A total of 144,000 Christians live in Israel, of whom 117,000 are Arab and 27,000 are new immigrants, according to a report released yesterday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) ahead of Christmas. In 2003, Christians constituted 2.1 percent of Israel's population.

Approximately 98 percent of Israel's Christians live in urban settlements, with 20 percent in Nazareth, 12 percent in Haifa and 10 percent in Jerusalem.

Approximately 11 percent of all 12th-graders in the Arab education system are Christian, and they lead the population in attainment of matriculation certificates.

By Moti Bassok, Haaretz, Dec 24, 2004

Among the roots of ancient olive trees, archaeologists have found pieces of large stone jars of the type the Gospel says Jesus used when he turned water into wine at a Jewish wedding in the Galilee village of Cana.

They believe these could have been the same kind of vessels the Bible says Jesus used in his first miracle, and that the site where they were found could be the location of biblical Cana. But Bible scholars caution it'll be hard to obtain conclusive proof - especially since experts disagree on exactly where Cana was located.

The Associated Press, Dec 22, 2004

Thousands of believers flocked Saturday night to attend Benny Hinn's crusade at Tel Aviv's Yad Eliahu stadium - among them foreign workers, Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs.

The following is a report written by an Israeli who attended the crusade. It is brought to you un-changed as it was published in Haaretz.

By Daphna Berman, Haaretz, 20/11/200

A yeshiva student who spat at the Armenian archbishop in Israel and at a 17th-century cross during last week's procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem's Old City has met with heads of the Armenian community and apologized for his actions, police said Sunday.

The Knesset Interior Committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the harassment of Christian clergymen in Jerusalem. Committee chairman MK Yuri Stern said the content and the tone of the way in which Christianity is mentioned in schools must be changed.

By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz, Oct 18, 2004

The Armenian archbishop in Israel was questioned under warning by police yesterday after he slapped a yeshiva student during a procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem's Old City. The archbishop slapped the student after the latter spat at the cross the Armenians were carrying and at Manougian himself.

In an editorial in Haaretz, Israel's Elite Paper, they write: "The Police and the The Interior Ministry did not make an effort to prevent the disgraceful phenomenon of spitting at priests and at the crosses they carry. That negligence, just like the bullying, is a disgrace to the state of the Jewish people, which was persecuted through the generations because of its religion and customs.

By Amiram Barkat and Editorial, Haaretz, October 11 and 12, 2004

The strange alliance between parts of the Evangelical Church and Israel's racist parties continues to produce embarrassing situations. While Pat Robertson declared that he met Israelis who are saying that Jesus is their Messiah, the "Christian Embassy" decided not to distribute tapes of Robertson's speech to the press, so it does not upset Israeli officials. The co-chair of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, Yuri Shtern of the right-wing National Union Party, said he was "very upset".

By Forward, JUDY LASH BALINT, October 8, 2004

Over 4,000 Christians from 80 Countries will arrive in Jerusalem over the next week to take part in the 25th ?Silver Anniversary? celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.

The "Christian" Embassy claims to represent Evangelical Christians in the World. At the same time, it ignores the presence of Christians in Israel and Palestine and supports Israel's racist parties. This year's conference will feature Pat Robertson - a well known figure in Evangelical Circles that advocate Israel - And for the first time, Brother Yun from China.

News Source - Arutz Sheva, Sep 27, 2004

A group of rabbis, heads of yeshivas from the West Bank and the Yesha council of West Bank and Gaza rabbis have issued a public call to the government to toughen its fighting policies in the territories even at the cost of civilian lives, declaring that the army should show less regard for the welfare of the Palestinians if terrorists are hiding in their midst- Christians preaching 'turn the other cheek' will not cause us to panic.

Nadav Shargai, Haaretz, Sep 7, 2004

The Church of Scotland?s troubled hotel and retreat in Israel was plunged into fresh controversy last night, after one of the Kirk?s senior ministers in Jerusalem accused officials running the project of not employing Christians in senior positions.

Responding to the concerns, the minister at the Tiberias project, said part of the problem was that Palestinian Christians from elsewhere in Israel did not have the necessary papers to travel to the north (!!!!)

ANDREW DENHOLM, The Scotsman, May 22, 2004

Seven Volunteers from Pro-Israel "Bridges for Peace" were denied a volunteer visa this week. This charitable organization donates some 35 tons of food to poor Israelis a month.

Visas for Christian clergy have received a great deal of attention in recent months with the dissolution of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the subsequent visa chaos that it left in its wake.

By Daphna Berman, Haaretz, May 28, 2004