Christmas celebrations returned to both Bethlehem and Nazareth this year, but the season is unfolding very differently in the two cities at the heart of Christianity: Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace, and Nazareth, where he lived.
In Nazareth, the festivities are broad and confident, rooted in a growing Christian presence in Israel. In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, celebrations took place again after more than two years of disruption, but against the backdrop of long-term demographic decline and deep concern within the local Christian community.
Elias Zarina, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy and a longtime Christian activist, said the long-term numbers underscore the concerns. Christians made up 86% of Bethlehem’s population in 1950, Zarina said. At the last Palestinian census in 2017, they accounted for about 10%. He added that since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, at least 142 Christian families have left the area around Bethlehem.
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People gather next to the Christmas tree in Manger Square on the day of the Christmas events with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Christmas Eve, in the Old City of Bethlehem in the West Bank, December 24, 2025. (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters)
“They saw what happened on October 7 and understood that minorities in this region have no future without real protection,” Zarina said.
In Nazareth, Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and chairman of the Israel Allies Foundation, described a very different reality, which he said reflects governance and security.
“Nazareth is a completely different situation,” Reinstein said. “It is an indigenous Christian community under the authority of Israel, and it is growing every year. It is flourishing.”
Reinstein pointed to economic and social indicators to make his case, noting that while Christians make up about 2% of Israel’s population, “Christian communities have the highest GDP per capita compared to Jews, Muslims and Druze,” he said. “They are respected, protected and have the same rights as everyone else.”
Reinstein contrasted that with Bethlehem’s trajectory since the 1990s.
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A man in a Santa costume takes part in the 40th annual Christmas parade towards the Basilica of the Annunciation on December 24, 2025 in Nazareth, Israel. Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown according to the New Testament, has seen a return of Christmas tourism this year after two years when celebrations were muted during the Gaza war. Nazareth, in Israel’s Galilee region, is a predominantly Arab city, of which about a third are Christian, while the majority are Muslim. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Bethlehem marked Christmas this year. Crowds gathered in Manger Square, the Christmas tree was lit and religious ceremonies took place in the Church of the Nativity. Local officials called the celebrations a sign of resilience and an effort to promote normalcy after years of war and economic collapse.
However, Zarina said the Palestinian Authority’s decision to allow Christmas events this year should be seen in context.
Clergy stand on the day the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, West Bank, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
Zarina noted that within a week before Christmas, several incidents against Christians occurred, including threats against churches and violent attacks linked to land conflicts.
“Christians in these areas are subjected to systematic policies manifested in intimidation, violence, psychological terror, forced displacement and the confiscation of property by extremist families, driven by the rigid Salafist ideology and morally and financially supported by states known for supporting extremist movements, including especially Turkey and Qatar,” he claimed. “In this context, the Palestinian Authority appears unable or unwilling to enforce the rule of law and protect the Christian minority.”
Recent incidents in the Palestinian Authority’s control area have reinforced these concerns. Earlier this week, a church in Jenin was bombed and a Christmas tree was set on fire outside another church. Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded by warning of “increasing hostility toward Christians” under the Palestinian Authority’s administration.
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And while Israel has seen occasional attacks on its Christian community by extreme religious nationalist elements who have been accused of vandalizing religious sites and using verbal attacks against clerics, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his Christmas message that Israel is a nation that cares for its Christian population.
He stated in part: “Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Christians can practice their faith with full rights and in total freedom. Where Christian pilgrims are embraced with open arms and so deeply appreciated. Where Christians can proudly celebrate their traditions and do so openly without any fear,” he said, adding: “The persecution of Christians or members of any religion cannot and should not be tolerated.”
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Zarina said Christian residents of nearby Beit Jala and Nablus avoided visible festivities for fear of harassment.
Not all Christian leaders in Bethlehem share the same assessment. Pastor Naim Khoury told Israeli news agency TPS-IL that conditions in Bethlehem itself have improved this year and that he has not seen any attacks related to the holiday so far. However, other activists argue that fear limits what many Christians are willing to say in public.
“The Christians are under enormous pressure and cannot speak freely,” Shadi Khalloul, founder and CEO of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association, told TPS-IL. “They are quietly trying to survive.”
The contrast is also reflected in official demographic data. According to figures released this week by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics and reported by TPS-IL, there are approximately 184,200 Christians living in Israel on Christmas Eve 2025, accounting for about 1.9% of the population. The Christian population grew by 0.7% in 2024, making Israel one of the few countries in the Middle East where the Christian community continues to grow.
People take part in the 40th annual Christmas parade on December 24, 2025 in Nazareth, Israel. Nazareth, home of Jesus according to the New Testament, has seen a return of Christmas tourism this year after two years when celebrations were muted during the Gaza war. Nazareth, in Israel’s Galilee region, is a predominantly Arab city, of which about a third are Christian, while the majority are Muslim. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Nazareth is at the center of that growth. According to Israeli government data, the city has the largest Arab Christian population in Israel, with approximately 18,900 residents, followed by Haifa and Jerusalem. Most Arab Christians live in Israel’s North and Haifa districts, where Christian communities have expanded and education and income levels have risen.
Heather Johnston, founder and CEO of the US Israel Education Association, said the visible contrast this Christmas reflects a deeper reality.
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The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, West Bank, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
“At Christmas, the contrast between Nazareth and Bethlehem tells a bigger story,” Johnston said. “Christians are flourishing in Nazareth under Israeli rule, while in Bethlehem, under the Palestinian Authority, the Christian population has been shrinking for years. That difference speaks volumes about which systems actually protect religious freedom and preserve ancient Christian communities.”
This Christmas, lights and carols filled both cities. For Zarina and others, the question now is whether international attention will fade once the lights go out, or whether it will translate into lasting protection for one of Christendom’s oldest communities.
