The Liaison Committee – a joint forum of the B’nai B’rith World Center and the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel – met in September in Jerusalem to discuss the advent of an independent Christian voice in Israel calling on their community to turn away from past antagonism and alienation towards the State of Israel and to integrate fully into the civic life of the Jewish state.
The symposium took place in light of new activism among the minority Christian population in northern Israel encouraging Christian youth to volunteer for military and civil service. “The Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum” was founded in 2012 by Christians in Nazareth in reaction to anti-Christian persecution and negation of the rights of Christians in neighboring countries and throughout the Middle East. According to figures recently released by the Prime Minister’s, the activities of the Forum have tripled Christian volunteer enlistment into the IDF from 35 to 100 while 500 young members of the community have volunteered for National Service. Among the most enthusiastic supporters of the integration of Christians into state institutions and military service is Father Gabriel Naddaf, a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth and spiritual leader of the Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum. Speaking at the Liaison Committee meeting, Naddaf said that the vast majority of Israeli Christian want to be better integrated into the life of Israel despite opposition from the much larger Arab Moslem population that, in effect dominates them: “Our plan is to integrate the Christian population, not just in words, but in action. (More of this story here)
The symposium took place in light of new activism among the minority Christian population in northern Israel encouraging Christian youth to volunteer for military and civil service. “The Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum” was founded in 2012 by Christians in Nazareth in reaction to anti-Christian persecution and negation of the rights of Christians in neighboring countries and throughout the Middle East. According to figures recently released by the Prime Minister’s, the activities of the Forum have tripled Christian volunteer enlistment into the IDF from 35 to 100 while 500 young members of the community have volunteered for National Service. Among the most enthusiastic supporters of the integration of Christians into state institutions and military service is Father Gabriel Naddaf, a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church in Nazareth and spiritual leader of the Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum. Speaking at the Liaison Committee meeting, Naddaf said that the vast majority of Israeli Christian want to be better integrated into the life of Israel despite opposition from the much larger Arab Moslem population that, in effect dominates them: “Our plan is to integrate the Christian population, not just in words, but in action. (More of this story here)
