{"id":2101182,"date":"2023-11-16T17:30:01","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T22:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/palestinian-officials-cancel-christmas-celebration-at-the-site-of-jesus-birth-for-the-first-time-in-years\/"},"modified":"2023-11-16T17:31:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T22:31:29","slug":"palestinian-officials-cancel-christmas-celebration-at-the-site-of-jesus-birth-for-the-first-time-in-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/palestinian-officials-cancel-christmas-celebration-at-the-site-of-jesus-birth-for-the-first-time-in-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Palestinian Officials Cancel Christmas Celebration at the Site of Jesus&#8217; Birth for the First Time in Years"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpalestinian-officials-cancel-christmas-celebration-at-the-site-of-jesus-birth-for-the-first-time-in-years%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2101182&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Christmas Celebration at the Site of Jesus&#8217; Birth Canceled\u2062 by Palestinian Officials<\/h2>\n<p>Every year, Christians\u200b flock \u200dto the West Bank\u2062 community of Bethlehem to honor the birth of \u2064the Prince of Peace. However,\u200d this year,\u2063 the community has made \u2064a controversial decision to prioritize \u200bterrorists over \u200dChristmas festivities.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cBethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city\u2019s neighborhoods and removing all festive appearances in honor of\u200b the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in \u200dGaza,\u201d\u200c the municipality wrote Tuesday on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bethlehem.municipality\/posts\/734700422031503?ref=embed_post\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A spokesman for the community explained the decision,\u2064 stating, \u201cThis year the \u200bsituation in Bethlehem is unprecedented and the mood \u2062and\u2062 vibes are extremely sad, and that is exactly what\u2063 the world should see, and realize that these are not normal circumstances. Bethlehem should send out its \u2064own\u200d message of condolence and mourning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The spokesman attributed the change to \u200dIsrael\u2019s\u2063 conflict with Hamas in Gaza,\u200b which was in\u2063 response to the terrorist group\u2019s attacks that claimed the lives of 1,200\u2063 people in southern Israel.<\/p>\n<h3>Do you celebrate Christmas?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Yes<\/li>\n<li>No<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The spokesman further emphasized \u200bthe somber\u200b atmosphere in Palestine, stating, \u201cThe reason is\u2064 the\u200d general situation in Palestine; people are not really into any celebration, they\u2064 are sad, angry\u2064 and upset; our people in\u2062 Gaza are being massacred\u200c and\u2064 killed in cold \u200cblood. Therefore, it is \u2064not appropriate at all to\u200c have such festivities while there \u2062is a massacre happening\u2064 in Gaza and attacks in the\u2063 West Bank.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Jesus\u2019 birthplace removes all \u200bChristmas decorations in honor \u2062of Hamas \u2018martyrs\u2019 -\u201cFirst they come for the Saturday people,\u200d then they come for the\u200d Sunday people\u201d. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZlxV4DwuJf\">https:\/\/t.co\/ZlxV4DwuJf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014\u2063 AdinaZ   \u2063(@lackboys3) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lackboys3\/status\/1725131599568670883?\">November 16, \u200d2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Despite the cancellation of Christmas decorations, \u2064individuals can still visit Manger \u2063Square for prayer, and traditional Christmas services will still be held.<\/p>\n<p>The decision by Bethlehem \u200bto\u2063 show solidarity with Hamas \u200chas <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/palestinian-officials-cancel-christmas-celebration-at-the-site-of-jesus-birth-for-the-first-time-in-years\/\" title=\"Palestinian Officials Cancel Christmas Celebration at the Site of Jesus' Birth for the First Time in Years\">garnered attention worldwide<\/a>. The U.K.\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-12755305\/Christmas-display-Bethlehem-cancelled-Palestinian-Hamas-Israel-Gaza.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a> reported that this is\u200b the first time in living\u200c memory that the birthplace of Jesus has not been adorned with festive decorations.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/1433\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.N.\u200b Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization<\/a>, the site of the current church has been recognized as the\u200b birthplace of Jesus since \u200dthe 2nd century, with the first church on the site built\u200d in \u2064339.<\/p>\n<p>Amidst these events, Hamas claimed\u200b responsibility for\u2062 an attack on\u2063 an Israeli security checkpoint near Bethlehem, resulting in injuries to six Israeli security force members and the death of \u2064all \u2064three \u2063Palestinian\u2064 attackers.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"author_subscription_pitch\">\n<p><em><b>A Note \u2063from\u200b Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I walked into the\u2064 office \u2062one\u2063 morning \u200cand noticed\u2063 something strange. Half\u2062 of The Western Journal\u2019s readership was missing.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It had finally happened. Facebook\u2062 had flipped THE\u200b switch.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Maybe it was because we \u200bwrote about ivermectin. Or election \u200dintegrity. Or the \u2062Jan. 6 detainees. Or\u200d ballot mules.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whatever the reason, I immediately\u200d knew what to do. We had to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">turn to you<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  because, frankly, we know you\u2062 are the only ones \u2063we can trust.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><b>Can you help? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Every <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">donation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  \u2063to The\u200c Western Journal goes directly to \u2063funding our team of story researchers, writers and \u2064editors who doggedly pursue the truth and expose the corrupt\u200d elites.