Tag Archive for Israeli Christians

Israeli Christian Zionist urges fellow Arabs to not vote for the Arab Party

Referring to past Arab Knesset members, Yoseph Haddad reminds his fellow Israeli Christians, “They do not care about us; they are only involved in the provocations promoting the Palestinian cause… It is time to start building the bridges that will lead to a united society (of Jews and Arabs together) in the State of Israel, in our home.”

By David Lazarus

 

Yoseph Haddad, a Christian Arab Israeli and wounded IDF veteran is appealing in an open letter to all Arab citizens in Israel not to vote for the United Arab List next week, but to go out and elect representatives “who will work with us in the Knesset for the next 4 years.” Continue Reading »

Israel’s President tells Christians: You will always prosper & multiply in Israel

Israel President Reuven Rivlin noted that “these are difficult and painful times for the Christians in this region, and I am proud that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is not diminishing, but is actually growing.”

By Yossi Aloni

 

Israel President Reuven Rivlin last week visited the Franciscan Monastery of Saint Salvador in the Old City of Jerusalem to mark Pentecost, as well as the 800th anniversary of the Franciscan Order in Israel.

The gathering was attended by the local heads of the Franciscan Order, as well as the heads of various other traditional churches in Israel. Continue Reading »

IDF launches pre-induction program for Christian and Jewish soldiers

In the first of its kind for the IDF, 14 Christian & 14 Jewish 18 yr-olds attend a pre-military preparatory course together to prepare them for serving together.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Many Israeli Jewish teenagers will attend what’s known as a mechina – a preparatory camp prior to entering their compulsory military service.

(Father Gabriel Naddaf with) Lt. (Res.) Shadi Khalloul (seen standing on Netanyahu’s left) has been interviewed by and written for Israel Today on several occasions.

Years ago, such camps were also established for Druze and Bedouin Israelis wishing to volunteer for the IDF (Druze are required to serve, at their request, while Bedouins are not). Continue Reading »

Palestinians in Chile Bully Christian Priest, Threaten Local Christians Over BDS Meeting

 

The Palestinian Federation of Chile, a major supporter of terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah & Hamas, has lead the charge in the anti-Israel BDS movement and sponsored many antisemitic events against the small local Jewish community of 15,000.

By 

 

Palestinians in Chile threatened to boycott a local Christian organization over a scheduled meeting with the Israeli Christian-Zionist leader Father Gabriel Naddaf.

Last week, Naddaf, the head of the Christian Empowerment Council, was on a tour of the South American country, sponsored by the local JNF-KKL chapter and the Zionist Federation of Chile, to speak out against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. Continue Reading »

First Christian Arab qualifies for IAF elite pilots course

 

Unlike the Bedouin who have been volunteering for the IDF since the state was founded, Christian Arab enlistment is still relatively new.
• IDF: All roles are open to all recruits provided they meet the stringent IDF requirements as any other soldier.

By Lilach Shoval

 

An Israeli Christian Arab was among the cadets who began the Israeli Air Force 179th pilots course three months ago, Israel Hayom has learned. The young man, whose name cannot be revealed, is the first Christian Arab to make it into the prestigious course.

The cadet is currently in the initial flight stage of the course, after which the IAF makes a round of cuts. Continue Reading »

Local Christian Clergy Praise Complete Freedom of Religion in Israel

 

President Reuven Rivlin welcomed in Jerusalem, the clergy of Christian communities in Israel to mark the civil New Year, wishing all the Christian leaders and their congregations, “A good and healthy New Year,” adding, “May it be a year of mutual understanding and respect. A year of justice and fairness.”

By Israel Today

 

With Christians suffering in most of the surrounding nations, local Christian leaders took this Christmas season as an opportunity to thank Israel for protecting them and their freedoms.

 President Reuven Rivlin welcomed the leaders of Christian communities in Israel to mark the civil New Year. - Photo- Facebook, Israel in the USA by Mark Naiman, GPO

President Reuven Rivlin welcomed the leaders of Christian communities in Israel to mark the civil New Year. – Photo- Israel in the USA/Facebook, Mark Naiman of Israel’s GPO

That message was delivered by Greek Patriarch Theophilos III during the annual Christmas and Hanukkah gathering at the presidential residence in Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Exposé: IDF Christian soldiers subject to threats and attacks by Muslim neighbors

 

Christian IDF soldiers finding themselves threatened by their Muslim neighbors is not unknown to Israeli officials and although some are still the recipients of violent attacks, nothing substantial has been done to protect them.

By NOAM AMIR/MAARIV

 

The compulsory military draft does not apply to them, but the values they grew up on and the strong desire to integrate into Israeli society has spurred in recent years a growing trend of Christian enlistment in the IDF and other security forces.

Father Naddaf of Nazareth with Christian Israeli IDF soldiers at a Christmas party on December 21, 2015. - Photo: ISRAELI CHRISTIAN RECRUITMENT FORUM

Father Naddaf of Nazareth with Christian Israeli IDF soldiers at a Christmas party on December 21, 2015. – Photo: ISRAELI CHRISTIAN RECRUITMENT FORUM

However, their willingness to enlist in the Israeli army and to contribute to the security of the country sometimes exacts from them a heavy price. Continue Reading »

New law protects Israel Christians that join IDF from intimidation and threats

 

Israeli Christians are now protected from intimidation and threats of violence should they wish to volunteer for the IDF, as new law allocates incarceration to those, mostly Arab Muslims, who accuse the Christians of ‘collaboration with the occupiers.’

