Hezbollah Supports Restoration of Jewish Synagogue in Beirut

Hezbollah can tolerate the restoration of a synagogue, but many Americans are apoplectic about a Muslim community center and mosque two blocks from where the WTC once stood.

Steven L. Taylor

August 8, 2010

Comments

Via Haaretz: Beirut shul to be refurbished, and even Hezbollah’s on board

The ruined main synagogue in central Beirut is due to be renovated in the coming weeks, after an agreement between various religious denominations and permission from the Lebanese government, planning authorities and even Hezbollah.

[…]

The project received the green light after political officials and community leaders became convinced it could show that Lebanon is an open country, tolerant of many faiths including Judaism.

So, in this case it would appear that Hezbollah is more tolerant of other faiths and their houses of worship than are some Americans such as, for example, Newt Gingrich (but as Doug Mataconis notes, not just).

As I watch the spectacle of political pandering to anti-Muslim sentiment (if not full blown Islamophobia) in the United States that flies in face of basic constitutional values, such a comparison should be eye-opening, although I suspect that it won’t be (at least not to the panderers and their panderees, so to speak).

More from Der Spiegel: Beirut Synagogue Gets a New Lease On Life.

h/t: Andrew Sullivan

9 responses to “Hezbollah Supports Restoration of Jewish Synagogue in Beirut”

Zelsdorf Ragshaft III

August 8, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Do not misstate the issue. It is not about what, it is about where. I have heard most of what Newt has had to say about building a Mosque near the site of the former WTC. I know why he opposes it. I want to know why you want to let people who think we had a hand in 9/11 build a monument to victory close to a site most Americans consider sacred. Steven I am beginning to believe you are intellectually dishonest. I say that because you seem to support something that truely stands against all we hold dear, here. In which Muslim country is freedom practiced as it is here?
Chris Lawrence

August 8, 2010 at 7:34 pm

A really hardened cynic might suggest that Hezbollah supports building a synagogue in Beirut because that’s the only place left where they still have the operational capacity to blow one up. Good thing I’m not that cynical.
tom p

August 8, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Do not misstate the issue.

He hasn’t. You don’t know what the issue is. (for your edification, it is called the “Constitution”)

It is not about what, it is about where.

No it isn’t, and if you honestly read what is being said without your self imposed blinders, you would know it (or do you already?)

I have heard most of what Newt has had to say about building a Mosque near the site of the former WTC. I know why he opposes it.
Yeah, I know why he opposses it as well: “They are the evil unbeleiver Muslims”

I want to know why you want to let people who think we had a hand in 9/11 build a monument to victory close to a site most Americans consider sacred.
ZR III: Huh? These are your views, not theirs, (and for the record, not mine)(for the record, put up a monument if you want, I won’t object. But until someone starts a religion centered on 9/11, there ain’t no way, no how, that piece of muck will be sacred to any one)

Steven I am beginning to believe you are intellectually dishonest.

No comment, that statement alone, considering it’s source, stands alone.

I say that because you seem to support something that truely stands against all we hold dear, here.

Which is OBVIOUSLY not the 1st Amenment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Ahhhh…. details.

In which Muslim country is freedom practiced as it is here?

For how much longer ZRIII? How much longer?
Stan

August 8, 2010 at 9:46 pm

After reading Ragshaft III’s views on this topic and the slightly more rational ones of Abraham Foxman, the nutcase executive director of the Anti-Defamation League, I wonder what Zels and Abe and Newt and Sarah P feel about the size of their proposed mosque-free zone in New York City. Obviously it should be centered at Ground Zero, but how big should it be? Should it include Queens and the Bronx? If it’s limited to Manhattan, how far north should it go? Should it include Harlem? Or the upper east and west sides? Should there be a similar Araberfrei zone in Washington? What should we do about the Moslem prayer room in the Pentagon? These are weighty questions. Abe and Newt and Sarah P don’t post in this blog, but luckily we have Zelsdorf R. Maybe he could shed some light on the topic.
Juneau:

August 8, 2010 at 11:30 pm

From the referenced article:
We’re not talking about renewing prayer in the synagogue, but only about renovation as a symbol of the great diversity of Lebanon and the history of the community,” one source said.
So, supposedly (and there is only this one source), the synagogue will be allowed to be restored, but they can’t actually use it. So it would be OK with the author and libs here if opponents of the NY mosque said OK to its construction, but prayers can’t be offered inside of it?
Really? Seriously?
And this is the author’s idea of “tolerance” from Hezbollah….
Not.
till

August 9, 2010 at 4:30 am

Obviously it should be centered at Ground Zero, but how big should it be
Jeff

August 9, 2010 at 4:34 pm

Juneau,

so you agree that the mosque is too close to ground zero … how close would you consider too close ?
Jeff

August 9, 2010 at 4:36 pm

gee, did a bunch of Jews blow up a building right next to the Synagogue being reburbished ?

nice strawman … too bad its apples and oranges …
Miguel Madeira

August 11, 2010 at 7:19 am

“did a bunch of Jews blow up a building right next to the Synagogue being reburbished ?”

“bunch of Jews” have the habit of blowing up parts of Beirut, yes.