Support Arab Christians

Chris Herlinger's article on Palestinians living under the triple threat of occupation, refugee status and stringent economic sanctions (NCR, Nov. 24) hit home with many Christians concerned with justice and peace. The article quotes Patriarch Michel Sabbah on the results of Palestinian democracy for the people at large, but it doesn't address the results of democracy on Sabbah's own church: Palestinian Christians are suffering and leaving the land at an astonishing rate--the Christian population of the Palestinian territories has been decimated in the last 50 years. If this exodus continues, the holy places will lie empty and the incredible richness of the Arab Christian spiritual heritage will be lost. We should support our Holy Land brothers and sisters in the fellowship of believers. I appeal to everyone concerned about peace in the Holy Land to take action: Sponsor a child's education, donate to humanitarian aid organizations, or visit the Holy Land on pilgrimage to show much-needed solidarity and appreciation. We must replace despair with hope, fear with security, and humiliation with human dignity for our brothers and sisters, who are truly the seeds of peace in a barren land.

(Sir) RATEB RABIE

Bethesda, Md.

[Ratela Rabie is president of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation.]

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