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**Creva4k** · 10-29-2007, 03:12 PM

Thank you for your interesting messages, Mike and Effie. Mike, I agree with what you are saying that there are 2 views; which seem to refleect 2 entirely different realities. The key will be to allow each side to have empathy with the other. However, there is just question I have: I am not sure that is is acceptable for Israel to argue that the right of return of refugees would be demographic suicide, implying that it would destroy Israel and its people? This was not the case in South Africa when black people (by far the majority) were allowed to return to the country after being exiled and forced to live in appalling conditions in black homelands (Bantustans) - by the way, they also resorted to using arms and violent protest to bring about change, after decades of oppression. Also in Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan, Rwanda refugees had the right to return.

Palestinian refugees number in their millions (over 3 million, according to the UN) and consititute the largest and oldest refugee problem in the world at present. And since 1948, the U.N., with the backing of the international community, has agreed on the right of dispossessed Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. It has been affirmed over 100 times.

As noted in a letter by Rania Awwad:
"Demographic research has shown that, right now, 78% of Israelis are living on only 14% of the land, while the remaining 22% live on 86% of land from where many Palestinian refugees originate. In 86% of Israel, the population density is just 82 per square mile, compared with 4,400 persons per square mile in Gaza. Is there any logic whatsoever to having 2,400 refugees on one square kilometer in Gaza while any one of them can look over the barbed wire to see his land practically empty? The total number of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and Lebanon roughly equals the number of Russian immigrants who came to Israel in the 1990s to settle down. What right brings in Russians but deprives Palestinian refugees of the right to return home?"

The reason I think this thread is so crucial to Christians is that the whole issue of Israel is so central to our faith: we need to find the truth in the whole situation. And then to tackle it honestly and justly and not allow the Bible to be used to defend the indefensible, as was done in apartheid South Africa.

With kind regards,
Annalise

10-29-2007, 03:12 PM	#14
Creva4k Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 382 Senior Member	Thank you for your interesting messages, Mike and Effie. Mike, I agree with what you are saying that there are 2 views; which seem to refleect 2 entirely different realities. The key will be to allow each side to have empathy with the other. However, there is just question I have: I am not sure that is is acceptable for Israel to argue that the right of return of refugees would be demographic suicide, implying that it would destroy Israel and its people? This was not the case in South Africa when black people (by far the majority) were allowed to return to the country after being exiled and forced to live in appalling conditions in black homelands (Bantustans) - by the way, they also resorted to using arms and violent protest to bring about change, after decades of oppression. Also in Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan, Rwanda refugees had the right to return. Palestinian refugees number in their millions (over 3 million, according to the UN) and consititute the largest and oldest refugee problem in the world at present. And since 1948, the U.N., with the backing of the international community, has agreed on the right of dispossessed Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. It has been affirmed over 100 times. As noted in a letter by Rania Awwad: "Demographic research has shown that, right now, 78% of Israelis are living on only 14% of the land, while the remaining 22% live on 86% of land from where many Palestinian refugees originate. In 86% of Israel, the population density is just 82 per square mile, compared with 4,400 persons per square mile in Gaza. Is there any logic whatsoever to having 2,400 refugees on one square kilometer in Gaza while any one of them can look over the barbed wire to see his land practically empty? The total number of Palestinian refugees in Gaza and Lebanon roughly equals the number of Russian immigrants who came to Israel in the 1990s to settle down. What right brings in Russians but deprives Palestinian refugees of the right to return home?" The reason I think this thread is so crucial to Christians is that the whole issue of Israel is so central to our faith: we need to find the truth in the whole situation. And then to tackle it honestly and justly and not allow the Bible to be used to defend the indefensible, as was done in apartheid South Africa. With kind regards, Annalise
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