| On Tuesday November 7, 2006 I traveled to the | | | | "One the day of the termination of the British |
| village of Maghar in the Galilee, home to 18,000 | | | | mandate and on the strength of the United Nations |
| inhabitants. 60% of the people are Druze. Christian | | | | General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be |
| and Muslim are evenly divided, although the Christian | | | | based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged |
| Exodus has increased since 2005 at an alarming rate. | | | | by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete |
| One percent of Israeli society are Druze, which is an | | | | equality of social and political rights to all its |
| offshoot of Islam with secretive practices and | | | | inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee |
| meeting places. The Druze originated in Egypt in the | | | | freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be |
| 11th century and today they number about 70,000 in | | | | faithful to the Charter of the United Nations." |
| Israel. While the Druze had lived in peaceful | | | | When Israel became a State it was contingent upon |
| community throughout the centuries with Christians in | | | | upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
| Israel, in February 2005 violence erupted. | | | | which Israel denies, ignores, defies and "Whereas it is |
| Rumors had circulated that a Christian had posted a | | | | essential, if man is not to be compelled to have |
| photograph of a Druze female on the Internet and as | | | | recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny |
| a result of the unverified rumors 3,000 Druze youth | | | | and oppression, that human rights should be |
| took to the streets and attacked, vandalized, burned | | | | protected by the rule of law... |
| and destroyed 120 houses and stores and 125 cars | | | | Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of |
| belonging to Christians. | | | | the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the |
| Attorney Haytham Abdalla, Advocate for St. George | | | | human family is the foundation of freedom, justice |
| Melkite [Greek Orthodox in communion with the | | | | and peace in the world" [Preamble Universal |
| Roman Catholic Church which has married priests] of | | | | Declaration of Human Rights] |
| Maghar stated, "No one was killed, but these youth | | | | May We the People of the world unite in International |
| were all armed. The Druze serve in the Israeli army in | | | | Solidarity and Rise Up/Intifada in nonviolent resistance |
| the West Bank and in Gaza. If we Christians would | | | | and with words sharper than a two edged sword |
| have resisted, they most likely would have shot us. | | | | and demand Israel uphold the rule of law and what |
| After these youth serve in the army, they return | | | | they agreed to. |
| home thinking they can do anything and they take | | | | There will never be peace nor security without |
| their anger out on us Christians. | | | | JUSTICE and Human Rights for all because whenever |
| "For three days they terrorized us and the Israeli | | | | there is "disregard and contempt for human rights [it |
| police did nothing but watch the destruction of our | | | | has]resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged |
| property. The big problem is the State of Israel does | | | | the conscience of mankind" [Ibid] |
| not protect the Christian, and they claim everything | | | | May We the People of the world unite in International |
| they do is for "Security." One day after the attack | | | | Solidarity and demand Israel uphold ALL Articles of |
| the police did announce there never was such a | | | | the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, specifically |
| photograph on the Internet. But the police never did | | | | citing: |
| anything to protect us or our property. They just | | | | Article 1. |
| watched it happen. We are like the first century | | | | All human beings are born free and equal in dignity |
| Christians, we are attacked and have no support. | | | | and rights. They are endowed with reason and |
| That is Israeli state policy. An Israeli TV station did | | | | conscience and should act towards one another in a |
| come here and shot video, but the police forbid them | | | | spirit of brotherhood. |
| to air it for "security" reasons. | | | | Article 2. |
| "Right after the attack the Israeli Minister of | | | | Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms |
| Education issued an order that Christians were not | | | | set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any |
| allowed to attend the public school in Maghar. The | | | | kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, |
| parents were too afraid to send them back there | | | | political or other opinion, national or social origin, |
| anyway, and now 90% of our children study in | | | | property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no |
| Canna or Nazareth. They all attend private schools | | | | distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, |
| which are expensive and the parents must transport | | | | jurisdictional or international status of the country or |
| their children. Only one of our youth attends the | | | | territory to which a person belongs, whether it be |
| public school now because his family can not afford | | | | independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any |
| private school. Every day he is beaten and every | | | | other limitation of sovereignty. |
| time his father reports it to the Principal, he is told | | | | Article 3. |
| they will take care of the situation, but nothing ever | | | | Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of |
| changes. This young boy use to be very calm, but | | | | person. |
| now he is angry all the time, always under pressure, | | | | Article 8. |
| always being beaten and the school system and the | | | | Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by |
| Israeli police do nothing. | | | | the competent national tribunals for acts violating the |
| "Fifteen years ago a policy was instituted by the | | | | fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or |
| Israeli government to get rid of all the Christian | | | | by law. |
| teachers from the public school system. There are | | | | -Everyone has the right to education. Education shall |
| 400 people who work with the Maghar city council, | | | | be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental |
| but only four are Christians. We Christians don't | | | | stages. |
| belong to this village, it is like we are living in a hotel, | | | | -Education shall be directed to the full development |
| we just sleep here. | | | | of the human personality and to the strengthening of |
| "We Christians in the Holy Land are always on the | | | | respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. |
| losing side. We face discrimination from the State of | | | | It shall promote understanding, tolerance and |
| Israel, from the Druze and even some Muslims. | | | | friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, |
| Everyone is against us! In Maghar most of the | | | | and shall further the activities of the United Nations |
| Muslims are neutral about us, and we are all afraid to | | | | for the maintenance of peace. |
| join together because then the Israeli forces will | | | | Article 30. |
| shoot us all! | | | | Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as |
| "We once were a vibrant Christian community, but | | | | implying for any State, group or person any right to |
| now our church is the only church in a Druze | | | | engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed |
| neighborhood. Fifty years ago there were only | | | | at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms |
| Christians in this neighborhood, but they have left. My | | | | set forth herein. |
| son is three and unless things change, when he is five | | | | I close my case with Article 19 and will NOT shut up, |
| we are leaving too. | | | | until the Mainstream Media-the Fourth Estate in the |
| "But, yet we have many volunteers who want to | | | | USA does it's job. Until that happens civilian journalists |
| change the situation. We want to build a Christian | | | | bloggers must Rise Up/Intifada and DO SOMETHING! |
| school. We have room on the church property, what | | | | Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and |
| we lack is money and outside support. We look to | | | | expression; this right includes freedom to hold |
| you to tell our story." | | | | opinions without interference and to seek, receive |
| On May 14, 1948 The Declaration of the | | | | and impart information and ideas through any media |
| establishment of Israel affirmed: | | | | and regardless of frontiers. |