Tag Archive for Bethlehem

The remaining Christians in Bethlehem cry for help under Palestinian rule

Watch the plea from one of the remaining Christian suffering under Palestinian rule, where Bethlehem has lost 65% of its Christian population since Israel surrendered control to the Arabs, dictated by the Oslo Accords.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Traditionally, the eyes of the Christian world are focused on the birthplace of Jesus Christ at Christmas. There, in Bethlehem, the Messiah was born in a manger. And there, in Bethlehem, locals have been celebrating this event for millennia. But what is often not reported is that fewer and fewer Christians are taking part in the celebrations with each passing year.

It is well known that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. Continue Reading »

Christmas tourism in Bethlehem down due to Palestinian leadership’s call to violence

An unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem where shops depend on foreign tourists to boost its economy, but those making money this holiday season are “Only young kids [who] throw stones,” says a gift shop owner, “This is business… The municipality does nothing for us,” the shop owner said.
– WATCH Christmas message from PM Netanyahu.

By Ethan Freedman

 

A large Nativity scene flanked by an unlit Christmas tree sits in the middle of a mostly empty plaza in central Bethlehem, known as the birthplace of Jesus, where Palestinians and a handful of tourists are celebrating the holiday amid tensions over US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Continue Reading »

Muslims Douse Bethlehem’s Christmas Tree lights to Protest Trump’s Jerusalem Decisions

In keeping with Palestinian tradition, Christians used as scapegoats with Abbas’ PA turning off the Christmas lights in Bethlehem in anti-Trump demonstration.

By Israel Today Staff

 

There were a lot of Arab responses to US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, most of them bordering on hysteria.

But none were quite so silly as the Palestinian Authority turning off the Christmas lights in Bethlehem, the city of Jesus’ birth.

Apparently, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish nation, as Jesus himself did, is reason to suck the joy out of the holiday season.

Bethlehem Christmas tree – Photo: Bishara Shlayan/Facebook

Israeli Arab Christian political activist Bishara Shlayan posted the above photo to Facebook. Continue Reading »

First Jericho, now Bethlehem suffers electric shortages over massive debt 

 

Israel Electrical Corporation reduced power flow to the large West Bank city because the Palestinian Authority refuses to pay its electrical bills, amounting to the serious sum of $460 million.
• Meanwhile, Israel expands Gaza’s fishing zone.

By The Associated Press

 

Israel’s state electric company on Monday reduced power to a major West Bank city, saying it would take similar steps in other Palestinian areas over the next two weeks because of unpaid debt.

The Israel Electric Corporation said it had reduced its supply to Bethlehem by 50 percent, days after doing so in the city of Jericho. The company said the internationally-backed Palestinian Authority owes it nearly $460 million. Continue Reading »

WATCH: Palestinian terror parade of children wearing suicide belts, brandishing axes & pistols

 

Another blatant act of child abuse as Palestinian children wear mock suicide belts in Bethlehem parade, proving once again Israel has no genuine peace partner in Abbas’ PA, since they’re indoctrinating a new generation of Palestinian terrorists.

By Israel Today Staff

 

In what can only be described as a celebration of violence and death, young Palestinian children participated in a Bethlehem parade last week by dressing up as armed terrorists, complete with mock suicide belts.

The parade marked the 51st anniversary of the first terrorist attack by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, and was attended by several high ranking Palestinian Authority officials. Continue Reading »

WATCH: Al-Quds University turn Christmas tree into ‘martyr tree’

 

view videoWith some 7,000 people expected to visit Bethlehem for Christmas, according to the Palestinian Authority Tourism Ministry, visitors may be surprised to find Al-Quds University’s ‘martyr tree’ adorned with photos of the Palestinians killed in the commission of attacking Jews.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

 

The thousands of visitors flocking to Bethlehem for Christmas eve on Thursday, including hundreds of Gazan worshippers, will be met with a new addition to the Christmas decor: a martyr tree in the town’s main square.

A protest in Bethlehem before Christmas – Photo: EPA

The huge fir tree is covered with images of Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli security forces when carrying out stabbing, shooting and ramming attacks over the last three months, Channel 2 reported. Continue Reading »

#BDSfail: Preached, But Not Practiced in the West Bank Town of Bethlehem

Although Bethlehem now has a Muslim majority, it is still the center of Christian efforts to promote the anti-Israel BDS movement, where ironically, products from the Jewish State are openly sold & widely promoted.

By Israel Today Staff

 

It’s somewhat ironic that as “human rights” activists around the world push to boycott Israeli goods, in Bethlehem, which is the capital of Christian efforts to promote the BDS movement, products from the Jewish state are widely available there.

That fact was demonstrated last week by Israeli activist Kay Wilson, who during a visit to Bethlehem to spend the day with a Palestinian friend decided to browse a number of local shops. Continue Reading »

Two large Palestinian cities in West Bank hit by rockets fired from Gaza

 

IDF confirms, 2 rockets hit Bethlehem and 1 rocket hits Hamas-controlled Hebron.

By Ynetnews

 

Two major Palestinian cities in the West Bank, Bethlehem and Hebron, were hit on Saturday evening from rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, the IDF said.

Hebron after rocket hit. Photo: IDF Spokesman

One rocket hit Hebron, a city controlled mostly by Hamas, and residents reported seeing a plume of smoke. Two additional rockets have reportedly hit Bethlehem and Gush Etzion.

