Nazih Khatatba is a General Director at Meshwar Media and the publisher and editor of Meshwar magazine based in Mississauga, Ontario.
On July 3, 2022, Meshwar Media Facebook page posted an article by the Arab Israeli journalist, writer, and author Nabeel Oudeh (نبيل عودة) titled “A satirical short story: How did God create a chosen people?” Oudeh’s article also appeared in Meshwar magazine, Issue 312, July 8, 2022, p. 33.
Here are excerpts from the article (originally in Arabic):
After a great effort of searching in the desert sands and dunes, the angel met with the Children of Israel. They were angry, tired, hungry, and thirsty, agonized by a long loss without a glimmer of hope. The angel told them what the Lord had commanded for them. They asked him: “Does it satisfy our thirst and hunger?” The angel said: “It will save you from the torment of Hell, quench your souls, satiate your souls, and make you the first people to accept God’s commandments, and therefore His chosen ones.” They said: “This is not important; Moses promised us salvation and made us lost in Sinai.” The angel said: “I speak in the name of the Lord of Moses, and the promises of God are absolute.” They asked him: “How much do these commandments cost to make him go away?” He surprised them when he told them: “It is a gift from God.” They said in one joyful voice: “A gift for free?! Free?! Well, that’s great. Bring it, and bring us ten more like it!”
The article included a cartoon with the caption: “The chosen people of God.”