A group of Arab evangelicals in Israel held their first ever convention on April 16. One of the worship songs, "Salam, Salam - Peace to the people of the Lord, whereever they are" was a perfect setting for the celebration.

The convention, bringing together some 500 participants from churches and evangelical organizations, took place at a wedding hall near Shefa-Amr, a city between Nazareth and Haifa.

Special for "Come and See", April 17, 2005

An Amman court of Islamic law ruled in favor of Christian widow Siham Qandah today, revoking the legal guardianship of her children?s Muslim uncle and ordering him to repay misspent funds withdrawn from their orphan trust accounts.

I still can?t believe it!? Qandah told Compass today, laughing and crying. ?I am so happy, I am just speechless. I can?t even describe my emotions.? Although she had already called her children from Amman, she said she could not wait to travel back home to Husn and tell them in person.

Compass Direct, April 12, 2005

Religious leaders met on Wednesday in Jerusalem in a united protest against a gay pride festival planned there in August. From left: Sheik Abed es- Salem Menasra, deputy mufti of Jerusalem; the Rev. Michel Sabbagh, the Latin patriarch; the Rev. Aris Shirvanian, the Armenian patriarch; Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the Sephardic chief rabbi; and Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi. The man at right was not identified.

Interfaith agreement is unusual in Israel. The leaders' joint opposition was initially generated by the Rev. Leo Giovinetti, an evangelical pastor from San Diego who is both a veteran of the American culture war over homosexuality and a frequent visitor to Israel, where he has formed relationships with rabbis and politicians.

Laurie Goodstein, Greg Myre, NY Times, March 31, 2005

Lots of voices have been heard lately for the need to replace the corrupt Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem - after the latest scandal of the sale of land to Jewish extremists in the old city of Jerusalem.

Can something be done? A Palestinian Christian living in Australia writes some practical ways the Greek Orthodox Church can be liberated from Greek domination: "Engage the Antiochian Patriarchate, the Greeks, the Islamic Groups and the Catholic Church"

Fuad Abaid, Special For "Come and See", April 10, 2005

A prominent African American evangelical leader meets at the Knesset this week members of the Christian Allies Caucus, the influential lobby group that draws on membership from six political factions, mostly from the exterme right in Israel.

It is no surprise that the African American community that was discriminated against in the 1950's and 1960's would want to make ties with the liberal Jewish Community. What is a shame is that this leader fall in the trap of the racist "Christian Cactus" group that supports continual Apartheid in the West Bank and Gaza, and discrimination against Arabs in Israel.

By Daphna Berman, Haaretz, April 8, 2005

A group of Palestinian Christian leaders concerned for the dramatic situation of the Christians in the land of the Holy One write an open letter to Bishops and Church Leaders around the world.

"In contrast to 10 years ago our community now represents less than 2 percent of the population and continues to decrease at an alarming rate. This is largely due to emigration. Many Palestinian Christians are leaving as a result of the ongoing conflict"

The Palestine Cronicle, April, 8, 2005

The next pope will have a hard act to follow in the Middle East, where Muslims, Jews and Christians alike mourned the loss of a man they saw as a messenger of peace and tolerance.

Pope John Paul II won a place in the hearts of many in the region by starting off the millennium with a tour of the Holy Land, the first by a pontiff in 36 years. His repeated calls for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his opposition to the war in Iraq also earned him favor here.

By Paul Garwood, AP, April 4, 2005

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohamad Sayyed Tantawi mourned the death of Pope Johan Paul II of the Vatican.

In statements Sunday, the Grand Imam said the death of the Pontiff is a great loss for the Orthodox Church and Muslim World as he was an icon of peace and love.

He added that Pope John Paul II was a peace advocate who adopted a moderate stand vis-a-vis the Palestinian and Iraqi issues.

Regional-Vatican, Politics, 4/5/2005

The word "Allah," written in Arabic, was found etched on the southern corner of the Temple Mount's eastern wall in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning.

By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz, March 30, 2005