Christmas in Bethlehem

Haaretz columnist Bradley Burston reports on the declining fortunes of Christians in the Palestinian territories with a focus on Christmas in Bethlehem.

If you believe in Christmas, Bethlehem may be no place for you.

The Little Town, since antiquity an emotional world capital of Christianity, is steadily becoming a town without Christians. A city that was 80 percent Christian in 1948, is now 85 percent Muslim.

Until recently, this was the West Bank city that belonged to the world. Now it belongs to Hamas.

That thought must trouble Hamas even as it does Christians, who are finding it harder and harder to hold on to their presence in the literal birthplace of Christianity.

As the Hamas-led Palestinian government seeks to persuade the Christian West to lift embargoes on aid, the last thing that Hamas needs is the appearance of slighting Bethlehem, and, for that matter, Christmas.

So it was, that this month, Hamas earmarked $50,000 from its depleted coffers to spruce up Bethlehem for the holiday.

"We don't fund any Islamic celebrations, but we want to fund this Christian festival, which is a special part of Bethlehem," said Acting PA Finance Minister Samir Abu Eisha. "As a Palestinian government, we hope our Christian brothers have a happy celebration. They are an integral part of Palestinian society."

Integral may not be the word most Christians would choose. The tide of Islamization has had telling effects on Bethelehem..

There are external signs, like the words "Islamic Jihad" sprayed in graffiti under the steeple of the city's Christmas Lutheran Church.

The territories controlled by the Palestinians has become very Christian unfriendly. No surpise given the nature of their Islamic supremicist beliefs.

In response to the open arms of the west and the closed fist of the Islamic world Christians are leaving.

Ibrahim Shomali, a Christian restaurant owner in Bethlehem, told a reporter earlier this year that he was selling what he could before he leaves with his wife this month for Flint, Michigan.

"We Christians now feel like we are on the cross," he said.

If the Palestinian national movement has gone Islamic, so has the narrative. The admired figure of the refugee Jesus has been replaced by barbs slung at Crusaders and the Pope.

Update: 20 Dec'06 1702z

Melanie Phillips has more.