The Tulsa Race Massacre, the start of Pride Month, and more SBC news
By / Jun 4

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, a Christian response to Pride Month, a major leadership change in Israel, and recent news involving the ERLC. They also cover new ERLC content including a critical abortion case headed to the Supreme Court, questions about content moderation on social media, and one city’s approach to combatting abortion through local ordinances.

ERLC Content

Culture

  1. 100 Years since the Tulsa Race Massacre. Churches are leading on racial unity.
  2. June is “Pride” Month. How should Christians think about that?
  3. A major shake-up in Israel’s national leadership. What’s that mean for the Biden Administration?
  4. A leaked letter from Russell Moore sparks conversations within the SBC about race and sexual abuse.

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Biden’s COVID investigation, Eric Carle’s passing, and eating cicadas
By / May 28

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss Biden’s investigation of COVID origins, protests and violence in Belarus, Lebanon, Ohio’s abortion ban, William Shakespeare and Eric Carle passinng away, and eating cicadas. Lindsay gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including Jordan Wooten “What is religious liberty, and why is it important? An interview with Andrew Walker on Liberty for All,” Stephen Johnson with “Why I’m thankful I grew up in an elderly church: 3 ways older saints cared for me,” and Catherine Parks with “What we need most for hard choices in parenting: Smartphones, sports, and wisdom.”

ERLC Content

Culture

  1. Biden asks intelligence community to intensify investigation of COVID origins
  2. Intelligence on Sick Staff at Wuhan Lab Fuels Debate on Covid-19 Origin
  3. Belarus fighter jet intercepts Ryanair flight
  4. Protests, violent clashes in Belarus as ruler cracks down after contested vote
  5. Statement by President Joe Biden on Diversion of Ryanair Flight and Arrest of Journalist in Belarus
  6. Ohio city of Lebanon becomes 29th to ban abortion in nation
  7. William Shakespeare, the first man in Britain to receive an approved Covid vaccine, dies at 81.
  8. Author Eric Carle passes away at 91
  9. Can you eat cicadas? Yes, and here’s the best way to catch, cook and snack on them.

Lunchroom

  • Lindsay: “Your local epidemiologist” on Facebook
  • Josh: Gangster Capitalism, Season 3 Jerry 
  • Brent: Bill Haslam’s new book

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Explainer: U.S. faces an “outbreak” of antisemitism
By / May 28

Antisemitic activity has been on the rise over the past few weeks. As The New York Times reports, there has been “an outbreak of anti-Semitic threats and violence across the United States, stoking fear among Jews in small towns and major cities. During the two weeks of clashes in Israel and Gaza this month, the Anti-Defamation League collected 222 reports of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism and violence in the United States, compared with 127 over the previous two weeks.”

Incidents are “literally happening from coast to coast, and spreading like wildfire,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, the A.D.L.’s chief executive. “The sheer audacity of these attacks feels very different.” The Times notes that, “The recent spike is occurring on top of a longer-term trend of high-profile incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States.”

While Jews make up only about 2% of the U.S. population, they are the target of 13% of the hate crimes perpetrated each year. In 2019, the FBI identified 7,314 hate crimes, of which 953 were against Jews.

What is antisemitism?

Antisemitism is hatred of and hostility toward the Jews as a religious or ethnic group, which often includes the belief that Jews pose a threat to society and should be eliminated.

The term was coined in 1879 by German journalist Wilhelm Marr, founder of the Antisemiten-Liga (Anti-Semitic League) in an 1879 pamphlet opposing the influence of Jews on German culture. (Later in life, Marr published another pamphlet, Testament of an Antisemite, renouncing his own hatred of the Jewish people, and expressing concern that antisemitism in Germany was becoming entangled with mysticism and nationalism.)

 Should it be spelled anti-Semitism or antisemitism?

Both ways are grammatically correct, though many Jewish groups prefer the non-hyphenated spelling. In 2015, a group of scholars issued a statement explaining why the term should be spelled without the hyphen:

[T]he hyphenated spelling allows for the possibility of something called “Semitism,” which not only legitimizes a form of pseudo- scientific racial classification that was thoroughly discredited by association with Nazi ideology, but also divides the term, stripping it from its meaning of opposition and hatred toward Jews.

