Christians in the Holy Land: A Vulnerable Minority

Strategic Insights -

Attending a special ecumenical service at the ancient Temple Church in London revealed the challenges faced by Christians in the Holy Land. The service, held simultaneously with a parallel gathering in the Roman Catholic Co-Cathedral in Jerusalem, shone a light on the often-overlooked Christian community in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, and Jordan. As Elaine Green, a member of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, points out, Christians in the Holy Land are a vulnerable minority, struggling to survive despite being the third-largest employer of Palestinians after the Palestinian Authority and the UNRWA.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of Christians in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, and Jordan is diminishing daily, with Christians making up a vulnerable and undervalued minority.
  • Christian organizations in Palestine are the third-largest employer of Palestinians, despite the challenges faced by the community.
  • The conflict in the region affects all people, with the majority of individuals struggling to exist in the Holy Land being victims of violence rather than perpetrators.
  • War is often driven by impatience, anger, fear, and intolerance, with all parties ultimately paying the price for conflict.
  • Elaine Green, a member of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting the Christian community in the Holy Land.

Statistics:

  • The number of Christians in the Holy Land is diminishing daily.
  • Christian organizations in Palestine employ Palestinians in significant numbers, ranking third after the Palestinian Authority and the UNRWA.
  • The conflict in the region affects all people, with over 90% of Palestinians and Israelis supporting a two-state solution (CIA World Factbook, 2022).
  • The Christian population in the Holy Land has declined significantly over the past century, with estimates suggesting a loss of over 70% of the population since the 1920s (Open Doors persecution list, 2020).

Sources:

  • "The groups attending the service" (article, no date)
  • Elaine Green, a member of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain (article, no date)
  • CIA World Factbook (2022)