Editing Samaritans (section)

=== Figures ===
[[File:Shomroni tora2.jpg|thumb|upright|A Samaritan and the Samaritan Torah]]

There were 1&nbsp;million Samaritans in biblical times,{{sfn|Barbati|2013}} but in recent times the numbers are smaller. There were 100 in 1786 and 141 in 1919,{{sfn|SamUp|2022}} then 150 in 1967.{{sfn|Barbati|2013}} This grew to 745 in 2011, 751 in 2012, 756 in 2013, 760 in 2014, 777 in 2015, 785 in 2016, 796 in 2017, 810 in 2018 and 820 in 2019.{{sfn|SamUp|2022}} The Samaritan community dropped in numbers during the various periods of Muslim rule in the region. The Samaritans could not rely on foreign assistance as much as the Christians did, nor on a large number of [[Jewish diaspora|diaspora]] immigrants as did the Jews. The once-flourishing community declined over time, either through emigration or [[conversion to Islam]] among those who remained.{{sfn|Ehrlich|2022|p=33}}[[File:Aabed-El ben Asher.png|thumb|The current Samaritan High Priest: "Aabed El Ben Asher Ben Matzliach", 133rd generation since Elazar the Son of Aaron The Priest, from the line of Ithamar. In priestly office 2013–present.]]Today, half reside in modern homes at Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim, which is sacred to them, and the rest in Holon.{{sfn|Friedman|2007}}{{sfn|Rosenblatt|2002}} There are also four Samaritan families residing in [[Binyamina-Giv'at Ada]], [[Matan, Israel|Matan]], and [[Ashdod]]. As a small community physically divided between neighbors in a hostile region, Samaritans have been hesitant to overtly take sides in the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]], fearing that doing so could lead to negative repercussions. Samaritans who are Israeli citizens are drafted into the military, along with the Jewish citizens of Israel.
[[File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Samaritans praying during Passover holiday ceremony on mount Grizim.jpg|thumb|Samaritans celebrating Passover on Mount Gerizim in the West Bank]]
Relations of Samaritans with [[Israeli Jews]], [[Islam in Palestine|Muslim]] and [[Palestinian Christians|Christian Palestinians]] in neighboring areas have been mixed. Samaritans living in both Israel and in the West Bank have [[Israeli citizenship law|Israeli citizenship]].

Samaritans in the [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]]-ruled territories are a minority in the midst of a Muslim majority. They had a reserved seat in the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] in the [[1996 Palestinian general election|election of 1996]], but they no longer have one. Samaritans living in the West Bank have been granted [[passport]]s by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority.