Israel has appointed its first-ever ambassador to the Christian world, with the goal of strengthening ties between the State of Israel and Christian leaders worldwide. Ambassador George Deek, who previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, will work to build bridges between Israel and Christian communities.
Background
Deek’s appointment comes at a time when Christian communities in the Middle East are facing significant challenges, including persecution and dwindling numbers. According to Deek, the Christian population in the Middle East has decreased from 20% to less than 2% in recent years.
Despite these challenges, Israel’s Christian population has grown from 34,000 in 1948 to over 180,000 today. Deek hopes to build on this growth by promoting a fuller understanding of Israel’s diverse society and its values, which are rooted in biblical principles such as democracy, individualism, and freedom of conscience.
Goals and Challenges
Deek’s mission is to connect Christians with the land of Israel, which is the birthplace of Christianity. He also aims to promote Christian-Jewish relations and to counter misinformation about Israel’s treatment of Christians. Deek noted that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practice their faith freely and safely.
However, Deek also acknowledged that there have been incidents of violence against Christians in Israel, including attacks on Christian symbols and the assault of a Christian nun. He emphasized that these incidents are unacceptable and that the Israeli government has condemned them unequivocally.
Deek’s appointment is seen as a significant step forward in Israel’s efforts to engage with the Christian world. As he stated, ‘I see it as a personal mission to bring as many Christians as possible to visit the land of Israel, not as a political campaign… I want them to connect to their Bible. I want them to connect to their Scripture, I want them to connect to the roots of their values by simply going to those places.’
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
