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

“Revival”: Mosques are closed in Iran and Muslims accept Jesus

“Revival”: Mosques are closed in Iran and Muslims accept Jesus 8/14/24 Guiame.com.br Translated by Josimar Salum Despite local persecution, many are abandoning Islam and finding hope in Jesus. Amid the climate of war in the Middle East, there are reports that many Muslims are experiencing a spiritual awakening. With this, mosques are also closing. In Iran, an anonymous internal survey found that 80% of Iranians prefer a democratic government, and many are leaving Islam. Todd Nettleton, from The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), explained: "You have a country with one of the highest rates of drug addiction in the world. You have a country where corruption runs rampant. You have a country where more than half of the people live below the poverty line." "And the people of Iran are looking at this and saying, 'Wait a minute. If this is what Islam has brought us for the last 45 years, we're not interested. We want to know what the other options are,'" he added. According to Nettleton, many are choosing Jesus, with at least a million Muslims reportedly abandoning Islam to follow Christ. With about 50,000 of the country's 75,000 mosques currently closed, the leader said the country's regime is not happy. "They are looking to solidify their power and crush any kind of dissent," Nettleton said. He continued, "We've heard several stories this year of Bible study and a house church being raided. There, everyone is photographed and interrogated. But then they are arrested and put in jail." Furthermore, Nettleton noted that family and friends are more tolerant than the government about abandoning Islam. “They’re like, ‘If you’ve found something that works for you, then I’m happy. I know Islam doesn’t work,’” he explained. Dreams and Visions Don Shenk, executive director of The Tide Ministry, said he believes what’s happening in the country represents “what’s happening in the Islamic world.” He said Muslims are having dreams and visions that lead them to find purpose and a new perspective on God. “Many are saying, ‘Now I understand that God loves me. I always thought God wanted to punish me,’” he explained.  There’s an awakening happening all over the Muslim world, not just in Iran,” he added. Shenk noted that people are being reached with the gospel through radio broadcasts in Afghanistan, where the Taliban pose a great danger to those seeking information from secret Christians in the country. “There’s a lot of suspicion. If I go and meet these people and share that I’m now a believer, they think, ‘Are they really true believers or are they just trying to identify me?’” he said. “It’s more than just being ostracized or rejected by your family. It’s actually the threat of death. So accepting a new life in Christ means accepting the possibility that your life will end in this world,” he added. Christianity is also spreading in Yemen, where the Joshua Project reported that Christian growth is nearly double the global average. In addition, Nettleton sees the Saudi Arabian monarchy becoming a bit more tolerant of Christians and their churches. “Not necessarily welcoming them with open arms, obviously. But just the understanding that it could happen, that there could be Christians here. And maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world.” This is such a huge shift from what we would have seen 10, 15 or 20 years ago,” he explained. This awakening is bringing about changes that could transform not just Iran, but the entire Middle East. https://guiame.com.br/gospel/mundo-cristao/avivamento-mesquitas-sao-fechadas-no-ira-e-muculmanos-aceitam-jesus.html

WHAT IS GOING ON IN AMERICA? By Dr. Josimar Salum

Audacity of Hope is President Obama's best seller book.

After watching and hearing these last days Obama, Trump, Hillary, etc., many other politicians, commentators, experts, Islamic religious leaders, CNN and FOX news anchors, despite the risk to be called a bigoted I must say that this country is becoming a mess called "Messlims". Seriously, I am not joking. 

It is simple. Ask any Inman what would happen to me if I would talk to anyone about Jesus in Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Algeria, Syria, Iran and in any other Muslim country, in any of them, either "moderate" or "radical". 

Ask millions of Christians why do they flee or want to flee from these countries. Let thousands of them share with you what their own Islamic families have done against them after they confessed Jesus as their Lord and King. From many of them you will never hear any answer because they are dead. They were killed by their Muslims parents, brothers, friends. Their crime? They became apostate and apostates must die. According to Quran it is a duty to be performed by their own families. 

Investigate why in many Muslim countries there are 20 million black people still in slavery, why do they officially kill homosexuals and why in many of these countries women are second class citizens. 

