Religious Holidays Coincide Amid Growing Antisemitism

We’re approaching a significant time for Christians, Jews, and Muslims, as Easter, Purim, and Ramadan all fall closely together this year.

It’s unfortunate, though, that during this period, a fresh wave of antisemitism is targeting Jews with claims that Israel is mistreating its Christian population.

In reality, the opposite is happening. Christian communities in Israel are flourishing. Conversely, many Christians in the broader Middle East are fleeing due to violence and attacks on their sacred places, including instances of church firebombing.

For years, violent Islamist groups, including Palestinian extremists, have harmed Christian communities in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, in a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson, countered the broadcaster’s assertion that Christians are poorly treated in Israel, stating firmly that this narrative is a harmful falsehood. A Southern Baptist and educated in religion, Huckabee insisted, “Christianity is growing in Israel. There’s this big lie out there, but let me make it clear—Christians are indeed respected here.”

He pointed out the significant increase of Christians in Israel, from 34,000 in 1948 to 184,000 today.

The Israeli government protects crucial Christian sites such as the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and others. They operate with dignity and independence.

However, the pressing concern remains the alarming exodus of Christians escaping Islamic terrorism across the region.

An article from the Ave Maria School of Law from 2014, titled “The Genocide of Christians in the Middle East,” highlighted such violence.

More recent reports include a January 2024 piece by Baylor University, questioning the future of Christianity in the Middle East, and stories of attacks on Egyptian Christians by extremists.

Additionally, a 2025 headline from the Philos Project discusses the dwindling Christian population in the West Bank, while another from the Jerusalem Post brought attention to recent church firebombings and criticisms of the Palestinian Authority.

One poignant article from 2025 inquired, “Are There Any Christians Left in Bethlehem?”—a city vital to Christian faith.

To truly grasp the situation, let’s reflect on what happened on April 2, 2002.

That day, armed Palestinian militants stormed Bethlehem’s Manger Square and forced their way into the Church of the Nativity, one of Christianity’s holiest sites, bringing weapons and explosives with them.

They believed Israeli forces wouldn’t pursue them into the church grounds. To some extent, they were correct—the Israeli Defense Forces, in a show of respect for the site, did not enter the church during the extended standoff.

The Franciscan Custodians of the Holy Land condemned the invasion, noting that the chaos was a direct result of armed men taking refuge within the sacred space.

At one point, the militants even set fire to the church. During this siege, reports revealed that dozens of priests and nuns were effectively trapped inside.

After a tense 39 days, a resolution was reached that allowed the militants safe passage to Europe and Gaza.

This incident, however, was just one in a series of violent acts during the so-called “Second Intifada,” marked by relentless attacks on Israeli civilians.

(Views expressed by guest commentators may not reflect the views of OAN or its affiliates.)