Some 146,000 Christians are living in Israel. More than 90% of them are non-Jewish citizens, while about 10,000 are Messianic believers. The oppression of Christians in Israel comes mostly from Ultra-Orthodox Jews; though a minority in the country, the religious group has a major influence. In February, several Israeli newspapers had reports on the growing oppression. The spitting is especially a problem for priests and pastors who stand out with their clerical garb. Where these Christians regularly meet Ultra-Orthodox Jews, insulting, spitting and even cursing occurs.

Some priests declared that they have been subject to spitting for years now. It is not only Christian institutions that are targeted, Islamic and other non-Jewish institutions also suffer from such attacks. An Armenian priest declared in one of the newspapers, “It’s almost impossible to pass through Jaffa Gate without this spitting happening.” The spitting has become so prevalent that some priests have simply stopped going to certain parts of the city.

Recently one of the Baptist churches, a Christian cemetery, and a Greek Orthodox monastery were the targets of graffiti slogans. The church has also been burned two times, once in 1982 and then again in 2007. The pastor of this church, Charles Kopp, declared to an Israeli newspaper, “We mainly feel sad about the attacks.” Another spokesman of the church said, “We’re just extremely hurt and disturbed.”

According to a February 27th report in the newspaper Haaretz, father Pierbattista Pizzabella, Custodian of the Holy Land and head of the Franciscan Order in Israel, wrote to the Israeli government asking them to take the necessary steps to stop these anti-Christian actions. “Unfortunately, throughout the years we have learned to ignore provocations and continue our daily lives. Still, it seems that this time red lines have been crossed and we cannot remain silent. These shocking slogans sprayed on Christian sites of prayer, especially in Jerusalem, hurt the feelings of all the Christians in Israel.”

In the last week of February the attacks escalated into outright violence when a group dressed as ultra-Orthodox men brutally attacked a 70-year-old woman in her home in Jerusalem’s Nahlaot neighborhood. According to the police, the attackers apparently believed her to be a Christian missionary. The woman had to be treated for a broken ankle, a shattered and bleeding hand, a swollen face, and internal bleeding.

The situation, however, is far from hopeless. The pastor of a group of about 20 Messianic believers reported that in the past he has experienced several attacks on his ministry, but now, he explains with a big smile, “We regularly see Jews coming to Christ since we work here. I have prayed several times with people willing to accept Jesus.”

Police officials said that the 15-year-old boy suffered severe shrapnel wounds to the neck, and was rushed into emergency surgery at a nearby Israeli hospital.

The boy’s parents, David and Leah Ortiz, operate an outreach ministry to Palestinian Arab Muslims in the area. The family has received death threats from Muslims in the past for their efforts to convince local Arabs to abandon Islam.

The family enjoys a close relationship with Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman, who has for years been at the forefront of strengthening ties between Bible-believing Christians and those Jews who have answered the biblical call to settle Israel’s heartland.