With the renewed hope for Israel-Palestinian peace provided by the “Road Map,” some serious concerns remain that affect not only Israel, but the entire Christian world as well. Israel will now be pressured to relinquish control of many areas, including those that contain Christian holy sites. This situation could be disastrous for both Israel and world Christianity.

Consider:

In April 2003, the Palestinian Authority’s mufti issued a religious edict banning President Bush from ever stepping foot in the Holy land, or from visiting Christian holy sites.

When Christian holy sites were under Arab rule from 1948-1967, there were decrees severely limiting Christian worship. Christian schools were forced to close on Friday (the Moslem holy day), and Christian students were required to learn the Koran taught by Moslem teachers.

Since Arafat took over Bethlehem in 1995, his Palestinian Authority has used intimidation, forced migrations and boundary changes to reduce the 60% majority of Christians in the Bethlehem area to a 20% minority.

For years under Israeli rule, Bethlehem was a peaceful tourist attraction for Christian pilgrims. Now, under Palestinian rule, it a hotbed of radicalism and terror.

Protect the holy sites by signing the petition at www.IsraelPetition.com.

In 1997, when Israel handed over part of Hebron to the Palestinian Authority, the ancient monastery Abraham's Oak was ransacked by Palestinian policemen -- and several monks and nuns were beaten and required hospitalization.

In October 2000, the Judeo-Christian holy site Joseph's Tomb was torched to the ground under the watchful eye of the Palestinian police. (Its surviving dome has now been painted Islamic green.)

And let us not forget the Lebanese civil war (1975-82) when Christian villagers were massacred, churches destroyed, and cemeteries desecrated -- all at the hands of Palestinian factions. On January 23, 1976, Palestinians slaughtered 586 Christians in the town of Damour.

Indeed, Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not merely a Muslim-Jewish issue. Christians have much at stake as well.

Consider this recent chant by thousands of Palestinians on the West Bank: "After we do away with the Saturday People [the Jews], we shall take care of the Sunday people [the Christians]."

On February 6, 2002, the Boston Globe reported “a rampage of Palestinian Muslims against Christian shops and churches in Ramallah... Police made no attempt to stop the mob, which besieged and damaged a widely respected youth center associated with the Boy Scouts of America after torching the Christian properties... ‘The truth is this is a problem between Christians and Muslims,’ said one Christian businessman."

Overall, fearful Christians have been fleeing the Palestinian Authority areas at four times the rate of Muslims.

Don't let the forces of intolerance gain a foothold on Christian sites in the Holy Land, of all places.

Protect the holy sites by signing the petition at www.IsraelPetition.com.

With thanks from the holy City of Jerusalem.