ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED IN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES? A TRUTHFUL AND BALANCED ANALYSIS By Josimar Salum

 

               *A portrait by AI: Town of Taybeh (Ephraim)

ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED IN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES? A TRUTHFUL AND BALANCED ANALYSIS

By Josimar Salum 

July 15, 2025

The condition of Christians in the Holy Land—specifically in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza—is a complex and often misunderstood subject. Accusations of persecution, discrimination, or neglect are frequently made from various ideological standpoints. But what do the facts say? Are Christians persecuted in Israel? What about in the Palestinian Territories? And how do these conditions compare?

This article aims to offer an honest, well-documented, and biblically-informed overview of the status of Christians living in the land that bears the spiritual heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike.

Biblical and Historical Context

From a biblical perspective, the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people by divine covenant:

“I will give to you and your descendants after you the land… as an everlasting possession.” — Genesis 17:8

For believers who accept the authority of Scripture, Israel is not an occupying power—it is the rightful heir to the land promised by God. This fundamental truth is not always acknowledged in international law or politics, which use the term “occupation” for post-1967 territories. But for many Christians, that term is a misrepresentation of God’s covenantal promises.

Christians in Israel: Legal Rights and Religious Freedom

Christians living within the recognized borders of the State of Israel—in cities like Nazareth, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Jaffa—enjoy full legal rights and freedom of religion. The law guarantees their right to worship, gather, evangelize (with some limitations in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods), and operate schools and churches without restriction.

Many Christians in Israel are citizens with equal civil rights, and some serve in public roles as judges, parliamentarians, lawyers, professors, and even IDF officers. Public celebrations of Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter are common in cities with large Christian populations, and Israel protects access to major holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Beatitudes, and others.

While state-sponsored persecution does not exist, Christians sometimes experience social discrimination, especially from radical fringe groups. Isolated acts of vandalism, verbal abuse, and disrespect toward clergy or Christian symbols have been reported—particularly in Jerusalem—by extremist elements in the ultra-Orthodox community. These acts, though serious, are consistently condemned by Israeli officials, and while enforcement can sometimes be inconsistent, the State of Israel defends the legal rights of its Christian citizens.

Christians in the Palestinian Territories: West Bank and Gaza

The situation for Christians in the Palestinian-administered territories—particularly under Hamas in Gaza—is markedly different.

In Gaza: Clear and Documented Persecution

Gaza, ruled by Hamas since 2007, has become increasingly hostile to the small Christian community that once lived there. The Christian population has plummeted from around 3,000 to fewer than 1,000, primarily due to persecution and fear. Christians have been subjected to harassment, threats, forced conversions, property destruction, and even murder. One widely reported case was the 2007 assassination of Rami Ayyad, a Christian bookstore manager, by Islamic extremists.

Under Hamas, religious freedom for Christians is practically nonexistent. Evangelism is dangerous, Christian education is heavily restricted, and public Christian celebrations like Christmas are discouraged or suppressed. Christians who remain in Gaza live under constant pressure and often in silence.

In the West Bank: Social Pressure, External Threats, and Legal Vulnerability

In contrast to Gaza, the West Bank (administered by the Palestinian Authority) presents a more nuanced and layered reality. There is no formal law outlawing Christianity, but Christians still face social and institutional pressures in majority-Muslim communities. While there are towns like Taybeh—also known biblically as Ephraim—where Christians form the majority and maintain strong traditions, Christian minorities in other areas often report land theft, discrimination, and harassment.

A particularly violent incident occurred in 2005, when a Muslim mob attacked and burned Christian homes in Taybeh following a rumor of an interfaith relationship. Though the PA condemned the violence, justice was slow, and Christian leaders have repeatedly called for stronger protections.

More recently, on July 7, 2025, the Christian town of Taybeh was again the target of violence—this time by radical Jewish settlers, who set fire near the ancient Church of St. George and its adjacent cemetery, causing widespread alarm in the community. The Israeli government condemned the attack publicly. However, critics pointed out that no concrete protective measures were taken, and no arrests were made. While Taybeh lies in Area B, under Palestinian civil administration, Christian leaders emphasized that Israel controls the surrounding security environment and urged Israeli authorities to prevent such acts of aggression in the future.

