White House involved in order to protect his sister’s (Sister=Nun) convent by Jericho from being tormented by Arafart’s minion and the Palestinian Authority.

The only country in the Middle East that affords Christians equal rights and protections is Israel. Period.

Among my friends and my law practice clients, and my wife’s friends and co-workers, are Arab Christians. Some live in mostly Jewish western Jerusalem and are Israeli citizens. Others are Israeli citizens and live in mostly Muslim eastern Jerusalem. Others live in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. They live in constant fear of Fatah (i.e., the Palestinian Authority), Hamas and other always active terrorist groups. The last thing in the world any of our Christian friends would ever do is draw attention to themselves by speaking with someone from 60 Minutes. There is no anonymity here, only fear of doing something that makes you appear on the terrorists’ radar.

Most Christians were purged from Bethlehem long before our security barrier and checkpoint were built. Only the Official and the unofficial entities that operate in areas Israel turned over to them force individuals out of their towns, cities and homes because they are members of a religion that is not Islam.

While writing this opinion, the siren commemorating Israeli Memorial Day sounded for two minutes. From my porch I stood silently watching the traffic come to a stop. Drivers got out of their cars and stood silently. People out walking stopped and stood silently. One 20 year-old Arab wearing a dirty white baseball cap made it a point to continue walking, deliberately weaving around those who stood silently on the sidewalk, as he lit-up a cigarette. He covered about 150 yards while the siren continued.

No one stopped him. No one accosted him. No gang threatened him. No mob attacked him. He was not harmed. He was not lynched.

It is not the Israelis who cause problems for Christians.


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