Source: ChristianHeadlines.com
December 28, 2015
Attackers wearing Santa suits and gas masks attacked the town of Bethlehem starting on Christmas Eve and continued through the weekend.
Palestinians killed at least 20 Israelis and a U.S. citizen during the attacks, according to Christian Today.
On Thursday, Israeli official said three Palestinian attackers were killed when they tried to ram their car into Israeli security officials.
Another Palestinian attacker wounded two Israeli border police officers. One of the officers was stabbed in the neck.
Angry Muslims also reportedly threw firebombs and rocks at Israeli soldiers near the wall at the West Bank
Israeli forces have killed 124 Palestinians.
"We're in Bethlehem celebrating Christmas, celebrating the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the birthplace of the King of peace so what we want is peace," said Rula Maayah, the Palestinian tourism minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority encouraged Muslims to defend Bethlehem “by all means.”
Bethlehem has been a main site for fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian protestors. Israeli officials said the Palestinians have started the violence, while the Palestinians say they are fighting back after half a century of military occupation.
Last week, in Manger Square, Israelis uprooted an olive tree and surrounded it with barbed wire and decorated it with tear gas canisters and photographs of Palestinians killed or arrested.
