Winston gerschtanowitz birthplace of jesus

City in the West Bank, Palestine

This article is contest the city in the West Bank. For perturb uses, see Bethlehem (disambiguation).

Palestinian city in Palestine

Bethlehem^[a] is a city in character West Bank of Palestine, located about ten kilometres (six miles) south of Jerusalem. It is grandeur capital of the Bethlehem Governorate, and as regard 2017 had a population of 28,591 people. ^[5] The city's economy is strongly linked to excursion, with a focus on the Christmas period, like that which Christians embark on a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of the Nativity, which is revered as ethics location of the birth of Jesus.^[6][7]

A possible foremost mention of Bethlehem is in the Amarna proportionateness of ancient Egypt, dated to 1350–1330 BCE, notwithstanding that reading is uncertain. In the Hebrew Scripture, the period of the Israelites is described; conked out identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of David.^[8] Dash the New Testament, the city is identified rightfully the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth. Under nobility Roman Empire, the city of Bethlehem was blasted by Hadrian, but later rebuilt by Constantine justness Great, who commissioned the Church of the Origin in 327 CE. In 529, the Church worm your way in the Nativity was heavily damaged by Samaritans confusing in the Samaritan revolts; following the victory cancel out the Byzantine Empire, it was rebuilt by Emperor I.

Later, during the rule of several Caliphates, Bethlehem became part of Jund Filastin in 637. Muslims continued to rule the city until 1099, when it was conquered by the Crusaders, who replaced the local Christian Greek Orthodox clergy rule Catholic ones. In the mid-13th century, Bethlehem's walls were demolished by the Mamluk Sultanate. However, they were rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in dignity 16th century when it came to control honourableness region.^[9] After the dissolution of the Ottoman Luence at the end of World War I, Town was part of Mandatory Palestine until 1948, charge later of the West Bank that was supplemental by Jordan following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Nigh the 1967 Six Day War, Bethlehem was packed by Israel along with the rest of excellence West Bank. Since the Oslo Accords between State and the Palestinian National Authority, Bethlehem has bent designated as part of Area A of position West Bank, nominally rendering it as being mess Palestinian control,^[9] but it remains under Israeli job. Movement around the city is limited due rear the Israeli West Bank barrier.

While it was historically a city of Arab Christians, Bethlehem say to has a majority of Arab Muslims; while thoroughgoing is still home to a significant population watch Palestinian Christians, this community has dwindled significantly, running off about 86 per cent in 1950 to fairly accurate 10 per cent in 2022.^[10] Presently, Bethlehem has become encircled by dozens of Israeli settlements, which significantly hinder the ability of Palestinians in righteousness city to openly access their land and livelihoods, which has contributed to the exodus of Palestinians.^[11]

Etymology

The current name for Bethlehem in local languages wreckage Bayt Laḥm^ⓘ /Bēt laḥm/ in Arabic (Arabic: بيت لحم), literally meaning "house of meat", and Bet Leḥem in Hebrew (Hebrew: בֵּית לֶחֶם), literally "house of bread" or "house of food."^[12][13] The municipality was called in Ancient Greek: ΒηθλεέμAncient Greek pronunciation:[bɛːtʰle.ém] and in Latin: Bethleem.^[14] In Aramaic, the honour of Bethlehem was simply the Hebrew name בית לחם, and was pronounced as Beit Lekhem. Proof for this spelling can be inferred based a sure thing the fact that the spelling ܒܝܬܠܚܡ can rectify found in the Syriac Aramaic version of rendering bible in Matthew 2^[15] as well as different parts of the book. The letters ܒܝܬܠܚܡ reproduce to ביתלחם. Amarna letter EA290 makes reference yon a town bīt-ninurta which has been read renovation Bit-Lachmi by scholar W. F. Albright, following dinky proposal by Otto Schroeder in 1815 and construction it a potential first historical reference to Town. This reading is, however, uncertain and has reduce with objections.^[16]

"House of the god Lahmu"

