Israel has appointed its first special envoy to the Christian world and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hosted a group of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Christians in a bid to strengthen its relationship with the global Christian community.
It follows several recent incidents which have strained that relationship, attracting criticism from Christian leaders and their congregations around the world.
This includes viral videos of Israeli soldiers desecrating a statue of Jesus on the cross and destroying solar panels that supplied power to the Christian village of Debel near the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
Two IDF soldiers were jailed for a month and stood down from duty over the statue incident.
Italian peacekeeping troops in Lebanon have since erected a new and similar statue.
INCIDENTS AND ISSUES WHICH HAVE UPSET CHRISTIANS
On Palm Sunday, Israeli security staff blocked the highest ranking Catholic in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, from praying with a few other clergy in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — widely regarded as on the site where Jesus was crucified and entombed.
This was because of the threat of an Iranian missile strike on Jerusalem’s Old City.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s intervention ensured Christian leaders could enter church buildings following an international outcry.
Another issue that has upset Christians has been the plan to stop Palestinian Christian teachers who live in the West Bank from working in Christian schools in Israel.
There is also concern over the government’s failure to stop Jewish settlers from mounting repeated violent attacks on the residents of Taybeh, the Biblical town of Ephraim where Jesus sought refuge shortly before his crucifixion.
It is the only entirely Christian village remaining in the West Bank.
AMBASSADOR TO CHRISTIAN WORLD IS AN ARAB ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN
The newly appointed envoy who will address these issues with the local and global Christian community is George Deek.
He’s a veteran diplomat with 18 years of experience who most recently served as Israel’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan and is the first Christian ambassador in Israel’s history.
He grew up as an Israeli Arab Christian in Jaffa, where his father, Youssef Deek, served for many years as Chairman of the Orthodox Christian community in both Jaffa and Israel.
“The State of Israel attaches great importance to its relations with the Christian world and with its Christian friends around the world,” stressed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
“I am confident that George will greatly contribute to the friendship and strengthening of the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world.”
“I CARRY WITH ME THE FAITH AND VALUES THAT SHAPED MY LIFE”
Mr. Deek said he was “honoured” to be the envoy to Christians.
“I accept this responsibility with gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of duty,” he wrote on social media.
“Today, I feel I am closing a circle. From the Sundays of my childhood sitting beside my father in church to this new diplomatic role, I carry with me the faith and values that shaped my life and my community.”
Two years ago, All Israel News Editor-in-Chief and Christian author Joel Rosenberg urged Mr. Netanyahu to keep his promise to appoint an ambassador to the Christian world.
ISRAELI PM HOSTS IDF CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
Three days after the envoy announcement, the Prime Minister held a private meeting with Christian IDF soldiers to share his support for what he called their “incredible work.”
In a video of the meeting the PM highlighted that he was “impressed by their personal stories, their commitment, their sacrifice and their achievements.”
He later claimed that the Christian community in Israel is thriving, growing and expanding, in comparison to other parts of the Middle East.
He added that this message of support for Christians isn’t reaching people outside of Israel.
“This is completely contrary to what is presented outside.”
“It’s not only that Israel fights for the rights of Christians around the Middle East, but that Israel has Christian soldiers who fight for the defence of Israel and for our Christian brethren throughout the area, throughout the region, and beyond,” he added.
SENIOR CATHOLIC LEADER FEARS FOR FUTURE OF CHRISTIANS IN HOLY LAND
Ambassador Deek will also have to deal with growing disillusionment among Israel’s Catholics.
Benedictine Abbot Dom Nikodemus Schnabel fears that with the Christian population declining in the Holy Land, the historic quarters will become empty of families and Christian life.
He claimed only a “tiny” minority, remain due to war, economic hardship, uncertainty and a steady exodus.
He told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that some areas risked becoming empty symbols devoid of witnesses.
“SCENE OF MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN OUR FAITH COULD LOSE ITS CHRISTIANS”
“There is no Annunciation without Nazareth, no Christmas without Bethlehem, no Easter without Jerusalem,” Abbot Nikodemus declared.
He said Jerusalem’s Christian presence is marked by profound pluralism rather than a single, unified voice, with 13 historic Churches.
The Holy Sepulchre, for example, is shared by six different Churches.
“The paradox is clear – the place where the most important events of our Faith occurred risks losing its indigenous Christians.”
“THE HOLY LAND COULD BECOME A KIND OF CHRISTIAN DISNEYLAND”
“My fear is that the Holy Land could become a kind of Christian Disneyland.”
“The holy places will remain, with monks and priests.”
“But there might be no Christian families, no young Christians, no ordinary Christian life.”
CHRISTIAN OUTRAGE OVER ISRAEL GOVT PROMOTING PRIDE FESTIVAL
The new envoy will also have to deal with a sensItive cultural issue for Christians:
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has been actively promoting on social media an upcoming four-day event called Pride Land as the “biggest LGBTQ+ festival ever in the Middle East.”
It will take place next to the Dead Sea in June at a location traditionally regarded as the site of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The promotion and the event have especially outraged American Christians from multiple denominations.
A Catholic priest said it was “mocking God.”
A Southern Baptist pastor told US ambassador to Israel, and former pastor, Mike Huckbee, it is turning off American Christians from supporting the modern state of Israel.
“IT TOUCHES ON HOW SACRED HISTORY IS RESPECTED”
“For many Christians, the conversation goes beyond politics or tourism,” writes BeliefNet.
“It touches on how sacred history is remembered and respected in the modern world.”
“The story of Sodom and Gomorrah has long served as a warning about moral decline and the consequences of turning away from God.”
The event may not attract many foreign visitors if the current threats from Iran and Hezbollah remain unresolved.
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