The philological term “Semitic” referred to a family of languages originating in the Middle East whose descendant languages today are spoken by millions of people mostly across Western Asia and North Africa. Following this semantic logic, the conjunction of the prefix “anti” with “Semitism” indicates antisemitism as referring to all people who speak Semitic languages or to all those classified as “Semites.” The term has, however, since its inception referred to prejudice against Jews alone.

What constitutes antisemitism?

There is no universal agreement on what constitutes antisemitism. But the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted by 31 countries, defines it in terms of 11 key areas:

  • Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
  • Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government, or other societal institutions.
  • Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
  • Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g., gas chambers), or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).
  • Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
  • Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
  • Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
  • Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.
  • Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
  • Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
  • Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

What is “Christian antisemitism”?

Christian antisemitism is antisemitic attitudes that are supposedly derived from or based on theological reasons. In actual practice, such antisemitism is often due more to cultural, ethnic, or nationalistic reasons than theology. ERLC president Russell Moore has said,

As Christians, we should have a clear message of rejection of every kind of bigotry and hatred, but we should especially note what anti-Semitism means for people who are followers of Jesus Christ. We should say clearly to anyone who would claim the name “Christian” the following truth: If you hate Jews, you hate Jesus.

Anti-Semitism is, by definition, a repudiation of Christianity as well as of Judaism. This ought to be obvious, but world history, even church history, shows us this is not the case. Christians reject anti-Semitism because we love Jesus.

What is the Southern Baptist position on antisemitism?

The Southern Baptist Convention has renounced antisemitism in resolutions in 1873, 1948, 1971, 1972, 1981, 2003, and 2008.

In the 2003 resolution titled, “On Anti-semitism,” the messengers of the SBC denounced all forms of anti-Semitism as “contrary to the teachings of our Messiah and an assault on the revelation of Holy Scripture”; affirmed to “Jewish people around the world that we stand with them against any harassment that violates our historic commitments to religious liberty and human dignity”; and called on “governmental and religious leaders across the world to stand against all forms of bigotry, hatred, or persecution.”

Dr. Moore leaving the ERLC, no more masks, and a Texas abortion ban
By / May 21

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss Dr. Moore resignation from the ERLC along with his move to Christianity Today, views on masks guidance, the latest on Israel and Hamas, Texas signing a six-week abortion ban, and SCOTUS taking up Mississippi case. Lindsay gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including Jordan Wootten with “How do we make sense of modern culture? An interview with Carl Trueman about The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self,” Ethan and Michaela Holsteen with “The importance of the church when dealing with disability and grief: How one family leaned into community after their child’s diagnosis with Cri du chat Syndrome,” and Jared Kennedy with “3 subtle sins to warn your kids about: Any why it matters when wrestling with sexual temptation.”

ERLC Content

Culture

  1. Russell Moore to Join Christianity Today to Lead New Public Theology Project
  2. Onward.
  3. Mask guidance
  4. Latest on Israel and Hamas
  5. Texas governor signs into law bill banning abortions at six weeks
  6. SCOTUS takes up MS case

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  • Every person has dignity and potential. But did you know that nearly 1 in 3 American adults has a criminal record? To learn more and sign up for the virtual Second Chance month visit prisonfellowship.org/secondchances.

Gas shortages, Hamas attacks Israel, and the first transgender bishop
By / May 14

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss the pipeline cyberattack that led to gas stations in the southeast running out of gas, Liz Cheney’s oust from leadership, the Gaza crisis, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church electing their first transgender bishop. Lindsay gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including Catherine Parks with “What you can do during India’s COVID crisis,” Josh Wester and Jordan Wootten with “Explainer: The contract dispute between Kentucky and Sunrise Children’s Services,” Jared Kennedy with “How to prepare your children to see their gendered bodies as gifts for God’s mission.”

ERLC Content

Culture

  1. Gas stations in the Southeast run out of gas as people panic buy fuel
  2. US pipeline cyberattack is a ‘wake up call’ for America
  3. Panic Drives Gas Shortages After Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack
  4. Cheney defiant as Republicans oust her from leadership for rebuking Trump
  5. Gaza crisis: Casualties pile up with no signs of ceasefire from Israel, Hamas
  6. Evangelical Lutheran Church elects first transgender bishop

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  • Brave by Faith: In this realistic yet positive book, renowned Bible teacher Alistair Begg examines the first seven chapters of Daniel to show us how to live bravely, confidently, and obediently in an increasingly secular society. | Find out more about this book at thegoodbook.com
  • Every person has dignity and potential. But did you know that nearly 1 in 3 American adults has a criminal record? To learn more and sign up for the virtual Second Chance month visit prisonfellowship.org/secondchances.

