According to Rabbi Michael Melchior, the religious contacts have survived through the past ten months of violence with the blessing of political leaders whose own negotiations have effectively collapsed.

The Times, UK, July 5, 2001

Powerful political and economic interests - Israeli and Palestinian - have an interest in the outcome of the elections of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchy

By Danny Rubinstein, Haaretz, Tuesday, July 3, 2001

Patriarch Maximus Hakim V, leader of the Greek Catholic church for more than 30 years, died Friday. He was 93.

AP, June 29, 2001

Born in Jordan to a Palestinian family,went to a seminary in the U.S and was ordained there. He came to Israel as a missionary 9 years ago and was used by God to bless many churches in the Galilee.

Special for come and see

Israel has decided to develop the traditional site of Jesus' baptism along the Jordan River near the Palestinian town of Jerico and clear mines from what is now a closed military zone, the Tourism Ministry said Tuesday.

The Associated Press, June 26, 2001

Ultra-Orthodox organizations vow to put an end to building project belonging to the church of Scotland in the center of Tiberias

By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz, June 25, 2001

Religion Today editor Janet Chismar recently returned from a week in the Kingdom of Jordan. In addition to touring the country's many Biblical sites, she also spent time talking with local Christians, learning of their struggles and faith in a country at the crossroads. Religion Today, June 22, 2001