(Telegraph-UK) Fleur Hassan Nahoum - On the day before Christmas Eve, I stood in the Jaffa Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem with Issa Kassissieh, a Christian Arab and Jerusalem's only Santa Claus, to give out Christmas trees, as the Jerusalem municipality has done for a decade. The city also outfitted streets with Christmas decorations. On Easter Sunday, Jerusalem's Christian denominations celebrated peacefully as they do every year. Over the past seven years, in particular, unprecedented resources have been channeled into the Old City and eastern Jerusalem to close the social gaps and to herald a new era of equal opportunity. The City of Jerusalem and its police authorities are completely engaged in protecting Christian residents, and any reported acts of intolerance are acted upon quickly and decisively. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing. Figures from the Israel Democracy Institute show that 84% of Christians are satisfied with their lives in this country; as an example, the most educated women in Israel are from the Christian community. In tragic contrast, the numbers living under the Palestinian Authority are dwindling. In the 27 years the PA has controlled Bethlehem, the Christian population has shrunk from 80% to 12%. The writer is Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem.
2022-05-02 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive