Israel has appointed its first envoy to the Christian world after a pair of scandals strained relations between church leaders and the Jewish state.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced Arab Christian diplomat George Deek to fill the new role, saying the move is aimed at strengthening Israel’s ties with Christian communities globally.
The appointment comes amid recent tensions between Israel and parts of the Christian community.
Last month, controversy arose when Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and other senior clergy were prevented by police from attending Palm Sunday services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Officers claimed the group ran afoul of wartime restrictions banning public gatherings, but the priests insisted they were attending for a small private mass.
Political and police leaders subsequently apologised to Pizzaballa, with Prime Minister Netanyahu pledging that he would be granted unrestricted access to holy sites.
Then, in a separate incident this week, an IDF soldier was filmed destroying a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon, prompting widespread condemnation both in Israel and internationally.
Following an investigation, the soldier involved, along with another who recorded the act, was removed from combat duty and sentenced to 30 days in military prison..
Announcing Deek’s appointment, Saar said: “The State of Israel attaches great importance to its relations with the Christian world and with its Christian friends around the world. I am confident that George, a respected and experienced diplomat, will greatly contribute to the friendship and strengthening of the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world.”
Deek, who recently served as Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, made history as the country’s first Christian ambassador.
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