A Vatican document released Tuesday blamed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the occupying of lands for fomenting most of the conflicts in the Middle East, driving Christians out and making life difficult for those who remain.

The document is a guide for discussions for an Oct. 10-24 meeting of Mideast bishops convened by Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the plight of the Christian minority in the overwhelmingly Muslim region. The exodus of Christians from the region and religious discrimination faced by those who remain are main issues on the table.

AP, Jan 19, 2010

Hasib Sabbagh, 90, the billionaire christian Palestinian businessman who cofounded Consolidated Contractors Co International, one of the largest building companies in the Middle East, died Jan 12 in a hospital in Cleveland.

Hasib went from being a Palestinian refugee to being a citizen of the world. Born in 1920 in Tiberias, Palestine and graduated from the Arab College of Jerusalem in 1938 and in 1941 received a civil engineering degree from the American University of Beirut. Today, CCC has more than 140,000 employees and annual sales of about $5 billion.

Bloomberg, 17 January 2010

For almost 150 years "Nazareth Trust" have been 'healing in the name of Jesus' in Nazareth. What started by Dr. Vertan as a humble clinic with 4 beds has grown to become Nazareth's General Hospital sitting high on 25 acres of Nazarene hillside they have owned since 1906

Listen to this Audio from the BBC, from Nazareth, recorded before Christmas 2009

BBC World Radio, December 10, 2009

This past weekend, an estimated 1,000 Coptic Christians gathered in Los Angeles to protest the killings of fellow Copts in Egypt a few days earlier.

According to one protester, “there is no protection for Christians in Egypt.”

Judging by the coverage, the media isn’t helping matters.

BreakPoint with Chuck Colson, Jan 12, 2010

Home of New Life is a children’s home in which love prevails and safety is provided to give needy Palestinian children and orphaned Palestinian children a decent life. The Home of New Life aims to provide services in all areas: spiritual, educational, social, and physical care.

The Home of New life, founded on 1/1/1996, was the dream of Dr. Munir Kakish.

The idea of the founding of the Home developed when Dr. Kakish finished his studies in the United States of America's, and felt led to return to Ramallah and serve the children there. He did not forget his childhood as he lived in a children’s home as a child. He has served this children’s home for 14 years.

Linga, Dec 5, 2009

Israeli archaeologists said Monday that they have uncovered remains of the first dwelling in the northern city of Nazareth that can be dated back to the time of Jesus.

The find sheds a new light on what Nazareth might have been like in Jesus' time, said the archaeologists, indicating that it was probably a small hamlet with about 50 houses populated by poor Jews.

The remains of a wall, a hideout and a cistern were found after builders dug up an old convent courtyard in the northern Israeli city, said archaeologist Yardenna Alexandre of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

With Pictures, from Haaretz, 21, 2009

After the conclusion of the exams and their marking and with the second week of December NBS had geared up for Christmas. First the school was decorated. Then the spiritual emphasis week was on the way. Simultaneously the Christmas bazaar started.

Special For "Come and See", Dec 18, 2009

A group of Palestinian Christians representing a variety of churches and church-related organizations have issued an animated and prayerful call for an end to occupation of Palestine by Israel.

The call, issued at a 11 December meeting in Bethlehem, comes at a time when many Palestinians believe they have reached a dead end. It raises questions to the international community, political leaders in the region, and the churches worldwide about their contribution to the Palestinian people's pursuit of freedom. Even in the midst of "our catastrophe" the call is described as a word of faith, hope and love.

www.wfn.org Web site, Dec 12, 2009