In addition to these social and security threats, Christians in the West Bank are affected by Israeli-imposed security restrictions, including checkpoints, border controls, and a complex permit system. These are tied to legitimate national security concerns but nonetheless hinder Christian mobility, economic stability, and access to Jerusalem’s holy sites.

Furthermore, economic hardship and political instability have fueled a steady emigration trend. Many West Bank Christians—often educated and internationally connected—have emigrated to the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Europe in search of safety, opportunity, and religious freedom.

How Do These Realities Compare?

To summarize:

• In Israel, Christians enjoy religious freedom, civil rights, and state protection. While incidents of harassment exist, especially from radical individuals, there is no government policy of persecution, and Christians thrive in many aspects of public and spiritual life.

• In the West Bank, Christians live under a difficult balance: they are not officially persecuted by the Palestinian Authority but face social hostility in some Muslim-majority areas, lack strong legal protection, and are sometimes victims of external settler violence. Israeli security controls, while meant for national protection, further complicate access to worship sites and economic activity.

• In Gaza, Christians are openly persecuted under Hamas rule. Their religious rights are denied, their safety is threatened, and their community is rapidly disappearing. This is a clear and ongoing case of religious oppression under a radical Islamist regime.

A Word to Believers

As followers of Christ, we must approach this issue with both truth and compassion. Christians in Israel are, by and large, safe and free. In the Palestinian territories—especially Gaza—the situation is far more precarious and dangerous. The sharp decline of Christians in the very land of its birth is deeply troubling and demands our attention, our intercession, and our voice.

We must support Israel’s right to exist and flourish, acknowledging its vital role in protecting religious minorities, including Christians, in a hostile region. At the same time, we must defend our persecuted brothers and sisters under Palestinian and Islamist regimes and resist attempts to politicize or downplay their suffering. Our concern must be rooted not in ideology, but in the unshakable truth of God’s Word and love for His people.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

‘May those who love you be secure.’”

— Psalm 122:6

#ASONE

All European Life Died in Auschwitz

All European Life Died in Auschwitz

   The following is a copy of an article written by Spanish writer
Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez and published in a Spanish newspaper on Jan.
15, 2008. 

   By Sebastian Vilar Rodrigez

   I walked down the street in Barcelona, and suddenly discovered a
terrible truth — Europe died in Auschwitz. We killed six million
Jews and replaced them with 20 million Muslims. In Auschwitz we
burned a culture, thought, creativity, talent. We destroyed the
chosen people, truly chosen, because they produced great and wonderful
people who changed the world.

The contribution of this people is felt in all areas of life: science,
art, international trade, and above all as the conscience of the
world. These are the people we burned.

And under the pretense of tolerance, and because we wanted to prove
to ourselves that we were cured of the disease of racism, we opened
our gates to 20 million Muslims, who brought us stupidity and
ignorance, religious extremism and lack of tolerance, crime and
poverty, due to an unwillingness to work and support their families
with pride.

They have blown up our trains and turned our beautiful Spanish cities
into the third world, drowning in filth and crime.

Shut up in the apartments they receive free from the government, they
plan the murder and destruction of their naive hosts.

And thus, in our misery, we have exchanged culture for fanatical
hatred, creative skill for destructive skill, intelligence for
backwardness and superstition.

We have exchanged the pursuit of peace of the Jews of Europe and their
talent for a better future for their children, their determined
clinging to life because life is holy, for those who pursue death, for
people consumed by the desire for death for themselves and others, for
our children and theirs.

What a terrible mistake was made by miserable Europe.