By David Lazarus

 

The Knesset passed a bill this week designed to protect Arab Christians who enlist in the Israeli army.  The law, which includes an extended prison sentence for anyone who tries to dissuade a Christian Arab from serving in the IDF, became necessary in the face of stiff opposition and violent attacks against the Christian soldiers.

Some of the Christian IDF soldiers (Left) and Border Guard Police (Right) who attended the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.

Continue Reading »

Exposed: Church BDS activists enter Israel on tourist visas to avoid detection

 

Christian Empowerment Council leader: Activists distort Christianity to promote an extremist agenda. “I will continue to work toward exposing any organization or program that claims to be Christian while working against the State of Israel, the safest place for Christians in the Middle East.”

By Yair Altman

 

An investigation by the Christian Empowerment Council revealed that one of the better-known boycott, divestment and sanctions groups is engaging in illegal activities in Israel, and Israeli authorities appear to be completely oblivious to the phenomenon.

Father Gabriel Naddaf led the investigation into the Christian BDS activists – Photo: Oren Ben Hakoon

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel, which is run by the World Council of Churches, has been active in Israel since 2002. Continue Reading »

Israeli Minister Says Private Christian Schools Should be Funded

 

Minister Gila Gamliel steps in to aid Israel’s 47 Arabic-speaking Christian schools that’s undergoing a severe financial crisis by formulating a program to fund private schools, including the Christian network, that meet certain requirements.

BY Israel Today Staff

 

Israeli Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel has decided to go to bat for the nation’s 47 Arabic-speaking Christian schools, which are facing a severe financial crisis.

Israel Minister Gila Gamliel – Photo: Facebook

The Christian schools went on strike last year demanding government funding, even though they are not part of the state-controlled public school system.

Israel’s Education Ministry agreed to provide the Christian schools a one-time 50 million shekel injection, but that funding is now three months overdue. Continue Reading »

Christian IDF Soldier Attacked by Religious Peers While in Uniform

 

Even as more and more young Christians join the IDF each year, some do so at some risk from friends, or those who oppose the Jewish State.

By Israel Today Staff

 

A growing number of young Arabic-speaking Christians are volunteering to serve in the Israeli army. Some even want their service to be mandatory, as it is for Jews. But there are some elements in Arab Christian society that remain hostile to this phenomenon.

Some of the Christian IDF soldiers (Left) and Border Guard Police (Right) who attended the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.

That was the experience of a young Arabic-speaking Christian who spoke to Israel’s Mako news portal. Continue Reading »

Israel’s Christian Minority Stands Firmly With Israel

 

There is no apartheid, “Israel is the only island of safety that allows [Christians] freedom & democratic rights,” insisted Khalloul, pointing out that under the Palestinian Authority, Christians do not enjoy anywhere close to the rights & quality of life enjoyed by Israeli Christians.

Israel Today Staff

 

As a leading representative of the Holy Land’s reborn Aramaic Christian community, Shadi Khalloul this week penned for the Gatestone Institute a summary of where Israel’s Christian minority stands today.

(Father Gabriel Naddaf with) Lt. (Res.) Shadi Khalloul (seen standing on Netanyahu’s left) has been interviewed by and written for Israel Today on several occasions.

(Father Gabriel Naddaf with) Lt. (Res.) Shadi Khalloul (seen standing on Netanyahu’s left) has been interviewed by and written for Israel Today on several occasions.

Continue Reading »

New academic scholarships awarded to 40 Christian IDF veterans

 

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI

 

For the first time, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum will award academic scholarships to 40 Christians who served in Israel’s armed forces or performed national service.

Father Naddaf of Nazareth with Christian Israeli IDF soldiers at a Christmas party on December 21, 2015. - Photo: ISRAELI CHRISTIAN RECRUITMENT FORUM

Father Naddaf of Nazareth with Christian Israeli IDF soldiers at a Christmas party on December 21, 2015. – Photo: ISRAELI CHRISTIAN RECRUITMENT FORUM

The aim of the scholarship program is to continue to encourage the integration of young members of the Christian community into Israeli society, while reducing gaps and providing opportunities to acquire a higher education. Continue Reading »

Int’l media ignores Christmas tree being burnt down by Palestinian Islamists on Christmas Day

 

This latest example of the silent assault on Christians under PA highlights why the Christian population in Bethlehem has nearly disappeared under PA rule, from 60% in 1990 (under Israeli rule) to just 15% last year.

By Arutz Sheva Staff

 

Two Palestinian Arabs have been arrested by Palestinian Authority (PA) Security Forces, after they set a Christmas tree on fire in the Arab Christian majority town of Zababdeh near Jenin in Samaria.

A PA security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed the arson that took place on Wednesday in statements made Friday in time for Christmas, the Associated Press reports.
Continue Reading »

Christian, Arabic-Speaking IDF Soldiers, Celebrate Christmas

 

view videoChristian enlistment in the IDF continues to grow, as young Israeli Christians say they willingly & happily serve in Israel’s army to defend the Jewish State.
• WATCH: PM Netanyahu wishes a merry Christmas to Israel’s Christian citizens & to Christians throughout the world.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Amid increasing discrimination – and even violence – against Christian minorities across the Middle East, a small program in Israel is dramatically increasing the number of Arabic-speaking Israeli Christians who join the Israeli military, with the aim of integrating this minority population into mainstream Israeli society.

Christian Arabic-Speaking IDF Soldiers Celebrate Christmas

The Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum, led by Father Gabriel Naddaf of Nazareth, is multiplying the number of Christians enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from just 40 in 2012 to more than 100 in 2014. Continue Reading »