ABUSING THE XMAS STORY

Bethlehem - Abusing the Christmas Story (HonestReporting)
In a tasteless affront to one billion Christians worldwide, the Independent, a leading British daily, describes the Virgin Mary as a "Palestinian refugee in Bethlehem", and present-day pregnant Palestinian women as "21st century Marys" who "have been giving birth in startlingly similar conditions to those suffered by Mary 2,000 years ago."

The December 23 article by Johann Hari paints a picture of Israeli malevolence towards pregnant Palestinian women, quoting a Palestinian woman who rails against harsh conditions supposedly caused by Israel: "What would happen if the Virgin Mary came to Bethlehem today? She would endure what I have endured."

Yet, readers must scroll down halfway through this 1,500-word piece to discover the real cause of Palestinian suffering:

"Following the election of Hamas, the world choked off funding for the Palestinian Authority, which suddenly found itself unable to pay its doctors and nurses. After several months medical staff went on strike, refusing to take anything but emergency cases."

The Independent blames Israel for checkpoint security measures, but fails to provide context with the well-documented Palestinian abuse of ambulances and medical facilities to transport and harbor terrorists. Nor does the Independent mention the 2002 arrest of a Palestinian terrorist recruited to carry out a suicide bombing disguised as a pregnant woman -- a graphic reminder of the depths that terror groups will sink in their efforts to bypass Israeli security.

Read the article online and if you feel that the Independent has launched an unfair seasonal attack on Israel, send your comments to the Independent - letters@independent.co.uk

The Chicago Tribune also engages in abusing religious tradition and symbolism in order to attack Israel, as Mary Ann Weston, in Bethlehem, quotes from Christian scripture and asks: "If Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem today, would they get in? Would they make it to the manger, or would the holy child be delivered at an Israeli checkpoint?"

In a one-sided criticism of Israel's security barrier, Weston describes Bethlehem as a "city withering under Israeli occupation". Implicating Israel's responsibility, she states that the "Christian population, which was 80 percent in 1948, is now less than 20 percent" despite the fact that Israel was not even in control of the West Bank before 1967 and failing to acknowledge Muslim persecution of Christians in the Holy Land.

Please send your comments to the Chicago Tribune - ctc-TribLetter@Tribune.com

BETHLEHEM & CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND - RECOMMENDED READING

Some media outlets, such as those above, have published superficial and inaccurate parodies of the Christmas story in order to attack Israel. Other sources have dug deeper revealing a very different story concerning Bethlehem and the decline of the region's Christian population. Please take the time to read some of the sources below to help you respond to media bias on this issue.

Justus Reid Weiner, JCPA, Christians Flee Growing Islamic Fundamentalism in the Holy Land
Justus Reid Weiner, JCPA, Human Rights of Christians in Palestinian Society
Keith Roderick, National Review Online, What Will the Wise Men Bring to Bethlehem?
Baltimore Sun, A somber Christmas for Gaza's Christians
Daily Mail, Oh, Muslim town of Bethlehem...
The Israel Project, Israeli Government Works to Make Christmas Merry for Tens of Thousands of Pilgrims and Citizens

SEE ALSO: Bethlehem Fears Return of Palestinian Terror
Reports that Israel is considering allowing a group of gunmen who were deported in 2002 after hiding inside the Church of the Nativity to return to Bethlehem have left some Christian residents seriously concerned for their safety. Thirteen of the gunmen were deported to different European countries, while another 26 were expelled to Gaza. Christian families expressed fear that the deportees would once again impose a reign of intimidation and terror in the city. "These men were responsible for a spate of attacks on Christians, including extortion and confiscation of property," said a local businessman. (Jerusalem Post)