Palestinian Christians

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Violence and coercion has resulted in up to a 90% decline in the Christian population in areas under Hamas or Palestinian Authority control, according to a new study by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA).

In 1922, Christians constituted 11% of the population. Today, in 2024, they are just 1%.

The JCFA research, led by Lt. Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch and Attorney Tirza Shorr, discovered mass emigration of Christians, particularly from historically significant cities like Bethlehem.
"Demographics don’t lie. We are witnessing a significant 80-90% decline in the Christian population in major cities," the researchers emphasized.

The Christian population in Gaza shrank from 5,000 before Hamas took over the area to only 1,000 in October 2023, the report found.

JCFA explained that religious and legal discrimination, desecration of holy sites, and social exclusion were behind the decline in the Christian population.

The city of Bethlehem is used as an illustration of what JCFA calls "Christian demographic erasure."

In 1950, Bethlehem and the surrounding villages were 86% Christian.

However, this has dwindled since 1994, when the PA took control of the city. The last census in 2017 showed Bethlehem was 10% Christian families, but many have left, or are leaving, due to systemic socio-economic hardships and instability, discrimination, and harassment, including of Christian clergy, by Muslim Palestinians and the Islam-dominated Palestinian Authority.

Bethlehem also serves as an example of Christians undergoing forced conversion to Islam, a phenomenon that Gaza’s Bishop Alexios, warned of in 2016. "Christians who converted to Islam did so under threats and violence," Alexios said at the time.

"The mass exodus of the Christians risks undermining the survival of Christianity in its birthplace," the report added.

The report also collected testimonies regarding violence and harassment against Christians, especially of girls, since the PA took over.

Most cases, however, go unreported due to fear of retribution and a lack of legal enforcement.

As mayor of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, I have the privilege of lighting the Christmas tree in Manger Square and attending Midnight Mass at one of the world's oldest churches, built in the fourth century by the Byzantine Empress Helena. But my most important duty is to help give people faith and encouragement. When I lit the Christmas tree on December 3, I expressed my hope that the light would radiate to the world our desire for peace, and we prayed together that Christmas would fulfill its promise and bring people together.

Bringing people together has two meanings for Palestinians living under occupation. It can mean the togetherness of time shared with friends and relatives. But as the mayor of the city where it all began for Christians 2,000 years ago, I must think of the larger Palestinian family.

The fact that we have been living for decades under occupation means that we cannot enjoy the sense of togetherness that all people want during their great holidays, particularly the religious ones. Our people in Gaza cannot come freely to Bethlehem, and our brothers and sisters in Jordan and other countries cannot easily obtain visas from an occupying power that applies exaggerated entry restrictions. Citizens of other Middle East countries, like Lebanon and Syria, which have no peace agreement with Israel, have no chance at all.

The fact that a Palestinian Christian like me, or a Christian living in a nearby Arab country, cannot simply come to Bethlehem for Christmas should be unacceptable to everyone – as should the eight-meter-high wall that still encircles our city, despite being declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004. This wall is a constant reminder of separation rather than togetherness.

This year marks 150 years since the municipality of Bethlehem was established.

Under Palestinian Authority law, a Christian Arab serves as mayor here and in similar Palestinian cities. But the challenge of keeping Christian Arabs in Palestine has become more difficult because of the occupation. While many Palestinians suffer under foreign military rule and wish that they could leave, Palestinian Christians are leaving in larger numbers simply because they have connections with the wider world through churches and the tourism business.

Bethlehem's population has grown over the years, and so has the number of hotel rooms – something unavailable to Mary and Joseph 2,000 years ago. But the growth of our population and tourist accommodations has been restricted by the wall Israel built on our land, and by the occupiers' refusal to allow us to pursue normal urban planning, partly because of Israeli settlement activity. These settlements, too, have long been considered illegal by the United Nations Security Council, yet Israel continues to build and confiscate land in violation of international law, which forbids occupiers from benefiting from their military conquests.

Christmas is celebrated three times in Bethlehem, reflecting the rites of the three main churches that have been here for centuries. Catholics and those following the Gregorian calendar hold midnight mass on December 25, while Orthodox Christians, who follow the eastern calendar, begin their Christmas celebrations on January 6. Armenians hold the ritual on January 18. As we do every year, we will observe all the formalities dictated by the Ottoman Status Quo. This centuries-old system of unwritten rules requires a very strict protocol governing where local leaders meet the head of the respective church and who is allowed to accompany the patriarchs and bishops at various entrance points.

