Scott...

Yep... some small christian communities do live in Israel.. it is the holy land of the Jews, the Muslims , And the Christians after all.

My understanding... gleaned from from reading the occasional article that refers to them over the years..... is that the treatment at the hands of the Israel state is one of comparative kid gloves.... The Israeli's... ( far as I know) ... don't actively discriminate against them ( They'd be damn fools to do so of course).......I understand the Israelis have even allocated some government funds towards supporting the most famous christian shrines......... nevertheless my understanding is that christian communities are definitely low priority on all other matters... Sanitation, water supplies, jobs etc.... they'll have to queue behind any and all Jewish communities.

They most certainly do not get the govt support and spending the West bank settlements get for example.

My impression is that they are regarded as second class but useful.

Thier (Christian) shrines bring in tourism and offending the christian community world wide is a bad idea since the US tax payer is shoveling up to six billion dollars in subsidies into the Israeli exchequer every year........ ( Though the Us Tax payer ,by and large, does not know that) .

So my understanding is that they are not discriminated against... they just can't expect the help thier Hebrew nieghbours might when it comes to the State or municipal authorities.

Damn good point though... might do a search.... see what I turn up on Christian communities in Israel....

Midnight here... good night all:)