Bethlehem: Christmas in the birthplace of Christianity

It’s the birthplace of Christianity, but Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem will be toned down this year. Security has been stepped up amid a wave of deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Authorities are hoping thousands of pilgrims will make the journey to the town, with Bethleham’s mayor insisting traditional festivities should take place.

Palestinian officials are calling for calm, but also justice.

“This is the birthplace of the King of Peace so what we want is peace. Peace like all other nations in the world and our message to the world is a message of peace and we say all we want for Christmas is justice,” said Rula Maaya, the Palestinian Minister of Tourism.

But although Bethlehem’s Christmas tree has been lit, other parts of the town are less festive. In Aida, which has been a hotbed of violence in recent months, boards have been placed across windows in anticipation of tear gas attacks.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-12-25

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

amazing to me that so many have no idea the origin of Christmas or Christianity.

https://youtu.be/HkSeYBf_flE

amazing to me that so many have no idea the origin of Christmas or Christianity.

https://youtu.be/HkSeYBf_flE

Stay amazed, Bro. BTW, it shouldn't be that hard for a genius like you to post a vid, should it?

To correct Euronews, the so called deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians amounts to Palestinian terrorists attempting to murder Jews with knives or cars, the 'between' part can only refer to some of the attackers deservedly getting pumped full of lead.

Incidentally Bethlehem was once a thriving center of Christianity but has mostly been religiously cleansed of its Christian population by Muslim Arabs, much as with the rest of the Middle East.

^^^ "Pumped full of lead". Where I come from we simply call that "dying of lead poisoning".

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

And what about the Palestinian Christians ? Who believe in the same Old Testament as the Jews? Palestinians does not just include Muslims.

To correct Euronews, the so called deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians amounts to Palestinian terrorists attempting to murder Jews with knives or cars, the 'between' part can only refer to some of the attackers deservedly getting pumped full of lead.

Incidentally Bethlehem was once a thriving center of Christianity but has mostly been religiously cleansed of its Christian population by Muslim Arabs, much as with the rest of the Middle East.

Jews,Christians and Muslims coexisted in peace in Palestine long before Israel(1948) a view shared by many Jewish Israelis today.

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

And what about the Palestinian Christians ? Who believe in the same Old Testament as the Jews? Palestinians does not just include Muslims.

Technically correct for now, but based on current trends Bethlehem may end up free of both Christians as well as Jews.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/12/christian_exodus_from_bethlehem.html

I've been there, gone into the crypt, touched the gaudy gold star they put there to mark the spot.

Complete cack!

To correct Steely Dan,

When I was in that part of the world,

the Palestinians were uniformly polite and helpful.

the Jewish people were to a man rude and arrogant.

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by MaeJoMTB

amazing to me that so many have no idea the origin of Christmas or Christianity.

Amazed me as much as the time a Rastafarian informed me over a Jamaican woodbine how Stonehenge was originally built in Africa by Blackmen and later stolen and brought to Britain by Whitey.

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Judean, not a Jew...

Was in Bethlehem for Christmas many years ago...drunk or drugged young tourists were staggering around...military carrying automatic weapons mingled with the crowd and were staring down from the tops of buildings...it was an uneasy time for the Israelis...has not changed much...still the same hostility and threat of violence...

On the positive side...the places of worship were filled of pomp and ceremony...beautiful ropes, incense, candles, singing...it was interesting and fun...

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Judean, not a Jew...

Of course, Jesus was a Jew. He was born of a Jewish mother, in Galilee, a Jewish part of the world. All of his friends, associates, colleagues, disciples, all of them were Jews. He regularly worshipped in Jewish communal worship, what we call synagogues.

Jesus's linage can be traced all the way back to Abraham...his tribe was of the tribe of Juda...thus the term that he was a Judean...

All "truth" provided by the established religious hierarchy is "filtered" (to use a trendy Thai word) and arranged to fit the majority doctrines bringing the greatest advantage to the said hierarchy.

By all means have your "Faith" if you need it to live your life in contentment, but please do not present organised religions as anything other than institutions invented and run by mere mortal men, with all their mortal weaknesses.

Christmas was invented by a committee of Christian Church hierarchy who needed to suppress and supplant a pagan festival.

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by bangon04

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Judean, not a Jew...

Jesus was both. See the good explanation above.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Judean, not a Jew...

Of course, Jesus was a Jew. He was born of a Jewish mother, in Galilee, a Jewish part of the world. All of his friends, associates, colleagues, disciples, all of them were Jews. He regularly worshipped in Jewish communal worship, what we call synagogues.

Jesus's linage can be traced all the way back to Abraham...his tribe was of the tribe of Juda...thus the term that he was a Judean...

Muhammad's linage can also be traced back to Abraham through his first son Ishmael, the land was promised to descendants of Abraham which include jews through his son Isaac and Arabs through Abraham's first son Ishmael.

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by shariq607

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

And what about the Palestinian Christians ? Who believe in the same Old Testament as the Jews? Palestinians does not just include Muslims.

Technically correct for now, but based on current trends Bethlehem may end up free of both Christians as well as Jews.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/12/christian_exodus_from_bethlehem.html

Many Palestinian christians choose to be called palestinians and many palestinian christians have also fought for independence or at least a palestinian state alongside Israel.

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Judean, not a Jew...

