From the book Socio-economic characteristics and challenges to Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land by Bernard Sabella

Palestinian Christians

Palestinian Christians have roots, which strike, deep from the early church. Worldwide, Palestinian Christians number 400,000 or 6.7 % of a total Palestinian population of 6 million. 51,000 of these 400,000 Palestinian Christians live in the West Bank and the Gaza strip, while there are 114,000 Palestinian Christians in Israel. The indigenous Christian population of the Holy Land numbers 165,000 or 41.3% of all Palestinian Christians worldwide. The Christians of the West Bank and the Gaza strip are only 2.9% of the entire Palestinian population in the occupied Territories.

In 1948, as a result of the creation of the State of Israel, over 714,000 Palestinian became refugees. 7% or 50,000 of these refugees were Christians, and they made up 35% of all Christians who lived in Palestine prior to May 15, 1948.

At present, Christians have undergone the same measures and processes, which arise from the occupation. The Intifada, as a popular uprising, saw Christians and Muslims engaged in an effort to end the occupation and achieve independence. The records of young imprisoned and martyred are other indications of the attachment to, and identity with Palestine and its cause. In addition, the active involvement and participation of Palestinian Christians in all aspects of life in the country is itself a testimony to the love they harbor for their country and their fellow Palestinians.

Socio-economic characteristics of Christians

Education

Palestinians pride themselves on their educational achievements. It is through this that they were able to rehabilitate their lives and bring up their families.

At present 541,000 Palestinian students are engaged in over 1,700 educational institutions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 30.7 per cent of the entire population are at school.

Among Palestinian Christians, education has been valued for the sense of security, which it imparted to the educated, through acquiring foreign languages and qualification for employment.

Palestinian Christians have on average 11.2 years of education per person. The percentage of Christians with a secondary certificate, or higher qualification, is almost twice the percentage in the general population, while the percentage of Christians with an academic degree is close to three times the general percentage.

Employment and occupational prospects 

Palestinian Christians tend to predominate in the sector of public services, which includes such areas as education, health, and tourism.

This is particularly so in the central area of the West Bank where over 47.4 per cent of employed Christians work in public services, in comparison to 26.3 per cent of the general population.

Almost 55 per cent of employed Palestinian Christians work in academic, technical, managerial and clerical jobs. By way of contrast, only 20 per cent of employed Palestinians work in these occupations. In industry: General population: 37 %, Christians: 21% Unemployment is a challenge to the Christian community, more than 10 per cent of the community aged 65 years and above are suffering from this phenomenon.