Appointment of an envoy to the Christian world…a propaganda step and an attempt to beautify the ugly face of the occupation

Hatem Abdel Qader: The Christian world must stand up to its responsibilities in restraining the occupation from harming Islamic and Christian holy sites and change its behavior on the ground

Dimitri Diliani: A propaganda step to mislead public opinion and cover up the occupation's crimes against religions, the latest of which was an Israeli soldier destroying a statue of Christ in Dabel

Nevin Abu Rahmoun: The discourse collapses due to its contradiction with the facts, and any attempt at beautification through symbolic appointments will not change the reality that justice is not managed by diplomacy but measured by actions

Amir Makhoul: The appointed envoy to the Christian world does not represent Christians inside or in Palestine and does not speak on behalf of the church, which has condemned Israeli violations

Antoine Shalhat: A purely Israeli propaganda step to contain the isolation suffered by the occupying state in the Christian world due to multiple backgrounds

Jack Sara: The reality on the ground that the world sees is the decisive factor in changing public opinion, and no matter how many attempts are made, they will not succeed in beautifying the image of the occupation

Exclusive to "Al-Quds"-

In an attempt to improve its image, after many crimes and violations that caused criticism in the Christian world, the latest of which was a soldier destroying a statue of Christ in southern Lebanon, Israel announced the appointment of former ambassador George Deek as a special envoy to the Christian world, with the aim of "strengthening Israel's relations with Christian communities around the world."

Observers and analysts, in interviews with "Al-Quds," view this step as propaganda to mislead global public opinion and an attempt to improve Israel's image, which is increasingly politically isolated, noting that it will not be able to beautify Israel's ugly image, whose ugliness reached a great extent when an Israeli soldier destroyed a statue of Christ in southern Lebanon, in a crime that reflects a violation of religious symbols and a provocation to the feelings of millions of Christians and Muslims.

He considered that as long as violations against holy sites continue and access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is restricted, any discourse about religious openness loses its meaning and becomes merely a political cover, pointing out that the relationship with any religious community is not built through envoys, but through actual respect for worship rights and the preservation of holy sites.

An ironic step

Hatem Abdel Qader, Secretary-General of the Islamic-Christian Commission for the Support of Jerusalem and Holy Sites, describes Israel's appointment of a Christian envoy to the Christian world as an absurd and ironic step that will not be able to beautify Israel's ugly image, whose ugliness reached a great extent when an Israeli soldier destroyed a statue of Christ in southern Lebanon, in a crime that reflects a violation of religious symbols and a provocation to the feelings of millions of Christians and Muslims.

Abdel Qader asks: Can a job title repair an ugly and shameful image of the occupation, shattered by documented criminal acts against Islamic and Christian holy sites and symbols? And does Israel believe that improving its image in the Christian world can be managed through the appointment of an envoy while the occupation persists in its violations against holy sites, imposing arbitrary restrictions that prevent worshipers from reaching their holy places, whether Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in addition to assaulting celebrants during Christian holidays, as happened on glorious Easter, and preventing the Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

The Christian world will not fall for black propaganda

Abdel Qader affirms that the Christian world will not fall for this black propaganda, and Israel will not succeed in deceiving anyone, because the truth has become clear to everyone that behind every envoy is a cover for the truth with a diplomatic cloak that reveals what is beneath it.

Abdel Qader concludes his statement by saying: The Christian world has a duty to stand up to its responsibilities in restraining the occupation from harming Islamic and Christian holy sites, and to send a clear message to the occupation that without a change in behavior on the ground, no envoy can beautify an ugly face.

Misleading international public opinion

Dimitri Diliani, head of the National Christian Gathering in the Holy Land, says: "The announcement by the foreign minister of the Israeli extermination state, Gidon Sa'ar, of the appointment of a so-called 'special envoy to the Christian world' is a propaganda step aimed at misleading international public opinion and covering up the occupation's crimes against religions. The latest of these crimes was an Israeli extermination army soldier destroying a statue of Christ in the Lebanese village of Dabel, and filming and boasting about committing this crime on social media."

