Christians in Israel

Galilee and Jerusalem, the heartlands of the New Testament, are today part of the State of Israel. Christians only make up a small proportion of the total Israeli population. As a percentage of this total, their proportion is sinking, but in real terms their numbers are growing. Christians in Israel are mainly Arabs who are Israeli citizens, which gives them complex identity issues and different points of reference. Although their religious freedom is guaranteed, local Christian Arabs are faced with two challenges relating to their situation as a dual minority.