-year-old network as militants have threatened to kill him and his family.
Samir Qumsieh, who founded Al-Mahed (Nativity) TV in 1996 in what Christians believe was Jesus’ birthplace, Bethlehem, told Catholic news agency AsiaNews that he had unsuccessfully urged local authorities to protect his family and business.
He also asked Bethlehem Governor Salah Al-Ta’mari to search for unidentified attackers who threw a petrol bomb into the garden of his house last Thursday, August 17.
"We avoided the worst by a miracle. One of the bottles fell on wet grass causing little damage; the other did not explode," he was quoted as saying. He added that the incident was the latest in a series of attacks.
CONTROVERSIAL LEAFLETS
Qumsieh reportedly said that "defamatory and intimidation leaflets” about him were also distributed in the region. However, "despite my pleas that something be done to find those responsible for these acts, the security forces have done nothing," he added.
It was not immediately clear which group was responsible for the attacks, but local Christians and organizations have expressed concern over growing Islamic extremism in the region. Thousands have already left the area.
Among others receiving death threats was the Palestinian Bible Society (PBS) in Gaza City which in February received a terror warning saying "Close and leave Gaza by the end of the month or be bombed," local Christians and rights investigators said.
COUNTING "COST"
"The Bible Society staff counted the cost, surrendered their lives to Christ, and refused to leave despite the real threat to their lives," said Open Doors, a Christian group helping persecuted Christians. PBS Director Labib Madanat, a Jordanian Christian, reportedly said his organization was "called to serve the Palestinian people including the Muslims."
Qumsieh said his television network has denounced several times the violence inflicted on Christians in the region which he suggested angered militants.
In his letter to the governor, copies of which were also sent to the chiefs of local security forces and to Christian leaders, the TV station owner complained that the threats against him are “a serious and dangerous development that must be taken seriously," AsiaNews said.
In addition poor revenues will also make it difficult to continue the network he said, adding that both ‘born-again’ Christians and the militant group Hamas wanted to buy Al-Mahed. "Closing up [the network] would be the hardest thing to do. It is something that touches the entire community. If it goes down, there won’t be another like it," he reportedly said. (With BosNewsLife Special Correspondent Eric Leijenaar and BosNewsLife Research).
