It’s Hard To Be a 'Christian Arab' in Israel, But Not Why You'd Think

posted on: Mar 28, 2015

I have the privilege of being a Greek Orthodox priest from Nazareth in the Galilee. My people have mistakenly been called “Christian Arabs,” but the reality is that we are Arameans, descendents of people who lived here in Israel since the time of the Bible.

Following a lengthy public campaign, Israel’s Interior Ministry has recently recognized us as the “Aramean nation.” Partners in this effort were a number of Israeli Zionist organizations.

Over the past three years I have become a controversial figure in Israel for the simple reason that I embrace Zionism, Jewish sovereignty in Israel, and the tolerance, respect and opportunity for all that have grown out of that sovereignty. I believe that our youth—Christian youth—should fully integrate into Israeli society. Part and parcel of that integration includes serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel’s Army, or undertaking some other form of national service that Israel routinely provides for teenagers.

In 2012, a few Christian IDF officers and I founded the I.C.R.F–the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum. My efforts have had mixed results. On the positive side, hundreds of Arab or Aramean Christian youth have heeded my call and have served their country with distinction. They have been embraced by their fellow soldiers, who regard them as comrades in arms, and not as strangers in their midst.

Source: observer.com