The Israel-Palestine Issue

Palestine’s Deep Roots vs Evangelicals in Latin America

Latin Arabia Evangelicals, Gaza War - 2023-25, Palestinians, Propaganda, The Israel-Palestine Issue, Zionism 0 Comment
Palestine’s Deep Roots vs Evangelicals in Latin America

We are going to start off with an excerpt of ethnic Palestinian power in Latin America.


Posted on YouTube: May 17, 2024
Note: by TRT, a Turkish media outlet that is hostile to Israel

Source: The Deep Roots of Palestinian Solidarity in Latin America
Dawnmedia.org
Julian Sayarer
May 9, 2024

The large Palestinian community in Peru is thought to exceed 30,000, part of a vast Palestinian diaspora across Latin America that some estimates place around 700,000 people. As with any diaspora, though, it is hard to put a precise number on all Latin Americans of Palestinian origin, because for more than a century—accelerated catastrophically by the Nakba in 1948, when some 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes by Zionist forces—this diaspora has been growing but also integrating. People have changed names and even religions, just as Argentina’s president in the 1990s, Carlos Menem—born to a Syrian family and raised as a Muslim—converted to Christianity. Mahmouds have become Manuels; Arabic has in some cases been forgotten. Some simply still identify as Palestinian but primarily as part of the country—Peru, Chile, Argentina—they have been citizens in for generations.

…
Chile’s diaspora community is by far the largest in Latin America. With half a million Palestinians in Chile, it is the largest community of Palestinians outside of Palestine and the cities and refugee camps of neighboring Arab countries. In Argentina, I was told the issue of putting a number on the population is complicated because many Palestinians—along with Lebanese, Syrian and other Arab immigrants—are, confusingly, often simply called “Turcos,” because everyone arrived originally under the same Ottoman passports. Arab migration to Latin America goes back some 150 years, with the first major wave from what was then the Ottoman Empire between roughly the 1860s until the start of World War I. New waves of migration followed in 1948 from Palestine, and again from Lebanon throughout its civil war in the late 1970s and 1980s.

…

(Read More)

Most Americans are unaware of the powerful Palestinian ethnic interest groups which are found in some Latin American countries (Chile, Honduras, El Savador); however, they are probably also unaware of the massive inroads made by Evangelical Christianity in the area — and Evangelical Christianity is usually Christian Zionist.

This can lead to usually odd circumstances, such as in Brazil, where the Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has to be somewhat constrained in his anti-Israel viewpoints, because a third of Brazil is Evangelical Christian with a pro-Israel viewpoint.


Posted on YouTube: November 6, 2023
It can be auto-translated

The Jews have had a mixed relationship with Christians in the past. Ironically, they now depend on some of them, the Evangelicals, for support.

It basically boils down to this: Evangelical Christians take seriously God’s promise to restore the Jews to the land, which they see as a portend of the soon return of Christ.

So Evangelicals support Israel, but for different reasons that the Jews would.

Jews want to “redeem the land,” build a third temple, and set the stage for the messiah.

Christians believe that Jews will build the third temple, but rather than bring the real messiah, it was harbor in a false messiah (the antichrist). Jews will then, in their desperation, have to call on Christ, which will bring about Christ’s second coming.

Christians believe that Christ left after His first coming, and will not return until the Jews admit their guilt in rejecting Him the first time.

Hoshea 5:15 I will go away and return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their straits they will seek Me. (Chabad)

Either view requires that Jews be in the land of Israel.

Latin America is de-Catholicizing. Evangelical Christianity is picking up the slack with cultural and political … and Zionist consequences.

Not a Unified Subculture

Latin Arabia Evangelicals, History, The Israel-Palestine Issue , , 0 Comment
Not a Unified Subculture


Posted on YouTube: July 15, 2024

One may hold the very erroneous idea that the Arabs in Latin America have a unified culture and presence.

Dispense with that idiocy right now.

The most outstanding group in this mix are the Maronites of Lebanon.

