There are currently 4,500 Armenians living in Palestine. In 1948 however, The population was higher at 15,000.[4] Many have migrated in recent decades due to conflict and economic struggle, with thousands repatriating to Soviet Armenia or migrating to other countries during the 1948 Arab Israeli War.[5] The presence of Armenians in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem goes back to the 4th century AD with the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem being established since 638 AD.[6]