Of course, Jesus was a Jew. He was born of a Jewish mother, in Galilee, a Jewish part of the world. All of his friends, associates, colleagues, disciples, all of them were Jews. He regularly worshipped in Jewish communal worship, what we call synagogues.

Jesus's linage can be traced all the way back to Abraham...his tribe was of the tribe of Juda...thus the term that he was a Judean...

The word jew didn't even exist back then its a modern word.

Yes Jesus WAS a Jew.

Neener neener neener.

But then he went rogue. Cheeky fellow.

Jesus was a Jew, born to Jewish parents in Israel. This was long before anyone ever heard of a Muslim. The Jews had occupied that space for thousands of years. That area contains a lot of historic Jewish and Christian sites.

Now the terrorists cause a hindrance to people who would like to travel there for their own personal and religious reasons.

Tolerant and inclusive aren't traits of "The Religion of Peace", even though they have the mosque nearby and are given exclusive use of it. There's never enough for those people. They want the world and are determined to get it.

Cheers.

Jesus was a Judean, not a Jew...

Of course, Jesus was a Jew. He was born of a Jewish mother, in Galilee, a Jewish part of the world. All of his friends, associates, colleagues, disciples, all of them were Jews. He regularly worshipped in Jewish communal worship, what we call synagogues.

Jesus's linage can be traced all the way back to Abraham...his tribe was of the tribe of Juda...thus the term that he was a Judean...

The word jew didn't even exist back then its a modern word.

Not so. The Bible is written in Hebrew and the Hebrew word "Yehudi" means both Jew and "from the tribe of Judah". In Biblical times those who were not Jews were referred to as Gentiles.

Cheers.

Not so. The Bible is written in Hebrew and the Hebrew word "Yehudi" means both Jew and "from the tribe of Judah". In Biblical times those who were not Jews were referred to as Gentiles.

Cheers.

I went to a nearly all Jewish school in London and was referred to as 'Goyim'.

The term is used by English translators for the Hebrew גוי (goy) and נכרי (nokhri) in the Hebrew Bible and the Greek word ἔθνη (éthnē) in the New Testament. The term "gentiles" is derived from Latin, used for contextual translation, and not an original Hebrew or Greek word from the Bible.

A bit of biblical history that may be of interest...

The Torah (Law of Moses written in the first five books of the Bible) exhibits a passionate intolerance of the Gentile nations; it required the Hebrews to exterminate or expel the original inhabitants of Phoenicia (Canaan)^[4] without mercy (Deuteronomy 6), and forbade the Hebrews to intermarry with them or adopt their customs. The Torah alleges the Gentiles had barbaric practices incompatible with Mosaic law, and they might "contaminate" the Hebrews.^[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile

Not so. The Bible is written in Hebrew and the Hebrew word "Yehudi" means both Jew and "from the tribe of Judah". In Biblical times those who were not Jews were referred to as Gentiles.

Cheers.

I went to a nearly all Jewish school in London and was referred to as 'Goyim'.

The term is used by English translators for the Hebrew גוי (goy) and נכרי (nokhri) in the Hebrew Bible and the Greek word ἔθνη (éthnē) in the New Testament. The term "gentiles" is derived from Latin, used for contextual translation, and not an original Hebrew or Greek word from the Bible.

A bit of biblical history that may be of interest...

The Torah (Law of Moses written in the first five books of the Bible) exhibits a passionate intolerance of the Gentile nations; it required the Hebrews to exterminate or expel the original inhabitants of Phoenicia (Canaan)^[4] without mercy (Deuteronomy 6), and forbade the Hebrews to intermarry with them or adopt their customs. The Torah alleges the Gentiles had barbaric practices incompatible with Mosaic law, and they might "contaminate" the Hebrews.^[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile

And?

Please stay on topic and refrain from baiting other members.

How anyone can claim that they can trace their lineage back to this or that person in ancient times is beyond me. Even with modern methods and data storage you would be struggling to go back a few generations, we even struggle with the lineage of some of the monarchs. Of course the followers of Jesus and Mohamed made claims, often contradictory depending on which one you read. I believe even Saddam Hussein claimed to have been descended from the prophet.

Bethlehem Christmas again a load of nonsense, the Christians adopted a pagan festival nothing whatsoever to do with the birth of Christ if he ever existed.

Bethlehem was 60% Christian when the Israelis controlled it, since then persecution by Palestinian Muslims has reduced that to 15% today. In 2010 the U.S government condemned the Palestinian authority for its failure to protect Christians. These are facts, easily verifiable facts. That Palestinian Christians may refer to themselves as Palestinian in no way negates the fact they are being persecuted and driven out of Palestine. Meanwhile the Christian population of Israel has increased 4 fold since 1948, so who is the apartheid state?

And then there's this from today's news.

http://app.debka.com/p/newsupdate/14270/

And then there's this from today's news.

http://app.debka.com/p/newsupdate/14270/

You will seriously use a Israeli military website as your source?

A troll post has been removed. Stick to the topic.

And then there's this from today's news.

http://app.debka.com/p/newsupdate/14270/

You will seriously use a Israeli military website as your source?

You seriously think you can magic away inconvenient facts by disapproving of the source they were mentioned in? The Times of Israel covered the attack too, but of course in order to spare the Palestinian cause even more embarrassment Reuters and other international news agencies chose to only cover the visit of the Patriarch and not the attacks when he was leaving.