Bethlehem, believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Christ, is a city that lives in large part on the revenues from Christian tourists, especially those who come during the Christmas season. They stay in local hotels, eat in Bethlehem’s restaurants, buy olive-wood crucifixes and tiny statues of Jesus and Mary. More than a third of the annual revenues of the city’s shopkeepers come during the weeks preceding Christ’s nativity and from Christmas to Epiphany. Now the city fathers have decided to destroy that essential part of their economy, by decreeing that there will be no Christmas lights or decorations this year, out of solidarity with the fanatical Muslim terrorists now under relentless attacks by the IDF in Gaza. Any Christian who dared to object to this policy of not permitting the Christmas decorations would face the wrath of local sympathizers of Hamas; the Christians are keeping mum. .
All of the people in Bethlehem will now suffer economically, because of the Muslim-dominated Municipality having decided on an act — removing all Christmas decorations and lights — that will certainly discourage Christian tourism. Christians were 86% of the Bethlehem population in 1950, but there has since been a steady pressure on local Christians from their Muslim neighbors, that has led many Christians to leave, Only 18% of Bethlehem’s current population is Christian, and every year that number decreases further. This quiet but relentless war by the city’s Muslims against its Christians — of which the prohibiting of Christmas lights and other decorations is just the latest installment — needs to receive much more attention from the world’s media, as a way to possibly persuade the officials of the Bethlehem Municipality to reverse that decision.
Robert Spencer wrote about this here, and more on this story can be found here: “Jesus’ birthplace removes all Christmas decorations in honor of Hamas ‘martyrs,’” by Danielle Greyman-Kennard, Jerusalem Post, November 16, 2023:
The West Bank city of Bethlehem, famous for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, has declared that they will be removing all decorations celebrating the annual holiday of Christmas.
Bethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city’s neighborhoods and removing all festive appearances in honor of the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in Gaza,” the municipality wrote on Facebook.
A spokesperson for the city also told the Telegraph “The reason is the general situation in Palestine; people are not really into any celebration, they are sad, angry and upset; our people in Gaza are being massacred and killed in cold blood.”
The IFD campaign against Hamas murderers in Gaza is simply the excuse being used by the Bethlehem Municipality to pull down the Christmas decorations that were put up several years ago, and that it has long wanted to get rid of, but needed an excuse: the bloodshed in Gaza provided the perfect one. The decorations represent a spirit of celebration and even gaiety; this is not a time for anyone to expect the “sad, angry and upset” Palestinians in Bethlehem, to want to take part in Christmas celebrations. So this year the Christmas decorations and lights will no longer be in evidence in Bethlehem during such a sad period of brutal oppression by the IDF. As always, blame the Jews.
How many of the shopkeepers, and hotel and restaurant owners, in Bethlehem, who depend for so much of their annual revenues on the influx of tourists in the weeks just before and just after Christmas, will now find those revenues cut because, by turning off the Christmas lights, and pulling down the decorations, the city will no longer invitingly sparkle, but be plunged instead, into darkness on its streets, all as a sign of solidarity with Hamas combatants that the Muslim-run municipality has forced on them? What Christian shopkeeper would dare to protest, by claiming that the Bethlehem Municipality, by taking such measures, is simply damaging the wellbeing of residents by making their city less inviting to the traditional Christmastide tourists? But why should Hamas sympathizers in Bethlehem care what the Christians think? Like the Jews, the Christian Infidels are “the most vile of created beings.” As far as the fanatical Muslim supporters of Hamas are concerned, the Palestinian Christians are both a nuisance and a foreign body, and if they are made to suffer an economic loss in Bethlehem as the result of turning off the Christmas lights and pulling down the Christmas decorations, then so be it.
FYI says
The muslims and the keffiyeh wearing Lefty hypocrites: free palestine..free palestine..
So what about..
FREE BETHLEHEM
FREE BETHLEHEM
No takers?No muslim/Lefty supporters?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Since Israel is acting against Hamas in not just Gaza but West Bank as well, they should move to re-annex Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho and Nablus, and relocate their muslim populations elsewhere. Let Christians enjoy Bethlehem again, and Jews the other 3 sites which long predated the Arabs
somehistory says
It should be that way, but not likely to happen.
OLD GUY says
Islam’s taking over of these Holy Christian locations in the world is the beginning of their attempt at world domination of Islam. They have now spread throughout Europe and are making inroads in the Americas. Wake up Christians and other religions of the world they are coming for you NOW.
Bobf1958 says
We Christians need to educate ourselves concerning the enemy. Satan is influential behind all the evil both islamic and secular. We know the lies from the secular standpoint, just look how they manipulated Covid. Robert Spencer’s books, The history of Jihad, the critical koran and others need to be read. I am ready for what’s coming!
somehistory says
I pray that everyone who loves what is True and Right, is ready for what is coming.
The “wild beast” is intent on forcing us to bow to its “image” and worship it. With the threats of death, it may seem impossible to maintain faith and not give up.
Christopher L Lee says
If one is accosted by a bully time and time again it is better to taunt the bully with true statements. He is going to attack you again but if he can be provoked to blind rage he will be easier to trip up .
The risk is that he will get so enraged he will kill you but then he will finally be jailed or even better executed.
If one doesn’t believe that being murdered for the truth reaps eternal rewards it’s best to go everywhere on or in the vicinity of the schoolyard with a group of friends.
The partyjgoers at the kibbutz were murdered after taunting the Muslims by females publicly enjoying themselves.
Most boys in junior high school would be thrilled to be part of a group dedicated to pummeling the big boy who has been left behind two grades and is two years older.
In the adolescent human male development is so rapid that two years makes a big difference.
Israel has done a fairly good job of getting a group of friends.
It’s past time for these 7th graders to get together and drag the bully (who should be in the 10th grade) to the principal’s office
somehistory says
From 86% to 18% from 1950 until 2023. Just goes to show how the violence and threats of violence from mozlums reshapes society for the worse.
People resist until they are so tired, or so afraid, that they give up and move away. And that increases the power of the ghouls, as their numbers increase while the numbers of non- mozlums decrease.
Others in Bethlehem likely will say this is the final straw for them, and move to another place.
In the song about the little town, the words “everlasting light” mean more than just for those residing in the city of Christ’s birth.
Christians don’t need artificial lights and decorations to feel and see that “Everlasting Light.” Those living in Bethlehem can still ‘rejoice in the hope, endure under tribulation, and keep their faith’, no matter what the mozlums do.
The mere fact that the evil beast is ascending…temporarily…is proof that the wait for Christ to Return is drawing to an end.
Jim says
I imagine tourists will be afraid to go to Bethlehem anyway.
By the way, when will Muslims free all the places they are occupying? Doing so would go a long way toward showing to Israel and the world that Islam really is a religion of peace.
Siddi Nasrani says
Nice idea, but dream on.
Siddi Nasrani says
Nice idea, but dream on.
Bobf1958 says
It’s not only in Bethlehem that they are trying to cancel Christmas, where I work they don’t bother putting up anything concerning the Christian Christmas. Secularism and islam both want to see an end of the celebrations but don’t mind making money from the ‘gifts’ they sell at extortionate prices. Taking Christ out of Christmas is their objective! BTW, I live in England.
James Lincoln says
Just wondering if Bethlehem Christmas celebrations will restart in December 2024.
Or is this going to be a permanent thing?
somehistory says
My guess, James, is that they will make it permanent if they are able. And with their numbers and their political power, plus the threats and intimidation, it will probably be permanent.
James Lincoln says
Likely so, somehistory.
Tragic, though…