Linga - Nazareth

Several members of  churches and Evangelical organisations in the land met with Meretz party leader and member of Knesset Zahava Gal-on at Saint Margaret’s Hostel in Nazareth.

At the beginning of the meeting, Lawyer Botros Monsor- one of  the first people who initiated the idea of holding the meeting- clarified that the goal of the meeting was not the Political party merge, but rather to achieve  the best understanding for the social, political and economic positions in addition to building positive relationships for the Evangelicals  so that they can  better serve the society and state.
 
Dr. Salim Munayyer introduced Mrs. Gal-on who shared about the political situation and about the rights of the minorities in Israel especially the Arabs. She started by introducing herself and the Meretz party which she represents. She said that the coming State of Israel will not be an extremist right winged one, but middle left winged, rather.  She also said that it will look after the affairs of the minorities including the Christians. She added  that the current Israeli government  headed by Benjamin Netanyaho is the most extreme and most racist Israeli government and  that it is anti-democratic.  Mrs. Gal-on mentioned that this was indicated through the increase of discount rate which has become 3. 25 %. It is an average that prevents the Arab parties from being represented at the Knesset unless they were unified.

She added that the right winged Israeli government is working on separating the Christians from the Muslims, this is not being done out of love for the Christians, but to create division. She also affirmed that if the Christians were to decide amongst themselves and choose to be separated and having a different destiny  to the Arabs, this would also be accepted.

However, she emphasised that it was  not accepted for the  government that does not represent the Christians  to  make decisions on behalf of  them.

Brother Munther Na’um, Secretary  General of the Evangelical Council of Churches in Israel asked Mrs Gal-on about the reason for not acknowledging the evangelicals as an official denomination up to this date by Israel. She said that the local Evangelicals need to ask help from the Evangelicals abroad as they are considered a large and rich denomination so that they can  put pressure on the Israeli government. She advised that it would be good to use the media as a means to have their voice heard.

Towards the end of the meeting, the attendance asked a few questions concerning  the Arab minorities and they listened to the suggestions of the leader of the Meretz Party  with regards to finding solutions for these cases.