   #JSalum

   Source: 

https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/all-european-life-died-in-auschwitz/amp/

Genetic research: almost 25% of Latinos and Hispanics have Jewish DNA. And where does the surname Salum come from? By: Josimar Salum

Genetic research: almost 25% of Latinos and Hispanics have Jewish DNA. And where does the surname Salum come from? By: Josimar Salum

What of the surnames Alves, Carneiro, Costa, Ferreira, Oliveira, Fonseca? The research was based on genetics and not surnames! Unprecedented genetic research made public by dozens of teachers around the world has provided evidence that almost a quarter of Latinos and Hispanics have significant Jewish DNA.

I knew it! But now there is scientific proof!

The state of Minas Gerais where I came from is full of Jewish presence and influence. Our friend Rabbi Marcelo Guimarães, founder of the Inquisition museum in Belo Horizonte, was the first person who informed me about the origins of our family, of Jewish descent.

My family surname "Alves" on my father's side and his "Ferreira" are also Jewish surnames.

And from my mother we have Lebanese descendants - Salum, which means Shalom, Shalem - are from a family that migrated to Lebanon from Jerusalem many, many years ago, according to my friend Miguel Nicolaevsky, a Brazilian Jew who lives in Israel. He is practically a rabbi and a scholar.

According to Miguel, the Salum family in Lebanon has Jewish roots.

 "Salem (Arabic: سالم, appropriately transliterated as sālim; it can also be a transliteration from Hebrew: שָׁלֵם Shalem; the Jewish and Arabic name is also transliterated as Salem) or it can also be translated as I said earlier Shalom, Shalum, Salum.

Salem is a surname of Arabic and Jewish origin, it is a Sephardic Jewish surname.

And also my mother and father, we have the surnames Carneiro and Costa.

Costa “is also a surname chosen by Jews and other religious groups due to Roman Catholic and other Christian conversions. In Italy, Portugal, Galicia and Catalonia, it is derived from the Latin word costa, "rib", which came to mean slope, coast, in the Romance languages.

Also, the name Oliveira, which some of our family members married, is of Jewish origin. At the time of King Diniz I, king of Portugal in 1281, Oliveira was already "an old, illustrious and honorable family", like the king's books the Inquisitions show. 'Oliveira' is classified in the Jewish-genealogical study as of proven Jewish origin.

Fonseca is another proven Sephardic surname.

The Jerusalem Post article also said: “The last official estimation of the number of people in Latin America, conducted by the United Nations in 2016, resulted in more than 650 million.

Add to that assessment the approximately 60 million Latinos and Hispanics in the US, as well as data from previous genetic research showing that about 20% of the current population of 60 million people in the Iberian Peninsula are of Jewish descent and the statistic becomes impressive.

Today, there are up to 200 million descendants from the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish communities worldwide.”

Consider 220 million Brazilians and imagine that 30% of Brazilians are descendants of the Sephardi!

At this point you must be asking who the Sephardi were.

What does it mean to be Sephardi?

Sephardi definition: a member of the Western branch of European Jews who settled in Spain and Portugal, and later in the Balkans, the Levant, England, the Netherlands and the Americas.

There are millions and millions of Jews around the world. God didn't joke when he promised Abraham that his offspring would be like the stars of the heavens and the sands of the desert!

“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  Abram believed the Lord , and he credited it to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:5‭-‬6

Published by the Jerusalem Post on March 1, 2019.
Link below.
 https://m.jpost.com/Magazine/Genetic-research-almost-25-percent-of-Latinos-Hispanics-have-Jewish-DNA-581959

July 26, 2006 - Thou shall love Jews, Lebanese and Terrorists

Josimar Salum

In view of the facts of this cruel war that is unfolding in the Middle East, I found these words that directly relate to its events:

“Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man. The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves. “Now I will arise," says the LORD, "now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.” (Isaiah 33:7-10)

The valiant cry out in anguished appeals muffled by tears pouring down before the atrocities and the unending agonies of the little ones, victims of the hatred, rancor and revenge.

The peace-ambassadors are weeping bitterly because all diplomatic avenues are closed by the interests of great powers camouflaged as agents of the peace.

