WEST BANK & GAZA: Muslims Attack Churches in Reaction to Pope’s Speech

The following was released exclusively through VOM Media. 

In retaliation to Pope Benedict XVI’s September 12th speech that many Muslims regarded as an affront to Islam, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza attacked numerous churches, according to International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

On September 16th, militant Muslims used firebombs and guns to carry out their damage on seven churches in the two territories.

An Anglican church in the West Bank town of Nablus was bombarded on the 16th by at least five firebombs, and Greek Orthodox churches also sustained damage from the scorching projectiles on their windows and walls.

Roman and Greek Catholic churches in Nablus were covered with lighter fluid by four masked Muslims during the Saturday rampage before they ignited the buildings and covered them with gunfire.

A Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City which had already sustained damage from an ignited bomb on September 15th, was riddled with bullets the next day from armed Palestinian Muslims.

Continuing their barrage in the West Bank on September 17th, angered Muslims set ablaze another two Christian worship centers, including the only Orthodox church in the city of Tulkarm.

Militant Muslims used a speech by the Pope, which was intended to spur interfaith dialogue, as an excuse to wage jihad against Christians.

In the Pope’s speech, he quoted a Byzantine emperor from the 14th Century with the statement, “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”