Explainer: Israeli-Palestinian hostilities could lead to “full-scale war”
By / May 14

Clashes between Israelis and Palestinians lead Tor Wennesland, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, to say on Tuesday, “We’re escalating towards a full scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take the responsibility of deescalation.”

The recent tensions appear to be due to a pending decision by Israel’s Supreme Court that could evict approximately 75 Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem. Violent clashes also resulted when Muslims were reportedly blocked from Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site. The terrorist group Hamas, which controls the area of Gaza, escalated the conflict by firing approximately 1,500 rockets at civilian targets in Israel, killing five people and injuring over 200.

The Israeli Defense Force responded by launching airstrikes targeting missile launching sites in Gaza. Because Hamas often uses civilian neighborhoods as “human shields,” the air strikes have reportedly led to the deaths of 65 people in Gaza, including 14 children.

What is the origin of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict?

The ancient nation of Israel ceased to exist when in AD 138 the Roman emperor Hadrian crushed the Bar Kochba revolt and banned all Jews from Palestine (i.e., the biblical regions known as the Land of Israel). Over the next 12 centuries, the land was conquered and reconquered by various nations and empires. In 1517, the land was captured by the Ottoman Empire, which would retain control until 1917. During World War I, the British captured Jerusalem and drove the Turks out of Ottoman Syria. Following that war the British controlled the area known as Palestine, and were given a mandate by the League of Nations to provide security and order within the territory.

Because the land was now in the hands of the British, it became an ideal location for Jews fleeing persecution in Russia and Ukraine. This influx of Jews from 1919 and 1923, along with the Balfour Declaration, led the Arab inhabitants of the land to develop their own political movement known as Palestinian nationalism.

As historian Martin Bunton notes, “Before the First World War, there was no ‘Palestine’ as such; rather the territory consisted of the districts of Jerusalem, Nablus, and Acre, all of which were defined according to an evolving framework of Ottoman administration.” Since then, Arabs in the region adopted a national identity as Palestinians, with the primary objective of opposing Zionism (i.e., the reestablishment of the Jewish nation of Israel).

The United Nations voted in 1947 for the areas occupied by Palestinians to be split into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem becoming an international city. While Jewish leaders accepted the proposal, it was rejected by the Arab contingent.

Why are Palestenians being evicted from East Jerusalem?

During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the western part of Jerusalem was captured by Israel, while the area known as East Jerusalem was captured by Jordan. Israel took over East Jerusalem after defeating Jordan in the 1967 Arab–Israeli War. Since then Israel has considered the area to be a part of their nation while the U.N. and most of the international community (with the exception of the U.S.) considers it to be occupied territory. 

In 1956, Palestinian refugee families were relocated to the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem with the support of the U.N. and Jordanian government. But the Israeli courts contend that these Palestinian families are living in houses built on land owned by Jewish religious associations before the establishment of Israel in 1948. While many Israelis believe it is merely a legal dispute over land ownership, many Palestinians consider it a strategy to expel them from East Jerusalem. 

Who controls Palestine?

In 1994, Israel agreed to allow the Palestinian National Authority, an interim self-government, to govern the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank, which currently exists within the boundaries of the modern State of Israel. In 2007, these two areas, sometimes referred to as the “occupied territories,” were divided between two political entities, Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza. Hamas has been officially designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, Jordan, Egypt, and Japan. 

Where does Hamas get its rockets?

After Israeli security forces pulled out of Gaza in 2005, Hamas was able to smuggle in rockets and mortar shells produced by allies, such as Iran. More recently, Hamas has claimed that they are now able to build rockets themselves in Gaza.

Despite having fired more than 10,000 rockets into Israel since 2005, the Israeli government believes that Hamas still has an arsenal of between 5,000 to 6,000 rockets that can strike anywhere between the Gaza border communities and 25-35 miles into Israel.

How many Palestinians identify as Christian?

Based on the 2017 census by the Palestinian Authority, there are roughly 47,000 Palestinians, about 1% of the population, who identify as Christian. 

