US Senators press Obama on 'risk' for Israel

I always find it laughable how the argument is made that the Arab region, in general, and Palestinians, in particular, prove their worth as a counterpart in “peace” before any “peace” overtures are made. The argument basically goes: I (Israel) come out of nowhere, take your land, label it a Jewish state, make you into either a prisoner or a refugee, and strangle you in every which way possible, but you need to prove to me that you’re worthy of my “peace”. I can’t but think, shove your “peace”.

76 US Senators pressed Obama to “take into account the risks Israel will face in any peace agreement". Yes, the risk of acting in accordance with international law is quite the biggie! Heaven forbid Israel face that risk. Or the risk of acknowledging its appalling human rights record. Or the risk of admitting it has recently celebrated its 61st birthday as a racist violent hypocritical shameless usurper of other peoples’ people and livelihoods to applause from the entire “civilized” world.

In a press release written to Obama, the venerable senators state that "everyone in the region has a stake in the success of these negotiations and should contribute to a lasting and comprehensive resolution.” Except everyone doesn’t include Israel, of course. But then again, they couldn’t say that in the press release, could they? What they meant was everyone but Israel should contribute to a lasting and comprehensive resolution. Israel, meanwhile, could continue to occupy and confiscate homes and land, disregard Palestinian basic human rights, ignore international law, and basically dictate US foreign policy towards the region in a way that serves Israel in the first and last degree. And most importantly, act the victim, even when not needed or applicable, just in case anyone managed to put aside their historical guilt towards the Jewish people for even one second d to consider the realities of Israel’s policies towards the real victims in this particular case. Otherwise the risk would be too big for the US’ long-term ally and friend in the region. With friends like that ….

Christians in the Middle East Decreasing

While I agree that our numbers in the region are falling, the Christians in the Arab world are not immigrating in any larger number than their Muslim compatriots. Yes, there may be a perceived sense of fear and alienation among Christians in some countries but that sense of fear and alienation afflicts other communities in those countries. While Western media report a mass Christian exodus from Iraq, nobody mentions the Muslim-affiliation of millions of other Iraqis that have left the country. In areas where there are no conflicts, some Christians do immigrate because they feel they may not be safe in the future, but their numbers are matched by Muslims who also immigrate for the same or other reasons. While the Western media fails to report on their exit from the Arab world, Muslim immigrants in the West become regular features in the newspapers as either suspect terrorists or communities unable to integrate. On the other hand, Christian Arabs are no longer a headline once they exit the Arab world.

But I digress. I believe the real reason for our falling numbers is actually birth rates (but that’s not such a sensational newspaper topic). It is a problem, for sure, but it can’t be pinned on the politics of the region or Islam. I can’t back up my argument with statistical data, but anecdotal evidence from observing my community indicates that Christian families have smaller families. Few in my extended family among the younger generation have more than two children. I figured this may be the case among city dwellers, in general, but then again my husband comes from a village in Syria and there too few among the younger generation in his family have more than two children.

This is a problem that has no solution, I am afraid. And one that will continue to bring down our numbers in proportion to the general population and eventually render us a fraction of a fraction.