Rising Attacks on Christians in Jerusalem Under Israeli Government
Christians living in the occupied East of Jerusalem have reported increased harassment and violence in recent months, with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III warning of "unprecedented attacks on the Christian presence by radical Israeli groups". Church leaders suggest the rise of the far right in Israeli politics has played a role, with ultranationalists advocating policies showing intolerance for those who do not share their religion. The number of Christians living in Jerusalem has dropped from a quarter of the population a century ago to under 2%, with many emigrating to escape the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.