Palestinian extremists torched a Christmas tree and nativity display at a Catholic church in the West Bank just days before Christmas, exposing the dangerous religious persecution that Christians face under Palestinian Authority rule.
Story Highlights
- Pre-dawn arson attack destroyed Christmas decorations at Holy Redeemer Church in Jenin on December 22
- Church serves 150 Catholics in a city of 50,000 Muslims, operating an interfaith kindergarten
- Attack follows pattern of unpunished church vandalism under Palestinian Authority control
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned PA for growing hostility toward Christians
Christmas Attack Targets Vulnerable Christian Community
Extremists struck the Holy Redeemer Church in Jenin during pre-dawn hours on December 22, completely destroying the Christmas tree and nativity scene displayed outside the Latin Catholic parish. The attack targeted one of the West Bank’s smallest Christian communities, where approximately 150 Catholics live among 50,000 predominantly Muslim residents. Church leaders immediately suspected Palestinian Muslim extremists, prompting urgent meetings with Palestinian Authority officials to demand justice and protection for the besieged Christian minority.
Pattern of Religious Persecution Under PA Rule
This latest assault continues a disturbing trend of anti-Christian violence that has plagued PA-controlled territories for years. The Maronite church in Bethlehem suffered six separate attacks since 2015, including arson that forced closure. Anglican churches in Aboud faced repeated break-ins and desecrations, while armed Muslim gunmen targeted the Christian village of Jifna. Local reports indicate annual tree burnings occur in Jenin, with PA police consistently failing to make arrests or prosecute perpetrators of these hate crimes.
Research from the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies documents how PA authorities systematically ignore attacks on Christian sites while pressuring victims to underreport incidents. This policy protects the PA’s international image and secures continued foreign aid, but leaves Christians defenseless against religious extremism. The Holy Redeemer Church operates an interfaith kindergarten serving both Muslim and Christian children, making this attack particularly heinous as it threatens efforts at peaceful coexistence.
Israeli Officials Expose PA’s Failure to Protect Christians
Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp condemnation on December 23, declaring that “under the Palestinian Authority, there is growing hostility toward Christians” and calling such attacks “unacceptable at all times, even more so as we approach Christmas.” This statement highlights how PA leadership fails to fulfill basic obligations to protect religious minorities under their jurisdiction. Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna denounced the arson as an attempt to undermine social cohesion, while Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub met with church representatives to discuss the investigation.
The timing proves particularly cruel, occurring just three days before Christmas and dampening holiday celebrations already subdued by regional tensions. No arrests have been reported despite clear evidence of arson, fitting the established pattern of PA non-intervention that emboldens future attacks. This systematic failure to prosecute religious hate crimes violates fundamental principles of religious freedom that Americans hold sacred, demonstrating why the PA cannot be trusted to govern responsibly or protect vulnerable populations under their control.
Sources:
Palestinian Extremists Suspected in Christmas Tree Arson at Jenin Church
Every year they burn trees: Jenin church firebombing renews scrutiny of Palestinian Authority
