05 March 2006

Religion and Violence in Israel

Why does a state, that prides it self on religious devotion, have such an epidemic of violence? This story from the BBC illustrates some of what I mean.
Israel church attackers 'sorry'
An Israeli couple who triggered riots after discharging fireworks in a revered church in Nazareth have expressed remorse for their actions.


"Haim Eliahu Habibi told a court he did not hate Christians or Muslims, saying he targeted the church to draw attention to a child custody issue."
[...]
"I have nothing against Muslims or Christians. It is not logical for me to do such a thing to them, on the contrary. The only thing I want to do is get my children back," he said."
[...]
Thousands of Israeli Arabs marched through the town on Saturday, accusing Israel of mistreating its Arab minority."

"The Israeli Arab public is at the edge of its patience and it is time for Israel's leaders to do something about it," Shawki Khatib, chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, told Israel Radio, Reuters news agency reported."

Israeli Arabs form about 20% of Israel's population and have frequently complained of discrimination."

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