https://arab.news/jkxra
In an effort to ramp up its hasbara, or propaganda, Israel is trying to appeal to US Christians. Early this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on a podcast run by a conservative Christian commentator. The host talked about a “great experience” he had when visiting Israel as part of a church group. However, he mentioned that, during the visit, the congregation’s pastor was spat on by a child. Netanyahu was barely able to refrain from laughing.
While Israeli propaganda tries to show the world that Christians are flourishing in Israel, the reality is totally different. In fact, the number of Christians there is dramatically decreasing. Before the First World War, 11 percent of the population of Ottoman Palestine, which included present-day Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, were Christians. That has dropped to about 1.7 percent now that historic Palestine is under Israeli jurisdiction.
Jerusalem is especially affected. There is a status quo governing religious rights in the city that dates back to the Ottoman era. It was formalized in international law by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. However, Israel has been deliberately breaking the status quo and infringing on the Christian character of the city to the advantage of the Jewish character.
