From: Mr. Ariel Eliyahu eli-ari@zahav.net.il

 Subject: Salam from Palestine! 

 Salam dear friends ! 
  
 My name is Ariel. I am a long term resident, originally from Ukraine, 
 living in so called "Israel" for almost 7 years. 
  
 I work as an interpreter ( English - Russian ) in an Evangelical Bible 
 College in Haifa since 1997. 
  
 Since March 1999 I was traveling to 7 different countries including
 Egypt and Jordan. 
  
 Most part of my time I am among Israeli Arabs and Russian Israelis. 
  
 Because I am new person in this country I see many things as an
 independent observer. 
  
 The simple TRUTH that I have found is: 
  
 - Arab citizens of Israel expirience discrimination on a daily basis 
  
 - Society in Israel (in general) does not want to understand problems
 of Palestinian refugees 
  
 - Israel of modern days is far away from the Promised Holy Land of
 the Bible 
  
 - Democracy is declared but to win the battle for the truth extremely
 difficult ( especialy if you are an Arab or another non-Jewish person ) 
  
 - The status of Palestinian Arabs is similar to the status of Jews of
 Russian Empire within  "The Pale of Settlement" before 1917. It means that there are a lot
 of official, half official, crypto-official discriminatory laws and instructions working
 against them. By another words, the State of Israel does toward Arabs the same
 things that Antisemites did to Jewish people in the past. 
  
 - Zionists organizations did succed in mobilizing of entire World
 Jewish Community to support them in any way. Because of that, for
 people in the Arab and Muslim World words such as "Jews" and
 "Zionists" became synonymous. 
  
 - Modern State of Israel is the continuation of a Colonialistic policy
 against the countries of a Third World. It follows the pattern of
 Crusaders with all following consequences. 
  
 I feel sorry for what has happened in the past and is happening now
 with the people of Palestine and I do not support the policy of
 Zionists. 
  
 It is directed to reach their final goal: to deport an Arab population
 from the Holy Land. Most of them do not declare it, but they want it to happen ! They
 have such ideas in their minds. And I see them similar to Nazis !
  
 I`ve decided to express my personal opinion about the Palestinian
 problem. For me it is certain risk. But I know that I share the TRUTH
 and not the lie. Also, I know that Palestinian refugees are suffering
 much more than I risk to suffer. 
  
 Yes, Jewish people did suffer in history. But why Palestinian Arabs
 should become victims because of things that they did not do to
 Jews. 
  
 It is known fact that Jews of the Middle East were living in a harmony
 with the other nations there. And the cases of persecutions were not
 numerous and significant as in Europe. The tolerance toward other
 religions ( which is the essential feature of Islam ) as well as the
 similarity between Arab and Jewish mentalities ( based on their
 common Semitic origin ) have supported such harmony of
 relationships.
  
 And the fact that the national of Europe have commited evil things
 against Jews does not mean that they have the right to do the same
 evil things to someone in the Middle East !
  
 I consider that people of Palestine have the full authority to be
 owners of their own land - of the whole Palestine: from Jaffo to
 Tiberias, from Eilat to Nahariyah, from Negev desert to Hermon
 mountain, from the Mediterenian Sea to Jordan River.
  
 There will come a time when children of those who are persecuted in THEIR OWN
 land will find  the happiness and Restored Justice in THEIR OWN land. There will come a time
 when children of Palestinians in exile will return to the land of their ancestors.
  
 LONG LIVE, PALESTINE !
  
 Long live a brotherhood between Arabs and Jews in the Land of Palestine !
  
 Thank you for your attention ! Shukran ! 

 Ma Assalami ! 

 Sincerely
 Mr. Ariel Eliyahu 
 Christian Translator
 Bible College in Haifa, Israel
 
 
 
 

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