Thursday, December 24, 2009

Israel's Netanyahu's Christmas and Civil New Year Greetings

I am grateful that there is one country in the Middle East where Jews, Christians and Muslims can "act in accordance with their beliefs and according to the dictates of their consciences." So I publish Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Christmas greetings in its entirety below.

Christian's are at best second class citizen's, and frequently face persecution across all Middle East countries except Israel. The examples are numerous and freely available for those who care to look to the truth, here are two that were posted at Lux et Veritas; these happen to be about Egypt but the situation is the same or worse in other Muslim countries (sometimes Sunni against Shia and Shia against Sunni).
Anti-Semitism in Egypt;
and the plight of Coptic Christians: Egypt's Coptic Christians call for general strike on September 11 to protest persecution

Gurth Whitaker
Calgary AB

Prime Minister Netanyahu's 
Christmas and Civil New Year Greetings

"Today Christmas Eve, I would like to wish Israel's Christian citizens a Merry Christmas.

Since its founding, the State of Israel has granted freedom of worship to its citizens – Jews, Christians and Muslims act in accordance with their beliefs and according to the dictates of their consciences. We must preserve the delicate fabric that has been created among the people of the various faiths and continue to develop the religious tolerance that exists between us all.

Ahead of the civil New Year, I would like to wish Christians in Israel, the Middle East and throughout the entire world – a good and prosperous year. May it be that in the coming year that we will take another step toward coexistence in Israel and that together we will advance the economy, education and tourism in our country.

Since its inception, my Government has worked to advance the peace process with our Palestinian neighbors. In the coming year as well, we will continue to advance efforts to achieve a lasting peace in our region."

PM Netanyahu's greetings are from the Prime Minister's Office of Israel.

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