Israel's envoy to the Christian world, Ambassador George Deek, who was raised Greek Orthodox in Jaffa, shared insights into the flourishing Christian community in Israel. He noted that the Christian population has grown from 34,000 in 1950 to 184,000 today.

Deek recounted his childhood experiences, attending church every Sunday with his father, the cantor of their Greek Orthodox church, and participating in the Christian Scouts where he eventually became a leader and led the marching band. He described the community as a "perfectly normal Middle Eastern Christian community" where people studied, worked, argued, and lived together.

Orthodox Christians continue to observe traditional religious events, such as carrying wooden crosses along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem's Old City during the Orthodox Good Friday procession, which took place on May 3, 2024.

Meanwhile, challenges persist for Christians in other regions. For example, Iraq's Christian community has dramatically declined from over 1.5 million before 2003 to fewer than 200,000. Additionally, according to Spain's Interior Ministry, hate crimes and incidents rose sharply by 23.6% in 2025, reaching their highest recorded level.

Ambassador Deek's reflections provide a perspective on the resilience and growth of Christian communities within Israel amid broader regional difficulties.

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