The Wall Street Journal recently published an article entitled, “Israel’s Christian Awakening: A Controversial New Movement Wants to Cooperate More Closely With the Jewish State.”  That article is available online and we encourage WRF members to read it carefully.  

The WRF is blessed to have as members both an Israeli Christian, David Zadok, and a Palestinian Christian, Munther Isaac.  As we have done in the past with other issues, we have asked both of these men to comment on the Wall Street Journal article.  Both men have graciously agreed to do so and their responses are below.  

Both men are eager to make it clear that they regard what binds them together – the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ – is far more important than their differences.  They have shared their perceptions of the Wall Street Journal article as part of the WRF belief that, as we do such sharing, “The strengths of some become the strengths of all in the service of Jesus Christ.” 

In addition, we have included here the response of a third WRF member, Dr. Matthew Ebenezer.  Dr. Ebenezer is an ordained teaching elder of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of India (RPCI) in which he serves as Secretary of the Synod. Further information about Dr. Ebenezer may be found on the “Board of Directors” section of this website. 

The responses of David, Munther, and Matthew are below, listed in the order in which they were received by the WRF office.  The responses have not been edited in any way. 

“Israel’s Christian Awakening”A Response ByWRF Member David ZadokThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

The article I believe is yet another sign that God is on the move in Israel! The church among the Jewish people is growing and we as a community are making a small but nevertheless important contribution to the society. At the same time it is interesting to see the parallel between the Arab Christian community, and the Jewish Christian community. While both are a small minority among their people, yet both are developing their independent identity in their society. The Arab Christian’s for decades has been in the shadow of their Arab Muslim community and often lived in apprehension.    

The Arab spring, as a tool in the hand of the sovereign God, has a dual effect. While on the one hand many of the Christians in some of the Arab countries had to escape and have been persecuted, yet at the same time the issue of the Christian monitory in these countries had come in the forefront. I do hope that the Christian community world wide and particularly our WRF will raise its voice against some of the challenges that our Christian brothers and sisters are facing. At the same time these troubles have helped the Arab Christians in Israel to appreciate what they have, but more so to stand up as a more independent community with their own identity.    

My prayer and my hope is that these developments will help the cause of the Gospel in Israel both among the Arabs, but also the Jews. I pray that we Jews and the Arabs can cooperate to bring the gospel together to our people. There is nothing stronger that a Jewish person sharing the Gospel with an Arab, and an Arab person sharing the Gospel with a Jew.       

Should Palestinian Christians in Israel Serve in the Israeli Army? A Response by WRF Member Munther IsaacThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Recently, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled "Israel's Christian Awakening" about a new small and a very controversial movement among Palestinian Christians in Israel who are seeking to join the Israeli army and collaborate more with the Israeli government. 

The article exaggerates the impact of the movement, as the vast majority of Palestinians in Israel (Palestinian Christians included) are still against such a step. But the question remains, is this movement justified in its calling for Palestinian Christians in Israel to join the Israeli army? 

The movement, though still small and insignificant, got the attention and support of Israeli leaders. The irony here is that it is rising in a time when Israel is insisting that Palestinian leaders recognize Israel exclusively as a Jewish state. Such an irony was revealed when Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech this Christmas to congratulate Christians, and he praised those Christians who are willing to serve the state of Israel. As Haaretz reported, "the prime minister stopped himself in the nick of time from saying the word 'Jewish' and instead quickly said "the state and our society". (Watch here) 

There is no denying that Christians in Israel are doing much better than Christians are doing in some neighboring Arab countries, where they are the victims of sever persecution and in some cases barbaric mascaras. Yet Israel should hold itself to higher standards, if it wants to continue to call itself  "the only democracy in the Middle East". The fact of the matter is that Israel today discriminates against its Arab Palestinian citizens - including Palestinian Christians. The discrimination is so blatant and can be seen in gap in the living standards between the majority of Jews and the minority of Arabs, and the amounts of money spent to develop their respected towns and villages. Even the Arabic speaking Druze community - who elected many years ago to serve in the Israeli army - suffer from this discrimination in the Israeli society. 

In addition, Christians are not always very welcomed in the Israeli society. Take the case of the elected mayor of Upper Nazareth, who publicly pledged to keep his town "Jewish" and fought for years against even having a Christmas tree in his town - despite the fact that there Christians who live there, and despite the fact the Nazareth, where Jesus was raised, and were many Palestinian Christians live today, is just a five minutes drive. There are more and more attacks recently on Christian holy cites by Jewish extreme groups, and even that Vatican have called Israel out for failing to deal with these attacks. Israel is indeed a more friendly place for Christians these days - but that does not mean that there is justice in the land. (See my article: Israel or Hamas?) 

