[CS-FSLUG] NI: BETHLEHEM IS NOT IN ISRAEL

[Fred A. Miller]

BETHLEHEM IS NOT IN ISRAEL 

For the last several years I have struggled to help the dwindling Christian 
population in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. Americans just did not 
seem to care about the abuse their Christian brothers and sisters were facing 
and I could not figure out why .... THEN ... On my return from the Holy Land 
in August I was suddenly made aware of why most American just don't help the 
persecuted Christians in Bethlehem. A customs agent ask me where I had 
purchased Nativity sets and I told him Bethlehem. He responded by saying 
"Israel?" I said no, Bethlehem in the Palestinian Authority area. We talked 
further and I learned that not a single Customs agent knew that Bethlehem was 
not in Israel .... AND THESE ARE AMERICAN CUSTOMS AGENTS! 

Americans think Bethlehem is in Israel. In every map in every Bible in America 
Bethlehem is shown as being in Israel. But ... BETHLEHEM IS NOT IN ISRAEL. 

Under the Oslo Accords forced on Israel by then President Bill Clinton the 
town of Bethlehem was handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Now Christian 
children are forced to read verses from the Koran in the schools and 
Christian women are targeted for rape by Muslim men. Christian businessmen 
face extortion from armed Muslim gangs such as HAMAS. 

Since Israel handed Bethlehem over to the Palestinian Authority, the city's 
First Baptist Church has been bombed fourteen (14) times and the pastor has 
been shot twice. Israel can do nothing to help Christians in Bethlehem. 

Bethlehem is part of the "West Bank." While the number of Christians has grown 
in Israel, the number of Christians in the West Bank has dwindled. Once 85% 
of the population in Bethlehem, the Christians are now a minority of 20% or 
less. 

But most Americans still think Bethlehem is in Israel and that Israel is 
protecting the Holy sites there. But ... BETHLEHEM IS NOT IN ISRAEL. 

That is why I have begun a campaign to educate Americans, to let them know 
that Bethlehem is not under Israel's protection, that it is in the hands of 
Muslim extremists. This past weekend I ran a full page ad in the Washington 
Times Weekly edition. The headline at the top of the ad simply said, 
"BETHLEHEM IS NOT IN ISRAEL" and then went on to explain the situation. 
(Click here or on image to read ad!) 

Will you help me tell Americans the truth about the status of Bethlehem? This 
will help us obtain more help for our Christian bothers and sisters facing 
persecution there. 

You can help today by sending a gift to the Bethlehem Project of the Religious 
Freedom Coalition. 

Go to www.thebethlehemproject.org to make a secure contribution to the 
Bethlehem Project or mail your gift to: 

Religious Freedom Coalition, Bethlehem Project, PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 
20013 

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