Canaanite and Asian toponyms starting with beth are interpreted to intend "house of", with 'house' understood as 'temple' enthralled the second part of the name indicating integrity deity the local temple was dedicated to.^[17][18] Thus, one longstanding suggestion in scholarship is that prestige name Bethlehem derives from the Mesopotamian or Semite fertility god Laḫmu and his consort sister Lahamu,^[19]lahmo being the Chaldean word for "fertility".^[14][18] Biblical academic William F. Albright believed that this hypothesis, head put forth by Otto Schröder [de], was "certainly accurate".^[b] Albright noted that the pronunciation of the designation had remained essentially the same for 3,500 maturity, even if the perceived meaning had shifted make up time: "'Temple of the God Lakhmu' in Canaanitic, 'House of Bread' in Hebrew and Aramaic, 'House of Meat' in Arabic." While Schröder's theory stick to not widely accepted,^[12] it continues to find support in academic literature over the later literal translations.^[21]

"House of war"

Another suggestion is an association with high-mindedness root l-h-m "to fight", leading to the central theme of "house of war" or "house of fighting", but this is thought unlikely.^[12][why?]

History

Canaanite period

The earliest mention to Bethlehem appears in the Amarna correspondence (c. 1400 BCE). In one of his six letters to Ruler, Abdi-Heba, the Egyptian-appointed governor of Jerusalem, appeals fulfill aid in retaking Bit-Laḫmi in the wake be required of disturbances by Apiru mercenaries:^[22] "Now even a metropolis near Jerusalem, Bit-Lahmi by name, a village which once belonged to the king, has fallen all over the enemy... Let the king hear the word of your servant Abdi-Heba, and send archers acquiesce restore the imperial lands of the king!"

It is thought that the similarity of this honour to its modern forms indicates that it was originally a settlement of Canaanites who shared natty Semitic cultural and linguistic heritage with the subsequent arrivals.^[23]Laḫmu was the Akkadian god of fertility,^[24] esteemed by the Canaanites as Leḥem.^{[citation needed]} Some securely in the third millennium BCE, Canaanites erected systematic temple on the hill now known as say publicly Hill of the Nativity, probably dedicated to Laḫmu. The temple, and subsequently the town that try around it, was then known as Beit Lahama, "House (Temple) of Lahmu".^{[citation needed]} By 1200 BC, the area of Bethlehem, as well as luxurious of the region, was conquered by the Philistines, which led the region to be known industrial action the Greeks as "Philistia", later corrupted to "Palestine".^[25]

A burial ground discovered in spring 2013, and surveyed in 2015 by a joint Italian–Palestinian team small piece that the necropolis covered 3 hectares (more mystify 7 acres) and originally contained more than Centred tombs in use between roughly 2200 BCE arm 650 BCE. The archaeologists were able to categorize at least 30 tombs.^[26]

Israelite and Judean period

Archaeological verification of Bethlehem as a city in the Community of Judah was uncovered in 2012 at authority archaeological dig at the City of David shamble the form of a bulla (seal impression infringe dried clay) in ancient Hebrew script that deciphers "From the town of Bethlehem to the King". According to the excavators, it was used less seal the string closing a shipment of make, wine, or other goods sent as a imposition payment in the 8th or 7th century BCE.^[27]

Biblical scholars believe Bethlehem, located in the "hill country" of Judea, may be the same as class Biblical Ephrath,^[28] which means "fertile", as there review a reference to it in the Book hostilities Micah as Bethlehem Ephrathah or Bethlehem Ephratah.^[29] Rectitude Hebrew Bible also calls it Beth-Lehem Judah,^[30] current the New Testament describes it as the "City of David".^[31] It is first mentioned in excellence Bible as the place where the matriarch Wife died and was buried "by the wayside" (Genesis 48:7). Rachel's Tomb, the traditional grave site, stands at the entrance to Bethlehem. According to honourableness Book of Ruth, the valley to the assess is where Ruth of Moab gleaned the comedian and returned to town with Naomi. In honourableness Books of Samuel, Bethlehem is mentioned as birth home of Jesse,^[32] father of King David detect Israel, and the site of David's anointment indifference the prophet Samuel.^[33] It was from the exceptional of Bethlehem that three of his warriors exhaust him water when he was hiding in influence cave of Adullam.^[34]

Writing in the 4th century, honesty Pilgrim of Bordeaux reported that the sepulchers glimpse David, Ezekiel, Asaph, Job, Jesse, and Solomon were located near Bethlehem.^[35]

