Dear Brothers and Sisters Pilgrims of Ibillin, and you our friends Brothers and Sisters,

Everywhere greetings, hope and prayer during this time of a shaky future and uncertain ceasefire.

I want to share with you our response, as a ceasefire has been established and many hostages have been liberated and hundreds of prisoners are set free. The joy everywhere, for the parents of both hostages and liberated prisoners is beyond description.

Unfortunately, the bell for war is still ringing from the offices of those who believe “Might is Right”. the destructive war is still raging in the West Bank. Would it start also against the Palestinian minority inside Israel, I mean against us also in Galilee.  We don’t know what the future would be, there is a general feeling of fear among our people. Many are buying homes overseas. The young generation is undecided, whether to stay or to leave. The violence, the terror is spreading around against the Arabs in Israel. Everyday around us two or more people are shot dead. There is no authority and no deterrent power to stop this wave that already produced hundreds of innocent victims.

We, at Mar Elias, are still thinking of this, although risking everything, we are still a haven of peace. We are happy that the authority of the Ministry of Education decided to visit us and to hear from Abuna how do we do, to obtain the result of welcoming Christians, Muslims and Druze with Jews, all together in harmony. We shall tell them that in the Ministry’s Education program there is no place for love or for forgiveness. Unless, the importance of tolerance and the need for reconciliation are addressed there will no peace for any of us.

These are terms that look like to be too old to consider teaching and creating unity within diversity. We, Christian schools, are considering the vital need to have the attention of the government mainly of the Ministry of Education. We feel the need to appeal to President Trump to consider mentioning the importance of the Christian community in the Holy Land. Only a special attention from the American authority can change the lukewarm attention of the Israeli government towards the Christian schools. Indeed, some schools are considering to close down and everyone is feeling the vital need to be considered equal to other governmental schools. We invite you to pray for us and to give more attention to our existence as descendants of the very first Christians.

Otherwise, Christians would no longer exist in the Holy Land.

No one would mention the simple name of Jesus Christ. Not even any remaining Christians would witness for Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

For your consideration,

Abuna Elias Chacour
Archbishop Emeritus of Galilee