Israel Speaks
Most of the Arab population in Israel are Mouslims and
only a small number are Christians.
Some of Israel's Arab Christians are Israeli and some are
Palestinian Authority citizens.
Those of them who live in the Isra- eli terrority differ significantly
in their religion from the Jewish mainstream population as well as
from the majority of their own people.
In the Palestinian Authority terrorities their situation is
even more difficult. There they have a less than 3% minority
that is decreasing constantly.
Simon Azazian is the spokesperson for the Palestinian Bible Society
whose main office is located in East Jerusalem.
In Israel the relations between Arab Christians and their
Mouslim neighbours have traditionally been good.
In recent years the situation has changed.
The number of Arab Christians in Israel is decreasing, -
because many of them have immigrated to Europe or America.
Every now and then in Israel there is violence against religion
perpetrated, specifically, by the extreme Jewish circles.
Messianic congregations have sometimes been targeted, -
but also Arab Christians are exposed to this violence.
In November 2010 the Jerusalem Alli- ance Church on the Prophets' street
in Jerusalem was torched.
The church's facilities are used by many groups, -
one of which is an Arab Christian congregation led by Jack Sara.
Arab Christians and Messianic Jews share the same view
on many spiritual issues.
However, the prolonged Israeli- Palestinian crisis has partly
caused disagreements also among believers.
The disagreements are often based on different interpretations
of prophecies concerning the mission of the people of Israel
in the end times.
Salim Munayer is an Arab Christian and one of the leaders
of Musalcha organization, which works to promote understanding
and harmony between Messianic Jews and Arab Christians.
Translation: Sonja Mattayev