Targeting the Palestinian Christian presence

Diliani affirms that the targeting of the Palestinian Christian presence is carried out through policies of uprooting and ethnic cleansing that have targeted all members of our Palestinian people for decades, and that these crimes against humanity are escalating in the context of a colonial reality that is inhumane par excellence.

Diliani reveals that the data available to the National Christian Gathering in the Holy Land records 111 attacks against churches, cemeteries, Christian clergy, nuns, and pilgrims during 2024, including 46 physical assaults and 35 attacks targeting churches, monasteries, and cemeteries. The number of attacks rose to 181 during the past year, including 109 physical assaults committed by settlers against Christian clergy and pilgrims.

He also affirms that the Israeli occupation authorities impose strict restrictions on the practice of religious rituals, especially during Easter at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, thereby depriving Christian worshipers of their right to worship freely in their holy city, just as their Muslim brethren are deprived.

Diliani adds that the Israeli extermination army bombed the historic Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza, leading to the martyrdom of 18 citizens, and the Holy Family Church was subjected to repeated Israeli attacks that resulted in martyrs and wounded among the displaced families there, in the context of ongoing hate crimes and genocide that have claimed more than 73,000 martyrs, including approximately 5% of Christians in Gaza over the past two and a half years.

Diliani stresses that Palestinian Christians are an integral part of the national fabric, bearing with the rest of the Palestinian people the responsibility of defending the land and identity, and no colonial propaganda will succeed in obliterating this truth.

It is unacceptable to turn religious and humanitarian issues into tools for polishing an image

Political writer Nevin Abu Rahmoun says: It is unacceptable to turn religious and humanitarian issues into tools for polishing an image.

Abu Rahmoun adds: When violations against holy sites continue and access to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is restricted, any discourse about religious openness loses its meaning and becomes merely a political cover.

Abu Rahmoun points out that "this is not a communication crisis with the Christian world but a credibility crisis," stressing that the relationship with any religious community is not built through envoys, but through actual respect for worship rights and the preservation of holy sites.

The issue is what Israel does, not who speaks for it

She says: What is happening on the ground presents a completely opposite picture, affirming that both political and moral stances necessitate rejecting this approach: rejecting the transformation of diplomacy into a mask, and rejecting dealing with violations as if they were a detail that can be overcome by a media campaign, stressing that the issue is not who speaks for Israel but what Israel does on the ground.

Abu Rahmoun says: When facts contradict discourse, discourse collapses, and any attempt to beautify the scene through symbolic appointments will not change one truth: justice is not managed by diplomacy but measured by actions.

The whole matter is largely flimsy

Amir Makhoul, a writer specializing in Israeli affairs, points to a popular proverb that says: "What can a hairdresser do with a sour face?" indicating that the whole matter is largely flimsy, and reflects a propaganda nature more than an expression of the reality on the ground.

Makhoul adds that the violations extend from the destruction of the statue of Christ in Lebanon, to the assault on holy sites in Jerusalem, through the demolition of churches in Gaza, and the assault on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on glorious Easter, in addition to the assaults on Islamic endowments that seem to be permissible.

A message that the Islamic world is not of interest

Makhoul explains that the implicit message from appointing an envoy to the Christian world suggests that the Islamic world is not of interest, and that its oppression and the obliteration of its features can continue, especially regarding Islamic holy sites, foremost among them the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He affirms that no matter how much Israel tries to beautify its image, the truth on the ground remains stronger than any promotional campaigns, especially in light of the practices committed by the Israeli government, including the war on Gaza and the accompanying violations.

The Church's positions are clear in rejecting Israeli violations

Makhoul points out that the person appointed as an envoy to the Christian world does not represent Christians inside or in Palestine in general, and does not speak on behalf of the Church, which in turn expressed a clear position weeks ago through statements issued by churches in the region, condemning Israeli practices, including assaults on clergy, restrictions, and ongoing violations.

Makhoul also notes that the Church's positions were also evident through the statements of the Pope of the Vatican, who expressed clear humanitarian positions.

Makhoul affirms that the problem is not in the image that Israel is trying to improve, but in the essence of policies and practices on the ground, pointing to a shift in the army's identity towards religious Zionism, and the ideological dimensions that this entails, which are reflected in the targeting of religious symbols, including Christian ones.

