Father Issa Thaljieh, a 40-year-old Greek Orthodox parish priest at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, kneeling at the spot where tradition says Jesus was born. — Photos: MARCUS YAM/Los Angeles Times/TNS
IT isn’t subtle. Nor is it intended to be.
Instead of a pastoral-looking Nativity scene, the creche features baby Jesus wrapped in a checkered Palestinian kaffiyeh, surrounded by jagged chunks of stone – evoking bombed-out buildings in the Gaza Strip and children buried beneath them.
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A season of grief
Father Issa Thaljieh: The message of Bethlehem and the message of Christmas, which is the message of peace, is more important than ever.
No festive decorations this year in Bethlehem.
Daher Nassar lowering his head to pray for the victims of gaza.
The Reverend Munther Isaac leading prayers for the victims in Gaza.
Rev Munther Isaac playing the flute at a landmark Lutheran church in Bethlehem.
A man walking through the Old City near the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.
A man sitting by a mural on a wall separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem.
People crowd a busy market street in Bethlehem.
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