A World with No Christians? Report Shows Disturbing Trend - CBN News

A World with No Christians? 

Report Shows Disturbing Trend

CBNNews.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

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Christians could soon be extinct from entire regions of the world, according to a new report from the U.K. Catholic group, Aid to the Church in Need.

This week, the group released its latest bi-annual report, Persecuted and Forgotten?

"Christians are fast disappearing from entire regions - most notably a huge chunk of the Middle East but also whole dioceses in Africa. In large part, this migration is the product of an ethnic cleansing motivated by religious hatred," the report says.

As a result of the persecution against Christians, a massive exodus is happening in parts of the Middle East, notably Syria and Iraq.

Christianity could disappear from Iraq within the next five years if the situation doesn't change, ACN's John Pontifex told CBN's George Thomas. Click to watch more.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote a letter addressing the situation to introduce the ACN report to the House of Lords.

"No believer should have to live in fear, and this is why (the British) Government is committed to promoting religious freedom and tolerance at home and around the world," Cameron wrote.

"This report serves as a voice for the voiceless, from their prison cells and the places far from home where they have sought refuge," he said. "Now is not the time for silence. We must stand together and fight for a world where no one is persecuted because of what they believe."

ACN's report says Christians are now the most persecuted faith group in the world, citing the International Society for Human Rights 2012 report, which estimates that 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination were against Christians.

Israel Focuses on ISIS, US Vows to Destroy Jihadist Horde

Thursday, September 04, 2014 |  Ryan Jones  ISRAEL TODAY

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Islam

Israel’s focus on the threat of the Islamic State (formerly ISIS) has increased significantly in recent days in the wake of the revelation that the latest American journalist beheaded by the jihadists was Jewish and an Israeli citizen.

“ISIS’ growing power and its proximity to Israel could pose a strategic threat to Israel,” opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) told reporters a day after the Islamic State released a video showing the beheading of American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff.

Herzog and many other Israeli officials are concerned not only by the fact that the Islamic State is inching closer to its borders both in Syria and by threatening Jordan, but also by burgeoning homegrown support for the Islamists in neighboring states and among the Palestinians.

Islamic State flags have been spotted in Judea, Samaria, Gaza and even Jerusalem. On Wednesday, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon signed an order officially outlawing the Islamic State, a move that would make it a crime to raise money or otherwise express support for the jihadist movement.

The grizzly murder of Sotloff just weeks after the Islamic State beheaded captured American reporter James Foley also finally spurred the Obama Administration to action.

“We will not be intimidated,” US President Barack Obama stated after experts confirmed the Sotloff beheading video as authentic. “Those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget and that our reach is long and that justice will be served.”

Obama was reportedly working with British Prime Minister David Cameron to establish an international coalition with the intent to “degrade and destroy” the Islamic State.

US Vice President Joe Biden warned the hordes of Islamic State fighters that “the American people are so much stronger, so much more resolved than any enemy can fully understand. We don’t forget. …They should know we will follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice, because hell is where they will reside.”

While Israelis are happy to see Western powers finally taking the threat of the Islamic State seriously, there is frustration that Palestinian groups like Hamas receive alternative treatment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying to drive home the point that Hamas and the Islamic State are kindred movements. In fact, Hamas has also been behind the recent executions of American-Israeli citizens, like 16-year-old Naftali Frenkel.

But, because Hamas is tolerated by the US-backed Palestinian Authority, and because the Palestinian public voted the terror group into power, Washington has seen fit to place it on somewhat different footing than fellow jihadists in Iraq and Syria.

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Rocket Fire on Israel Largest Spike in Two Years

Gaza Rocket Fire on Israel

Julie Stahl
CBN News Middle East Correspondent

March 13, 2014

CBN News is a national/international, nonprofit news organization that provides programming by cable, satellite, and the Internet, 24-hours a day. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Islamic Jihad terrorists, backed by Iran, launched dozens of rockets from the heart of Gaza on Wednesday. It marked the largest spike in Gaza rocket fire since 2012.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel wouldn't tolerate terror from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

"If there is no calm in the south, there will be no calm in Gaza, and that's putting it mildly," Netanyahu said. "I call upon the residents of the south to follow the instructions. The IDF will do the job."

The Israeli Air Force struck nearly 30 terror sites in Gaza in retaliation for the barrage. The IDF said it targeted infrastructure terrorists use for training, planning and implementing attacks.

More than 60 rockets fell inside Israel, including at least five that exploded in populated areas, but caused no injuries.

Several rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-rocket system.

Islamic Jihad, which is armed by Iran, claimed it fired the rockets in retaliation for the deaths of three members killed earlier this week in an Israeli airstrike.

The IDF released a video that it says clearly shows those three terrorists launching a mortar shell at Israeli soldiers and running from the site.

Visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron said his country stands with Israel on security matters.

"Let me be absolutely clear about these attacks from Gaza, we condemn them completely," Cameron said during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

"I think there are three important points to bear in mind; first of all they are a reminder once again of the importance of maintaining and securing Israel's future and the security threats that you face. And you have Britain's support in facing those security threats," he said.

Cameron is here on a 30-hour visit, in part to promote the U.S.-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Netanyahu said there can only be genuine peace if Iranian-backed terrorists can't fire rockets at Israel.

Cameron to make 1st visit as UK leader to Israel - Israel Hayom

Cameron to make 1st visit as UK leader to Israel

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

British Prime Minister David Cameron to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, address Knesset • Cameron initially planned to visit Israel last month but postponed the trip to deal with floods in England. 

The Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

British Prime Minister David Cameron will arrive in Israel on Wednesday |  Photo credit: Reuters

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron plans to make his first visit as British leader to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week. Cameron's Downing Street office says he will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deliver a speech at the Knesset on Wednesday.

He also is scheduled to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during his two-day trip.

Cameron initially planned to visit Israel last month but had to postpone the trip because his government faced emergency flooding in parts of England. Cameron did visit Israel as an opposition lawmaker before his 2010 rise to power.