Christianity in Israel

Among Christians in the Holy Land is meant mainly indigenous Christians who live in Israel or the Palestinian territories. They represent a minority within the Jewish and represent Muslim-dominated population of this region and the language after usually include the Arabs, even if they have an Israeli passport. Cities such as Bethlehem, Nazareth or the Christian Quarter and the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem was inhabited until the recent past, the majority of Christians or embossed. However, the increasingly violent discharged conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians since the 1990s led to increased emigration abroad.

According to official figures Israel (including Jerusalem) in 2006 was 148,000 Christians, including 120,000 with Arabic mother tongue, 2.1% of Israel's population. For Jerusalem mentioned: 732,000 inhabitants, including 469,000 Jews ( 64%), 239,000 Muslims ( 32%) and 14,700 Christians ( 2%).

Due to the importance of the region for the origin of Christianity, almost all Christian churches and denominations are represented in the Holy Land. The term "Christians in the Holy Land ", therefore, there are also all Christians from abroad, who have settled for religious reasons there. Many of the most important places of origin of Christianity lie in the Palestinian territories. In today's Nablus, formerly Shechem, in the northern West Bank appeared to Abraham, the ancestor of all three monotheistic religions, according to tradition, God promised Abraham's descendants the land. Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem, his burial church is located in the historic center of the Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem. Even Gaza finds mention in the Old Testament, as a place of imprisonment and the death of the Jewish hero Samson.

Christians in public functions

In the Israeli Parliament there is usually a Christian Arabs in parliament.

In the Palestinian territories, according to a presidential decree of 2001, the heads of ten local councils be Christian. This decree applies, inter alia, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Birzeit and Taybeh. Some of these communities have a ( significant ) Muslim majority. A 2005 Decree states that at least six seats in the Parliament ( Palestinian Legislative Council ) must be given to Christians. However, one can assume that these decrees are not solely responsible for the political influence of the Christians. On the 6th General Congress of Fatah in Bethlehem in August 2009, five of the 80 elected members of the Revolutionary Council Christians. Thus, they are measured by the proportion of the population disproportionately represented in this influential body.

List of Christian communities

See also: Patriarch of Jerusalem

Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches

  • Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
  • Russian Orthodox Church ( since 1858, an Archimandrite )
  • Romanian Orthodox Church ( since 1935, an Archimandrite )
  • Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Armenian Apostolic Church
  • Syrian Orthodox Church ( an archbishop )
  • Coptic Church ( since the 13th century, an archbishop )
  • Ethiopian Orthodox Church
  • Assyrian Church of the East

Catholic churches

Other churches

  • Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
  • Presbyterian Church of Scotland
  • Baptists
  • Other Protestant churches

Other groups

  • Messianic Jews

Known Christians in the Holy Land

  • Hanan ' Ashrawi ( b. 1946 ), Palestinian politician and scientist
  • Azmi Bishara ( born 1956 ), member of the Knesset for the Balad ( Israel) ( 1996-2007 ), candidate as prime minister
  • Khouloud Daibes abu Dayyeh (born 1966 ), Minister
  • George Habash (1926-2008), Palestinian politicians
  • Clara Khoury (born 1976 ), actress
  • Issam Makhoul (* 1952), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Israel
  • Munib Younan ( b. 1950 ), bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, president of the Lutheran World Federation
Arab people Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem Balad (political party)
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