George Deek, Israel’s first envoy to the Christian world, argues that international coverage applies a double standard to Israel by focusing on allegations of religious extremism while overlooking the country’s Christian communities and protections for religious practice. Writing from personal experience as a Greek Orthodox Christian from Jaffa, he presents Israel as a place where Christian life has continued and grown.

Deek says Israel’s Christian population has increased from about 34,000 in 1948 to more than 180,000, and highlights church services, community traditions and Christian scouting as parts of that life. The article is an opinion piece intended to strengthen ties between Israel and Christian leaders worldwide, rather than an independently reported assessment of religious freedom.