A Christian 'Samaritan' with Israeli visa trouble

On the surface, Jonathan Miles, an American Christian who specializes in saving the lives of infants, is the last person one would want removed from the nerve center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr. Miles is a rarity in the Middle East and among Christians whose faith draws them to the region: a mediator who enjoys the trust of both societies.

Over the past five years, as head of the Shevet Achim organization, he has used persistence, persuasion, and administrative abilities to bring more than 200 Palestinian babies from the Gaza Strip, and others from the West Bank, through Israeli army checkpoints to treatment in Israeli hospitals. The vast majority were saved from life-threatening illness.

In the process, he has defied the compulsory Middle Eastern classification of being pro-Israel or pro-Arab. He appears to be pro-both, having come up with his own unique synthesis.

Miles often recites prayers in Hebrew before starting work. For him, praying in Hebrew acknowledges Christianity's links to Jewish sources. He says he believes strongly in the idea of the "return of the Jews to their land" but adds, "It is a mistake to read that too precisely into current events." Miles lived in Rafah, a destitute area of the Gaza Strip, for five years and sent his daughters to Palestinian schools where they became fluent in Arabic. They wore head coverings for modesty and traditional clothing. Miles says his work is motivated by the story of the Good Samaritan, of not passing by when there is need.

"The closer we get to the heart of God, we see him loving all people and calling us to do the same," says Miles. " I've often felt compelled to ask Christians who love Israel not to demonize Arabs and to ask Christians who love the Palestinians not to demonize Israelis."

But now question marks loom over the efforts of his rescue organization, called Shevet Achim, in Hebrew, or Ichwan Ma'an, in Arabic. The name refers to Psalm 133, which refers to how goodly it is to see brothers dwelling together in unity.

The Israeli Interior Ministry says it does not want Mr. Miles in the country any longer. He had stayed for more than seven years, some of that time with a visa arranged by the Palestinian Authority for volunteer work in Gaza.

"There is no connection between our position and his work with Palestinians," says ministry spokeswoman Tova Ellinson. "He was doing very important things. But the fact is that he stayed in this country illegally for years. We cannot let someone ignore our laws." Miles denies staying illegally, saying that his application for residency was held up in the ministry for three years, during which he was in regular contact with officials about it.

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