Will pan-Arabists cancel Nazareth’s Christmas?

Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, should be filled with joy and light during the Christmas season. Yet near Mary’s Well – a sacred site for Christians – a disturbing display casts a shadow over the holiday. A Christmas tree adorned with bullets and symbols of “massacred children” in Gaza stands surrounded by messages instructing Christian families to abandon their traditions for nationalist narratives. What should symbolize peace has been warped into a tool of intimidation.

This display is part of an ongoing effort by Arab nationalists and their far-left allies to suppress Christian identity in Nazareth. For decades, Christians in the city have faced growing pressure. Public celebrations, like Christmas, are frequent targets. In 2017, Nazareth’s Muslim mayor Ali Salam announced the cancellation of Christmas festivities to protest US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Only public outcry and government intervention reversed the decision. Now, the propaganda near Mary’s Well shows this hostility persists.

While Western media often frame such incidents as voluntary acts of solidarity with Palestinians, the reality is more coercive. These actions reflect a deliberate strategy to dominate public spaces and silence Christian expression. Christmas celebrations, which represent resilience and coexistence in Israel, are an embarrassment for Arab nationalists. Today, Christians in the “Holy Land” are overwhelmingly Israeli, benefitting from a level of freedom that Christians throughout the region are denied.

Nazareth’s contrast with nearby villages is striking. In places like Reineh, Jish, Ibillin, and Shefa-Amr, where nationalist influence is weaker, Christmas flourishes without disruption. Towering Christmas trees light up central squares, while festive marches by Catholic and Orthodox scouts, proudly displaying Israeli flags, bring the community together. In the fully Christian villages of Fassuta and Mi’ilya, the season is a time of unbridled joy, with no hesitation in embracing the vibrant traditions and celebrations that define this cherished holiday.

This anti-Christmas campaign in Nazareth is not just about suppressing traditions; it also aims to disrupt the growing alliance between Israel’s Christians and the Jewish state. Palestinian nationalism among Christians in Israel has waned significantly, with only a small minority now identifying with it. This shift has the potential to transform Jewish-Christian relations in the region, fostering a coalition built on shared values and mutual recognition. However, such a realignment requires support.

Israel’s historically neutral approach to Muslim-Christian tensions has allowed these challenges to persist. A Nazareth police commander once joked that their job was to “hold a bomb with a lit fuse long enough to pass it to the next person.” This passive stance is no longer viable. To ensure that Christmas in Nazareth remains a source of joy and resilience, Israel must take a proactive stance. The government should guarantee freedom of religion and expression for Christians, remove symbols of intimidation, and protect equal public spaces for all communities. This year, public pressure – including appeals to the Vatican and Evangelical Christians – was required for Nazareth to belatedly announce a Christmas tree lighting. Israel must not allow this pattern to continue. The state should extend visible support to its Christian communities, ensuring their traditions thrive without external interference.

Protecting Christmas in Nazareth is about more than safeguarding religious expression; it is an investment in Israel’s social fabric and strength. Christians in Israel have already shown their readiness to align with Zionism and contribute to the nation’s future. By ensuring their rights and traditions are upheld, Israel affirms its values as a Jewish and democratic state while fostering deeper bonds with one of its loyal minorities. This unity strengthens Israel from within, reinforcing its identity as a haven of freedom and diversity in a turbulent region. Christmas in Nazareth, with its message of resilience and hope, is a symbol of this shared future—one that must endure for generations to come.