Christian Attitudes

We had a special collection in my parish church this morning, and Church agencies are falling over themselves to collect money and send aid to the people of Lebanon - or as Catholic News puts it:

The following are Catholic aid agencies appealing for donations to assist those in need in the Middle East.

Those in need in the Middle East? Does that include Israelis? You know, the ones who are at the receiving end of missiles packed with ball-bearings and metal shards, intended to cause maximum casualties among civilians? You remember - those people who can die and be injured, be bereaved and heart-broken, terrified and distressed, just like other human beings? They also live in the Middle East.

Admittedly, after being exposed to news anti-Israel propaganda by media outlets like the BBC, which linger carefully on Lebanese sorrow, while ignoring that of the victims of Hezbollah, you might just forget that Israelis are human.

Also, dear Christian aid organisation, if you nurture any anti-Semitic stereotypes, perhaps they include one of 'Rich Jews'. You assume that they don’t need any financial help if their homes are destroyed, or they are seriously injured, or prevented from working after having to flee their homes or hide in bomb shelters. The existence of poverty in Israel would come as a surprise to you. You also forget that some Israelis are Arabs - for the purposes of prejudice, you turn them into 'Rich Jews', too.

Here’s another one. Papal charity launches drive for Lebanon refugees

The pontifical council Cor Unum, the charitable arm of the papacy, has announced a special drive to raise funds for relief efforts on behalf of the civilian populations of the Middle East.

The civilian populations of the Middle East?

Does that include the Israeli civilian populations in northern Israel? After all, it’s part of the Middle East.

Noting both the "persistence of conflict" and the "grave suffering of the affect people," Cor Unum said that it would send a tangible sign of the Pope's concern to help the thousands of refugees being driven from their homes by the latest violence.

Does that include the many Israelis who have been forced to flee their homes in northern Israel, to escape the missiles?

Will even a penny of this money go to help Israelis? Or do they identify “those in need in the Middle East” as only Lebanese?

This is not to begrudge aid going to needy people in Lebanon, but I am very uneasy about the way the suffering of Israelis has been airbrushed out of the picture.

You might like to consider making a donation to these people. I don't suppose Cor Unum or Caritas will.