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Can I count on you for a\u200c <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">small donation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">? We operate on \u2064a shoestring compared \u200bto\u200b other\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-rep-jim-jordan-joe-bidens-deliberate-support-of-illegal-immigration-could-lead-to-impeachment\/\" title=\"Exclusive \u2014 Rep. Jim Jordan: Joe Biden's 'Deliberate' Support of Illegal Immigration Could Lead to Impeachment\">news media companies<\/a>, so I can personally promise that not a penny of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">your\u200b donation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  will be wasted.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If \u200dyou would rather <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">become a WJ member<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">  outright, you can do that today as well.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We will use every single \u200ccent \u200cto fight against the\u2063 lies and corruption \u200bin high places.\u200c <\/span><b>And as long as we have\u2062 <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><b>your \u2063help<\/b><\/a><b>, we \u200cwill\u2062 never give up.<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sincerely,<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Josh Manning<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Western Journal<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The \u200bpost <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/palestinian-officials-cancel-christmas-celebration-site-jesus-birth-first-time-years\/\">Palestinian\u200d Officials Cancel Christmas Celebration at the Site of Jesus&#8217; Birth for\u200c the First\u2063 Time in\u200b Years<\/a> appeared first\u2062 on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200dWhat is\u2063 the significance of Bethlehem as a \u200bsite for Christmas \u2062celebrations, and how does the\u200b cancellation of decorations\u2063 affect the global Christian community&#8217;s connection to the\u200b birth of Jesus?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Christmas Celebration at the\u2064 Site of Jesus&#8217; Birth Canceled\u2062 by Palestinian Officials<\/p>\n<p>Every year, Christians\u200b \u2063from all around the world flock \u2064to the West Bank\u2062 community of Bethlehem to honor\u2062 the birth \u2062of \u2064the \u2064Prince of Peace.\u2063 It is a time of joy and celebration, as believers gather to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. However,\u200b this year,\u2063 the community \u2064of Bethlehem\u200c has \u2063made \u2064a controversial decision to prioritize \u200bterrorists \u200cover\u2063 \u200dChristmas festivities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling\u200d of Christmas decorations installed\u200c several years ago in the city\u2019s neighborhoods\u2064 and removing all festive appearances \u2062in honor of\u200b the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in \u200dGaza,\u201d\u200c the \u200cmunicipality wrote on their Facebook page on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The decision has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-israel-kills-hamas-commander-iyad-fathi-faik-sharir-idf-says\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Israel Kills Hamas Commander Iyad Fathi Faik Sharir, IDF Says\">received significant attention<\/a>\u200c and criticism. Many view it as an inappropriate\u200b action that undermines the true spirit of\u2064 Christmas. A spokesman\u2063 for the community defended the decision,\u2064 stating that the situation in Bethlehem \u2063is unprecedented and the mood \u2062and\u2062 vibes are extremely sad. According to him, the world needs to\u2062 see and realize that these are not normal \u2062circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>The spokesman attributed the change in decorations \u200cto \u200dIsrael\u2019s\u2063 conflict with Hamas in \u2062Gaza,\u200b\u200c which was \u200bin\u2063 response to the terrorist group\u2019s \u2062attacks that claimed the lives \u2063of 1,200\u2063 people in southern Israel.\u200d He further\u2063 emphasized \u200bthe somber\u200b atmosphere in Palestine, stating that people are not in the mood for any celebration. They \u2062are sad, angry\u2064 and upset,\u200b especially with what is happening to \u200ctheir people in\u2062 Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>While the cancellation\u2064 of Christmas decorations is regrettable,\u200b individuals can \u200dstill visit Manger \u2063Square for prayer, and traditional Christmas services will still be \u200cheld.<\/p>\n<p>The decision by\u2062 Bethlehem to\u2063 show solidarity with Hamas \u200chas garnered \u200cattention\u2062 worldwide. The U.K.\u2019s \u2064Daily Mail reported that this is\u200b the first time in living\u200c memory that the birthplace of Jesus has not been adorned\u2062 with \u200dfestive decorations.<\/p>\n<p>The site of \u200dthe current church in Bethlehem has\u200c been recognized as the\u200b birthplace of Jesus since \u200dthe \u20642nd century,\u2064 with the first church on the site built\u200d in\u200c \u2064339, according to the U.N.\u200b Educational, Scientific and \u2063Cultural \u200bOrganization.<\/p>\n<p>In the midst of these events, Hamas claimed\u200b responsibility for\u2062 an attack on\u2063 an Israeli security checkpoint near Bethlehem, resulting in injuries to six Israeli\u200c security\u2062 force members and \u2063the death \u200dof \u2064<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christians come to the West Bank community of Bethlehem at Christmas to honor the birth of the Prince of Peace. But this year, the community is putting terrorists first. \u201cBethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city\u2019s neighborhoods and removing all festive appearances in honor of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2101183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2101182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2101182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2101182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2101182\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2101183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2101182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2101182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2101182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}