An article in the Jerusalem Post, highlighted the growing concern among Christians living in Israel about the increasing number of attacks against them by Jewish extremists.

So far this year there have been dozens of attacks ranging from minor incidents such as spitting to vandalism and actual assaults.

According to information released by the Religious Freedom Data Center there were 20 attacks in July alone and this only included those who provided information to the Center. The RFDC states that many are unaware of its hotline and undoubtedly there were more attacks than this.

The following is a list of a few of the attacks launched against Israeli Christians so far this year:

• The Church of the Flagellation: A Jewish American pushed over an ancient statue of Jesus, destroying it.
• The Church of Gethsemane: Two Jewish men entered the Church as mass was underway and attacked a bishop and two priests.
• Taboon Armenian restaurant: A mob of 12 Orthodox Jews attacked the restaurant overturning its tables and chairs.
• Armenian Convent: A young man standing outside the convent was pepper sprayed by two Jewish people.
• The Upper Room: A Jewish man smashed a window in Mount Zion’s upper room believed to be the location where Christ and the disciples held the last supper.
• Protestant graveyard: 30 graves at the protestant graveyard on Mt Zion were vandalized.

According to the latest stats, about 73.6% of Israel’s population (9.7 million) is Jewish, 18.1% are Muslim and 1.9% are Christian. As part of its formation as a nation in 1948, Freedom of Religion is guaranteed in Israel.

READ: Concerns grow over rising attacks against Christian sites in Israel