Since 1993, however, it [the UN study - Ed] said, measures taken by Israel to provide security to its population have restricted Bethlehem's Christian and Muslim worshippers from accessing their holy sites in Jerusalem.

"Restricting access to Jerusalem's and Bethlehem's holy sites runs the risk of aggravating religious divisions in an area that has historical and religious importance for those of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths alike," the report said.

It would appear that Christians throughout the Moslem world are living in a state of bliss, and the only place where Christian worshippers are restricted, is Bethlehem, a consequence of Israel's actions.

The alternative explanation is that the UN sewer is continuing with its obsession of maligning Israel, while ignoring the real discrimination and persecution that are meted out to Christians in the Moslem world.

A glance at a few AP/Reutres headlines published recently substantiates this claim:

Dec 7, Reuters: "Gunmen Attack Armenian, Chaldean Churches in Mosul".

Dec 8, AP: "Police, Christians battle over alleged forced conversion to Islam".

Dec 23, AP: "Christians in Indonesia Move Underground".

These headlines, of course, do not represent a systematic study, but rather a random collection of links that happened to land on my desk.

A rigorous analysis of the situation was presented by Prof Paul Merkley in his articles and books, some of which were highlighted in IsraPundit postings (enter "merkley" in our search engine, middle of right-hand column, to find these articles). In his book, "Christian attitudes towards the state of Israel", Prof Merkley notes that while the percentage of Christians in all Middle East countries but Israel is dwindling, the percentage of the Christian population in Israel has remained steady at about 3%. Israel is among the few Middle East country where Christians may worship openly and in complete freedom. (The reference to Prof Merkley's book is:

Merkley, Paul Charles. Christian Attitudes towards the state of Israel. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2001.)

Contrast the situation of Israel's Christians with that of Christians in Saudi Arabia, for example. An AP news story published on Dec 23 under the title "Where Is Christmas in Saudi Arabia?" reports:

Saudi Arabia has stated publicly that its policy is to protect the right of non-Muslims to worship privately. However, Defense Minister Prince Sulta also stressed that the kingdom would never allow churches to be built.

Earlier this year, Sheik Ibrahim al-Ghaith, chief of the powerful religious police, said Saudi Arabia would never allow public displays of non-Muslim faith.

The State Department said in 1993 that "non-Muslim worshippers risked arrest, lashing and deportation for engaging in overt religious activity that attracts official attention."

...

The bans go beyond Christian symbols. Small statues of Buddha are confiscated at airports, and Buddha pictures on a popular CD have been colored over. Ironically, a CD of Gregorian chants sitting next to it was left untouched.

...

Religious police agents become very active in the days leading up to Christian and Western celebrations. A few weeks ago, a toy store owner was detained for promoting witchcraft because he carried such Halloween decorations as scary masks and witches' hats.

That is why Christmas cards are sold under the counter and only in very few stores.

But the UN has nothing to say about this religious oppression, save perhaps, to vote Saudi Arabia to the UN Human Rights Commission for another term (Saudi Arabia is a member of the Commission for the period 2004-2006 - good enough for Ripley's "believe it or not") . Indeed, even the State Department took its time -- over decades -- before it listed Saudi Arabia among the violators of freedom of religion.

In an imitation of Apartheid customs, Saudi Arabia erected large road signs on the way to Mecca, warning non-Moslems to leave the route to Mecca. You can see a photo of the sign at LGF.

All this is a propos of the UN complaint about freedom of religion in Israel/Yesha. Tomorrow, I will post excerpts from a very unique book, written by Carmen Bin Laden (yes, Osama's sister in law). She goes into the issues of women's oppression in great detail.