IDF Promotes Highest-Ranking Christian Soldier
In February, the IDF will promote a Christian soldier to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, making him the first soldier of his faith to achieve that rank. This comes as the result of a six-year process intended to help the indigenous Christian community integrate into mainstream Israeli society.
BBC Misleads About the Alleged Decline of Israel’s Christian Population
Last week, the Israel Bureau of Statistics published the 2018 figures on Christians living in Israel. According to the report, approximately 175,000 Christians currently live in the Holy Land making up two percent of the total population. Of those, 77.7 percent are Arab Christians. This represents a 2.2 percent growth in Israel’s Christian population in the past year.
Rivlin Celebrates Israeli Christian Ties With New Year’s Reception
“A meeting with the heads of the Christian communities is always important to me, but when we face troubled times it becomes even more important.”
Christmas Tree Controversy in Israel Instigates Holiday Uproar
“Showing this population that they are accepted and welcome is the best route that I can think of to increase peace in the land.”
Hundreds of Thousands of Christians Expected to Visit Israel for Christmas
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin and representatives from the Tourism Ministry hosted the traditional pre-Christmas reception for leaders of the Christian communities and churches of Israel in Jerusalem.
The Truth About the Chief Rabbi’s “Prohibition” on Non-Jews in Israel
A misplaced storm of criticism has recently descended on Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef for comments “forbidding non-Jews from living in Israel”
Christian IDF Soldiers Recieve Special Recognition in Historic First
For the first time, the International Fellowship and Christians and Jews, in partnership with the Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum (ICRF), will bestow academic scholarships on 40 Christian IDF soldiers.
Jerusalem to Distribute Free Christmas Trees in Time for Holiday
On Wednesday, the Jerusalem Municipality announced that it would distribute free Christmas trees in the city on Monday, continuing an annual tradition of giving out the festive trees, gifted by the JNF, to those celebrating the Christmas holiday in the holy land.
Christian Arab MK Ascends Temple Mount, Defying Netanyahu’s Government Ban and Calling for Muslim Sovereignty
Defying an official ban, Arab Knesset Member (MK) Dr. Basel Ghattas visited the Temple Mount. A representative of Balad, he is no stranger to controversy
New Knesset Lobby Encourages Israel’s Muslims, Christians and Other Minorities to Join the IDF
Knesset lobby co-head, Miki Zohar, said “incitement against joining the IDF, encouraged by Arab MKs, threatens minority integration in Israeli society.”