Exodus: West Bank Hardships Drive Out Palestinian Christians

Palestinian Christians, who refer to themselves as "living stones" and trace their continuous presence in the Holy Land back 2,000 years, are facing an uncertain future. Reverend Mitri Raheb, founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, warns that "if the current conditions continue, there will not be a single Palestinian Christian left by 2050."

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If the current conditions continue, there will not be a single Palestinian Christian left by 2050.

Since the war in Gaza began nearly three years ago, hundreds of Christians have departed the West Bank. This exodus is driven by growing uncertainty over economic hardship and security concerns. Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians have become nearly daily occurrences, and the Israeli military has intensified its operations and security checkpoints.

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I started seriously thinking about it about a year ago.

Issa Qassis, a 31-year-old entrepreneur, exemplifies this despair. He is contemplating leaving his family and startup in Ramallah to immigrate to the United States, feeling "frustrated and hopeless." Qassis notes that while parents once urged their children to stay, they now encourage emigration, reflecting a profound shift in sentiment.

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Every time I move one step forward in my work, I end up taking three steps back.

While the desire to leave is not exclusive to Christians, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin points out that Christians often find emigration easier. They are more likely to have relatives abroad, facilitating job opportunities and cultural integration. Shahin urges the "Christian world" to recognize the reality of the occupation and take "very strong action to ensure Christians remain in the land where Christ was born."

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Parents used to pressure their children to stay here. Now they encourage them to emigrate.