Emily Graves spoke with author and broadcaster Julia Fisher about what is happening with Jews and Muslims in Israel who are coming to know Jesus

Julia Fisher

Reconciliation in the Middle East is fraught with danger and seemingly impossible challenges. However, reconciliation is possible through the cross, no matter how powerful the childhood indoctrination or how great the social pressure.

Based on The Olive Tree series of radio programmes, Meet Me At The Olive Tree is full of individual stories showing how the body of Christ, which includes both Jews and non-Jews (Arabs/Palestinians), is growing in size and unity in the Holy Land today despite the politics and conflict that divide these two peoples.

Emily Graves spoke with author Julia Fisher to find out more.

Emily: Please could you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

Julia: I'm a journalist, a writer and broadcaster and for many years now I've had a particular interest in reconciliation in the Middle East. There's so much on the news that would make you imagine that the whole place is a war zone, but in 1998 I became aware of quite a lot of reconciliation between Arabs and Jews; so that set me off on a quest, on a journey and it's taken me to meet some very interesting people.

Emily: What was it that really grabbed you in the first place about the Middle East?

Julia: I was working for a radio station at the time and I was sent there to cover a story and it was just a chance remark really. This was just before the Intifada in 2000-2001; it was a chance remark that I heard that there was a growing movement in reconciliation. I thought well how can that possibly be when there is so much trouble and so much distrust? The walls were literally going up, dividing the two peoples. I just went on a quest, Emily, to find out more.

Emily: Can you tell us a little bit more about what life is like in a country where there are many faiths and also nationalities.

Julia: Israel is such a fascinating place. You've got a mixed Jewish and Arab population living in Israel itself and from the Jewish side you've got people who have literally come from the four corners of the world; from America, Europe, India; the Middle East itself, from the Arab nations; Iraqi Jews and Persian Jews; it's a real mix. That is reflected in the food, in the culture, in the music, in literature and everything. It's a vibrant and exciting place to visit.

Emily: What are some of the challenges faced by Christians in Israel today?

Julia: Well, with faith there, what you believe matters and everybody carries a label. If you're not Jewish, you're Arab. If you're Arab, are you Christian or are you Muslim? If you're Jewish, are you an Orthodox religious Jew or are you a Secular Jew, or are you what's called a Messianic Jew; that's a Jew who believes in Jesus, a Christian Jew. There aren't many of those, but everybody is labelled and so what you believe is really what defines you. As far as the Palestinians are concerned, who live in the West Bank, the majority of those are Muslim and the Muslim faith really carries with it a very strong culture. You're almost born into that culture and so that is what defines you. Labels and identity are really very strong and powerful and for somebody to move from one identity, one set of beliefs, to another is, well, it can be life and death.

Emily: In your book you speak to different Christians about how and when they came to know Jesus. What did you find that stood out the most to you?

Julia: When it comes to people who believe in Jesus and reconciliation, this was the key; this was what attracted them to each other. I have written a book of stories about Jewish people who believe in Jesus and also Arab or Palestinian people who believe. This is the common ground that they share and so it has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with what they believe. If they believe the same thing, then that is what brings them together and enables them to be reconciled, to forgive what has happened and to come together with a common desire to overcome the politics of the region. This is what I've noticed since 1998, since I've been going out there regularly three or four times a year; this movement is growing and growing and growing. I've written some amazingly interesting stories, for example, I've met couples who are married and one is Arab and one is Jewish and together they are working together and that's a very powerful statement in itself.

Emily: Another one of the stories that you mention in your book is about a Muslim who then became a Christian. Would you mind telling us a little bit more about the effect this can have on someone if they do change from being a Muslim to being a Christian?