Setting brother against brother?

Israel’s intention to recruit Christian Palestinians into its armed forces is naturally causing an uproar among Palestinians, Christians and Muslims alike.

Both communities view the Israeli move as an attempt to drive a wedge between Palestinians on religious grounds, with a view to follow its policy of divide and rule unimpeded.

Christian and Muslim leaders denounced the Israeli move, describing it as a “Zionist conspiracy aiming not only to divide and weaken the Arab ranks but also to push Christians to leave their original homeland”.

The Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem “strongly” condemned the Israeli decision, saying: “We reject a policy that forces our children to hold weapons and oppress and kill their own people.”

Didn’t Israel stop to think of this before coming up with another Machiavellian idea?

Muslim leaders, both in Israel and outside, echoed similar sentiments about this latest Israeli provocation.

How more wily can Israel be?

The Christian-Muslim relations in Palestine, like in Jordan, have been a model of peaceful, brotherly coexistence of people who lived together for centuries.

No side, especially not Israel, can undermine and jeopardise that, under any scheme.

Christian Palestinians are no doubt aware of this latest Israeli design to unravel the unity among the one Palestinian people.

They, like Muslims, only ask for a dignified life in their own country, free of occupation and free to observe the faith of their forefathers.

Palestinians should complain about this Israeli discriminatory policy to the highest court in Israel, and demand its revocation.

If that fails to yield the desired outcome, the resort to international human rights tribunals should not be excluded from the options available to the Arabs of Israel.