In the past decade, millions of Christians have fought to escape persecution and violence in the Middle East. Many have died, while others have traveled to Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere in search of safety.

According to Robert Nicholson, Executive Director of The Philos Project, two of the keys to a continued Christian presence in The Holy Land include a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq and a thriving Israel.

“It is imperative that the United States continue to support the existence of the State of Israel,” Nicholson told The Stream at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “It is imperative that we not withdraw from Iraq after its liberation, as that will create a power vacuum which will be filled by another insurgency.”

The U.S. has led a coalition of nations against terrorist actors and others in Iraq for nearly 15 years. Some say the terrorist group ISIS, which in recent years has been the focus of U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, arose because former President Barack Obama drew down the U.S. presence in the nation. Others say ISIS wouldn’t exist if former President George W. Bush had not launched the invasion in the first place in 2003.

Christians make up between five and 10 percent of the Syrian population, but just one-half of one percent of the refugees accepted from Syria in the 2016 fiscal year. Nicholson told The Stream that U.S. policy on the Middle East should aid both Christians who want to come to America and those who wish to stay in their homelands. 

I support the prioritization of Christian and other minority refugees whose lives have been destroyed by the Islamic state. After being forced from their homes, they are often the victims of further discrimination in neighboring Arab countries who have been aiding in the refugee crisis. It is imperative, however, that by favoring certain minorities, U.S. policy does not inadvertently drain the region of Christianity. At-risk minority communities in Iraq and Syria must be preserved.

“I see a deep need to protect minority interests on the ground in Iraq and Syria,” Nicholson continued. “Christianity and Judaism is quickly disappearing from the Arab world – the cradle of both those religions. The Philos Project seeks to reinvigorate thoughtful discussion on sustainable solutions to preserve minority heritage in the region.”

The Philos Project hosted a panel at CPAC is entitled, “Why Disengagement Isn’t an Option in the Middle East.” Nicholson said his group is aiming “to inform and educate Christian leaders and future leaders to have a holistic understanding of the complex situations in the Middle East.”

“We recognize that many leaders who care about Israel and Christianity in the Middle East come to the CPAC conference,” concluded Nicholson, who said the CPAC panel “will explore strategies for sustainable U.S. policy in the region.”