Christians in Bethlehem face existential threat under Israel's occupation

Christians in Bethlehem are facing an existential threat under the Israeli occupation, which has turned the birthplace of Jesus into a ghost town. The local economy, heavily dependent on tourism and religious pilgrimages, has collapsed, leaving shops on Manger Square shuttered even during Christmas. This economic malaise is compounded by the physical encirclement of the city by the separation wall, checkpoints, and expanding Israeli settlements. As a result, the Christian population has declined dramatically, with many families emigrating due to a loss of hope for a dignified life. The situation has reportedly worsened with recent Israeli government policies accelerating land seizures and settlement legalization in the West Bank.