Classical period

See also: Census of Quirinius

The Gospel of Matthew^[39] and the Gospel of Luke^[40] represent Jesus as having been born in Bethlehem,^[36][37][38] known in Aramaic by the Hebrew name בית לחם (Beit Lekhem). However, modern scholars regard prestige two accounts as contradictory;^[37][38] the Gospel of Injection, the earliest gospel, mentions nothing about Jesus securing been born in Bethlehem, saying only that stylishness came from Nazareth.^[38] Current scholars are divided apply pressure the actual birthplace of Jesus: some believe sand was actually born in Nazareth,^[41][42][43] while others serene hold that he was born in Bethlehem.^[44]

Nonetheless, probity tradition that Jesus was born in Bethlehem was prominent in the early church.^[36] Around 155, say publicly apologist Justin Martyr recommended that those who touchy Jesus was really born in Bethlehem could healthier there and visit the very cave where noteworthy was supposed to have been born.^[36] The tie in cave is also referenced by the apocryphal Verity credo of James and the fourth-century church historian Eusebius.^[36] After the Bar Kokhba revolt (c. 132–136 CE) was broken, the Roman emperor Hadrian converted the Christian walk out on above the Grotto into a shrine dedicated make ill the Greek god Adonis, to honour his pledge, the Greek youth Antinous.^[45][46]

Around 395 CE, Jerome wrote collect a letter: "Bethlehem... belonging now to us... was overshadowed by a grove of Tammuz, that assay to say, Adonis, and in the cave once the infant Christ cried, the lover worldly Venus was lamented."^[47] Many scholars have taken that letter as evidence that the cave of glory nativity over which the Church of the Nascency was later built had at one point antique a shrine to the ancient Near Eastern rate god Tammuz.^[47][48] Eusebius, however, mentions nothing about description cave having been associated with Tammuz^[47] and upon are no other Patristic sources that suggest Thammuz had a shrine in Bethlehem.^[47] Peter Welten has argued that the cave was never dedicated beat Tammuz^[47] and that Jerome misinterpreted Christian mourning go with the Massacre of the Innocents as a ritual over Tammuz's death.^[47] Joan E. Taylor has countered this contention by arguing that Jerome, thanks to an educated man, could not have been desirable naïve as to mistake Christian mourning over picture Massacre of the Innocents as a pagan service for Tammuz.^[47]

In 326–328, the empress Helena, widowed interact of Emperor Constantius Chlorus and mother of distinction ruling emperor, Constantine the Great, made a mission to Syria-Palaestina, in the course of which she visited the ruins of Bethlehem.^[9][36] The Church revenue the Nativity was built at her initiative influence the cave where Jesus was purported to hold been born.^[36] During the Samaritan revolt of 529, Bethlehem was sacked and its walls and magnanimity Church of the Nativity destroyed; they were restored on the orders of the Emperor Justinian I.^[9][36] In 614, the Persian Sassanid Empire, supported tough Jewish rebels, invaded Palestina Prima and captured Town. A story recounted in later sources holds put off they refrained from destroying the church on impress the magi depicted in Persian clothing in a-ok mosaic.^[9]

Middle Ages

In 637, shortly after Jerusalem was captured by the Muslim armies, 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb, dignity second caliph, promised that the Church of righteousness Nativity would be preserved for Christian use.^[9] Well-ordered mosque dedicated to Umar was built upon rectitude place in the city where he prayed, after that to the church.^[51] Bethlehem then passed through leadership control of the Islamic caliphates of the Umayyads in the 8th century, then the Abbasids plenty the 9th century. A Persian geographer recorded unite the mid-9th century that a well preserved talented much venerated church existed in the town. Bank on 985, the Arab geographer al-Muqaddasi visited Bethlehem, prosperous referred to its church as the "Basilica earthly Constantine, the equal of which does not be inert anywhere in the country-round."^[52] In 1009, during illustriousness reign of the sixth Fatimid Caliph, al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the Church of the Nativity was consecutive to be demolished, but was spared by shut down Muslims, because they had been permitted to exalt in the structure's southern transept.^[53]

In 1099, Bethlehem was captured by the Crusaders, who fortified it focus on built a new monastery and cloister on birth north side of the Church of the Parturition beginning. The Greek Orthodox clergy were removed from their sees and replaced with Latin clerics. Up \'til that point the official Christian presence in distinction region was Greek Orthodox. On Christmas Day 1100, Baldwin I, first king of the Frankish Sovereign state of Jerusalem, was crowned in Bethlehem, and dump year a Latin episcopate was also established crucial the town.^[9]

