Kill Your Enemy or At Least, Hate Him

Banksy 2008

I’m going to be blunt here and say, the three major faiths in the world aren’t living up to what they claim to be.

Recently, an Israeli family of settlers living in the Yitzhar settlement near Nablus offered  $100,000 to kill or capture two Palestinian prisoners released in mid-October’s Gilad Shalit deal.

Now, in retaliation, a Saudi Cleric and and a Saudi Prince offered $1million dollars for the capture of an Israeli soldier.

History shows that Jews, Muslims and Christians lived together as neighbors in relative peace in the Middle East for hundreds of years.

Who are the “bad guys” here?

That educated people would escalate violence by putting a price on the heads of their “enemies” defies common sense, and begs the question, where is “the Peacemaker”?

Who will reach across the vast chasm between two sides and take the risk to “love their enemies”?

It seems rather old-fashioned in our modern, Western culture to have enemies, doesn’t it? Not so in the Middle East and much of the world.

Jesus knew about human nature when he told us we  to “love our enemies…and do good to those who persecute us”.  Jesus didn’t make loopholes for love.

Muslims claim their faith is one of peace.  The Holy Book of the Jews claims that they came to be a “light” to the rest of the world.

Followers of Jesus, called, Christians, are required to love their enemies, whether they are Jews, Muslims, or other Christians.

Do you see much Peace, Light or Love coming out of these three Faiths toward one another?  I certainly don’t hear a lot of talk about loving Muslims coming from Christians…I wish I did!

Read this latest report from PNN. (Palestine Network News established by Holy Land Trust)

http://english.pnn.ps/

Saudi Prince Offers $1 Million for Capture of Israeli Soldier

29.10.11 – 23:57

PNN Saudi Prince Khaled bin Talal Abdulaziz al-Saud, one of 7,000 members of the ruling al-Saud family in Saudi Arabia, offered $900,000 to match a previous $100,000 reward offered by a Saudi cleric for the capture of any Israeli soldier. The total reward of $1 million is claimed to be a response to similar offers by Israeli settlers for the captures or murders of freed Palestinian prisoners. Saudi Prince Khaled bin Talal Abdulaziz al-Saud, who offered the reward money (al-Wattan TV). Saudi cleric Awad al-Qurni offered $100,000 for the capture of an Israeli soldier last week, matching the amount that an Israeli family of settlers living in the Yitzhar settlement near Nablus offered to kill or capture two Palestinian prisoners released in mid-October’s Gilad Shalit deal. Al-Qurni has been targeted by Jewish groups for his actions and at least one group reportedly offered $1 million for his death. Prince Khaled, originally quoted by the Palestinian network al-Wattan TV, said, “Al-Qurni offered $100,000 for whoever kidnaps a soldier, then [unnamed Israeli groups] offered $1 million to kill al-Quri, and now I’m saying to al-Qurni that I’m supporting you by offering another $900,000, which will make it a million for whoever kidnaps a soldier.” The oil wealth of the al-Saud family is thought to be well in excess of $500 billion, with some estimates reaching $1 trillion. Prince Khaled’s personal wealth is unknown, but he is the brother of Prince al-Walid bin Talal, the 26th richest person in the world. According to his Wikipedia page, Prince Khaled is the former president of a Saudi Arabian volleyball club and the third son of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, who is not in the succession line to the monarchy.