Lebanese-born Christian joins Israeli diplomatic corps
Jonathan Elkhoury, a former child refugee from the South Lebanon Army, became the first in his demographic to enter the Foreign Ministry's six-month cadet program.
By Olivia Miller ·
Jonathan Elkhoury has become the first Lebanon-born Christian to enroll in the training program for Israel’s foreign service diplomats. He is one of 36 cadets who began a six-month course on Sunday at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. The cohort was selected from a pool of nearly 2,000 applicants.
Elkhoury left Lebanon in 2001 at age nine with his family, which included members of the South Lebanon Army, or SLA. The SLA was a Christian-led force that operated alongside the Israel Defense Forces in southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000. Thousands of SLA personnel settled in Israel after the IDF withdrew from the region in 2000.
In a post on X, Elkhoury described his entry into the program as a natural next step in his life. He called it a direct continuation of the agreement his parents made with Israel during the SLA’s existence in the 1970s and 1980s. He stated that his fate and the fate of Israel are one.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar addressed the cadets at the opening ceremony. He told the group that Israel is engaged in a conflict not just on the battlefield but also in the battle for public opinion. Sa’ar noted that Israel is fighting against powerful forces in this domain.
On the same evening, the Saints Peter and Paul prayer hall in Nahariya was vandalized. The site serves Lebanese Maronite Christians, including former SLA members and their families. Religious icons, including a depiction of Jesus on the cross, were slashed, and statues were shattered.
Father Rudy Noura, a community leader, arrived at the scene at 6:10 p.m. after the damage was discovered. He said the Nahariya municipality, police, and the Foreign Ministry contacted him immediately to offer assistance. Noura expressed a desire to forgive the person who caused the damage.
An apology note was left on the altar. The English message began, “To a deeply valued community,” and stated, “I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me to make me do that.” It ended with the words “Please forgive me” followed by a heart and a cross.
George Deek, the Foreign Ministry’s special envoy to the Christian world, called the vandalism disgraceful. He said the incident is particularly painful because the community belongs to Lebanese Christians who supported Israel and found a home there. The Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa issued a statement calling the attack a grave and unacceptable violation of the sanctity of worship.
