On Christmas Eve 2025, as festive lights twinkled across the Holy Land, Israel’s leaders delivered a message of unity, pride, and protection for the country’s Christian minority—one that stands in sharp contrast to the fate of Christian communities elsewhere in the Middle East.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Christians now make up 1.9% of Israel’s population, with approximately 184,200 believers living across the country. That number reflects a 0.7% growth from 2023 to 2024—a rare uptick in a region where Christian populations are often shrinking under pressure, intimidation, and violence. The city of Nazareth, long revered as the childhood home of Jesus, boasts the largest Christian community in Israel, with 18,900 residents. Haifa follows closely with 18,800, then Jerusalem with 13,400, and Nof Hagalil (formerly Nazareth Illit) with 10,800.
On December 24, President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog visited the Franciscan sisters at the Convent of St. Anthony in Jerusalem. The visit was more than ceremonial; it was a gesture of solidarity and hope. "We shared a prayer for peace and brotherhood, and stood united against all forms of hatred and extremism," President Herzog wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after the visit. He continued, "I feel a deep pride in the Christian communities of Israel, which are an integral part of our nation. The State of Israel will continue to protect the freedom of worship for people of all faiths and communities."
That message of inclusiveness was echoed hours later by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a video message broadcast from Jerusalem, Netanyahu wished Christians around the world a Merry Christmas and drew a sharp line between Israel and its neighbors. "Here in the Holy Land, Israel, Christian pilgrims are embraced, traditions are celebrated openly, and the faithful live without fear," he said. Netanyahu’s words weren’t just holiday pleasantries—they were a pointed reminder of the challenges facing Christians across the region.
Just days before, in the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Jenin, Islamists torched a Christmas tree outside a church. It wasn’t an isolated incident. According to government figures and media reports, Christian communities under Palestinian and broader Muslim rule have been dwindling for years, often as a result of intimidation, violence, and lack of protection. The situation in Bethlehem, the city traditionally celebrated as the birthplace of Christ, is particularly stark. When Israel controlled Bethlehem after the 1967 war, Christians made up 80% of the city’s population. Today, under Palestinian Authority rule, that figure has dropped to just 20%.
Netanyahu didn’t shy away from linking Israel’s policies to the survival—and even the modest growth—of its Christian community. "Israel doesn’t just tolerate Christians—it protects them," he declared. He also condemned the persecution of Christians and other minorities worldwide, naming Nigeria as another country where believers face grave dangers. "Persecution of Christians—or any religion—must not be tolerated," Netanyahu said, underscoring that Israel’s approach to religious minorities is not just a matter of domestic policy, but a principle of universal human rights.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar joined Herzog and Netanyahu in expressing pride in Israel’s Christian communities and reaffirming the country’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of worship for all faiths. The Israeli government’s consistent messaging on this front isn’t accidental. In a region where religious minorities are often scapegoated or worse, Israel’s leaders are eager to position their country as a rare safe haven for Christians and other non-majority faiths.
But what does this mean on the ground, beyond the holiday speeches and official statistics? For many Christians in Israel, it means the ability to celebrate Christmas openly, to attend church without fear, and to maintain their traditions in public. It means that cities like Nazareth and Haifa remain vibrant centers of Christian life, with processions, masses, and community gatherings that draw both locals and pilgrims from around the world. And it means that, at least for now, the Christian community in Israel is not only surviving, but quietly growing.
That’s not to say everything is perfect. Christians in Israel, like other minorities, sometimes face social and economic challenges. There are debates about land rights, representation, and the balance between Israel’s identity as a Jewish state and its democratic commitment to equality for all citizens. Yet when compared to the existential threats facing Christians in neighboring countries, the difference is striking.
The recent attack in Jenin is just the latest in a long line of incidents that have driven Christian families to emigrate from the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. In many of these places, churches have been bombed, clergy kidnapped, and congregants threatened with violence or worse. The numbers tell a grim story: in the early 20th century, Christians made up as much as 20% of the Middle East’s population. Today, that figure is closer to 4%, and in some countries, Christian communities are on the brink of extinction.
Against this backdrop, Israel’s leaders are keen to remind the world of their country’s unique status. As Netanyahu put it, "Israel is not the problem. Israel is the reason the Christian presence still exists here at all." While some activists and commentators have sought to recast the Christmas story in modern political terms, focusing on the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Israeli officials argue that the real threat to Christianity in the region comes from intolerance and extremism—not from Israeli policy.
Of course, opinions on this issue vary widely, both inside and outside Israel. Some Palestinian Christians see Israeli policies as contributing to their hardships, citing movement restrictions, land disputes, and the broader conflict as sources of frustration and fear. Others, particularly in the Arab world, accuse Israel of using religious minorities as a public relations tool. Still, the facts on the ground—population numbers, freedom of worship, and the ability to celebrate religious holidays—paint a picture that is hard to ignore.
This Christmas, as bells rang out in Nazareth and Jerusalem, Israel’s Christian community found itself in the global spotlight. Their numbers may be small, but their presence is a testament to resilience—and to the complex, sometimes contradictory, realities of life in the modern Middle East. As President Herzog, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Sa’ar all emphasized, the commitment to protecting religious freedom is not just a seasonal message, but a cornerstone of Israel’s identity. In a region where so much is uncertain, that promise carries real weight.
For Christians in Israel, the holiday season is both a celebration and a statement: faith endures, traditions survive, and hope, however fragile, remains alive in the land where their story began.