Israel's Special Envoy to the Christian World, George Deek, has asserted that the narrative of Christians facing persecution and a diminishing presence in Israel is inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the country's reality. Deek, who is Greek Orthodox and grew up in Jaffa, stated that the Christian population in Israel has significantly increased since 1948 and that Christians are integrated into various aspects of Israeli society.
According to Deek, the Christian population in Israel has grown from approximately 34,000 in 1950 to about 184,000, with the community continuing to expand. He challenged the notion that incidents of religious extremism, such as spitting at clergy or vandalizing property, define the character of Israeli society as a whole. Deek drew parallels to the United States and Spain, where instances of antisemitism and hate crimes occur but do not define the entire societies.
"Extremism exists in every democratic society. Sometimes it grows dangerously. Governments must confront it. But serious people understand the difference between extremists within a society and the character of the society itself," Deek argued. He contended that portraying these isolated incidents as representative of Israel's attitude towards Christians constitutes a double standard.
Deek highlighted the integration of Christians within Israel, citing examples such as Salim Joubran, an Arab Christian justice on Israel's Supreme Court. He noted that Christians serve as physicians, academics, business leaders, mayors, police officers, soldiers, and diplomats. Deek himself is the first Christian appointed to represent Israel as an ambassador and now serves as the Special Envoy to the Christian World, a position established to strengthen ties with Christian communities globally.
Israel has also taken steps to recognize and preserve Christian heritage. Deek mentioned the formal recognition of Aramean nationality in 2014 and ongoing archaeological work, such as excavations at Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, identified as a likely hometown of the Apostles Peter and Andrew. The country is also preparing for the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' baptism in 2030, anticipating a significant influx of pilgrims.
Beyond Israel's borders, Deek pointed to polling in Lebanon indicating strong support for peace with Israel among Christian communities, suggesting a potential shift in perspective among Middle Eastern Christians who have witnessed the decline of Christian communities in other parts of the region, such as Syria and Iraq.
While acknowledging that Israel, like any other nation, has extremists and that enforcement against anti-Christian acts needs strengthening, Deek emphasized that these individuals do not represent the broader society. He urged a more nuanced understanding of the Christian presence and experience in Israel, suggesting that the more critical question for Christians in the Middle East is where they will be able to live, worship, and build a future in the coming decades.