Father Naddaf, the face of this movement, claimed in the report that Israel has "defended" Christians. He is of course implying that Israel has defended Christians from Muslims. Again, there is no denying that there are extreme Islamic voices among the Palestinian community in Israel, and these voices are raising by the day. Yet at the same time, no one can deny that overall, the relationship between Palestinian Christians and Muslims is and has always been very good. Moreover, and if Naddaf is right in his claims, the fact that Israel "defended" Christians is Israel's duty anyways - and not a favor towards Christians. Every state must defend its citizen and keep order. After all, Palestinian Christians have been living in this very land for thousands of year. They are the people of the land - not guests seeking protection. 

Naddaf's comments, in fact, reveal the real motif behind this movement. These young people are not seeking to join the Israeli army because they love Israel - but because they are afraid of radical Islam. This fear is understandable, given the alarming rise in Islamic violence against Christians (and also against other Muslims) in neighboring Arabic countries. Many Christians in Israel and Palestine fear that this rise will one day reach this land, and mention Gaza as an example, where Hamas has been ruling for over six years, and they have not been very friendly towards Christians (and other Muslims!) Yet by and large, the Palestinian community in Israel and the occupied territories is still far from the levels of extreme that we witness today in neighboring Arabs countries. 

Does this mean that Christians now must carry arms? Is the solution for the rise of Islamic extremism - that Christians join forces with a Jewish state, that has not always been friendly towards them? Do we really want to intensify religious sectarianism in this part of the world? In addition, would this be a "Christian" way of responding to violence and hate? Speaking as a Middle Eastern Christian, I agree with my friend Joseph Cumming, who stated that in the wake of the rise of radical Islam, the real struggle here a struggle not between Muslims and Christians or between Islam and the West, but "a struggle within Christianity itself, a struggle for the soul of the Christian faith". The approach of Naddaf and co does not reflect a Christian attitude. It will only increase the violence and hatred towards Christians. It fails to present an authentic Christian witness in this part of the world, a witness that is based on the teachings of Jesus. Joining an army, and carrying weapons, in my humble understanding of Scripture, are against the teachings of Jesus.  

In a time when Christians are struggling to stay in the Middle East, and when Palestinian Christians in Israel are struggling with the issue of identity and belonging - the church must think deep and seek a common Christian witness. Our identity and future are found in our calling to be a salt and a light; to be peacemakers. We must present an alternative way of living, rather than be "conforming to the pattern of the world" (Rom. 12:2).  

Speaking from personal experience - some years ago I was stopped with my wife at an Israeli checkpoint outside of Bethlehem, and when the solder began to interrogate us, it became apparent that he was a Palestinian Christian from Israel, and he realized we were Christians. He tried to soften the awkwardness of the moment with a smile, and then allowed us to proceed in our way without any further hassle. I must admit, it hurt us so much. We are both Palestinians. We are both Christians. We are both the people of the land, and our ancestors have been living here for hundreds if not thousands of years. The conflicts has put us of different sides of the fence. 

Response to the Comments of Mr. Zadok and Mr. IsaacbyWRF Board Member Matthew EbenezerThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The move of Israeli Christians to seek closer identification with the Israeli nation and also to assert their own identity is something that may result in some positive outcomes.  I reside in a country (India) where Christians are a minority and enjoy certain privileges because of their minority status.  Although the constitution does assure citizens of freedom of religion there are often situations that call for minorities to appeal to their rights.  This is the case of most minorities in countries that have an ethnic or religious majority.  However, the contribution of the minorities does make a difference and creates an impact on the majority.  For instance, Christians in India are acknowledged for their contribution in the fields of education and healthcare.  When sporadic opposition to the gospel arises Christians are not only protected, they are defended by educated non-Christians.  Perhaps the same could apply to Israeli Christians.  

Israeli Christians are coming out openly to join the IDF, with the support and encouragement of Christian leaders like Father Gabriel Naddaf.  Mr. Munther Isaac doesn’t think this is a Christian response because it goes against the basic teachings of Christianity.  (Mr. Isaac brings up many matters of concern from his own experience and hopefully these will be tackled as the Christian community becomes more visible.)  This brings up the question of patriotism.  Should Israeli Christians be patriotic?  Our Israeli Christian brothers and sisters are better equipped to answer this question.  It seems that along with more Israeli Christians joining the armed forces there are repercussions.  Father Naddaf suffered a personal reprisal when his seventeen year old son was brutally beaten last December.  This is the heavy cost of speaking on behalf of your convictions.  Prime Minister Netanyahu’s assurance of action in such cases should be a comfort for Christians.   

Israeli Christians should not only become more conscious of their own identity they should also contribute significantly to the welfare of their own country.   It is remarkable that Israeli Christians have several things to their credit, specially lower unemployment rates and longer life expectancy than Israeli Muslims; also a higher level of educational achievement than Israeli Jews.  This shows a minority with great potential.  Given these facts Israeli Christians need to go beyond merely doing things to assert their identity by joining the IDF or forming of political parties that would help their own community.  They should do their utmost to be involved in every sphere of activity that would make them a trusted and respected minority.   

One can only hope and pray that God will intervene and protect Israeli Christians who are targeted by extreme Muslim and Jewish elements because of their identity and convictions.