Arabs vs Arabs: Conflict between Israeli Christians and Muslims



"One of the few Christian vendors left in East Jerusalem"



 The Christian population of Israel is one of the most dignified and powerful in the country, yet rarely does this group make headlines. The conflict between the Palestinians and the Jews often out weighs any news about what is happening between the Arab Christians and the Muslims. We must remember that Christians have had to struggle in this ongoing war also.  Conflicts between Arab Christians and Muslims have been getting worse. Many Arab Christians have moved out of the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem because of constant problems with the Muslims. Donna Rosenthal the author of the book The Israelis interviewed a Christian woman who grew up in the Christian Quarter of East Jerusalem  who claims that “everyone [she] grew up with has moved out.”  She goes on to say that “this is the Christian Quarter in name only”. (Rosenthal, 321)  There are disturbing messages written on the walls in Arabic aimed to scare and threaten Christians. For example, one message read “After Saturday comes Sunday” the hidden meaning behind this message is disturbing; it means, “After we are finished with the Jews, it’s the Christians turn.”  (Rosenthal, 320)  It is not only fear that keeps Christians from moving back into their quarter. Buying any real-estate in East Jerusalem is near impossible, “even the most moderate Muslims are afraid to sell to Christians… they are called collaborators. Some are shot.” (Rosenthal, 321) Because of this Arab Christians have found themselves to be “closer to the Jews” and more “absorbed into Israeli Jewish society” then Muslim society. In the Arab population of Israel 80% are Muslim and only 10% identify as Christian.  Together the Christian Arabs and Muslims comprises nearly one fifth of Israel’s population. Religion is the most significant factor in the division between these two groups of Arabs. Because of this religious division “the relations between Arab Muslims and Christians…have deteriorated in the past few decades.”  Some claim that “difficulties arise because Muslims do not distinguish between religion and politics.”  Though religion is the biggest factor that separates these two groups of Arabs it is not the only factors that lead to the deterioration of the relations. Other reasons include “a transformation from a strong Communist element, where the Christians could integrate, to a strong Islamic element, where the Christians could not integrate” and “social change towards a more violent Israeli society”. The growths in population of the Arab villages also lead to less intimacy between the two groups. Many of the Arab Christians feel like they are “caught in the middle” because “Muslims don’t trust [them] because they are Christian. And a lot of Jews don’t trust [them] because [they] are Arab.” (Rosenthal, 321)  Muslims also teach their children that “Christians are not real Arabs.”(Rosenthal, 326) Because of the large number of Christians leaving East Jerusalem in order to avoid conflict and a “low birthrate” among the Arab Christians the population has dropped significantly in comparison to the Muslim population were “women have twice as many children.” (Rosenthal, 326)   Many Christians feel like the Arab Muslims are trying “to impose the Islamic way of life on all citizens, at times using violent methods, thus becoming a threat.”  And many are taking strides in order to help “them to be treated in a just and equal manner” by Muslims in Israel and other Middle Eastern countries.




"A Arab Christian woman participating in a candle ritual"
(notice she is wearing a head covering
much like Muslim women do)

 





The sources that I found provided me with a lot of information on the Arab Christians and their constant struggle to find an “identity” in Israel. The Ynet article was a great source because it gave direct quotes from religious Christians and how they felt “the negative aspects of the social and political situations of Israel” due to their religious views.  I found it very interesting that the author of this article claimed that Christians have “called these countries ‘home’ long before Islam”. You can clearly see that the article was written to make Christians seem like victims. My other source was from a study done by Ilan Shdema on “Changes in Relationship between Arab-Muslims and Arab Christians in the State of Israel.”  This source provided me with specific information that was found through intensive research of “official data [combined] with information collected in the field.”  By looking at this source I learned no only how they conducted the study but direct information on why the relationship between Arab Christians and Muslims has deteriorated. This information was collected by doing “interviews with various Muslims and Christians” and by “collecting data from sources in the field”. Which made this source extremely informative and reliable.


"East Jerusalem"