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Jordan’s Christians are citizens, not guests
Confirmed
In Short: Israel's Stat-Net Research Institute projects a voter turnout of 63 percent among Arab citizens, with Arab Christians making up about 1.5 percent of the total vote.
Wadie Abunassar, coordinator for the Forum of Holy Land Christians, highlighted the vulnerability of the Christian community, noting, 'The political, economic and social challenges facing Israel cut across all sectors and communities, but as a tiny minority of the population, Christians feel increasingly vulnerable.'
Ms. Totari, reflecting on her conversations with friends, expressed her determination to vote despite her uncertainty, saying, 'I still don’t know who to vote for, but I know that it is very important to vote and I’m going to vote.'
Abunassar also emphasized the importance of national belonging, stating, 'But I’m worried that the sense of [national] belonging is fading away.'
The challenges faced by Christians in Israel are multifaceted, with Ms. Totari noting, 'Of course, the Israeli occupation, settlers, violence—all these issues are important.'
Abunassar further elaborated on the internal divisions within Israel, saying, 'The country is fragmented. This government planted hatred within the Jewish community, not only [between] Jews and Arabs. So, yes, many people are frustrated. I know many friends who…left or are planning to leave. It’s not only Christians who are leaving. I know many Muslims who left.'
The growing division and animosity within Israel, driven in part by a growing Jewish messianic population that believes the land was divinely bestowed on them, are a 'very sad reality,' according to Abunassar.
Despite these challenges, none of the candidates are running on platforms that explicitly represent concerns specific to Israel’s Christians, according to Mr. Abunassar.
The political, economic, and social challenges facing Israel are significant, with Abunassar noting, 'There is a big, big challenge from all directions—economically, socially.'
Abunassar also expressed concern about the potential for internal collapse, stating, 'Of course, these are [external] dangers and risks, but when you and your family start hating or mistrusting each other, this is…the beginning of the collapse [that] could happen at any given time.'
What this adds
The challenges faced by Arab Christians in Israel are complex and multifaceted, reflecting broader societal and political tensions.
What's confirmed
- The growing division and animosity within Israel, driven in part by a growing Jewish messianic population that believes the land was divinely bestowed on them, are a 'very sad reality,' according to Abunassar.
- Despite these challenges, none of the candidates are running on platforms that explicitly represent concerns specific to Israel’s Christians, according to Mr. Abunassar.
What's still developing
- Israel’s Stat-Net Research Institute projects a voter turnout of 63 percent among Arab citizens of Israel on Oct. 27.
- The four-page declaration has been signed by 100 faith leaders from Missouri as well as 50,000 citizens.
- “We are called to defend the defenseless and speak for those whose voices have been silenced,” Perkins said.
- South Korean Catholic bishops are opposing the government’s expansion of abortion pill use, calling it a "disregard for life.” In response to South Korea’s announcement that it will allow the use of abortion pills through nine weeks of pregnancy, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) released a statement opposing the move.
- “We eagerly ask the government and the National Assembly to deeply contemplate this and choose a path that both protects life while practically helping women,” the bishops continued.
- “The CBCK voices deep concerns as this measure would only institutionalize abortion in an ‘orderly’ manner, without changing its fundamental nature, while allowing a disregard for life to be more deeply rooted in our society,” the bishops stated.
- “It is the first duty of the Church to defend human dignity where it is denied,” the declaration says.
- At least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in separate attacks on October 20 and 24 in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, with more than 20 others seriously wounded and 20 homes burned down, church officials said in a statement late on Monday.
- “Hey evangelical Christians. Remember that anti-Christ you been squawking about all these years and how he’d present himself as Christlike and bring about the end of days with a final war in the Middle East involving Jerusalem. Well…check out your boy now!”, White wrote.
- “How can any so-called Christian support him after this blasphemy. How could any Catholic support him after he attacks the character of their Pope multiple times. How did so many millions of people fall for this conman?", he added.
- This did not wash with White, who insisted that this backlash was justified as “SOME christians actually take their own religion seriously”.
- “There is no doubt that there are wars all around,” Ms. Totari said.