The roads are full of destruction, desolate and empty – no ones hears any more children playing or the sounds of families out walking, nor the horns and running engines - the workmen are blocked from supporting their houses.

Pacts have been breached, even the minor agreements despised, witnesses mutually ignored and, my God! There is no regard for man... Ouch, what cutting pain to the soul! There is no regard for man... So this is why the Lebanon is ashamed and withers and the shriveled leaves fall because of the vapor of fire of the war weapons.

“There is no regard for man" is also the moan of the Lord while He contemplates from heaven the war of the men in these territories, Israeli and Lebanese.

However He Who "He makes wars cease to the end of the earth… breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two… burns cars in the fire." (Ps. 46:9) did not lose control of the universe nor his sovereignty over the doings of men. He will raise Himself and He will be exalted in everything. He who knows all and knows all about everything has a plan that He is setting in order to bring to the Earth His permanent peace. We cannot perceive, much less understand how, but in the end He will have "new heavens and new earth where he Justice dwells."

I see many around me in (my evangelical milieu) that are promoting the love of Jews in detriment of other peoples, especially of the Arabs. Shalom is the greeting of peace that always sounds spiritual and appropriate, but Jesus declares Himself Peace, just as well by saying Salaam as by Shalom! Let us love the Jews: it is the commandment of the Lord - the people whom He chose among the peoples of the earth to bless the nations. But equally by orders of the Lord let us love the Lebanese and all the Arabs. Let us love all the members of Hamas and the Hezbollah, since He also has commanded us to love our enemies.

I have worked and promoted prayer movements for the Peace of Jerusalem because I love Israel. This year once again, on the first Sunday of October we will observe The International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem in favor of all its inhabitants 

But I do not love Israel more than I love other peoples and nations. God did not teach this to me in the Bible, I mean, that I should love Jews more than I love other nations. Rather, in our evangelical community, I see many defending the ungodly acts of Israel as though justifiable in fulfillment of prophecies and soliciting prayers for Israel only, when we are called by God to pray and to intercede for all peoples, for He has sheep that are not of this fold in every corner of the earth.

The Bible that I have in hand categorically affirms that God loves all, without exception, the Arabs too.

This current war in the region of the Lebanon, Israel and Palestine is a horror.

I understand the Israeli position. I understand that nations have the right of self-defense against fortuitous aggression as just before the Lord, but I see no reasonable justification for all of Israel’s acts of war. Our community seems to excuse everything Israel does as acceptable and this is not righteous before God. God does not approve unrighteous actions.

I abhor the terrorist position of Hezbollah, even while loving them as they too, are lives in need of the knowledge of the Love of God.

I place myself in solidarity with the impotence of the Lebanese - they can do nothing in the face of it all but wait, in fright, until it is all over. They are held down beneath a double cross-fire: first the fire of the influence that Hezbollah won with its social benefits to the needy Lebanese people and now under the fire of the Israeli airplanes and tanks.

'HEZBOLLAH YOUTH SCOUTS' TRAINED IN TERRORISM

Israel too is suffering the deaths of civilians targeted by the missiles of radical terrorists that indiscriminately launch their rockets at Israel not caring who is hit, since the Hezbollah’s main mission to exterminate all Jews from the map. This is a devilish, ungodly and inhuman purpose, and completely abominable.

"Behold the darkness is covering the earth and the gross darkness the peoples... The earth is in anguish and darkness..." 

The Light of the Prince of the Peace, Jesus, the Messiah is necessary to intervene in the region. And we need to pray for all, indiscriminately; and to love Jews, Lebanese, Arabs and terrorists equally.

Josimar Salum (Lebanese and Jewish descendant) is a minister of the Gospel.

THOU SHALL LOVE THE JEWS, THE LEBANESE AND THE TERRORISTS

Josimar Salum
July 25, 2006

In view of the facts of this cruel war that is unfolding in the Middle East, I found these words that directly relate to its events:

“Behold, their heroes cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly. The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man. The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves. “Now I will arise," says the LORD, "now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.” (Isaiah 33:7-10)

The valiant cry out in anguished appeals muffled by tears pouring down before the atrocities and the unending agonies of the little ones, victims of the hatred, rancor and revenge.