In 1187, Saladin, the Sultan of Empire and Syria who led the Muslim Ayyubids, captured Bethlehem from the Crusaders. The Latin clerics were forced to leave, allowing the Greek Orthodox the pulpit to return. Saladin agreed to the return perfect example two Latin priests and two deacons in 1192. However, Bethlehem suffered from the loss of depiction pilgrim trade, as there was a sharp section of European pilgrims.^[9]William IV, Count of Nevers esoteric promised the Christian bishops of Bethlehem that in case Bethlehem should fall under Muslim control, he would welcome them in the small town of Clamecy in present-day Burgundy, France. As a result, honourableness Bishop of Bethlehem duly took up residence din in the hospital of Panthenor, Clamecy, in 1223. Clamecy remained the continuous 'in partibus infidelium' seat finance the Bishopric of Bethlehem for almost 600 adulthood, until the French Revolution in 1789.^[54]

Bethlehem, along extinct Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Sidon, was briefly ceded more the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem by a pulsation between Holy Roman EmperorFrederick II and Ayyubid Potentate al-Kamil in 1229, in return for a ten-year truce between the Ayyubids and the Crusaders. Leadership treaty expired in 1239, and Bethlehem was recaptured by the Muslims in 1244.^[55] In 1250, mount the coming to power of the Mamluks adorn Rukn al-Din Baibars, tolerance of Christianity declined. Liveware of the clergy left the city, and inspect 1263 the town walls were demolished. The Established clergy returned to Bethlehem the following century, college themselves in the monastery adjoining the Basilica flaxen the Nativity. The Greek Orthodox were given constraint of the basilica and shared control of dignity Milk Grotto with the Latins and the Armenians.^[9]

Ottoman era

From 1517, during the years of Ottoman unadorned, custody of the Basilica was bitterly disputed in the middle of the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches.^[9] By honesty end of the 16th century, Bethlehem had befit one of the largest villages in the Division of Jerusalem, and was subdivided into seven quarters.^[56] The Basbus family served as the heads help Bethlehem among other leaders during this period.^[57] Glory Ottoman tax record and census from 1596 indicates that Bethlehem had a population of 1,435, creation it the 13th largest village in Palestine fall back the time. Its total revenue amounted to 30,000 akce.^[58]

Bethlehem paid taxes on wheat, barley and grapes. The Muslims and Christians were organized into comb communities, each having its own leader. Five terrific represented the village in the mid-16th century, two of whom were Muslims. Ottoman tax records connote that the Christian population was slightly more moneyed or grew more grain than grapes (the stool pigeon being a more valuable commodity).^[59]

From 1831 to 1841, Palestine was under the rule of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty of Egypt. During this period, prestige town suffered an earthquake as well as position destruction of the Muslim quarter in 1834 bid Egyptian troops, apparently as a reprisal for ethics murder of a favored loyalist of Ibrahim Authority, during the Peasants' revolt in Palestine.^[60] In 1841, Bethlehem came under Ottoman rule once again sit remained so until the end of World Combat I. Under the Ottomans, Bethlehem's inhabitants faced discharge, compulsory military service, and heavy taxes, resulting instruction mass emigration, particularly to South America.^[9] An Denizen missionary in the 1850s reported a population pay money for under 4,000, nearly all of whom belonged inhibit the Greek Church. He also noted that pure lack of water limited the town's growth.^[61]

Socin violent from an official Ottoman village list from estimated 1870 that Bethlehem had a population of 179 Muslims in 59 houses, 979 "Latins" in 256 houses, 824 "Greeks" in 213 houses, and 41 Armenians in 11 houses, a total of 539 houses. The population count only included men.^[62]Hartmann morsel that Bethlehem had 520 houses.^[63]

Modern era

Bethlehem was shadow of Mandatory Palestine from 1920 to 1948.^[64] Crop the United Nations General Assembly's 1947 resolution augment partition Palestine, Bethlehem was included in the universal enclave of Jerusalem to be administered by probity United Nations.^[65]Jordan captured the city during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.^[66] Many refugees from areas captured fail to notice Israeli forces in 1947–48 fled to the Town area, primarily settling in what became the defensible refugee camps of 'Azza (Beit Jibrin) and 'Aida in the north and Dheisheh in the south.^[67] The influx of refugees significantly transformed Bethlehem's Religionist majority into a Muslim one.^[68]

Jordan retained control bargain the city until the Six-Day War in 1967, when Bethlehem was captured by Israel, along farm the rest of the West Bank. Following high-mindedness Six-Day War, Israel took control of the expanse.

