I last wrote about the difficult situation faced by Christians in the MidEast. The Druze fight back against their Muslim oppressors. The Christians either become martyrs, preferring not to make waves, but to try to live in hopes of peace and tolerance – or they escape to places they feel will be safer. And that is exactly what the Islamists want.

The Christians population of Bethlehem has been completely routed. It is now over 98%Muslim. The Christians are being chased out of Nazareth with both ‘Arab mafia’ threats and acts of violence to person, home and business as well as ‘softer violence.’ This northern Israeli city, once home to Israel’s second largest Christian population continues to sink into neglect. The Muslim mayor, Ali Salaam, must be fired.

Streets adjacent to the Basilica of the Annunciation are being flooded with trash, garbage bins are not being emptied and are overflowing, the city smells pungently horrific. On Sunday, the holy feast of Pentecost, city workers came and set fire to the trash heaps near the Greek Orthodox Church and the Catholic Basilica. Burning plastics and toxic fumes filled the alleys and the buildings of Christian homes and convents/monasteries nearby.

Saher K., is a multi-generational resident. His family has lived in Nazareth for over 16 generations. Saher stated, “We live in a dump. It’s just like that. It’s a health hazard. It’s a shame. And we are alone in the battle. Many are just giving up. We can no longer get the value back for our homes.”

The Archbishop, Rafik Nahra, the Orthodox clergy and other Baptist and evangelical pastors have complained to the Minister of Health and to the Minister of the Interior. Some of the recommendations included that the current mayor and all members of the city council be dismissed due to the ongoing neglect and violence. This is a highly unusual step for a head of state to act against local authorities, and the complaints have gone unheeded. Now the residents are giving up.

Last weekend billboards went up throughout Nazareth advertising snack foods. The posters, abusive advertisements published by the Palestinian company “Qasrawi” mock the Last Supper. Designed to be egregiously offensive to the Christian population, Jesus and his disciples appear in the form of sheep. The Eid-Al-Adha holiday is a sacrificial festival in which sheep (and other animals) are slaughtered by the Muslims. Would Muslims accept such an insult to their prophet Mohammed?

Over the past year, a new group has formed under the head of Retired IDF commanding officer, Lt. Col. (res) Ihab Shlayan. A patriotic Israeli citizen, Ihab has spent the past year trying to unite the wider body of 250,000 Christians in Israel under one flag, literally.

The VOICE, or Voice of Israeli Christian Eagles is fighting back with words, legal action, petitions to the government, and unification of the different branches of Christians in Israel. They promote military service or a year of community service after high school graduation. They would like to have oversight of their own private religious education. The VOICE seek full recognition as Israeli Arabs by the State of Israel and representation at all levels of government, university, military and in social platforms.

Ihab Shlayan today, sent an official letter to the Minister of the Interior, members of Knesset, Minister of Health. It reads:

This is not Syria. It is not Iraq. And it is not Gaza.

This is Nazareth – the City of the Annunciation, the holy city of Christians – now neglected due to failed leadership of the Nazareth Municipality and lack of involvement by Israel’s Ministry of the Interior.

Members of the Christian community are calling on the Government of Israel to take responsibility, reclaim control, and liberate Nazareth from Arab political dominance, restoring proper governance, public safety and cleanliness to this sacred city for Christians.

With respect, Lt. Col. (Res.) Ihab Shlayan. Chairman, The Christian Voice Association

In the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, a huge banner hangs in front of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest place in the world to the Christian community. It reads in Arabic and in English “Jesus is a slave to Allah. ‘Jesus said: I am indeed a slave of Allah, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship him alone. Quran 3:51” It is in English so all the pilgrims can see it. This is the most important church in the Christian world, the site of the execution, burial and resurrection of Jesus. And of course, many years ago, a mosque was built right in front of the mosque. Visitors can hear the loud call to Islamic prayer five times a day within any part of the Holy Sepulchre building. This is a message to Christians from the Islamic institution.

Several months ago, the Muslims of Nazareth put up another banner. It is at the entrance to the Basilica Cathedral of the Annunciation. A shrine noted as the place where Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, it is not only the largest church in the MidEast, but attracted millions of pilgrims each year (in the preCOVID days). Also, note that a large mosque with loudspeakers was built at the foot of the hill right down the street from the Cathedral. The imam of Nazareth can be heard making public addresses during their holy Mass services.

The State of Israel can no longer look away. The. Christian community in Israel is a generally peaceful one. They are our doctors and nurses. Most are highly educated. They run large businesses and serve the country patriotically. Sports coaches, restaurant and hotel owners, leaders and members of the Christian Scouts, engineers, and our friends. And they are being forced out by radical Islamists. This is not just Arab on Arab violence. It is a serious problem that must be addressed because it is spreading.

Not only is it spreading to our own community in Karmi’el and to cities throughout Israel, but is already posing major problems throughout Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, the UK…. and soon to be the US. It is not just a question of antisemitism or antizionism, but it is the soft conquering of Western civilization. The current rioting in Los Angeles and New York is a coming together of Marxists, Progressives, Socialists and radical Islamists. You can see by what they are wearing – their kheffiyehs, their headbands and black outfits. They are not trying to hide anything. It is not about deporting illegal immigrants. They are launching color revolutions throughout the Western world to overthrow the governments and the culture/heritage.

Please share this article with anyone who will listen. It is no longer a local problem.