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| Olde Tyme Religion |
| Foreign Ministry begins preparing for 2,000-year anniversary of Jesus’s baptism |
| 2026-07-17 |
| [IsraelTimes] The Foreign Ministry has begun its preparations for the year 2030, to mark 2,000 years since the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, according to the ministry. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar appointed Ambassador George Deek, Israel’s special envoy to the Christian world, to head the working group for what the ministry is calling "an event of profound spiritual significance for more than two billion Christians worldwide." The working group will open dialogue with churches, Christian communities, and clergy around the world, says the Foreign Ministry. It will also coordinate with other ministries and government agencies to prepare for the expected arrival of millions of Christian pilgrims. Sa’ar says that "strengthening our relationship with the Christian world and ensuring that the Holy Land remains accessible to the millions of believers who wish to visit are among Israel’s highest priorities." He also stresses that Israel will "continue to safeguard freedom of worship and access to holy sites for members of all faiths." The initiative comes after a series of high-profile Israeli missteps and controversies involving Christians in Israel and the country’s relationship with the Christian world. Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu often steps in to defuse such crises and is well-received in the Evangelical Christian world, he has not appointed an adviser on Christian affairs. Sa’ar appointed Deek — an Arab Christian from Jaffa — as envoy to the Christian world after a string of scandals earlier this year. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |