STRENGTHENING THE CHRISTIAN PRESENCE IN THE HOLY LAND THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROGRAMME By USAMA G. SALMAN (MA) Director of Studies: Professor Gary Bunt Second Supervisor: Professor Martin O’Kane This research was undertaken under the auspices of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David Submitted in partial fulfilment for the award of a degree of PhD in Theology in the school of Religious Studies University of Wales Trinity Saint David 2017 i DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed: Usama G. Salman (candidate) Date: April 30, 2017. STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where correction services have been used the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed: Usama G. Salman (candidate) Date: April 30, 2017 STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for interlibrary loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organizations. Signed: Usama G. Salman (candidate) Date: April 30, 2017 STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for deposit in the University’s digital repository. Signed: Usama G. Salman (candidate) Date: April 30, 2017 NB: Candidates on whose behalf a bar on access has been approved by the University, should use the following version of Statement 2: I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for interlibrary loans after expiry of a bar on access approved by the University of Wales on the special recommendation of the Member Institution concerned. Signed: Usama G. Salman (candidate) Date: April 30, 2017 ii ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on strengthening the Christian presence in the Holy Land that has been in existence for more than 2,000 years. The Christian presence there is not only about maintaining and preserving the holy shrines related to Christianity. It is also about maintaining and preserving the local Christian congregations and the Christian communities located in Palestine and Israel. These groups have had a series of challenges resulting in a critical decline in the Christian population. The research presented here applies a SWOT analysis to the history, current reality of the Christian presence in the Holy Land and the challenges that influence its future. The benefit of using this approach allows for a concrete analysis of the problems that face the Christian community from the Palestinian-Israel conflict, economic instability, social problems, and the Christian cultural predicament, identified from the literature. The outcome of the analysis is translated into strategic solutions and actions that can be incorporated in programmes and projects to be implemented within, and by, the local Christian communities. These strategic solutions aim to revitalise the indigenous Christian presence in Palestine and Israel and encourage the development of their social, political, and cultural existence, with the hope of obtaining justice, peace and reconciliation. iii Table of Contents i Title ii Declaration Statement iii Abstract x List of Abbreviations xi List of Illustrations Definitions………………………………………………………………………...1 Christians of the Holy Land………………………………………………………1 The Holy Land………………………………………………………….……........2 Chapter One: 4 Introduction to the Thesis 4 1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..4 1.1 Overview……………………………………………………………………...4 1.2 Scope and Limits of the Thesis……………………………………………….6 1.3 Objectives of the Thesis………………………………………………………7 1.4 Methodology.....................................................................................................8 1.4.1 Stage 1: Conduct a literature……………………………………………12 1.4.2 Stage 2: Categorize problems…………………………………………...12 1.4.2 Stage 2: Categorize problems…………………………………………...12 1.4.4 Stage 4: Categorize results and develop strategic solutions.....................12 1.4.5 Stage 5: Create strategic programmes…………………………………..13 Chapter Two: 24 Christianity and the Holy Land 24 2.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………….24 2.1 The Origin and Development of the Christian Community (30- 622 AD)…..26 2.2 The Holy Land under Roman and Byzantine Emperors (70-622 AD)………29 2.3 The Rise of Islam (622-1099 AD). In 622 AD………………………………32 2.4 The Crusader Period (1099-1187 AD)……………………………………….37 2.5 The Mamluk Period (1260-1517 AD)………………………………………..42 2.6 The Ottoman Period (1517-1917 AD)………………………………………..45 2.7 The British Mandate (1917-1948 AD)…………………………………….….50 2.8 The Arab-Israel Conflict, 1948 and 1967 War……………………………….56 2.9 The First Intifada and Oslo Accords (1987-1993 AD)……………………….62 2.10 Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000-2005 AD)………………………………………….64 2.11 The Palestinian Authority Election (2006-2007 AD)…………………..…...65 2.12 The rise of Israeli right wing extremists in the Israeli government………....66 iv Chapter Three: Part One: The Christian Denominations in the Holy Land 77 Introduction………………………………………………………………………77 3.13 The Christian Identity in the Holy Land……………………………………77 3.13.1 The Catholic Church………………………………………………....77 3.13.1.1 Latin/Roman Catholic Church………………………………..78 3.13.1.2 The Melkite Church (Greek Catholic)………………………..79 3.13.1.3 The Armenian Catholic Church………………………………78 3.13.1.4 The Chaldean, Coptic and Abyssinian Catholics…………….78 3.13.1.5 The Maronite Catholic Church………………………………..81 3.13.1.6 The Greek Orthodox Church………………………………….82 3.13.2 The Monophysite Church…………………………………………….83 3.13.2.1 The Armenian Church………………………………………...84 3.13.2.2 The Copts……………………………………………………..85 3.13.2.2.1 The Ethiopian Orthodox Church…………………………....85 3.13.2.2.2 The Syrian Orthodox Church……………………………….87 3.13.3 The Russian Orthodox Church……..………………………………...88 3.13.3.1 The Romanian Church…….....………………………………..89 3.13.4. The Protestant Church…………………………………………….....89 3.13.3.1 The Anglican/Episcopalian-Lutheran venture………………...90 Part Two: The Distinction between Indigenous Christians, Expatriate Christians, and Pilgrims Living in the Holy Land 92 3.14 Introduction...................................................................................…………..92 3.14.1 The Lives of the Holy Land’s Christians and Pilgrims………………...92 3.14.2 Expatriate Christians living in the Holy Land…………………………96 3.14.2.1 Clergy and members of religious order…………………………96 3.14.2.1.1 Educational institutions……………………………………….97 3.14.2.1.2 Specialized school homes……………………………………..97 3.14.2.1.3 Medical and social services…………………………………...97 3.14.2.1.4 Principal shrines………………………………………………97 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………98 Chapter Four 99 Holy Land Christians: An Analysis of the Current Religious, Social, Cultural Economic and Political Problems 100 4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..100 4.1.1 Official level……………………………………………………….........103 4.1.1.1 Absence of an official residency policy…………………………..103 4.1.1.2 The influence of extremist right wing Jewish groups on Israeli policies……………………………………………………104 v 4.1.1.3 Preservation of religious identity…………………………………106 4.1.1.4. The presentation of Christianity in the education system………..106 4.1.1.4.1 History textbook for Grade five………………………………112 4.1.1.4.2 History textbook for Grade six………………………………..114 4.1.1.4.3 History textbook for Grade seven……………………………..114 4.1.1.4.4 History textbook for Grade eight……………………………...115 4.1.1.4.5 History textbook for Grade nine………………………………117 4.1.1.4.6 History textbook for Grade ten………………………………..118 4.1.1.4.7 History textbook for Grade eleven……………………………120 4.1.1.4.8 History textbook for Grade twelve……………………………120 4.1.1.5 The ideology of the Israeli education system……………………..122 4.1.1.6 The role of the family in the Christian church…………………….125 4.1.1.7 Restriction of movement of Palestinian Christians………………..125 4.1.2 Community level………………………………………………………….127 4.1.2.1 Family size………………………………………………………...128 4.1.2.2 Housing……………………………………………………………128 4.1.2.3 The influence of of substance abuse among the Christians ………130 4.1.2.4 Fewer Christian communities……………………………………..131 4.1.2.5 Rise of Islamic political ideology…………………………………132 4.2 The Preservation of Christian Culture………………………………………...133 4.2.1 Lack of Christian cultural understanding and representation………….....134 4.2.1.1. Written educational materials on Christian history and culture…...134 4.2.1.2 Lack of access to centres of learning………………………………135 4.2.2.1 Origins of educational values and curricula………………………..135 4.2.2.2 Lack of programmers concerning the local Christian culture……...136 4.2.2.3 Misrepresentation of the Christian heritage………………………….137 4.3 The Effect of Israeli Politics on Christians in the Holy Land………………..138 4.3.1 The political struggle of Christians in Jerusalem……………………..….141 4.3.1.1 The Israeli occupation of Jerusalem……………………………….....142 4.3.1.1 Demographic problems………………………………………………143 4.3.1.1.2 Residency restrictions imposed on non-Jews……………………...143 4.3.1.1.3 The effect of the Separation Wall on the Christian community…...144 4.3.2 The Church’s role im the struggle over Jerusalem………………………145 4.3.2.1 The role of the Palestinian Christian in the political conflict………..146 4.3.2.2 Lack of Christian political leaders and political parties……………...147 4.4 Lack of Christian economic resources………………………………………..148 4.4.1 The political situation affecting the economy…………………………..150