A survey taken in 2020 found that about half of Palestinian Christians (48%) are Greek Orthodox while slightly more than a third (38%) are Latin Catholic. About 4% identify as Evangelicals and Lutherans. Out of those, only about 1 in 3 label themselves as “religious” (36%). 

SPECIAL EPISODE: Matti Friedman on the Middle East after the Abraham Accords
By / Oct 5

Jeff Pickering and Travis Wussow welcome Israel based journalist and award winning author Matti Friedman to talk about the Middle East after the Abraham Accords. 

This episode was recorded at the end of September.

Guest Biography

Matti Friedman is a journalist and contributor to the New York Times Op-Ed Section and the author of multiple award-winning books. His 2016 book, Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War, is a memoir about his time serving in the Israli military and was chosen as a New York Times’ Notable Book and as one of Amazon’s 10 best books of the year. Matti’s first book, The Aleppo Codex, is an investigation into the strange fate of an ancient Bible manuscript, and his most recent book, published in 2018, is the Spies of No Country, the story of Israel’s first intelligence agents in 1948. Friedman is a former Associated Press correspondent, and his work as a reporter has taken him from Israel to Lebanon, Morocco, Moscow, and Washington, D.C. He was born in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem with his family.

Resources from the Conversation

Explainer: Israel signs pacts with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates
By / Sep 16

On Tuesday, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States signed a diplomatic pact known as the “Abraham Accords Peace Agreement.” Additionally, Israel and the UAE signed a separate agreement to establish diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

Last week the U.S., Bahrain, and Israel issued a joint statement announcing full diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel. Bahrain is only the fourth Arab country in the Middle East (after the UAE, Egypt and Jordan) to recognize the modern nation of Israel.

Where are Israel, UAE, and Bahrain located geographically?

The State of Israel is a country that intersects the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. Israel is bound by the Mediterranean Sea on its west, Lebanon and Syria border it to the north, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the southwest, and the Red Sea to the south.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island nation in the Persian Gulf. Most of the country is on Bahrain Island, which is surrounded by 40 natural islands and an additional 51 artificial islands. Its closest neighbors in the Gulf are Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 

The United Arab Emirates is a sovereign state on the Arabian peninsula. It is bordered by the Gulf of Oman and Oman to the east, and Saudi Arabia to the south and west. The country also shares maritime borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north.

What is the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement?

Despite the title, the Abraham Accords is not an actual peace treaty since none of the parties involved were at war (and Israel and the UAE have been secretly working together for years). The significance of the treaty is that it publicly codifies and expands an already existing arrangement between the three countries.

The Abraham Accords Declaration states: 

We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom.

We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Ahrahamic religions and all humanity.

We believe that the best way to address challenges is through cooperation and dialogue and that developing friendly relations among States advances the interests of lasting peace in the Middle East and around the world.

We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith or ethnicity.

We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire humankind, maximize human potential and bring nations closer together.

We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future.

We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world.

 In this spirit, we welcome and are encouraged by the progress already made in establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbors in the region under the principles of the Abraham Accords. We are encouraged by the ongoing efforts to consolidate and expand such friendly relations based on shared interests and a shared commitment to a better future.

What is the agreement between Israel and the UAE?

The agreement commits the two countries to work to advance the “cause of peace, stability and prosperity throughout the Middle East,” as well as to as well working together in the areas of finance and investment; civil aviation; visas and consular services; innovation, trade and economic relations; healthcare; science, technology and peaceful uses of outer-space; tourism, culture and sport; energy; environment; education; maritime arrangements; telecommunications and post; agriculture and food security; water; and legal cooperation.

Why are the countries making the agreement now?

Geopolitics is a political framework in which international affairs is examined in the context of culture, history, and geography, as well as day-to-day political events. The geopolitics of the Middle East is complex and multifaceted, which is not surprising considering the history of the region. Yet since the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948, a driving force in Middle Eastern geopolitics has been the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. 

The predominantly Muslim Arab states in the region have almost always sided with the Palestinians and against Israel, and made it a priority in their foreign policy. Many observers of the geopolitical situation assumed resolution of that conflict would be necessary before Arab states recognized the legitimacy of Israel. But over the last two decades, some of the Arab states have recognized that they share a common foe with Israel—Iran. Concern about minimizing the influence of Iran in the region has even trumped the question about what to do about Palestine. 