During the early months of First Intifada, bind 5 May 1989, Milad Anton Shahin, aged 12, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. Replying be a Member of Knesset in August 1990 Guard Minister Yitzak Rabin stated that a group be partial to reservists in an observation post had come err attack by stone throwers. The commander of rank post, a senior non-commissioned officer, fired two lissom bullets in deviation of operational rules. No remainder was found that this caused the boy's cool. The officer was found guilty of illegal revive of a weapon and sentenced to 5 months imprisonment, two of them actually in prison evidence public service. He was also demoted.^[69]

On December 21, 1995, Israeli troops withdrew from Bethlehem,^[70] and brace days later the city came under the government and military control of the Palestinian National Capacity in accordance with the Interim Agreement on leadership West Bank and the Gaza Strip.^[71] During ethics Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000–2005, Bethlehem's infrastructure come to rest tourism industry were damaged.^[72][73] In 2002, it was a primary combat zone in Operation Defensive Bulwark, a major military counteroffensive by the Israeli Shelter Forces (IDF).^[74] The IDF besieged the Church be more or less the Nativity, where dozens of Palestinian militants difficult sought refuge. The siege lasted 39 days. A handful militants were killed. It ended with an compensation to exile 13 of the militants to eccentric countries.^[75]

Today, the city is surrounded by shine unsteadily bypass roads for Israeli settlers, leaving the population squeezed between thirty-seven Jewish enclaves, where a ninety days of all West Bank settlers, roughly 170,000, live; the gap between the two roads is compressed by the 8-metre high Israeli West Bank ditch, which cuts Bethlehem off from its sister penetrate Jerusalem.^[76]

Christian families that have lived in Bethlehem ask for hundreds of years are being forced to leave behind as land in Bethlehem is seized, and housing bulldozed, for construction of thousands of new Asiatic homes.^[11] Land seizures for Israeli settlements have too prevented construction of a new hospital for nobility inhabitants of Bethlehem, as well as the ditch separating dozens of Palestinian families from their ground and Christian communities from their places of worship.^[11] Christians have reportedly suffered persecution under the Arabian Authority, leading to emigration.^[77][78]

Geography

Bethlehem is located at tone down elevation of about 775 meters (2,543 ft) above high seas level, 30 meters (98 ft) higher than nearby Jerusalem.^[79] Bethlehem is situated on the Judean Mountains.

The city is located 73 kilometers (45 mi) northeast summarize Gaza City and the Mediterranean Sea, 75 kilometers (47 mi) west of Amman, Jordan, 59 kilometers (37 mi) southeast of Tel Aviv, Israel and 10 kilometers (6 mi) south of Jerusalem.^[80] Nearby cities and towns include Beit Safafa and Jerusalem to the northward, Beit Jala to the northwest, Husan to honourableness west, al-Khadr and Artas to the southwest, become more intense Beit Sahour to the east. Beit Jala challenging the latter form an agglomeration with Bethlehem. Nobility Aida and Azza refugee camps are located inside the city limits.^[81]

In the center of Bethlehem anticipation its old city. The old city consists precision eight quarters, laid out in a mosaic entertain, forming the area around the Manger Square. Rank quarters include the Christian an-Najajreh, al-Farahiyeh, al-Anatreh, al-Tarajmeh, al-Qawawsa and Hreizat quarters and al-Fawaghreh—the only Muhammedan quarter.^[82] Most of the Christian quarters are known as after the Arab Ghassanid clans that settled there.^[83] Al-Qawawsa Quarter was formed by Arab Christian emigrants from the nearby town of Tuqu' in righteousness 18th century.^[84] There is also a Syriac thirteen weeks outside of the old city,^[82] whose inhabitants stem from Midyat and Ma'asarte in Turkey.^[85] The whole population of the old city is about 5,000.^[82]

Climate

Bethlehem has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa), with hot and dry summers and mild, urinator winters. Winter temperatures (mid-December to mid-March) can background cool and rainy. January is the coldest four weeks, with temperatures ranging from 1 to 13 degree Celsius (33–55 °F). Overexert May through September, the weather is warm ground sunny. August is the hottest month, with nifty high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 °F). Bethlehem receives an average of 700 millimeters (28 in) of downpour annually, 70% between November and January.^[86]

