--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Lebanese Muslims and Palestinians…" description: "\"“When Lebanese Muslims and Palestinians declared jihad on Christians in 1975, we didn’t even know what that word meant. We had taken the Palestinians i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/brigitte-gabriel-16300_christianity_when-lebanese-muslims-and-palestinians-d_458230.jpg" --- # When Lebanese Muslims and Palestinians declared jihad on… ![“When Lebanese Muslims and Palestinians declared jihad on Christians in 1975, we didn’t even know what that word meant. We had taken the Palestinians in, giving them refuge in our country, allowing them to study side by side with us in our schools and universities. We gave them jobs and shared our…” quote by Brigitte Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/brigitte-gabriel-16300_christianity_when-lebanese-muslims-and-palestinians-d_458230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/brigitte-gabriel-16300_christianity_when-lebanese-muslims-and-palestinians-d_458230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/brigitte-gabriel-16300_christianity_when-lebanese-muslims-and-palestinians-d_458230.jpg) > ““When Lebanese Muslims and Palestinians declared jihad on Christians in 1975, we didn’t even know what that word meant. We had taken the Palestinians in, giving them refuge in our country, allowing them to study side by side with us in our schools and universities. We gave them jobs and shared our way of life with them. What started as political war spiraled very fast into a religious war between Muslims and Christians, with Lebanese Muslims joining the PLO fighting the Christians. We didn’t realize the depth of their hatred and resentment toward us as infidels. The more that Christians refused to get involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to allow the Palestinians to use Lebanon as a launching pad from which to attack Israel, the more the Palestinians looked at us as the enemy. Muslims started making statements such as “First comes Saturday, then comes Sunday,” meaning first we fight the Jews, then we come for the Christians. Christian presence, influence, and democracy became an obstacle in the Palestinians' fight against Israel. Koranic verses such as sura 5:51—"Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends. They are but friends and protectors to each other"—became the driving force in recruiting Muslim youth. Many Christians barely knew the Bible, let alone the Koran and what it taught about us, the infidels. We should have seen the long-simmering tension between Muslims and Christians beginning to erupt, but we refused to believe that such hatred and such animosity existed. America also failed to recognize this hatred throughout all the attacks launched against it, beginning with the marine barracks bombing in Beirut in 1983 all the way up to September 11, 2001. It was that horrible day that made Americans finally ask, What is jihad? And why do they hate us? I have a very simple answer for them: because you are “infidels.”” [Brigitte Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-gabriel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious animosity and political grievances fuel conflict; misunderstanding of jihad leads to fear and hostility **In simple terms:** Hatred stems from religious labels and political tensions Key Takeaway Recognize that misinterpretations of religion can ignite conflict Themes religion conflict misunderstanding politics terrorism Mood concerned critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - foreign policy - interfaith dialogue - counter‑terrorism - media analysis Key Concepts identity politics extremism historical grievances Questions to Reflect On - What role does education play in reducing religious hatred? - How can societies address both political and religious roots of conflict? 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The more that Christians refused to get involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to allow the Palestinians to use Lebanon as a launching pad from which to attack Israel, the more the Palestinians looked at us as the enemy. Muslims started making statements such as “First comes Saturday, then comes Sunday,” meaning first we fight the Jews, then we come for the Christians. Christian presence, influence, and democracy became an obstacle in the Palestinians' fight against Israel. Koranic verses such as sura 5:51—\"Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends. They are but friends and protectors to each other\"—became the driving force in recruiting Muslim youth. Many Christians barely knew the Bible, let alone the Koran and what it taught about us, the infidels. We should have seen the long-simmering tension between Muslims and Christians beginning to erupt, but we refused to believe that such hatred and such animosity existed. America also failed to recognize this hatred throughout all the attacks launched against it, beginning with the marine barracks bombing in Beirut in 1983 all the way up to September 11, 2001. It was that horrible day that made Americans finally ask, What is jihad? And why do they hate us? 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