Israel and the UAE are unlikely to come into direct conflict since the capitals of Israel and the UAE are separated by 1,200 miles (about the same distance as Seattle and San Diego) and two nations (Saudia Arabia and Jordan). The UAE, though, is only 33 miles away Iran (across the Strait of Hormuz) and Israel borders Syria, a country that has a military alliance with Iran. Iran also funds Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, and the Arab League, of which the UAE is a member. Concerns about Iran gaining nuclear weapons has also shifted the geopolitical concerns of most states in the Middle East. 

What is the significance of the agreement?

While it’s too early to tell what the outcome of the treaty will be, it will likely affect the Israeli-Palestianian conflict, containment of Iran, and religious liberty in the UAE. 

Unlike in past agreements, the UAE did not require Israel to make significant concessions to the Palestinian cause. This has already been viewed by some as a betrayal by the Palestinians, and could lead to increased violence by radical factions. In response to the agreement, militants fired rockets into Israel from Gaza.

While it may cause more unrest in Gaza and the West Bank, the agreement may provide a check on Iraninan hostility. The U.S. reportedly enticed the UAE by offering to sell them weapons systems in exchange for the treaty with Israel. The package of weapons includes F-35 fighter jets, Reaper drones, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare planes. This will strengthen the UAE’s ability to protect themselves against aggression by the Iranian government.

The accord states that the signatories will respect and promote religious freedom. The Constitution of the UAE provides for freedom of religion by established customs. But there are significant restrictions. According to Open Doors, Christians from other countries are free to worship privately in the UAE, but the government does not allow them to evangelize or pray in public. The death penalty remains the on-the-books punishment for converting from Islam, though it has not been used. The U.S. can, and should, use the agreement to push the UAE to be more open to expressions of religious liberty.

What you need to know about President Trump’s Jerusalem proclamation
By / Dec 7

On December 6, 2017, President Trump formally recognized that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The move was expected, as the White House had telegraphed the decision for several days before the event.

It is an important decision; here’s what you need to know:

Wasn’t Jerusalem already the capital of Israel?

Yes, but this fact was not recognized yet by the international community. The state of Israel has long considered Jerusalem to be its capital. Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, Supreme Court, and other central government offices are all located in Jerusalem.

In addition, Jerusalem has crucial religious significance for the Jewish people, as it is home to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism. As a Jewish State, Jerusalem is the spiritual capital of the country as well.

But Jerusalem is also claimed as a capital city by Palestinians, who have maintained that Jerusalem must also be the capital of a Palestinian state in a two-state solution. However, the division of Jerusalem—and where it would or could be divided—is a hotly contested issue between Israelis, Palestinians, and the international community.

As a result, the international community has historically treated the recognition of Jerusalem as a “final status” issue, one to be resolved in the context of a final peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Is the Embassy moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

Not yet, but the President indicated that the embassy would eventually move to Jerusalem.

Since the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, the United States has maintained its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv. After 1967 and the reunification of Jerusalem, there have been growing calls to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, calling for the United States to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The bill was not signed by President Clinton, who had himself promised to move the embassy, but it passed with a veto-proof majority. Despite this, no administration has moved the embassy to Jerusalem.

A move of the embassy would be understood in political and religious terms in the region. Politically, the move would be understood as a recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the entire city of Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem. Religiously, the move would be understood by some parts of the Muslim world as the recognition by the U.S. of Israeli sovereignty over Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

What does this mean for Middle East peace negotiations?

It’s not yet clear. Leaders from the Arab and Muslim world condemned the move, arguing that it was counterproductive. For instance, ahead of the President’s announcement, Turkish President Erdogan asserted that recognition of Jerusalem was a “red line” for Muslims. However, some have argued that these statements by Arab leaders are mostly bluster and that the recognition of Jerusalem will not make a significant difference in the long run.

On the other hand, the recognition of Jerusalem serves to build trust with Israel and Israeli negotiators at a time when trust between the U.S. and Israel has been historically low. It’s possible that Israel may be more willing to enter into U.S.-led negotiations given this move.

The President and White House officials have maintained that restarting the peace process is a priority for the Administration. It remains to be seen how this new wrinkle will impact those prospects considering the willingness of the Palestinians to come to the table, European allies to participate, and Arab allies to play a constructive role.

