Jared Kushner, NGO leaders sign Abraham Accords memorandum in Abu Dhabi

[Guest]

Totally agree, GH! THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO HERE FOR OUR WEDG FAMILY!

[SAT]

Jerusalem church leaders: ‘Radical’ Israeli groups driving Christians from Holy Land

Christian leaders in the Holy Land have warned that their communities are under threat of being driven from the region by extremist Israeli radical groups, and called for dialogue on preserving their presence.

Fr. Francesco Patton, the Catholic Church’s Custos of the Holy Land and guardian of the Christian holy places in the Holy Land, wrote in an opinion piece published Saturday by the UK’s Daily Telegraph that “our presence is precarious and our future is at risk.”

Last week, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem issued a joint statement similarly warning of the danger posed by radical groups they said are aiming at “diminishing the Christian presence.”
Patton wrote that in recent years, the lives of many Christians have been made “unbearable by radical local groups with extremist ideologies.”

“It seems that their aim is to free the Old City of Jerusalem from its Christian presence, even the Christian quarter,” he said.
Holy sites, including churches, have been desecrated and vandalized, while offenses have been committed against priests, monks and worshipers, Patton charged.

“These radical groups do not represent the government or the people of Israel. But as with any extremist faction, a radical minority can too easily burden the lives of many, especially if their activities go unchecked and their crimes are unpunished.”
Patton wrote that whereas the Christians were once 20 percent of Jerusalem’s population, today they are less than 2%. He issued an appeal to the world for support “so that we can continue to preserve the rich diversity of this Holy Land.”

and...

More warnings came from Britain’s Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in a joint article written with the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum, published in the UK’s Sunday Times. They said the article was prompted by the statement last week from the Jerusalem churches, which Welby, in a tweet, called “an unprecedented statement from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem about the future of Christians in the Holy Land.
In their article, Welby and Naoum wrote that there is a “concerted attempt to intimidate and drive” away Christians.

The archbishops said that the increase in Israeli settler communities, coupled by the restrictions on movement posed by the security barrier Israel built to stymie terror attacks from the West Bank, had “deepened the isolation of Christian villages.”

and

The Vatican News reported Wednesday that Christian organizations across the world responded to the statement with messages of support.

The World Council of Churches, representing 349 churches, gave its backing, with acting general secretary Rev. Ioan Sauca saying in a statement that Christians in the Holy Land should be “respected and valued as part of both the heritage and future of the region.”

Churches for Middle East Peace, a US-based advocacy group, also issued a statement stressing the importance of Christian communities in the Holy Land, Vatican News reported.

Separately, extremist Jewish activists have for years carried out vandalism against Christian sites in Jerusalem and other areas of Israel, including hate graffiti and arson. The extremists also target Palestinians.

Israel seized East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Six Day War and later extended sovereignty over it, in a move never recognized by the international community. It now considers the entirety of Jerusalem its capital, citing the Jewish historical and biblical connection there.

Jerusalem church leaders: 'Radical' Israeli groups driving Christians from Holy Land | The Times of Israel

and on and on the pressure is building even among western Evangelicals.

Just a few examples from the last couple of days adding to the simmer
Jews in, Christians out? Outrage over Jewish tour group exemption from Israel’s border closure

Jews in, Christians out? Outrage over Jewish tour group exemption from Israel’s border closure | All Israel News
The latest decision to allow only Jewish groups into the country damages trust between Israel and Christians – and may have long-term consequences

OP-ED: The latest decision to allow only Jewish groups into the country damages trust between Israel and Christians – and may have long-term consequences | All Israel News

[SAT]

Reminders
-Believers of the three Abrahamic faiths discuss inclusiveness, freedom of religion at Eighth Annual Forum for Peace

Believers of the three Abrahamic faiths discuss inclusiveness, freedom of religion at Eighth Annual Forum for Peace - All Arab News

-Joel Rosenberg introduces the ‘new names’ in Israeli politics and explains.. - Millennium Weekend Ministries

-Catholic Church in Jerusalem slams nation-state law, urges Christians to protest

Catholic Church in Jerusalem slams nation-state law, urges Christians to protest - Millennium Weekend Ministries

-UAE minister slams Netanyahu for saying Israel is nation-state of Jews alone - Israel News - Haaretz.com


With the election of Bennet many thought it would be different but now they are pushing for Israel to prove it is different.

[Glorify Him]

This is profoundly important to continue to watch. SAT thanks for posting links to previous threads that are pertinent to this discussion. Christian tour groups pour an enormous amount of money into the Israeli economy every year. But I have known for 30 years, that's how long it's been since I went to Israel, that there are a lot of Jews who are overtly hostile to Christians and apparently that number has grown.

[SAT]

I agree GH. It is going to be challenging as both Netanyahu and Bennet agreed with the Abraham Accords religious section, but I have reason to believe Israel never really thought they would actually have to accomplish their commitment. Certainly not this quickly.
Now add the fact the right in Israel is demanding more and now.

[SAT]

President Isaac Herzog reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to freedom of religion and called for unity among all the “children of Abraham.”

“As president of the State of Israel, I wholeheartedly commit to preserving absolute freedom of religion and worship for members of all faiths in this Holy Land," he said.

Israeli president hosts Christian leaders – reassures them of Jewish state's commitment to protecting freedom of religion | All Israel News


Abbas said to warn Gantz changes on Temple Mt. could lead to 'unstoppable' violence | The Times of Israel

[SAT]

EXCLUSIVE: Evangelical bishop says Israel must deal with attacks, discrimination against Christians coming from ‘radicalized’ Jewish groups

An Evangelical bishop backed a statement issued by the heads of traditional Christian churches in the Holy Land, saying that the time for remaining silent is over in the face of radicalized hatred and attacks on Christians and their holy places.

“There’s a verse in the Book of Ecclesiastes, that King Solomon wrote, that ‘There’s a time to be silent and there’s a time to speak up,’” Bishop Glenn Plummer told ALL ISRAEL NEWS. “It has been, in my opinion, a rather long period of silence concerning the problems here against Christian believers and against Jewish Messianic believers.”

EXCLUSIVE: Evangelical bishop says Israel must deal with attacks, discrimination against Christians coming from ‘radicalized’ Jewish groups | All Israel News

It isn't going away as it did in the past.