High turnout among Christians in Palestinian election
Bethlehem (AsiaNews) The day after the election of Mahmoud Abbas (aka Abu Mazen) to the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Palestinians are very hopeful but still in a 'wait-and-see' mood.
Many appreciate their new president's pragmatism and his good will towards peace talks with Israel. Others harbour doubts about his ability to translate good intentions in concrete facts.
According to Bernard Sabela, a sociologist at the Pontifical University in Bethlehem who spoke to AsiaNews, "the situation is difficult. If Israel, the US and Europe together with Arab countries like Egypt and Jordan don't work together to reach peace, Abu Mazen will achieve little". In general however, a climate of hope and trust is felt. "We all expect changes to take place," Prof Sabela said.
Most Christians voted for Mahmoud Abbas, he noted; only a minority chose Moustafa Barghouti.
More importantly, Christians participated actively in the January 9 election. In fact, Prof Sabela pointed out that "participation among Christians was very strong, with some 23-25,000 voters casting their ballot".
The professor said he himself voted in Jerusalem where he met many Christian families going to the polling stations.
"In some Christian villages, priests did not tell their parishioners how to vote but they did tell them that they themselves had gone to vote before mass."
Asked about what the future had in store for Christians in Palestine, he said he was not worried.
"What worries Christians is what worries every Palestinian, namely reaching peace between Palestine and Israel."
According to Prof Sabela, who is a member of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), relations between Christians and Muslims have always been good in Palestine. "Few remember that in Gaza there is a tiny Christian community of 2,500 in a Muslim population of 1.3 million. Both live side by side very well."
The Catholic Church has not yet made any comments about the outcome of the Palestinian presidential election.
Mgr Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will however speak on the issue on Thursday, January 13, at a press conference in Jerusalem.
Currently, he is discussing with representatives of international Bishops' Conferences the situation of Christians in the Holy Land.
Prof Sabela said the MECC also congratulated Mr Abbas in his victory and wished him all the best in his new mandate.
Concerning the Church's position on the Holy Land, he reiterated what Patriarch. Sabbah said at Midnight Mass: "We need courageous people to work for peace and give our people their dignity."
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