Although no Christian leader dare say it, the Christian community in the Holy Land has once again become the punching bag of Islamic extremism.

Christian denominations that long ago split with the Roman Catholic Church and, therefore, have no connection with Pope Benedict the XVI or his statements, are under attack. Blind rage has proven once again that it makes no distinctions. Anything with a cross is game for firebombing. No matter that the church is Anglican or Greek Orthodox.

Meanwhile, Christian communities' chosen strategy is either to lay low until the storm blows over or sidestep the issue.

"The pope's speech was misunderstood," say Christian leaders, or "the media distorted the message." Never once is Muslim hypersensitivity mentioned, let alone condemned.

The Christian reaction is not surprising. Even in his carefully worded comment, designed not to upset the already too volatile situation, Daniel Rossing, a leading expert on Christianity in the Holy Land and Director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish Christian Relations makes it clear that it is tough to be Christian in this part of the world.

"The latest attacks on Christian institutions pointed up once again the precarious position of Christians in the Middle East in general and in the Holy Land in particular, not only today but throughout much of history."

In other words, for better or worse Christians in Israel have to get along with their Muslim neighbors because they have no other choice.

This reality is sometimes nearly unbearable for Christians. But Jews should be concerned as well, according to Rabbi David Rosen, head of interfaith at the American Jewish Committee. "It would have been wise for Israel to overcome its prejudices and embrace the Christian communities," says Rosen, "Improving our relations with the Christians would be especially advantageous considering the community's high level of education.

"Instead we've allowed local churches to be pressured both externally and internally to show loyalty to Islamic or Arab interests."

However, improving relations with the Christian community is not so simple, as Rossing points out. In the 60's when the Vatican drafted its landmark Nostra Etate, which radically improved the Church's theological approach to Judaism, the first people to suffer were the Christians of the Middle East.

Muslims feared that the Nostra Etate was actually recognition of the State of Israel. Christians were suspected of supporting Zionism and their loyalty to the Arab cause was questioned.

In an effort to prove their loyalty to the Arab people, some of these Christians embraced radical Pan Arabism and militarism. Greek Orthodox George Habash was the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Anglican Hanan Ashrawi became a prominent spokesperson for the PLO.

Perhaps once again, in the wake of the pope's statements, the Christian community will feel pressured to prove its loyalty to the Muslim Arab majority.

In the meantime, Christians are laying low.