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World Jewish News
Israelis and Christianity
23.02.2009
Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian relations published interesting data on the attitude of Israelis to Christianity in the Holy Land.
According to their data, 76% of Israelis have no negative feelings towards the Christians, and do not consider them "missionaries". The Israelis also do not feel offended when they come across a demonstration of external signs of belonging to the Christian religion - such as the cross when worn by Christians.
Moreover, 41% of Israeli Jews believe that Christianity is the closest religion to Judaism, while only 32% of respondents can say the same about Islam.
Jewish tolerance of Christianity has, however, a very clearly defined boundary, which is called Jerusalem. Only 50% of Israelis believe that Jerusalem could be called a global center of Christianity, and 76% believe that government should not allow Christian organizations to purchase land in the city for the construction of new churches.
The survey shows sharp differences in attitude towards Christianity of the secular and religious Jews. 80% of secular Jews believe that there could be no problem in visiting the Christian churches, while 83% of observant Jews think it is strictly prohibited for them. 56% of secular Jews believe that the Christian soldiers of the IDF must take the oath of allegiance on the New Testament, while 62% of religious Jews point out that only Torah may be used for this purpose.
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