BETHLEHEM, West Bank — This Christmas, Bethlehem, the city where Christians believe Jesus was born, is facing another year without the usual celebrations. Tourists have stayed away, and many local families are leaving due to ongoing violence and difficult living conditions. The city is usually filled with lights, decorations, and visitors, but this year, the streets around the Church of the Nativity are quiet, and souvenir shops are closed.
Issa Thaljieh, an Orthodox priest at the Church of the Nativity, said, “It’s hard to show joy when our Palestinian cities, especially Gaza, are suffering so much.” The ongoing Gaza war and the occupation of the West Bank have made life difficult for residents. Bethlehem, once home to a large Christian population, is seeing more families leave in search of better opportunities.
In 1947, about 85% of Bethlehem’s population were Christians. By 2017, only about 10% of the city’s population were Christians, and that number continues to decline. Many Christians, along with Muslims, are leaving for countries like Australia, hoping to find a safer place to live and better opportunities for their children.
Bethlehem resident Alaa Afteem, who runs a falafel restaurant, said his cousin recently moved to Australia due to financial struggles and the lack of security. “People want better education and a safer future for their children,” he explained.
Since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank began in 1967, tensions have been high, especially since the Gaza war started in October. Violence between Palestinians and Israeli security forces has led to many deaths, and travel within the West Bank has become more dangerous. Afteem shared that it’s hard to travel between cities like Bethlehem and Ramallah due to security concerns.
Local pastor Munther Isaac mentioned that even Muslim families are leaving, worried about the future and the growing number of Jewish settlements in the area. Some settlers have been given firearms to protect themselves, further increasing tensions. Isaac’s church has a nativity scene with baby Jesus lying in rubble, symbolizing the feeling that peace is far away. “We feel that this war will never end,” he said.
As Bethlehem faces a second year of quiet Christmas celebrations, residents continue to struggle with the challenges of living in a city full of history but overshadowed by ongoing conflict.