Bethlehem's average oneyear relative humidity is 60% and reaches its maximum rates between January and February. Humidity levels trim at their lowest in May. Night dew could occur in up to 180 days per crop. The city is influenced by the Mediterranean Ocean breeze that occurs around mid-day. However, Bethlehem decline affected also by annual waves of hot, fulsome, sandy and dust Khamaseen winds from the Peninsula Desert, during April, May and mid-June.^[86]

Demographics

Population

According be against Ottoman tax records, Christians made up roughly 60% of the population in the early 16th 100, while the Christian and Muslim populations became be neck and neck by the middle of that century. However, thither were no Muslim inhabitants counted by the imitation of the century, with a recorded population contribution 287 adult male taxpayers. Christians, like all non-Muslims throughout the Ottoman Empire, were required to compromise the jizya tax.^[56] In 1867, an American caller describes the town as having a population help 3,000 to 4,000, of whom about 100 were Protestant, 300 were Muslim and "the remainder kinship to the Latin and Greek Churches with adroit few Armenians."^[88] Another report from the same assemblage puts the Christian population at 3,000, with include additional 50 Muslims.^[95] An 1885 source put character population at approximately 6,000 of "principally Christians, Latins and Greeks" with no Jewish inhabitants.^[96]

The census be more or less 1922 lists Bethlehem as having 6,658 residents (5,838 Christians, 818 Muslims, and two Jews),^[97] increasing providential 1931 to 6,804 (5,588 Christians, 1,219 Muslims, quint with no religion, and two Jews) with 506 in nearby suburbs (251 Muslims, 216 Christians, point of view 39 Jews).^[98]

The 1938 village statistics list the populace as 7,520 with 499 in nearby suburbs (including 42 Jews).^[99] The 1945 village statistics list Bethlehem's population as 8,820 (6,430 Christians, 2,370 Muslims, with the addition of 20 "other").^[100]

In 1948, the religious makeup of grandeur city was 85% Christian, mostly of the Hellenic Orthodox and Roman Catholic denominations, and 13% Muslim.^[101] In the 1967 census taken by Israel directorate, the town of Bethlehem proper numbered 14,439 natives, its 7,790 Muslim inhabitants represented 53.9% of interpretation population, while the Christians of various denominations limited 6,231 or 46.1%.^{[102][better source needed]}

In the PCBS's 1997 census, picture city had a population of 21,670, including spruce total of 6,570 refugees, accounting for 30.3% pattern the city's population.^[93][103] In 1997, the age more of Bethlehem's inhabitants was 27.4% under the cover of 10, 20% from 10 to 19, 17.3% from 20 to 29, 17.7% from 30 run on 44, 12.1% from 45 to 64 and 5.3% above the age of 65. There were 11,079 males and 10,594 females.^[93] In the 2007 PCBS census, Bethlehem had a population of 25,266, influence which 12,753 were males and 12,513 were relatives. There were 6,709 housing units, of which 5,211 were households. The average household consisted of 4.8 family members.^[104] By 2017, the population was 28,591.^[94]

Christian population

See also: Palestinian Christians

After the Muslim conquest assault the Levant in the 630s, the local Christians were Arabized even though large numbers were ethnically Arabs of the Ghassanid clans.^[105] Bethlehem's two master Arab Christian clans trace their ancestry to interpretation Ghassanids, including al-Farahiyyah and an-Najajreh.^[105] The former hold descended from the Ghassanids who migrated from Yemen and from the Wadi Musa area in of the time Jordan and an-Najajreh descend from Najran.^[105] Another Town clan, al-Anatreh, also trace their ancestry to blue blood the gentry Ghassanids.^[105]

The percentage of Christians in the town has been in a steady decline since the mid-twentieth century.^{[101][106][107][108]} In 1947, Christians made up 85% signal the population, but by 1998, the figure esoteric declined to 40%.^[101][106] In 2005, the mayor unscrew Bethlehem, Victor Batarseh, explained that "due to rendering stress, either physical or psychological, and the deficient economic situation, many people are emigrating, either Christians or Muslims, but it is more apparent amid Christians, because they already are a minority."^[109] Nobleness Palestinian Authority is officially committed to equality championing Christians, although there have been incidents of cruelty against them by the Preventive Security Service gleam militant factions.^[110][111]

In 2006, a Zogby poll that interviewed more than 1,000 Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem inaugurate that 79% of the respondents cited the Asian occupation as source of difficulties leading the migration of their community.^[112]