By Anon, Anglican Ink. (Image: Unsplash)
Before you read this article, I want you to understand something: the person who wrote these words could pay a high price simply for choosing to speak. If my identity is revealed, I could face danger or even death — not because I have committed a crime, but because I am trying to share truths that many people ignore. I am not seeking fame or controversy; I simply want others to hear the voice of those who cannot speak.
I also want to make one thing clear from the beginning: my love for Israel and the Jewish people did not lead me to write these words. My commitment is to truth, wherever it leads.
When we listen to Christian leaders, pastors, and those associated with what is often called “Palestinian theology,” we frequently hear one repeated narrative. They say that Israel is the reason for the emigration of Christians from this land.
They appeal to Western churches, saying: “Do not support Israel, because the unconditional support and the weapons provided to it are the reason Christians are being displaced, especially from Bethlehem.” They emphasize that Bethlehem is considered the center of Christianity and that it once had the largest Christian population in Palestine.
But is what these Christian leaders claim the complete truth? Or is there something being hidden that many do not want to discuss?
If Israel is the only reason Christians are leaving, why do these leaders not also speak about the internal issues that many Christians experience every day? Why are corruption, weak institutions of justice, land confiscation, abuse of influence, and fear of confronting those in power often ignored? Ignoring these issues does not help Christians; rather, it leaves their suffering unresolved and presents the world with only half of the story.
When we speak about the Palestinian territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority, we are speaking about an authority that many citizens describe as lacking true rule of law. In other words, many feel that power and personal connections often determine outcomes more than justice.
If I were to describe the Palestinian Authority, I would describe it as a system that prioritizes personal interests and political survival, where ordinary citizens remain a low priority. The PA also uses the Christian presence and some Christian leaders to advance certain interests and political goals.
If I were to describe the West Bank, I would say that in many areas, it is governed more by the influence of powerful families than by the rule of law. Strong families often attempt to impose their authority and take what they want through influence or power.
Many members of these families work within different institutions of the Palestinian Authority, including positions such as prosecutors, deputy prosecutors, judges, intelligence officials, Preventive Security officers, or police personnel.