Israel/Pal areas

People in the West Bank may be suffering but Christmas remains a time of joy and celebration for Christians in and around Bethlehem, says one leader.

According to Ecumenical News International, Minister for Tourism Khouloud Deibes said the birthplace of Jesus remained the center of Christian spirituality in spite of the difficulties caused by the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

The town’s antiquities attract millions of tourists and pilgrims each year but for Christians living in the region they are places of daily spiritual significance, especially at Christmas. more >>

A girls school in northern West Bank was found damaged by fire and vandalized Wednesday with Hebrew graffiti reading “regards from the hills.”

Palestinians have accused Jewish settlers for the attack as they live on hilly outposts nearby. Extremists from the group have been targeting their Muslim neighbors in response to efforts by the Israeli government to remove unauthorized settlements or restrict settlement construction.

While Israeli police are investigating, World Vision, which has ties to the school, released a statement condemning the attack on the Essawieh Girls Secondary School in Nablus. It said the attack – which is not the first – “contributes to a sense of fear and uncertainty for the girls in an environment where they should feel secure and be free to learn.” more >>

An estimated 100 million people worldwide are expected to pray for peace in Jerusalem on Sunday.

The eighth annual Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, which takes place on the first Sunday of every October, will unite some 300,000 churches in 175 nations to intercede in prayer on behalf of Jerusalem, Israel, and its inhabitants. The event is the largest Israel-focused prayer event in history.

“We are living in challenging days, when Jerusalem is under tremendous pressure on all sides,” said Robert Stearns, Eagles’ Wings founder and co-host of the prayer day. “The prayers of faithful people on her behalf will make a difference, especially as Christians and Jews from the nations, along with Arab Christians and Jews from Israel, stand together in Jerusalem on Oct. 3.” more >>

Archaeologists in Israel recently discovered a Philistine temple at the site where the giant warrior Goliath’s hometown would have been.

The temple ruins are located in the ancient city of Gath and dates back to the 10th century B.C., according to Prof. Aren Maeir of Bar Illan University’s Martin Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology. The uncovered temple has a similar architectural image to the one described in the Bible story of Samson who pulled down the Philistine temple of Dagon on himself.

“We’re not saying this is the same temple where the story of Samson occurred or that the story even did occur,” said Maeir, who has directed the excavation at the site for the past 13 years, to The Jerusalem Post last week. “But this gives us a good idea of what image whoever wrote the story would have had of a Philistine temple.” more >>

Israel’s deadly attack on a convoy of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza is “a crime,” said a large network of church-based relief organizations.

“This incident could easily have been avoided. This aggression has been heavily criticized and condemned by the worldwide members of ACT Alliance,” said John Nduna, general secretary of Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance.

ACT is an alliance of 100 humanitarian and development organizations working in 130 countries, including the Gaza Strip. more >>

Palestinian Christians can now visit Christian holy sites in Jerusalem during the Easter holiday, reported Israel’s ambassador to the United States after a Christian leader and two rabbis took issue with the travel restrictions.

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, said Ambassador Michael Oren called him Wednesday and said the travel ban had been lifted, allowing Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank access to Jerusalem.

Oren reportedly said he had contacted Israeli officials about the travel restrictions and they assured him that Palestinian Christians can visit sacred sites for Easter. The ambassador also told NCC to notify him directly if there are incidents at check points with Palestinian Christians in which the orders are not followed. more >>