Lebanese-born Christian becomes first in Israel's diplomatic cadet corps
Jonathan Elkhoury, who fled Lebanon in 2001, joins a 36-person class just days after a local prayer hall for his community was vandalized.
By George Parker ·
A Lebanese-born Christian has entered Israel's Foreign Ministry cadet training program, a first for the role. Jonathan Elkhoury is one of 36 individuals chosen from nearly 2,000 applicants to begin a six-month course. The program prepares participants for civil service positions in Jerusalem and at Israeli diplomatic missions abroad. The course started on Sunday.
Elkhoury left Lebanon in 2001 at age 9 with his family. His relatives were members of the South Lebanon Army, a Christian-led force that fought alongside the Israel Defense Forces from 1985 to 2000. Following the IDF withdrawal in 2000, thousands of SLA members settled in Israel. Elkhoury has become a prominent pro-Israel advocate in recent years.
On social media, Elkhoury framed his admission as a continuation of his family's historical ties to Israel. He wrote that the step was natural, linking it to a covenant his parents signed during the 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of the SLA. He described Israel as his home and stated that his fate and that 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 that extends beyond the battlefield to include a struggle for public opinion against powerful forces.
Hours after the ceremony, a prayer hall in Nahariya serving Lebanese Maronite Christians was found vandalized. Community leader Father Rudy Noura said the hall, which serves former SLA members and their families, suffered damage to religious icons and statues. A cross depicting Jesus was slashed, and other statues were shattered.
The Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa called the incident a grave and unacceptable attack on a place of worship. An apology note was left on the altar in English. It read, "To a deeply valued community, I am so sorry. I don't know what came over me to make me do that. Please forgive me," followed by a heart and a cross symbol.
Noura arrived at the scene at 6:10 p.m. and expressed compassion for the perpetrator, saying he felt compelled to forgive and embrace the person. He noted that the local municipality, police, and Foreign Ministry contacted him immediately to offer assistance. Ambassador George Deek, the Foreign Ministry's special envoy to the Christian world, labeled the vandalism disgraceful, noting the pain of an attack on a community that stood alongside Israel.
Source: The Times of Israel
