In the town where Christians believe Christ was born, the Christians are leaving. An estimated 3,000 Christians in the Bethlehem area have moved abroad since the Palestinian uprising began in 2000, according to Bernard Sabella, an associate professor of sociology at Bethlehem University. The continuing exodus has left Christians accounting for only about 21,500 of the 60,000 Palestinian residents in the area, or about 35%. Bethlehem was more than 90% Christian until the middle of the 20th century.
Folks, perhaps this is due to the fact that Arafat claimed Christ to be the first “palestinian” and not one Christian spokesperson spoke out in protest.