And here in US most of these Muslims take advantage of the liberty we have in this land. They want the right to freely express their religion, to convert everyone into Islam (to make them submissive to Allah) while reject vigorously any criticism towards their practices from anyone who dare to say what they think about them. Many of muslims want Shariah Law to be their citizenship guidance. Shariah law is not simply something religious or a confession of faith: it is the soul of Islam.  Only 16 percent of Islam is a religion, the remaining 84 percent is a combination of political, economic, judicial and military system code. Meanwhile Christians - they profess a faith - are scrutinized by the media, people burn Bibles, and any sort of mocking and verbal rage are expressed against them from anyone who wants to. So what? Am I exaggerating? 

We can't change our laws to accommodate Muslims. We can't change our Constitution, trash the Bill of Rights and neglect our way of living to calm them down!

Have you not realized already that Americans are not afraid of any Christian terrorist attack in America? What do they are most afraid of? 

And going back to the main point, overall it is not what those leaders say here and there, in isolation, that portraits who they are and what they really think.  Unless you see everything within an entire perspective, perceive the whole picture, put together their history and words with their actions, you will keep missing not just the real message they are sharing but who they really are indeed. You will find out hidden agendas that conspire against the very soul of America!

Start with our Commander in Chief. Who is this man that Americans have elected our President? Who he really is? 

Josimar Salum

12/8/2015

What is God's Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing?

Marcos Miranda

If God were to respond to the many angry and inconsolable thoughts and questions concerning why did the bombing take place in Boston and why did more innocent people die while others were critically injured, what would He say?

Throughout the course of history, we also find God being repeatedly and infamously asked by many "where were you and why did you allow this horror to happen? (If “you” used here really were real)."

But let's not stop here. 

Other than the Boston terrorists, think about the Catholic Inquisitions, the Europeans killing the Native Americans, the Pilgrims and their bloodthirsty witch hunt while executing a number of innocents along the process, The Holocaust (carried out by a self-professed Christian called Hitler), the endless decades of slavery (adopted and enforced by thousands of Christians) all the way to 9/11 carried out by Muslim pilots.

In spite of all of these horrific events and before forcing God to answer why has He been so absent especially during the toughest times of human history, aren't we strongly reminded also faced with the reality of how human history is marred and shaped by violence?

And such violence, as we know, was committed by self-professed Christians, Muslims and people of other faiths alike weren’t it? There were claimed mass executions in god's name. That's what it was and it continues to be...

Certainly, in the hands of the powerful and eloquent, religion can be used to manipulate, control, guilt, shame, impoverish, enslave and even kill the masses; as demonstrated throughout generations in various belief systems. 

At this point, I promise I won't even dare to touch on the ramifications of politics as well.

And not to drift too far away from the subject at hand, but shouldn't we also ask: "Where is God in religion?" 

And how exactly does He inspire and lead people to kill, steal and destroy while being absent when people do commit such said acts?

Well the answer is rather simple. 

God is never absent from our lives but we can live lives absent from God. 

God is not absent from religion although religion is absent from God. 

And God is not absent from the violent but the violent is absent from God.

God has never told anyone to sell indulgences or murder every Jew. God never asked the WASPs to treat Africans like animals. God never inspired the pope to expand political power and acquire more wealth at the cost of innocent death before Luther proclaimed reformation. God never granted the conquistadors to rape pillage and plunder. And God has certainly never forced one of His children to strap a bomb around their chests to kill others. But man, and disguised demonic influences, did.

The God who has revealed Himself to the patriarchs said He is love and mercy. He said the punishment of the wicked will come in due time, by His own hand. He said will bless the righteous and his generations with peace. He said He longs to have a personal relationship with you. He said he wants you to know Him, and He wants you to feed, care, clothe and love your neighbor as yourself. He said the peacemakers will be blessed, because they will be called His own.

And in the fullness of time, God revealed the proof of His love toward mankind through Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross and resurrected to forgive sins and give life to anyone who leaves their old life and comes to Him. This is what followers of Jesus call salvation by grace. And through the Cross He gave access to His Kingdom all who receive Him as the Son of God, therefore, are born again through the work of His Holy Spirit.

