Christmas in Bethlehem

2012 years ago, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem from a young woman from Nazareth. If this were to happen two millenniums later, the story would have been completely different.

Christians and non-Christians alike are familiar with the story of Jesus, Mary traveled through the night with Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem to give birth to the future Christian savior. If this were to happen 2000 years later, Mary and Joseph would have had to pass a series of checkpoints and roadblocks. Worst case scenario, Jesus would have been born along the separation barrier, as many Palestinian children have or Joseph and Mary would have been turned away, however it is most likely they would have had to endure a series of security checks, possible interrogations and hours wasted at the checkpoints.

Of course, the Israeli embassy has a different viewpoint. In fact, Israel In Ireland facebook page has posted ‘A thought for Christmas… If Jesus and mother Mary were alive today, they would, as Jews without security, probably end up being lynched in Bethlehem by hostile Palestinians. Just a thought…’

Not only does this statement reek of Orientalist convictions, painting all Palestinians as barbarians, but also it robs the Palestinian Christians of their heritage. They paint all Palestinians as Muslim barbarians, monopolize their claims to the Holy Land, and whitewash their horrific treatment of Palestinian Christians and Christian institutions. The Israeli government is not innocent; not only were the Palestinian Christians victims of the ethnic cleansing of 1948 and 1967, but they have also been direct targets of the Israeli government. It was only 10 years ago that the Israeli government sieged the city of Bethlehem and waged a series of air strikes on the Nativity Church, the birth place of Jesus Christ.

Israeli settlers stepped up their attacks on Christian holy sites, the so-called price-tag attacks, where churches and other Christian sites are defaced with vile and hateful graffiti messages such as ‘Jesus is a monkey’, ‘Jesus is the son of a whore’ and ‘Death to Christianity, we will crucify you’. Not only has the Israeli government did little to nothing to halt these attacks and bring justice to those who were harmed, but settler organizations play an active part in the Israeli government.

It really does not matter if Jesus was born to a Jewish mother in this day and age, he would have likely been deported or imprisoned for his message of tolerance and peace. He would have not been on the side of the oppressors, aiding their hateful message; he would have been helping the oppressed, lending his voice to their grievances. It is insulting for the Israeli embassy in Ireland to rob the Palestinian Christians of their religion, and to insinuate all Palestinians are barbarians.

Jesus was born to a Nazareth woman, in the city of Bethlehem, Palestine. He died in Jerusalem after preaching his message of tolerance and peace. Jesus is part of the Palestinian heritage and if he were to live today, his experience would have been completely different.

Merry Christmas!