Bethlehem

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A priest walks by the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officials in Jesus' traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

On Christmas Eve, Bethlehem resembles a ghost town. Celebrations are halted due to Israel-Hamas war.

By Melanie Lidman - Associated Press

Truth of the Christmas story illustration by Greg Groesch / The Washington Times

The enduring truth of the Christmas story

By Mike Pence

A man repairs a Baby Jesus figure in Mexico City, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. As Mexicans prepare to celebrate "Dia de la Candelaria" or Candlemas. people bring in their Baby Jesus figures for major repairs. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Jesus was born and died in a police state that is strikingly similar to modern-day America

By John & Nisha Whitehead – Special to Higher Ground

People walk in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. World-famous Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem have been put on hold due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Under the shadow of Gaza war, Jesus’ traditional birthplace is gearing up for a subdued Christmas

Associated Press

An Ethiopian woman and her child visit the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. Business in Bethlehem is looking up this Christmas as the traditional birthplace of Jesus recovers from a two-year downturn during the coronavirus pandemic. Streets are already bustling with visitors, stores and hotels are fully booked and a recent jump in Israeli-Palestinian fighting appears to be having little effect on the vital tourism industry. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Illean)

Bethlehem welcomes Christmas tourists after pandemic lull

By Sam McNeil - Associated Press

Palestinian scout band members parade through Manger Square at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. The biblical town of Bethlehem is gearing up for its second straight Christmas Eve hit by the coronavirus with small crowds and gray, gloomy weather dampening celebrations Friday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

COVID puts a damper on Christmas Eve again around the world

By Jack Jeffery, David McHugh and Bobby Caina Calvan - Associated Press

Illustration of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Israel by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Heavenly Bethlehem calls for action here and now

By Hind Khoury

Christmas tree is lit outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Christmas tree-lighting in Bethlehem a muted, virtual event

Associated Press

Christian take photos inside the Grotto of the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Normally packed with tourists from around the world at this time of year, Bethlehem resembles a ghost town — with hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops shuttered by the pandemic. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Coronavirus robs biblical Bethlehem of Christmas cheer

By Jelal Hassan - Associated Press

A South Korean soldier wearing protective gears cleans his goggles to spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus on a street in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 6, 2020. South Korea's premier has criticized Japan's 14-day quarantine on all visitors from South Korea due to its viral outbreak, demanding that Tokyo immediately withdraw the &quot;excessive and irrational measures.&quot; (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Virus cases top 100,000 in 90 countries as markets take dive

By ANGELA CHARLTON and MATT SEDENSKY - Associated Press

A visitor lights a candle at the Church of the Nativity built on top of the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Christmas festivities begin in West Bank town of Bethlehem

By Mohammad Daraghmeh - Associated Press

Israeli women walk out of a shelter after a siren is sounded, in a kibbutz near the Israel Gaza border, Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Gaza militants fired more than 25 mortar shells toward communities in southern Israel Tuesday, the Israeli military said, in what appeared to be the largest single barrage fired since the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

Banksy takes politically charged Nativity scene to Bethlehem

By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH - Associated Press

In this Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, photo, a wooden figure is displayed in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. As visitors descend on Bethlehem this Christmas, they have the option of staying in restored centuries-old guesthouses, taking food tours of local markets, and perusing the dystopian art in and around a hotel designed by the British graffiti artist Banksy. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians in Bethlehem look beyond religious tourism

By Joseph Krauss and Mohammad Daraghmeh - Associated Press

A wooden relic believed to be from Jesus' manger is seen at the Notre Dame church in Jerusalem, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. Christians are celebrating the return to the Holy Land of a tiny wooden relic believed to be from Jesus' manger nearly 1,400 years after it was sent to Rome as a gift to the pope. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Vatican returns relic from Jesus’ manger to Holy Land

By JOSEPH KRAUSS - Associated Press

Israeli police officers gather at the scene of a stabbing attack near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, Friday, May 31, 2019. The incident occurred just hours before weekly Friday prayers at the nearby Al-Aqsa Mosque, when tens of thousands of people are expected for Ramadan prayers. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

2 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in separate events

By ISABEL DEBRE - Associated Press

In this Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 photo, visitors stand bellow a renovated part of a fresco inside the Church of the Nativity, built atop the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem. City officials are optimistic that the renovated church will help add to a recent tourism boom and give a boost to the shrinking local Christian population. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Church renovation lifts Christmas spirit in Bethlehem

By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH - Associated Press

In this Feb. 6, 2018 photo, a cello, built by John Antes, a Moravian Missionary, purchased by Tom Riddle is examined for authenticity at the Moravian Historical Society by Phillip J. Kass in Nazareth, Pa. It is thought that the cello is among the first bowstring instruments made in America. A violin and viola where also examined as all three are thought to have been made by Antes. (Amy Herzog/The Morning Call via AP)

Abandoned cello hits a high note in Bethlehem

By NICOLE RADZIEVICH and The (Allentown) Morning Call - Associated Press

Terre Haute church celebrates past, looks to future

By DAVE TAYLOR - Associated Press

Traditions spell success for downtown Sioux Falls

By JOE SNEVE - Associated Press