Young educated Christian Palestinians would rather stay in their country than emigrate, if given the proper opportunities, according to results of a study commissioned by the Catholic Aid Coordination Committee, a consortium of Christian organizations in Jerusalem.

Sami El-Yousef, Jerusalem regional director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, a member of the consortium, said young people have a deep connection to the land and are looking to the church and church organizations to find a way to help them remain in the country by providing adequate job opportunities and help with education and housing. The youth also expressed a strong religious commitment to their Christian faith and a keen sense of pride in their religion, El-Yousef told Catholic News Service in mid-November.

The study, conducted over several months in the late spring, aimed to help consortium members improve and coordinate the help they provide for the Christian community.

JERUSALEM (CNS)