Israeli Easter Egg Hunting

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By Programmer Buydatti

Every year on this day KABOBfest posts "Easter Cancelled in Palestine." It's a classic. I like it. But for the sake of change, I thought that we should switch it up this year. Introducing Israeli Easter Egg Hunting...

For those celebrating, consider taking a break from hunting for eggs and blowing up peeps in the
microwave to read up on the plight of Palestinian Christians.

In fact, you could start with these recently published articles:

Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, is losing many of its young Christians who, reeling under the yoke of the Israeli occupation and economic hardships, are seeking a better life abroad. -- Palestinian Christians Exodus

The [local church] leaders told the group that many factors were contributing to the high rates of emigration of Palestinian Christians, and to the suffering of Palestinian people as a whole. These included discriminatory housing policies, the demolition of Palestinian homes to make way for Israeli settlements, high rates of unemployment, and violence from Israeli settlers. -- Israeli Occupation Puts Strain on Palestinian Christians

Residents of a Palestinian Christian housing project in the West Bank village of Beit Sahour say Israel is encircling their community with a security road to separate them from a nearby Jewish settlement. "With this situation they will put us in a cage, a zoo," said William Sahouri, 42, a resident and member of the project's housing committee. "We will not be able to expand." -- Christian Housing Faces Israeli Encirclement

The wounds opened by violence make the problem of emigration more acute, inexorably depriving the Christian minority of its best resources for the future. -- Vatican Feels 'Profound Concern' for Gaza Christians

During such holidays, Israel makes an exception to its normally stringent closure regime and issues permits, valid for 30 to 45 days, to Palestinian Christians in a way it does not do for Muslims during Islamic holidays. ... “It’s very bad. I know Israel does this to try to create animosity between Muslims and Christians. Muslims are never issued permits unless for medical emergencies.” -- Outcry Over West Bank Closure

Given current trends in emigration, there will no longer be any more native Christians left in the land where Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose in only 10 short years. Visit sites like Sabeel and Churches for Middle East Peace to educate yourself and learn how you can help end the injustices in Palestine and preserve a Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Oh, and for those following the eastern calendar - Happy Palm Sunday! (Jeez I feel so holy)