Palestinians to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem amid anger at Donald Trump

Palestinians are preparing to celebrate Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the historic birthplace of Jesus.

Sunday’s festivities are being held against the backdrop of protests over President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

1:23 UN repudiation of Trump’s Jerusalem decision sparks more protests

• UN repudiation of Trump’s Jerusalem decision sparks more protests
• United Nations votes to denounce Trump’s decision on Jerusalem
• Israeli ambassador: ‘No empty speeches will drive us from Jerusalem’
• Trump threatens to cut aid to UN members over Jerusalem vote
• Putin says U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is destabilizing Middle East
• Atmosphere subdued in west Jerusalem market
• Suspect in Jerusalem stabbing of Israeli security guard arrested
• Stabbing of Israeli security guard in Jerusalem by Palestinian man caught on camera
• Turkish President Erdogan calls Trump decision on Jerusalem ‘entirely provocation’
• Fallout from Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital continues

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Vatican officials crossed an Israeli military checkpoint from Jerusalem ahead of midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity.

Hundreds of locals and foreign visitors gathered in Manger Square as bagpipe-playing Palestinian Scouts paraded past the Christmas tree. Accompanying the decorations this year is a banner protesting Trump’s Jerusalem declaration.

Mayor Anton Salman says he hope this Christmas is especially festive, “because we want to show the people that we are people who deserve life, deserve our freedom, deserve our independence, deserve Jerusalem as our capital.”