The peace-ambassadors are weeping bitterly because all diplomatic avenues are closed by the interests of great powers camouflaged as agents of the peace.

The roads are full of destruction, desolate and empty – no ones hears any more children playing or the sounds of families out walking, nor the horns and running engines - the workmen are blocked from supporting their houses.

Pacts have been breached, even the minor agreements despised, witnesses mutually ignored and, my God! There is no regard for man... Ouch, what cutting pain to the soul! There is no regard for man... So this is why the Lebanon is ashamed and withers and the shriveled leaves fall because of the vapor of fire of the war weapons.

“There is no regard for man" is also the moan of the Lord while He contemplates from heaven the war of the men in these territories, Israeli and Lebanese.

However He Who "He makes wars cease to the end of the earth… breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two… burns cars in the fire." (Ps. 46:9) did not lose control of the universe nor his sovereignty over the doings of men. He will raise Himself and He will be exalted in everything. He who knows all and knows all about everything has a plan that He is setting in order to bring to the Earth His permanent peace. We cannot perceive, much less understand how, but in the end He will have "new heavens and new earth where he Justice dwells."

I see many around me in (my evangelical milieu) that are promoting the love of Jews in detriment of other peoples, especially of the Arabs. Shalom is the greeting of peace that always sounds spiritual and appropriate, but Jesus declares Himself Peace, just as well by saying Salaam as by Shalom! Let us love the Jews: it is the commandment of the Lord - the people whom He chose among the peoples of the earth to bless the nations. But equally by orders of the Lord let us love the Lebanese and all the Arabs. Let us love all the members of Hamas and the Hezbollah, since He also has commanded us to love our enemies.

I have worked and promoted prayer movements for the Peace of Jerusalem because I love Israel. This year once again, on the first Sunday of October we will observe The International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem in favor of all its inhabitants 

But I do not love Israel more than I love other peoples and nations. God did not teach this to me in the Bible, I mean, that I should love Jews more than I love other nations. Rather, in our evangelical community, I see many defending the ungodly acts of Israel as though justifiable in fulfillment of prophecies and soliciting prayers for Israel only, when we are called by God to pray and to intercede for all peoples, for He has sheep that are not of this fold in every corner of the earth.

The Bible that I have in hand categorically affirms that God loves all, without exception, the Arabs too.

This current war in the region of the Lebanon, Israel and Palestine is a horror.

I understand the Israeli position. I understand that nations have the right of self-defense against fortuitous aggression as just before the Lord, but I see no reasonable justification for all of Israel’s acts of war. Our community seems to excuse everything Israel does as acceptable and this is not righteous before God. God does not approve unrighteous actions.

I abhor the terrorist position of Hezbollah, even while loving them as they too, are lives in need of the knowledge of the Love of God.

I place myself in solidarity with the impotence of the Lebanese - they can do nothing in the face of it all but wait, in fright, until it is all over. They are held down beneath a double cross-fire: first the fire of the influence that Hezbollah won with its social benefits to the needy Lebanese people and now under the fire of the Israeli airplanes and tanks.

'HEZBOLLAH YOUTH SCOUTS' TRAIN IN TERRORISM

Israel too is suffering the deaths of civilians targeted by the missiles of radical terrorists that indiscriminately launch their rockets at Israel not caring who is hit, since the Hezbollah’s main mission to exterminate all Jews from the map. This is a devilish, ungodly and inhuman purpose, and completely abominable.

"Behold the darkness is covering the earth and the gross darkness the peoples... The earth is in anguish and darkness..." 

The Light of the Prince of the Peace, Jesus, the Messiah is necessary to intervene in the region. And we need to pray for all, indiscriminately; and to love Jews, Lebanese, Arabs and terrorists equally.

Josimar Salum (Lebanese and Jewish descendant) is a minister of the Gospel.