Religious Israeli lawmaker tears up New Testament, drawing official scolding

[rug]

By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, July 18, 6:15 AM

JERUSALEM — An Israeli lawmaker has torn up a copy of the New Testament in front of cameras in his parliament office.

An aide says Christian missionaries mailed the Christian scripture to Michael Ben-Ari of the ultranationalist National Union Party.

Itamar Ben-Gvir said Ben-Ari, an Orthodox Jew, was enraged to receive the book, in whose name he says millions of Jews were slaughtered. Ben-Ari tore it up, he said, then posed for photographs with the destroyed Bible.

Many Christians over the centuries persecuted Jews, holding them responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/religious-israeli-lawmaker-tears-up-new-testament-drawing-official-scolding/2012/07/18/gJQA1uF7sW_story.html

Ben-Ari, meet Ernest Perce.

[CBGLuthier]

1. Good for him, only an asshole busybody would have sent this man a NT

[2ndAmForComputers]

3. This is the correct answer.

[msongs]

2. so, wehre are the christians rioting and demanding jihad against the book wrecker? nt

[Igel]

4. I thought this would have been post 1.

The actual post 1 and 2 I thought so ironic, given the overweening condemnation of any insult to a Qur'aan as to be too far into the realm of self-parody, as to be impossible even in principle.

Boy, was I wrong.

[cbayer]

5. Because the desecration of a Qur'aan means much more to Muslims than

the desecration of a Bible means to christians.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Stupid right-wing idiot

Yes, most Jews do find it irritating when Christians try to convert them, but most manage not to do a Terry Jones over it.

I can guarantee that Ben-Ari is not someone who would share DU values. He is WAY to the right of Netanyahu. He is a former member of an illegal Kahanist party and has not moved on very much. He is a strong supporter of the settlers; has been in trouble with the Israeli police for his activities at pro-settler, anti-Arab demonstrations, and is currently leading a hate-campaign against Sudanese asylum-seekers. Pretty much like a BNP activist in the UK. His being in parliament at all is an unfortunate side-effect of the Israeli electoral system of almost pure proportional representation, giving seats to members of small nutcase parties.

[rug]

7. Thanks for the background.

You never know from these stories what the full picture is.