On the morning Christ's birthplace should be welcoming pilgrims from around the world, Israeli bulldozers tore through a four-story residential building in East Jerusalem, leaving scores of Palestinian families homeless just days before Christmas. The demolition, carried out after authorities broke down doors in the middle of the night, represents the latest in an accelerating campaign that has displaced over 100 Palestinians in Jerusalem this week alone.
The timing carries profound spiritual weight. As Jonathan Purcell reports from Bethlehem, Israeli settlers have effectively transformed the ancient city into a 'no-go zone' during what should be Christianity's most sacred season. The oppressive atmosphere he describes stands in stark contrast to the angelic proclamation of 'peace on earth, goodwill toward men' that echoed over those same hills two millennia ago. For Palestinian Christians who trace their heritage to the earliest followers of Jesus, this Christmas brings not celebration but displacement.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich revealed Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally pressed him to accelerate the legalization of West Bank settlements. The security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlement outposts—the highest expansion since 2017 according to UN monitors—signals what Smotrich frames as preventing 'a Palestinian invasion' but what international observers see as the systematic dismantling of any viable two-state solution. The prophet Micah once declared that from Bethlehem would come a ruler 'whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.' Today, that ancient city finds itself encircled by settlements that threaten to sever it entirely from the broader Palestinian population.
In a striking juxtaposition, a Capitol Hill prayer ministry has gathered in Jerusalem this week with what organizers describe as 'humble hearts' to intercede for all fifty American states. Rick Ridings of Succat Hallel prayer house told CBN News that the group, primarily from David's Tent—a continuous worship initiative near the U.S. Capitol—sees Jerusalem fulfilling Isaiah's vision as 'a house of prayer for all nations.' The gathering represents a growing movement of American evangelicals who view physical presence in Jerusalem as spiritually significant, even as the city's Palestinian residents face unprecedented pressure.
The conservative movement in America, meanwhile, is experiencing its own fractures over Israel policy. At Turning Point USA's first conference since founder Charlie Kirk's assassination in September, Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro publicly condemned Tucker Carlson for platforming figures Shapiro calls antisemitic. StopAntisemitism named Carlson 'Antisemite of the Year' by overwhelming margin, though critics note the designation came partly for his opposition to Israeli military operations in Gaza. The internal MAGA conflict reveals deepening fissures over what it means to support Israel—a debate with profound implications for American foreign policy under the incoming administration.
Regionally, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey have reportedly urged the United States to restrain Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to Jerusalem Post sources. The diplomatic pressure comes as BBC correspondent Fergal Keane reports that one-year-old Siwar Ashour—a Palestinian girl the network has followed for months—has returned to a Gaza hospital after completing malnutrition treatment in Jordan. Her story embodies the humanitarian crisis that continues despite international attention.
As the winter solstice passes and the world's attention turns toward Christmas celebrations, the land where Christianity was born presents a troubling tableau. The ancient tension between earthly power and divine purpose, between territorial ambition and prophetic vision, plays out in real time across these contested hills. For those watching with discerning eyes, the question is not merely political but deeply spiritual: What does it mean when the Prince of Peace's birthplace becomes, in the words of one observer, a place where goodwill has been replaced by checkpoints and demolition orders? The answer may shape not only the region's future but the conscience of the watching world.