RELATED:

President Abbas flabbergasted as Hamas accuses him of being ‘Likud member’

 

IDF’s Arab-language spokesman, Avihay Adarei, posted a status on Facebook mocking Hamas spokesman Fauzi Barhoum, who said the “resistance” knows where to fire, so Arabs are not hurt. Continue Reading »

Israeli hurt when Palestinian Arab threw explosive at Bethlehem holy site

 

An explosive devise was hurled at Rachel’s Tomb, causing injuries to a Jewish man, who was evacuated to hospital by paramedics.

 

 

Palestinians hurled two improvised grenades at Israelis in Bethlehem on Monday evening in two attacks, injuring one civilian.

IDF troops on duty near Bethlehem

IDF troops on duty near Bethlehem – Photo: Udi Gal

An explosive was thrown at Rachel’s Tomb, causing injuries to one man, who was evacuated to hospital by paramedics. Earlier, an explosive was thrown at an IDF base in the area. No injuries were reported in that attack.

Monday’s events are the latest indication that Palestinian violence is on the rise, though Israeli policymakers and defense experts remain doubtful that we are on the cusp of a third intifada. Continue Reading »

Brits Suckered by Anti-Israel Antics at St. James’s Church

Having successfully tormented & then hounded most of Bethlehem’s Christians into leaving – the Palestinian Muslims’ propaganda campaign is succeeding at blaming Israel abroad.

By Gil Ronen

 

Palestinian Authority Muslims, who have been fully in charge of life in Bethlehem since the 1993 Oslo Accords were implemented, have successfully hounded most of the city’s Christians into leaving the city – but a London exhibition shows that their overseas propaganda in the West still manages to blame Israel for the Christians’ alleged suffering from Jewish “occupation.”

Replica Palestine Separation Wall Built in Central London - YouTube screenshot

Replica Palestine Separation Wall Built in Central London – YouTube screenshot

 

The “Bethlehem Unwrapped” festival opened Dec. Continue Reading »

Many Arrested in Bethlehem Counter-Terror Ops

Deputy Defense Minister Danon reports active battle against Bethlehem terrorism is ongoing, saying arrests have been made.

By Maayana Miskin

 

The IDF is engaged in an ongoing counter-terrorism push in the Bethlehem area, Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon revealed this weekend in response to an enquiry.

MK Nissim Zeev (Shas) had filed a parliamentary query regarding the IDF response to ongoing assaults at Kever Rachel in Bethlehem.

Terrorists have frequently attacked worshipers at the holy site – the burial place of the Biblical matriarch Rachel – located just minutes from Jerusalem. In some recent attacks terrorists have used makeshift grenades. Continue Reading »

Another Palestinian journalist arrested by Abbas’ security for reporting on Fatah

Abbas’s Security forces arrest Palestinian journalist for reporting on leaflet calling for the resignation of Bethlehem’s Mayor

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

 
Palestinian Authority security forces on Monday arrested Palestinian journalist George Canawati, director of Bethlehem Radio 2000, for reporting about a leaflet distributed by Fatah’s armed wing, Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
A masked militant from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah movement in Hebron, August 3, 2008. - Photo REUTERS-Nayef Hashlamoun

A masked militant from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah movement in Hebron, August 3, 2008. – Photo: REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun

The PA prosecutor-general ordered the arrest of Canawati for 48 hours.
Canawati is accused of reporting on his radio station about the leaflet, which attacked Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun, and called for her resignation.

Continue Reading »

Christians Beatify Their Palestinian Curse

Op-Ed:

Christian Arab Palestinians have chosen to support the side that’s destroying Christianity throughout the Mid-East. Hating Jews forges a bond between enemies.

By Giulio Meotti

The movie “The Stones Cry Out” by the Italian filmaker Yasmine Perni “gives a detailed account of the historical, cultural, and political place occupied by Christians in the recent history of the Palestinian nation, and in its struggle against colonialism”

Hanan Ashrawi - Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Hanan Ashrawi – Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The movie is one of the most powerful propaganda tools of the Palestinian Arab Christians. The documentary is supported by Sabeel, the Christian organization based in Jerusalem which foments anti-Semitism through the Scriptures, while Catholic authories and PLO propagandista such as Hanan Ashrawi “blessed” the movie. Continue Reading »

IDF removes old land mines from Arab fields outside of Bethlehem

IDF demonstrates no ill will toward Palestinian Arabs by clearing Jordanian mines from field next to Bethlehem suburb.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Once again demonstrating that it harbors no ill will toward the Palestinian Arabs, the Israeli army recently got to work clearing land mines from Arab-owned fields in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

IDF clears land mines from Arab fields near Bethlehem

IDF clears land mines from Arab fields near Bethlehem – Photo from Israel Today

Well, of course the Israeli army should do so, it probably planted those mines in the first place! Except that, no, the IDF didn’t do so. The mines were planted by the Jordanian army prior to the Six Day War in 1967. Continue Reading »

Suspected terrorist cell nabbed near Bethlehem

An Israeli military tribunal indicted the men for the alleged production of arms, attempted murder & conspiring to commit crimes.

By JTA

 

Israeli security forces arrested and indicted some 30 Palestinians from the Bethlehem area who are suspected of belonging to a terrorist network.

Bethlehem after Christmas

Terrorists move missiles in Bethlehem after Christmas

The defendants were arrested in January and February in Beit Fajar, a village near the Palestinian city, Army Radio reported Thursday following the expiration of a gag order on the arrests.

They were arrested in an operation coordinated by Israel’s General Security Service and are believed to have belonged to the PLO. Continue Reading »