Emigration of Christians from Israel and Palestine

Palestinian Christian communities are emigrating from both Palestine and Israel, particularly from cities such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour. Scholars characterize this emigration as a structurally driven phenomenon linked to political conflict, economic pressures, and migration networks, rather than religious persecution.

Prior to the Nakba, 135,550 Christians lived in Mandatory Palestine, of which 110,200 (81%) lived in areas that are today Israel and East Jerusalem, and 25,350 (19%) in what is now the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The most recent censuses show 180,300 Christians in Israel (including East Jerusalem), of which c.141,900 (79%) are Arab Christians (Palestinian Christians), and 46,850 Christians in the Palestinian territories.

The phenomenon is part of the wider trend of Palestinian emigration, which has been higher among Christians due to historical circumstances, and part of a wider trend among Arab Christians.

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