Christians

Aren't Christians leaving Israel and the occupied territories because of disagreements with the Muslims?
No, they are not leaving because of conflict with Muslims.  Many Christians do leave because they, along with Muslim Palestinians, experience civil and human rights violations under the Israeli military occupation.  They are concerned about the poor economy, the pressure on schools, the disruption of medical care, difficulties in making a decent living and the humiliation and dehumanization of the occupation.  The leadership of the Palestinian Authority encourages Christian involvement and many outspoken Palestinians, including members of the legislature, are Christians. 
     A study by Dr. Bernard Sabella, a sociology professor at Bethlehem University, showed that Muslim families often leave for the same reasons as Christian families, particularly if they are well-educated and/or professional people.

What control does the government of Israel have over the churches in Israel and Palestine?  
Indigenous Christians are usually Palestinians but they belong to a number of Churches both recently formed and ancient.  In 2001 Israel told the Greek Orthodox Church that it could not elect certain persons as Patriarch of Jerusalem.  In a letter signed by Israeli Justice Minister, Meir Sheetit, five of the candidates for election were banned.  Israel claims since it is the sovereign power in Jerusalem, it has the right to disqualify any candidate whom it does not regard as suitable to be head of the largest and most ancient Church (denomination) in the country.
     Under a law that dates back to Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who ruled in the 6th century, the civil government in the Holy Land has the right to approve or disqualify candidates for the office of patriarch.  This is the only Justinian law still being enforced, as far as can be determined.  Although a new Greek Orthodox Patriarch for Jerusalem has been duly elected by the Church, Israel has refused to recognize him, which limits his ability to function completely in his duties.
     As a whole, Israel follows the patterns set by the Muslim rulers, the Ottomans and the British, giving each religious group control over personal law (marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc.) concerning its members.  Israel provides for civic laws and courts and one can petition these courts instead of the religious courts.  It controls the number of foreign nationals who can legally work with or in local churches and Christian institutions by designating the number of work visas it will allow.  In 2004, Israeli denied work visas to international Christian workers and renewals to those who were already there.  These internationals were largely those staffing Christian sites, schools, hospitals, and social services.  Many were priests, brothers and sisters.  Occasionally church leaders are reprimanded if they speak out against the government.
     After the occupation of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza in 1967, Israel granted church institutions tax-free status, as had Jordan and Egypt.  In 2001, the Israeli government declared that tax status changed and endeavored to collect back taxes.  This has been contested strongly since it would close down the Christian hospitals as well as relief and development institutions.

Do Christians support the Intifada?
Christian Palestinians and many Christian foreign nationals support the Intifada.  Palestinian Christians suffer from civil and human rights violations because of the occupation, just as their Muslim brothers and sisters, and they also want to "shake off" occupation, as the word intifada suggests.  Most Christian foreign nationals working for the churches and church-related institutions support the ending of the occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian State even though they do not support violent tactics used in the Intifada.  They encourage methods of non-violent resistance such as employed by Gandhi in India and by Martin Luther King Jr. in the American civil rights movement. (see section on Intifada)

What is Christian Zionism?
Christian Zionism, which began in England, claims that the establishment of the modern state of Israel is the fulfillment of certain prophetic texts in the Bible.  Many important political and religious figures, such as Arthur Balfour (of the Balfour declaration) were influenced by this approach and favored British support of political Zionism.
     Christian Zionism has become popular with many North American televangelists, such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and also had considerable influence on former President Ronald Reagan and President George W. Bush. The state of Israel and the Israeli lobby depend upon economic and political support from Christian Zionists throughout the United States. 
     Christian Zionists generally follow a modern type of Biblical interpretation called futurist premillennialism, which essentially sees scriptures as having a literal future fulfillment.  In the Christian Zionist scenario, history is moving toward a final battle at Armageddon (the plain of Megiddo in north central Israel), but God will remove the true (born again) Christians in an event called "the Rapture." Israel will be attacked by a coalition of evil nations led by the anti-Christ, but Jesus will return to defeat the evil coalition and establish his millennial kingdom. The Jews are expected to either convert to Christianity or die along with others who are not "born again." Thus Israel becomes the primary instrument of God's final actions whereas the church is marginalized.  (See section on Biblical Connections.)

What is the International Christian Embassy and who are the Christians it represents?
The International Christian Embassy is affiliated with the Christian Zionist movement.  It was started when the United Nations declared that East Jerusalem (including the Old City) was territory occupied by Israel in 1967, but not a part of Israel.  Most nations refused to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem because they would not accept the declaration by Israel that Jerusalem was now its eternal capital.  (See questions on Jerusalem in section on Occupation.) 
     Israel considers the International Christian Embassy (ICEJ) located in Jerusalem to be an embassy.  The ICEJ does not represent any nation or religious denomination but attracts some very conservative Christians.  These Christians, from outside the Middle East, support Israel because they believe that the success of Israel is one of the signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the final battle for the world.  The ICEJ is largely supported by western fundamentalist Christians and its leadership has been South African, northern European and North American.  Some groups from East Asia also participate in their conferences and ceremonies. The ICEJ represents those who agree with its theology.