Arab Israel: Support for Christians


Overview


Bible Society Australia is working with the Arab Israeli Bible Society (AIBS) to strengthen their presence and enable their work in Galilee. This project serves the Arab Israeli community with Scripture resources and interactive community conferences and events, serving both the local church and the broader community.

Despite the devastating circumstances and the profound impact of the war which began in 2023, AIBS is working steadfastly to make a positive difference in the lives of those affected. Through their ministries, AIBS continues to bring unity where there is division, hope where there is despair and love where there is suffering.

The Arab Israeli community (made up of 1.7 million) face significant tension due to their unique status. The Arab Israeli people (Arabs who became citizens of the State of Israel after its establishment in 1948) are a group lost between Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians. Since war broke out, they have been carrying the pain and suffering of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Therefore, they are doubly traumatised. Arab Israeli Christians are a minority twice over: only 20% of Israelis are Arabs (1.2 million), and only 2% of Israelis are Christian. With such a small population of Arab-Israeli Christians, the AIBS is struggling to maintain a core presence or operations from domestic Bible sales and fundraising income. By November 2023, about 48 cities in north Israel, Upper Galilee had been displaced by the conflict. Therefore, there is a great need to build a culture of peacemakers and a community of forgivers.  

Statistics 

  • 1.7 million Arab citizens in Israel 
  • 185,000 Christians in Israel (at the end of 2022)
  • 75.8% of public primary schools do not have Bibles
  • 49,431 of Christians in Israel are Arab

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