Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar on Tuesday sent a letter to The Holy See. What's in the letter? Neither a request for world peace nor a common prayer for merging Judaism and Christianity into one faith. In the letter, the rabbi asks Pope Benedict 16 to assist in efforts "to thwart the event of the world gay parade which will take place next month in Jerusalem."

"We were shocked to hear of plans to hold the world Pride Parade in the Holy City," rabbi Amar wrote, "The city which the entire world looks up to due to its holiness and glory, is now being attacked by evil people who wish to violate its honor and humiliate its greatness with deeds that theTorah despises, as well as all other religions. There is no need to elaborate about their plans and evil actions that bring humanity's dignity to the ground."


YnetNews, July 5, 2006

A group of 50 pro-Israel Christian tourists came under attack Wednesday from some 100 residents of the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea She'arim in Jerusalem.

Three of the tourists and a police officer were wounded in the attack. They received treatment at the scene.

The tourists arrived at Mea She'arim wearing orange T-shirts with the words "Love your neighbor as yourself" printed across them.

Jonathan Lis, Haaretz, June 28, 2006

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

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

The main ministry of Southern Baptists In Israel is related to the "Baptist Village" - The Village, originally an orphanage on the Yarkon River just outside Tel Aviv, built and leased baseball fields as an overture to the community.

Irin Carmon, from Anniston Star, Aug 14, 2005

The Vatican and the Catholic Bishops' Synod on Wednesday appointed for the first time an Israeli citizen to preside over Israel's Greek Catholic community.

Palestinian Priest Elias Chacour is the first Israeli citizen to be appointed to the position. This is also the first time in 200 years a Palestinian has been appointed. Until now, ministers from foreign countries, particularly from Lebanon, were appointed bishop for the Greek Melkite Church.

By Jacky Khoury, Haaretz, Feb 8, 2006

Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson has shunned US evangelical leader Pat Robertson shortly before the two were to sign a major funding deal for the Galilee Christian Heritage Center after Robertson suggested that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was a punishment from God for the Gaza Strip withdrawal, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

"The minister has very strong views on this and cannot accept what was said," Tourism Ministry spokesman Ido Hartuv said. "We reconsidered the deal and realized that we cannot sign with Robertson or anyone who supports his views."

By AVI KRAWITZ, The Jerusalem Post, Jan 11, 2006