The Maronites of Lebanon are a group of Christian Arabs who are members of the Maronite Church – which is affiliated with Roman Catholicism – though the Maronite Church allows married men to become priests. The Maronites do not even consider themselves to be Arab.

As the Canadian-American scholar, T.B. Irving, noted:

Source Islamic Renewal in Iberia and Latin America: Its Needs and Preconditions T.B. Irving 1981
a lecture delivered at the University of Brasilia

[T]he Christian Lebanese immigrants to South America… owe much to their over‑all Arab heritage, even though many of them try to call themselves “Phoenicians”.

They Maronites feel this way, even though the Maronites in Lebanon speak Arabic, and live in an Arab culture. This attitude is a product of centuries of persecution at the hands of Muslims. Sadly, the Maronites were nearly genocided in the 19th century at the hands or rampaging Muslims, and many Maronites have a distrust of Islam.

Rather, the Maronites of Lebanon consider themselves to be the descendants of ancient Phoenicians, and will identity themselves as such.

If you know your history, the ancient Phoenicians sailed west and planted colonies in Sicily, Spain, North Africa, Corsica, Sardinia, and and possibly the British Isles.

In simple terms, the Phoenicians always looked westward, and the Maronites, likewise, looked to Europe for their inspiration, not the Arab world. The other Arabs considered the Maronites as a fifth column in their ranks. The Maronites may have seen themselves as Western-looking Phoenicians, but the Muslims in Lebanon saw themselves as Arab. This became a point of hostility between the two groups.

Today, the vast majority of Lebanese Maronites live in the Western Hemisphere. They affiliate with (Western) Roman Catholicism, not the Eastern Orthodox nor the Syrian Christian faiths.

Given that Roman Catholicism is a Western denomination, and that many Maronites have a degree of European (Roman, Greek, etc.) ancestry, the Maronites could pass for Latin whites, and could blend in almost seamlessly in South America.

This article (Click Here) vastly underestimates their numbers, but even so, they are clearly a large demographic everywhere.

The Maronites who remained in Lebanon were never really anti-Israel. In fact, some Lebanese Maronite leaders favored Zionism, as they thought it might be an ally against Islam. For those who know the bible, King Hiram of Tyre (in modern day Lebanon) was a friend of David.

Today, if Lebanon and Israel always seem on the verge of war, it is because the demographic of Muslims soon overtook the Christians. The Maronites were not happy with that development.

A subsequent civil war in Lebanon caused many more Maronites to flee.

And almost everywhere, many of the Maronites prefer to label themselves as Phoenician, and will often distance themselves from Arab causes.

This can play havoc with demographers. With lots of Maronites refusing to consider themselves Arabs, millions of Latin-Arabs are not counted.

Where the Maronites are the majority subset of Arabs in Latin America countries – or even roughly half – they tend to moderate anti-Zionist extremism among the Arab ethnics.

Brazil and Argentina have large Maronite populations, and they tend to be friendly to Israel. Do not let the present president of Brazil, Lula, fool you. He does NOT reflect the opinion of most Brazilians regarding Israel. Most Brazilians are pro-Israel.

How could it be otherwise? Brazil is one-third Evangelical Christian, who tend to have Christian Zionist viewpoints.

Where the Palestinians are the majority subset of Arabs, they can skew the foreign policy of Latin nations. Chile is an example. The very prosperous Palestinians have turned Chile’s government policies to a status that is cold toward to Israel. Below is an example.

Source: Times of Israel
November 1, 2023

Recalling ambassador, Chile’s president accuses Israel of ‘unacceptable’ rights violations in Gaza

Chile announces its recalling its ambassador to Israel for consultations, accusing the Jewish state of “unacceptable” human rights violations in the war against the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group.

The only antidote to anti-Zionism among the Latin Arabs is either a large demographic of Maronites, or a growing Evangelical demographic in the host nation.

Guatemala is noted for this. It has a noticeable Palestinian population (1% of the nation); however, 40% of the general population is Evangelical.


Posted on YouTube: February 18, 2022

What is clear is that the Arabs do not present a unified face in Latin America. And it is foolish to think so.

