Yosef Suleiman is an Israeli citizen and a resident of Haifa who has found himself in a difficult situation: He must choose between accepting the verdict of his religious court or the laws of Israel.

Suleiman, a Maronite Christian, wants a divorce, but cannot afford the alimony the Church ruled he should pay. He cannot appeal the ecclesiastical ruling, because the Maronite High Court is in Lebanon, an enemy country.

Yoav Stern, Haaretz, April 17, 2006

The Old Testament was written originally in Hebrew. So you might think that the millions of Hebrew-speaking youth in Israel would be able to read and understand it.

But HaGefen Publishing, a Christian publisher in Israel, has taken note of vast differences between the biblical Hebrew of the Old Testament and the modern Hebrew of today that make it very difficult for Israeli youth to understand the Bible. HaGefen is attempting to remedy the problem by publishing the first-ever translation of the Old Testament in modern Hebrew.

By David Roach, Baptist Press, April 7, 2006

Israeli President Moshe Katsav presented Dr. Ousama Moalem, the Physics teacher for the Nazareth Baptist School, an award for "Distinguished Teacher" in recognition of his efforts "in leading and giving instruction for both science and research projects". The committee that elected Dr. Moalem for this award was comprised of representatives from each of the following bodies: the Ministry of Education, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv University, Intel Ltd., the Museum of Science in Jerusalem, and others.

This is the first time such an award has been granted to an Arab.

Special for "Come and See", April 1, 2006

Hamas has announced that a Christian, who was designated tourism minister in the new government, will not be part of the government.

Tunous Abu ?Ita, a 57-year-old businessman from Bethlehem who was named the future tourism minister, excused himself from the government at the last minute and gave no reason for the sudden withdrawal. It is believed Abu ?Ita faced internal pressures that forced him to back down.

Meanwhile another Christian was appointed to the position of Tourism Minister ? Jooda George Jooda Morkus, a Coptic Christian Engineer from Bethlehem.

News agencies and Alquds, March 30, 2006

George Khoury is from Israel, but he is not a Jew.
Khoury is Arab, but he is not a Muslim.
He belongs to a Byzantine church, but is not Orthodox.
And the husband and father of three is a Catholic priest, but not a Roman Catholic one.

If all those labels are not confusing enough, the 51-year-old Khoury ? a Palestinian Christian who is a priest in the Greek Catholic Church ? is also a clinical psychologist who says there is really only one label that matters to him.

?Most importantly, I am a human being,? Khoury said.

Rapid City Journal, Jan 24, 2006

Denying a Jerusalem Post story that said he had embraced a ?dual covenant? theology, Southern Baptist pastor Jerry Falwell said March 1 that he believes all people, including Jews, ?must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to enter heaven.?

?I do not follow this teaching of ?dual covenant? theology and I believe it runs counter to the Gospel,? Falwell said in a statement posted on www.falwell.com. "I have been on record all 54 years of my ministry as being opposed to ?dual covenant' theology.?

Baptist Press Staff, March 1, 2006

On 28 February, the deadline that an unknown Islamist group gave for blowing up the building that houses the Palestinian Bible Society's bookshop in Gaza, passed without incident.

The group demanded the bookshop close permanently.

Bible Society directors temporarily closed the bookshop, where terrorists had exploded two small pipe bombs on 3 February. "Satan wants to kill our love for the Muslims but he can't," Palestinian Bible Society Director Labib Madanat said on 28 February.

Open Doors Web site, March 3, 2006

The Vatican on Monday said it forgave the Israeli couple arrested Friday for detonating fireworks in Nazareth's Basilica of the Annunciation.

Three members of the same family are suspected of entering the church and setting off fireworks during a prayer service. Ensuing riots left 13 police officers and 13 civilians lightly wounded. Four cars were also set on fire, including two police vehicles.

Eli Ashkinazi, Haaretz, March 6, 2006

A Jewish extremist accompanied by his Christian wife and their daughter detonated firecrackers inside the Basilica of Annunciation in the northern Israeli Arab city of Nazareth on Friday evening, wounding several congregants and triggering a riots, witnesses said.

The three hid firecrackers and small gas canisters in a baby stroller and detonated the firecrackers inside the church during a special prayer for the opening of Lent.

The Jewish man and the two women entered the basilica compound disguised as Christian pilgrims

By Jack Khoury, Yoav Stern and Eli Ashkenazi, Haaretz, March 3, 2006