Following a number of academic and ecclesiastical conferences in various Arab countries on the situation and fate of the Christians of the Near East, it was only normal for Beirut to sponsor political discussions on this issue. On Nov. 2-3, on the invitation of the Lebanese Christian Gathering, around 45 Christian political figures gathered from across the six countries of the Near East — Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon — to discuss the plight of Christians in their countries, the imminent threats facing them, and the ways to jointly fend them off. Al-Monitor’s correspondent was in attendance. Although a large number of similar conferences have been held, the one in Beirut last week constituted a significant milestone on many levels.
First of all, participants were politicians who combine two characteristics: they represent Christian groups in their respective countries and they are involved in the political regimes of these countries. The participants included government ministers, former and current members of parliament, as well as human rights activists, politicians and members of civil society.