What have Arab Christians said about this decision?

Many Arab Christians are concerned about this move. Arab Christians, wherever they live around the world, are religious minorities. Sectarian tensions are already high, the Arab Christians are especially vulnerable to and sensitive about attacks on churches and their communities by extremist elements. Several Middle Eastern Christian leaders in Jerusalem, Jordan, and elsewhere sent letters to President Trump asking for a delay or for caution in making this move.

As the Middle East absorbs this news, let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for the safety and flourishing of our Arab brothers and sisters in Christ, and pray our brothers and sisters in majority-Muslim contexts.

What you should know about Jerusalem Day
By / May 24

What is Jerusalem Day?

Jerusalem Day (Hebrew: Yom Yerushalayim) is an Israeli national holiday that celebrates the unification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty, an event that occurred during the Six Day War in 1967.

On May 12, 1968 the government of Israel chose the 28th of Iyar (the eighth month of the civil and second of the religious year) as a day that “symbolizes the continued historical connection of the Jewish People to Jerusalem.” Jerusalem Day became an official state holiday on March 23, 1998 when the Knesset (Israel's parliament) passed the second and third readings of the Jerusalem Day Law establishing the official date of the national holiday. This year the holiday begins on the evening of May 23 and ends at sunset on May 24.

Why is the city of Jerusalem so significant?

Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in history—and one of the most contested. According to historian Eric H. Kline, the city has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked an additional 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. Currently, both the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority claim Jerusalem as their capital.

What was Jerusalem like before 1967?

After being anointed king of Israel, King David captured the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it the nation’s capital (2 Samuel 5:3-6). The city remained the capital of Israel until the Romans sacked it in AD 70. From that point until 1948, various non-Jewish factions controlled the city.

The 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine proposed to divide the city between Israel and Palestine, but before it could go into effect a civil war broke out in the region. The war of 1948 resulted in the division of Jerusalem, with the Israelis controlling West Jerusalem and the Jordanians controlling East Jerusalem, including the area known as the Old City which contains some of the most holy sites of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The city remained divided until between Arabs and Jews until the Six Day War.

What happened during the Six Day War?

For two decades after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, tensions remained between Israeli and its Arab neighbors. In May 1967, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria began mobilizing their military forces and initiated a naval blockade of Israeli shipping and seaports. Israel responded by preemptively attacking Egyptian airfields and destroying 90 percent of Egypt’s air force. In the first three days of the war Israel managed to capture the Gaza Strip, the Suez Canal, and the Sinai Peninsula.

Although Israel had asked Jordan to remain neutral in the city of Jerusalem, the Jordanians began to attack West Jerusalem. On June 7, Israel captured all of Jerusalem and accepted a ceasefire with Jordan.

Do Muslims have access to their holy sites?

Since the capture of the Old City, Israel has controlled access to two of Islam’s most holy sites—Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Muslims in Israel have full access to these sites, though Palestinians in the West Bank have restricted access into the city.

Why is Israeli control of Jerusalem still considered controversial?

In 1980, Knesset adopted the “Jerusalem Law” which stated that, “Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel” and that “Jerusalem is the seat of the President of the State, the Knesset, the Government and the Supreme Court.”

The United Nations Security Council, which had long criticized Israeli annexation of the city, responded by adopting Resolution 478. The resolution declares the Jerusalem Law to be a violation of international law and calls upon UN member states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from the city.

The resolution passed 14-0, with the United States abstaining.

Will the U.S. embassy be moved to Jerusalem?

Since the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, the United States has maintained its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv. The United States does not formally recognize Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel; the official U.S. policy is that the final status of Jerusalem must be resolved through peace negotiations.

After 1967 and the reunification of Jerusalem, there have been growing calls to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, calling for the United States to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The bill was not signed by President Clinton, who had himself promised to move the embassy, but it passed with a veto-proof majority. Despite this, no administration has moved the embassy to Jerusalem.

A move of the embassy would be understood in political and religious terms in the region. Politically, the move would be understood as a recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the entire city of Jerusalem, including East Jerusalem. Religiously, the move would be understood by some parts of the Muslim world as the recognition by the U.S. of Israeli sovereignty over Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

President Trump – and all Republican candidates for President since Clinton – promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem. So far, the President has delayed fulfilling this promise, citing concerns about security and the sensitivity of peace negotiations.