Ten years ago, UNESCO declared Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity to be in danger. After extensive renovation by the Palestinian government, funded by private and official donors, the church's mosaics and other elements, damaged by a fire centuries ago, were restored. But we Palestinian Christians, who have been living continuously in Bethlehem for 2,000 years, do not want our churches to become museums. We want Christian pilgrims from around the world, including Arab Christians, to come to Bethlehem to visit the living stones. For now, we are blessed that our people still hope and insist on a better tomorrow despite the absence of any serious peace talks.

When we lit the Christmas tree, we prayed that the light from Bethlehem – from the darkness of military occupation – would reach the entire world. Our faith is not in a change of heart by our occupiers, but in the justice of our cause. Two millennia ago, the skies of Bethlehem were lit as angels heralded the birth of Jesus by declaring, "Peace on Earth and goodwill to all." This Christmas, all of us in His hometown continue to yearn for that true peace.

The West Bank city of Bethlehem is gearing up to observe Christmas without its customary festive displays for the second consecutive year due to Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip.

The city, including the Church of the Nativity, believed to be built on the grotto where Jesus Christ was born, lacks any celebratory atmosphere. Instead, prayers and calls for an end to the Israeli war on Gaza have replaced the usual festivities.

Typically, at this time of year, Bethlehem's streets, alleys, and churches are adorned with Christmas decorations, with one of the world’s most beautiful Christmas trees erected in Manger Square near the famous church. The city also usually bustles with tourists during the holiday season.

But for the second year, the Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed over 45,300 people since last year, has dimmed the Christmas celebrations in the city and stolen the joy from its residents.

This year’s Christmas celebrations in the city are limited to religious rituals and family visits.

Prayers for peace

On Tuesday, Bethlehem’s Christians, along with dozens of foreign pilgrims, prayed at the Church of the Nativity, which remains nearly empty compared to its usual crowded state on Christmas Eve, when the square would typically be filled with tourists and worshippers from around the world.

[...]

A grim picture

Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman described this year’s Christmas atmosphere as "grim" in light of the ongoing war in Gaza.

“The message of Christmas has not changed since Christ was born, it is a message of love,” Salman told Anadolu.

“Bethlehem has decided to mark Christmas without festive displays, limiting celebrations to prayers, religious rituals, and supplications to end the suffering and injustice against our people.

“We believe Bethlehem should convey to the world today a grim picture of the reality in Palestine through the absence of decorations, Christmas trees, and events, in hopes of awakening te world’s conscience to work toward ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, ending the occupation, and achieving a just and comprehensive peace,” Salman added.

The mayor said that Palestinians in Bethlehem are living in dire economic conditions.

“Economically, Bethlehem is collapsing. Due to this situation, many families were unable to provide Christmas clothes or gifts for their children. We are living in a state of anguish,” Salman lamented.

Economic losses

Jeries Qumsieh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, called this year’s Christmas celebrations somber and gloomy, with celebrations limited to religious rituals.

“This year, there are no tourist delegations or pilgrims due to the devastating war Israel is waging against our people,” Qumsieh said.

“Bethlehem is suffering from a significant economic downturn, with hotel bookings at only 3 percent this year,” he added.

Qumsieh estimated Bethlehem’s daily losses due to the Israeli war at $1 to $1.5 million.

Since the Israeli war on Gaza on Oct.7, 2023, the city’s total losses have reached approximately $1 billion, he added.

Christian communities following the Western calendar mark the peak of their celebrations with midnight Mass on Dec. 25. Communities following the Eastern calendar will celebrate Christmas on January 7.

AMMAN: The conflict in Gaza has cast a shadow over Bethlehem, the revered birthplace of Jesus. Its mayor, Hanna Hanania, spoke to Arab News about the detrimental impact the Israeli blockade has had on the city’s tourism industry, a vital economic lifeline.

“The harsh closure that Israel has placed on Bethlehem has cut off any possible tourists or pilgrims wanting to visit the city, but it also denied us the possibility of internal tourism,” he said.

In a mark of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Bethlehem’s city council will this year curtail its usual Christmas festivities.

“In keeping with the traditional status quo, we will still welcome the heads of the three churches as they make their annual Christmas visits to Bethlehem. Boy Scouts will still march but without music. No lighting of the Christmas tree or any other decorations will take place and Christmas Eve will be simply a religious ceremony,” Hanania said.

The mayor sees a parallel between the situation in Gaza and the ancient tragedies that befell Bethlehem.

“The attack on Gaza and the massacre of children is a reminder of the massacre by Herod of the children of Bethlehem when Jesus was born,” he said.

“Bethlehem was the recipient of the message of peace 2,000 years ago and this is the message we want to proclaim. The people of our city and the people of Palestine want real peace.”

In a recent meeting with the British ambassador, Hanania voiced his displeasure at the envoy’s repetition of the Israeli narrative, stressing the deep-rooted issues faced by Palestinians.

