Commentary Letters

Why do Muslim and Christian Africans chose Israel?

June 15, 2012 | Jewish TribunecloseAuthor: Jewish Tribune Name: Jewish Tribune
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Didn’t the message of Jimmy Carter that Israel is “an apartheid state” reach these poor people? Or maybe they knew something that this president did not know?

That thought crossed my mind when I recently watched the Israeli TV station to see that more than 80,000 African Muslim and Christian refugees had crossed a desert and countries that shared their culture and/or religion, avoided them and paid thousands of dollars to Bedouins to smuggle them to Israel. That was their choice. Israel is farther away and more difficult to reach than Egypt, Libya or Saudi-Arabia.

They knew that Israel was tolerant, respected the law, and was a better place to bet on, regardless of the difference in religion, language and culture.

There is no better badge of honour that Israel can get from anyone than this act of courage by these refugees.

Sadly, Israel is the only country for the Jews, and its small size, as well as the burden and cost of its defence, means it cannot afford to receive the many oppressed of the world and survive.

Shame on UNWRA and the UN who still support Arab refugees for more than 60 years, not settling them permanently among the Arab states, which created the problem in the first place.

Human suffering is immense, the cruelties of today’s politics are atrocious, and in my humble opinion, Israel is the only symbol of sanity and decency in this crazy world.

Ramy Dishy, Vaughan, ON

Tags: Christians current Israel Muslims refugees