Bethlehem rebounds from pandemic, lifting Christmas spirits

Merry Christmas to JT and all commentators.

The Israelis are not allowing Christians living in Gaza to visit Bethlehem

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/12/israel-blocks-gazas-christians-celebrating-christmas-bethlehem

As long as you can ignore the Crime Against Humanity being perpetrated by the regime that profits from your tourism, the violent oppression of so much of the population of Bethlehem, and the persecution of Christians that prompted their leaders to draft and sign the Kairos Document pleading for Christian around the world to support Palestine, I'm sure that it is a festive occasion, maybe even more festive than going to Sun City was before Steven Van Zandt spoiled the fun with a song.

Sadly occupied by Jordan for years.

Thankfully, Israel freed up the lands, the place of birth of Jesus.

Never a land claimed by Palestinian Arabs until recently.

Never a land claimed by Palestinian Arabs until recently.

Before the Persians invaded it was the kingdom of the Philistines. Yes, those Philistines, the ones the Jews fought with in Biblical accounts. They had a kingdom there once, but it was conquered by the Persians at the same time the Persians conquered Jerusalem and occupied by them, the Romans, the Ottomans and British in that order. It is their ancient homeland.

Desert TortoiseDec. 25  05:18 pm JST

Before the Persians invaded it was the kingdom of the Philistines. Yes, those Philistines, the ones the Jews fought with in Biblical accounts.

Those Philistines who descended from the Greeks? And?