“Our problems did not start on Oct. 7, but we have been suffering discrimination and attempts at usurping our land and our rights ever since Balfour made his infamous promise to allow Jews to steal our land.”

During the meeting, Hanania highlighted the disparities between Palestinians and the residents of the nearby illegal Jewish settlements. He pointed to the inequitable distribution of resources, particularly water, where settlers receive twice as much water from the Bethlehem aquifer.

“They receive 150 liters per capita per day, we receive 65 liters per capita per day even though the water comes from Bethlehem aquifer,” he said.

Since Oct. 7, the city had grappled with inflated prices and limited access to fresh produce due to the blockade, he said.

Environmental concerns had also escalated due to restricted access to waste disposal facilities in Hebron, compelling the use of a temporary, less safe dump in Beit Sahour.

Last year’s municipal elections were a watershed moment for Hanania’s mayoral journey.

“The 2022 municipal elections in Bethlehem were very problematic,” he said. “Eleven lists participated, but although we won the most, five seats, and I was the top vote-getter, it was hard to make a coalition, as everyone wanted to be mayor.”

A senior Palestinian official’s intervention led to a rotational agreement, under which Hanania’s term will end on Jan. 8.

His tenure has been marked by strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing Bethlehem’s financial and cultural landscape. He successfully lobbied for the city to be part of a pilot project allowing it to directly collect housing taxes, thereby addressing the critical issue of cash flow delays from the Palestinian Authority.

Hanania has also spearheaded significant tourism projects, including the renovation of the Bethlehem Museum near the Church of the Nativity, has been an advocate for cultural preservation and has worked to enhance the city’s appeal as a center for religious and historical tourism.

He has been instrumental in promoting Bethlehem’s heritage, advocating for the preservation of its historical sites and traditions, which are integral to its identity and tourism appeal.

This initiative, combined with a mandatory museum tour for church visitors, promised to ease congestion and generate significant revenue. The development of a walking tour along the historic Star Street, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the implementation of a tourist tax, were also part of these efforts.

“The museum was scheduled to have a religious narrative, a national narrative and a cultural narrative of the city of Bethlehem,” he said.

“Tourists would have to pay a small fee of $5, this would bring about $10 million to the city’s coffers because we normally have an average of 2 million visitors (a year) to the Church of the Nativity.

“The museum tour would help reduce the heavy traffic at the church and would provide shelter for the tourists from the rain or the hot summer until their turn to visit the birthplace of Jesus.”

While the Gaza conflict has stalled many of Hanania’s plans, he remains optimistic about their long-term benefits. He draws inspiration from an Arabic proverb about sowing seeds for future harvest, hopeful that his efforts will yield positive outcomes for Bethlehem and its people.

As his mayoral term draws to a close, he said he envisioned a future in which Bethlehem could thrive as a beacon of culture, history and peace, drawing visitors from around the world to its sacred sites.

Many Palestinians residing in Israel would at this time ordinarily be setting up their small shops, adorning their homes with fairy lights, selecting festive clothes and collecting gifts for loved ones in preparation for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Butcher shops would be filled with customers looking to stock up for barbecues. Sweets shops would have run out of pastries – especially date-filled cookies known as maamoul. But this year the picture is different.

2) Muslims, in Palestine, have similarly toned down the festive aspects of their holidays. See the following Haaretz story: Eid al-Fitr in the Shadow of War: Palestinians in Israel Mark a Somber Holiday Celebration: "This year, local Arab councils in Israel and the Islamic Fatwa Council are calling to mute the public festivities of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and encouraging Muslims to empathize with those in Gaza," Apr 10, 2024.

Claims Christmas was "canceled" in Bethlehem due to persecution of Christians by Muslims, and that no Muslim holidays were similarly "canceled."

In reality, only the more festive aspects of Christmas were "canceled." Religious aspects went on as usual, minus the usual large numbers of tourists. And festive aspects of Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha WERE similarly toned down. For both, festivities were toned down due to: mourning and praying for an end to the slaughter in Gaza.

Blatant BS. In reality:

(1) Only the festive aspects of Christmas were "canceled" in Bethlehem. Religious aspects went on as usual, minus the usual large numbers of tourists.

(2) The Muslim festive holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha WERE similarly toned down. -- not just in the West Bank, but also in Israel and even here in the U.S.A.

(3) For both Christian and Muslim Palestinians, this toning down of festive holidays was genuinely due to mourning, protesting, and praying for an end to the slaughter in Gaza. Why on Earth WOULDN'T they? Are you folks human???

Looks to me like you folks are just trying to stir up Islamophobia among Western Christians, and are blatantly lying in order to do so.