The Maronites barely consider themselves Arab.

And Evangelicalism can overrule even hostile tendencies in other Arab groups.

November 18, 2024 – Added data.

Chile & Latin America During This Crisis

Latin Arabia News, Politics, Propaganda, The Israel-Palestine Issue , , , 0 Comment
Chile & Latin America During This Crisis


Posted on YouTube: October 9, 2023

Chile has a large Palestinian community — which will assert its own view — during this war. However, even the Chilean government, which is often anti-Israeli in its official positions, has rebuked the Hamas attack on civilians in Israel this October. It was a strong condemnation.

Indeed, because of Hamas’ brutality, most official authorities are supporting Israel in this crisis.

Source: Arab News – October 9, 2023

SAO PAULO: Living in countries whose presidents have expressed pro-Palestinian views, Palestinian communities in Chile, Brazil and Argentina have expressed disappointment with statements issued by these countries’ governments concerning the fighting between Hamas and Israel.

Most Latin American nations released statements condemning Saturday’s attack on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

The exceptions were Venezuela, which demanded that Israel immediately halt the occupation of Palestinian territories, and Bolivia, which said it is following developments with concern and accused the UN of inaction.

In Colombia, the Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning violence against civilians and asking both parties to hold dialogue on a two-state solution.

…

Palestinian-born Nicola Hadwa, a prominent Middle East analyst, told Arab News that Palestinians in Chile feel “betrayed,” adding: “That kind of declaration comes from political leaders who are subordinated to the US and Israel.”

Hadwa, who also worked as a football manager and was the first professional coach of the Palestinian national team in 2002, said: “Every day, the Israelis kill two or three young Palestinians and nobody talks about it in the media. When Palestine reacts, suddenly everybody is concerned.”

Chilean President Gabriel Boric’s administration seems to be coming under pressure from both sides.

However, with a large demographic of Arabs in South America – even if most are Christian – there is some small degree of sympathy for the Palestinian side, particularly among the demographic of Palestinians in Latin America.

Thankfully, this time, the governments are acting rationally in spite of this pressure from pro-Palestinians.

Remember, the Arab demographic in Latin America may be large, but it is NOT monolithic.

What We Do Not See In The United States

Latin Arabia Comunidad Palestina de Chile, Maronites, Palestinians, Propaganda, The Israel-Palestine Issue, Untranslated 0 Comment


Posted on YouTube: October 14, 2019
(obviously concerning Christmas)
The Closing Line says: THIS CHRISTMAS WE DO NOT FORGET THE CHILDREN OF BETHLEHEM

Note: the opening seconds of the video look like they were taken from the destruction in Syria, not Bethlehem. If so, the pro-Palestinian video is grossly dishonest.

The two videos on this post come from the Federación Palestina de Chile, which is extraordinarily anti-Israel. Take that into account.

I am not saying our American media lies about the Mideast. From what I have noticed, it could be argued that much of the rest of the world gets a slanted view – slanted to the opposite side of what we see in the USA.

HOWEVER, most Americans do not know what the rest of the world sees, particularly in Latin America. I offer these videos on this website as an example.

In Chile and Honduras – where Palestinians are the most influential Arabic communities – the hostility to Israel is palpable, with political clout. In those countries where the Maronite (Lebanese) Christians are the most influential Arab community, the sentiment is muted.

What is amazing is that almost all of these Palestinian-Latin-Americans hold an idealized, fantasy version of how wonderful Palestine was to their ancestors when the Arabs ruled. Were that so, their ancestors would not have fled to Latin America – and fled they did.

The Muslims treated Christians like dhimmis, and often went on genocidal campaigns against Christians.

But this is what fuels much of the public opinion in Latin America, an idealized, fantasy memory of Palestine.

For example, this video supports BDS against Israel. It opens with the line: SUPPORT FOR BDS IS GROWING IN THE WORLD.


Posted on YouTube: January 2, 2018

I am not asking you to agree with these anti-Israel views. I do not.

But you should be aware of them. It is a whole other world out there in Latin America.

Page 1 of 4
1 2 3 4