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** Israel, a safe haven for Christians and other minorities

20 January 2023
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The news in Israel continues to be dominated by the conflict concerning the new government’s plans to reform the relationship between the Parliament (Knesset), government and judiciary. The debate continues to rage as to whether the government’s proposed reforms will destroy or advance democracy.

The issue intensified yesterday, when the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the government’s appointment of the head of the Shas Party, Aryeh Deri, as minister for Interior and Health was “unreasonable in the extreme”, given Deri’s convictions on criminal charges in recent years. Prime Minister Netanyahu now has to decide whether to follow, or ignore, the court’s ruling.

It is worth remembering that Israel – which does not have a written constitution - has faced many crises before. Moreover, with or without the reforms, Israel remains a beacon of democracy in the region. There is no other country in the Middle East where there is such freedom and respect for the dignity of the individual.

Christians, for example, enjoy freedom and protection in Israel far exceeding that in any other country in the Middle East - in fact, far exceeding most countries in the world. In many parts of the Middle East and Africa, for example, Christians are being persecuted and even slaughtered. In many Western countries, Christians are increasingly marginalized. In Israel, by contrast, Israeli Christians play an important part in all aspects of public life, including the army and diplomatic service. A good example is George Deek – an Arab Christian from Jaffa who serves as Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Let us continue to pray for wisdom for Israel’s leaders, as they seek to protect Israel’s right to be the national home for the Jewish people, while ensuring respect for all individuals and minority groups in the land.

The Editorial Team - Israel & Christians Today

For Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Iranian death threats are all in a day’s work
When he began in 2019, George Deek was the first Christian Arab to represent the Jewish state. Now, his host country will be the first Shi’ite state to open an embassy in Israel.
Read more ([link removed])

‘Arab’ Christians Say Integration With Israel Can’t Be StoppedAs more and more Arabic-speaking Christians join IDF, community says it has “bad news” for Israel’s enemies.
Read more ([link removed])

Christian Influence Is Only One Explanation for America’s ‘Special Relationship’ with IsraelBut here, as in other foreign-policy debates, Christians are well equipped to mediate between competing theories. Walter Russell Mead, the well-known columnist and author of such books as God and Gold and Special Providence, has produced a new and clarifying answer in The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People.
Read more ([link removed])

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Interview with Anemone Rüger about her work in Ukraine

Since 2017, Anemone Rüger has been working with Christians for Israel
building up a sponsorship program for impoverished Holocaust survivors
and Jewish elderly in Ukraine. Before the war in Ukraine broke out,
she facilitated international group visits to Ukraine.
She also serves as an author and speaker
to build bridges between Jews and Gentiles.

[link removed]
Names | The Book of RUTH with Johannes Gerloff #07
Names have a meaning. Names describe not only the character
and a gifting of a person, but sometimes also a special vocation.


** SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK:
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** Leviticus 19

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The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israeland say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy (…) “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God (…) “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.’”



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Israel & Christians Today
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The goal of Israel & Christians Today is to help Christians to take God’s Word seriously, and study current events in the world in the context of the Bible.

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