Makhoul concludes by saying: This appointment will not change anything in reality, and he describes it as a formal procedure that will not affect Israel's image, which is shaped by the facts on the ground, stressing that the Palestinian narrative remains the strongest, because it is based on what the world sees as facts, and does not need propaganda campaigns as much as it needs the world to pay attention to these facts.

A predictable and not surprising step

Political writer Antoine Shalhat views the step of appointing G. Deek as Israel's ambassador to the Christian world as a purely Israeli propaganda step to contain the isolation suffered by the occupying state in the Christian world due to several backgrounds, including the war of extermination and comprehensive destruction against Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, Israeli policy against Christian holy sites in the Holy Land, and Jewish religious extremism that affects Christianity and its symbols with repeated touching and assaults.

Writer Shalhat believes that it is a previously expected step and not surprising. But what is unexpected and surprising is that a Christian person from the 1948 Palestinians agrees to perform such a dirty mission, being one of the most prominent victims of criminal and hateful Israeli policy, whether against Palestinians or against Christians, simply because he is Palestinian and Christian.

Condemnation and denunciation

Shalhat adds: Therefore, it is natural that his step arouses a great deal of condemnation and denunciation, as well as wishes that his mission will suffer a dismal failure, in light of the increasing awareness throughout the world regarding the essence of Israeli policy despite all the propaganda efforts made to cover it up or beautify it.

Shalhat points out that despite this, this step reflects the political isolation that Israel has been suffering from recently, which warns that it will turn into a pariah state in the longer term.

Political isolation is increasing

He points out that this political isolation is increasing at the level of relations with states, but it has become exacerbated at the level of global public opinion, and is reflected, according to what is frequently published even in the media and research institute studies in Israel, in several manifestations, most notably the decline in popular support in Europe and America, especially among young people, the expansion of boycott movements, and the escalation of criticism within diaspora Jewish circles.

Shalhat adds: There is a consensus among everyone that the future implication of these developments lies in deepening the gap between the governmental policies of states supporting Israel and public opinion in these states.

Israel's image will remain bleak

For his part, the coordinator of the Holy Land Christian Forum, Wadie Abu Nassar, affirms that this step is in the right direction, but it may be insufficient, stressing the need to complete it with two main things.

Abu Nassar explains that the first is for Israel to reconsider its calculations regarding the violations and crimes it commits, not only against holy sites, but also against innocent people.

He affirms that such measures, even if a large number of envoys are appointed, will not improve Israel's image as long as these practices continue, especially those emanating from some soldiers and settlers.

Abu Nassar adds that the second is the importance for Israel to reconsider its decision-making mechanisms, explaining that it is not enough to appoint an envoy to polish the image, but it is necessary for decision-makers to surround themselves with honest and aware advisors, capable of understanding reality as it is, and contributing to changing it for the better.

Abu Nassar points out that in the absence of these fundamental reviews, any attempts at clarification or beautification will remain limited in effect, and Israel's image will remain bleak, and more importantly, violations will continue.

Abu Nassar concludes his statement by emphasizing the need for a radical change in policies, not just cosmetic adjustments in positions and roles.

An image stained with the blood of innocents

Jack Sara, President of Bethlehem Bible College, affirms that Israel does not lack money, recruits, employees, or envoys to try to beautify its image.

Sara points out that this image has been stained with the blood of the people of Gaza and with many crimes, both those committed against holy sites and against humanity and people on the ground.

He adds that this reality is not new, as much has been heard about initiatives and attempts, both from within and from various parts of the world, to improve its image.

Sara refers to a comment by one of the most prominent supporters, who expressed his anger at what an Israeli soldier did to a statue of Christ in southern Lebanon, saying that they work hundreds of days and spend thousands of dollars to beautify Israel's image, only for one soldier to undermine all those efforts with his actions.

Sara stresses at the end of his speech that no matter how many attempts are made, they will not succeed in beautifying the image, because the world today sees what is happening on the ground.

He says: Christians in this country are not represented only by church institutions or church leaders, despite the importance of their positions and statements, affirming that the reality on the ground has become the decisive factor in shaping public opinion.