It’s telling that the birthplace of Jesus cancelled Christmas this year. The Palestinian Authority (PA) that governs the city of Bethlehem ordered all local Christmas decorations demolished. Its rationale: Celebrating Christmas offends the sensibilities of Muslims who live there.

In 1950, Christians made up 87% of the Bethlehem population. Now they make up only 12%. Far from respecting religious diversity, the PA has sought to eliminate all expressions of Christianity in Bethlehem since Israel transferred administrative and military control to it in 1995.

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