Palestinian Christians worry about erasure as Israeli settlements grow

In December 2025, Bethlehem saw the return of Christmas celebrations amidst growing concerns among Palestinian Christians about their potential erasure. According to an Al Jazeera report by Nida Ibrahim, Palestinian Christians fear displacement due to increasing Israeli settlement expansion and violence. The report, filed from Bethlehem, highlights the encroachment of illegal settlements on the city, considered the birthplace of Jesus. The expansion of these settlements is cited as the primary reason for the community's worry about their future in the region. The report suggests a connection between the settlement activity and the potential diminishing of the Palestinian Christian population in Bethlehem.