If Terrorists Ran All the Governments, What Would Become of Us?

By Marianne Snowden

My first visit to the Holy Land was about 10 years ago, and I went as a Charismatic Christian filled with teachings about the "miracle" of the re-birth of Israel. The preachers had, and have, much to say about this "fulfillment of prophecy." I believed it. I believed that the only people to be considered in this matter were the Jews.

I have been told by my Christian-Arab friends that the Jews were indeed the chosen people. "They were chosen to bring the Messiah, and they have done that," they said. "Now it is we who are chosen." Meanwhile over several years, I made repeated visits to the Holy Land, although I could never be there much longer than a month. Muslims and Christians took me into their respective homes and welcomed me as a friend. To my surprise, I concluded that the Christians are the most persecuted people in the Holy Land!

This past spring, just before and during my stay there, two Anglican churches were desecrated and burned (one of them twice) by occupying Israeli soldiers. One church is on the West Bank, the other is in Jerusalem. I saw the newspaper article posted at St. George's Cathedral.

Back home now, besides worrying about my friends, I think about the fact that the headwaters of the Jordan, and subsequently the Galilee and the Dead Sea, originate in land Israel has seized from Syria and later flows through parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir is currently demanding annexation of "certain strategic places" before considering any peace talks. I would be surprised if these headwaters are not included—a waterfall that challenges Black Water Falls in West Virginia for beauty and drama. It is Banias, in the Golan Heights, a favorite hiking area of the Israelis. In the desert area of the world, whoever holds the water source has the power. One way our friends are being subjected is being denied the use of sufficient water. As the water table drops, they are not allowed to deepen their wells. If they try, their wells are destroyed.

My closest friend in the Holy Land was the guide we had on my first visit. I went back 18 months after the pilgrimage that had taken me there the first time. When I met him on the street and he recognized me, I was delighted and surprised. He introduced me to his sister, now one of my dearest friends. As time went on, I met more of his family and friends, and I came to know a group of people who are lovely, hospitable, friendly, helpful, kind, and fun to be with. I came to know both worlds, the men's world and the women's world.

I think my most shocking discovery in 1981 was that the Anglican hospital in Nablus was waiting for a shipment of surgical instruments and other medical supplies which had already arrived in Israel. However, the hospital couldn't come up with the required customs duties Israel had levied on these supplies, so they could not be delivered. When the Turks ruled the area, I was told, they did not tax medical supplies.

On my second trip to Jerusalem, I stayed in a one-star hotel outside the Old City, and knew only the land agents and people I'd met on that first trip 18 months earlier. We were barely acquainted but they remembered me. My new friends love Americans, but they are deeply hurt by the lack of consideration they receive from our government.

US Fears Israeli Government

I firmly believe that our government ignores the fact that Christians and Muslims are not afforded the same human rights as Jews in all of the Holy Land because our political leaders are afraid of the Israeli government. I also believe that our fundamentalist preachers have caused this. These preachers say that we must not turn "against" Israel, or we will be doomed along with the rest of the world!

Of course we all feel somewhat guilty about the holocaust. How can you fail to, when you have been told over half your life that we deserted Europe's Jews in their hour of need? Forget that we knew nothing about it. We were and are guilty. It seems the whole world is kept in thrall with that accusation of collective guilt. But now apparently the same crime is all right when the former victim becomes the persecutor. Are all the rest of us to be accused of guilt for letting this happen again?

I call the neighbor of my friends nearly every week just to find out if they are all right. I believe that the stone throwing will be permitted only so long, and then I fear there will likely be a bloodbath instigated by Israel's extremist leaders. Meir Kahane, Ariel Sharon and Yitzhak Shamir are three reasons I have no use for the Israeli government. If terrorists ran all the governments in the world, as they do in Israel, what on earth would become of us all?

Marianne Snowden is a secretary in Maryland