So as we investigate each topic, we can clearly see that God, religion and terrorism are three separate subjects, that stand on their own but sometimes, they occasionally and falsely intersect.

Coward extremists who attacked the Boston public claimed to be doing such terrorism to make a political statement, via a belief system completely run by militant extremists toward results that couldn't be any further from what God ever intended for their lives.

Therefore the question "where were you God" then becomes to some a simple decoy so they do not have to deal with the fact God may not be in their lives and they don't want Him to be. And by blaming God or another religion for this inconceivable act of terror, instead of looking at the actual individuals who are the sole cause of this chaos, all some are doing is fueling the fire extremists want they to fan, thus diverting attention from the real issues.

Before, during and after the Boston attack, God has had only one mission and that is to reveal Himself to you, show you His love and cultivate a spiritual relationship with you.

So a more important and relevant question instead of where was God during the bombing is where is God in your life right now and how is your life with God? 

Are you given to your Father or are you driven and given to other issues and distractions? 

Politics will ways is about power, the powerful, about money and control. The rebel extremists are about shedding innocent blood, religion, about practice, discipline, sacrifice and repetition. 

But God, He is all about you.

Paul wrote that "no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer" (2 Timothy 2:4).

Politics, immigration, the economy, religions, and so many other polarizing, dividing and bigoted issues are nothing more than "civilian affairs" where so many of us get entangled and caught up in sometimes.

But knowing what our marching orders from our King are, which is to love God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves; we are to turn away completely from everything else. We are to focus on secular affairs as much as Jesus did. Zero!

In reality, we still find followers of Jesus turning away from following their Master and their calling to engage in a battle of race, debate, justice and the so called "religion blame game" that is not a fight believers should ever be engaged in.

So what is God's response to the Boston marathon bombing events? 

It is that He is still with us despite what horrific events militants may bring about. He still cares. He still loves. He still comforts. He still is the same God and Father of all. And how exactly does He demonstrate these things? Through us, when we love one another.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1, 2)

If you wish to contact Marcos direcly, please email him marcos@lovingmuslims.info

Follow Marcos Miranda on Facebook

There is a Cry!

Where to find preachers that preach the Cross of Jesus and His cross alone?

Where are those who have just one Gospel to proclaim, the Gospel of the Kingdom, from the King who came to serve and died for His servants who become friends when they obey?

The Gospel of the Power of Resurrection that still amazes, setting all kinds of men free!

Where to find revival messages to hear which were burnt by the Fire not only from Heaven but in Heaven which echoes only the desires of Heaven that it is not in the business of entertaining men but saving and sanctifying their lives.

Don't you see the distractions of men, religious or non religious have went so far in the night that it doesn't bother anymore to honestly survey the soul, because the voice in the night can be heard this night "Man, if you die tonight who will get what you have, to whom what you think you have will belong?

Titanic is in its collision course against that iceberg, not seen not perceived, because men in church and out are so well entertained and distracted, the dangers became so familiar and so common that were ignored long time ago, so that sin, that other one, this divorce here, the show gospel here, the other one with girls for the night there, where if someone saw it didn't bother to complain, let the party find the sunshine because it does not bother them anymore even if they die tonight before making peace with God.

The Love and Grace of our Jesus Christ reaches out right now to muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, to anyone, even to those who called themselves Christians: Will you right now surrender to My Kingship and my Lordship?, ssays the Lord.

Where are the cries of a burning soul full of that Love and Grace eager to see men saved and transformed? Where are they?

My heart and mind explode just with the thinnest idea I may be on the wrong side of the fence.

If this is what we called Gospel in America we are already rejected by God.

The Holy Spirit names: competition, pride, acquiescence with the culture, this church is a ship that looks more a cruise in the Caribbean than a rescue boat...

These churches that are more a corporation headquarters and their pastors CEOs than the Living People of God who had renounced and denied everything just for the privilege to follow their King.

Are you hearing it! There is a cry in my heart tonight! O Lord, have mercy on me!

Josimar Salum - 05/12/2012 @ 4 AM