As Christmas comes, Bethlehem’s Christians worry about their future

A massive Christmas tree, Santa Claus handing out sweets to kids, and a marching band playing Western Christmas songs; Bethlehem, has got it all. At least at first glance. 

Palestinian Christians make up just one percent of the population in the West Bank, with some 33,000 living in and around Bethlehem. Being the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem is visited by some two million people every year.

Christmas is the absolute highlight of the year for Christians in Bethlehem, bringing together faith and family through masses and and family dinners on 25 of December.

But the number of Palestinian Christians is decreasing, partly due to emigration, which is causing great concern in the community.

A concern that is shared by Jamil and Umm Burhan Jarayseh, a Palestinian Christian family in the town of Beit Sahour, a suburb of Bethlehem.

“Personally I am against immigration. We are the sons of the land, and the protectors of the Christian heritage. We are also the keepers of the Arab language. We prevented the Ottomans from replacing our language with Turkish when they were here,” 82-year-old Jamil told Jewish News. 

And like all Palestinians in the West Bank, the Jarayseh family is affected greatly by the restricted freedom of movement, with the many military checkpoints making it difficult for them to visit other families and friends during the holiday.

Jamil is also critical of the Palestinian Authority, which he said isn’t doing anything to help support the Christian community.

‘There are no job opportunities here so we go and work in Israel,” he said.

Expecting the worst

Samir Qumsiyeh, the general manager of al Mahd TV,  the first Christian TV broadcasting in the West bank, has been a leading figure in the community in Bethlehem for decades.

Samir, whose four brothers and son emigrated, is also pessimistic about the future of the community, saying emigration as well as low birth rate pose “big problems.”

“There are various reasons for the emigration. Some are not happy with their lives here, others leave for economic reasons,” Samir told Jewish News. 

“Israelis say Jerusalem is a Jewish city and Muslims say it’s an Islamic city. But I can’t accept that. Jerusalem is a Christian city before anything. I wonder why it’s being ignored. I blame the Christian leadership,” for not reacting, Samir told Jewish News.

“I’m afraid the day will come when the Holy Sepulchre will one day become a museum,” he said.

The solution, however, is not for rich Christians abroad to donate money to the community. “Don’t give me a fish, teach me how to fish. Give us money to build housing projects here and you will get back your money through the rent,” Samir said.

The new government in Israel, which Samir calls “extreme,” is also a worrying development for the community.

“Palestinians are expecting the worst with this government,” he said.

Hani al- Hayek, mayor of Beit Sahour, shares the concern about emigration. “If you visit the city if Flint (Michigan) you would think you are in Beit Sahour,” al- Hayek told Jewish News.

The mayor is also urging Palestinians not to leave their homeland: “Without your roots you are nothing.”

But his main criticism is aimed at Israel: “Can you imagine if you needed permission to pray to God?” al-Hayek asked, referring to the permits needed for Palestinians in the West Bank to visit Jerusalem, or to leave in general.