Bethlehem has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Since that time Bethlehem's inhabitants, both Christians and Muslims, have lived under a diverse array of oppressive Israeli actions:
Confiscation of Bethlehem land
Destruction of Bethlehem olive groves
Imprisonment by a wall being built by Israel on illegally confiscated Bethlehem land
Daily Israeli military raids, during which individuals are abducted and imprisoned in Israel. Many are never even charged with a crime.
During their nonviolent demonstrations against these activities, many are beaten and sometimes shot. These demonstrations frequently include Israeli peace activists and others from around the world.
In order to travel from Bethlehem people must pass through Israeli military checkpoints, where they risk humiliating and abusive treatment, including strip searches -- including of women and children.
Israel's wall and closures have caused a large number of Bethlehem businesses to fail and people are facing escalating economic difficulties.
Below are some recent news reports from Bethlehem:
Palestinian Dies Of Wounds Suffered In 2004 December 12, 2013, Bethlehem - Palestinian medical sources have reported that a young Palestinian man died, on Thursday morning, of a serious injury suffered after being shot by an Israeli soldier in 2004. Read More
Six Palestinians Kidnapped In Bethlehem December 11, 2013 - Dozens of Israeli soldiers have invaded the Aida Refugee camp, north of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, kidnapping six Palestinians, including two brothers, and serving two residents with warrants ordering them to head to a military base for interrogation. Read More
Gunmen Kill A Palestinian Officer In Bethlehem December 11, 2013 - The Palestinian police, in the West bank district of Bethlehem, have reported that an officer was shot and killed, on Tuesday [December 10, 2012] after gunmen opened fire at a police station in Teqoua’ town, east of Bethlehem. Read More
Five Palestinians Kidnapped In Bethlehem December 10, 2013 - Israeli soldiers invaded the Deheisha refugee camp, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, after completely isolating it, breaking into several homes and kidnapping five Palestinians, including three brothers. Read More
Twin Girls Rammed By Settler’s Vehicle Near Beit Jala December 10, 2013 - Palestinian medical sources have reported that twin girls have been wounded after being rammed by an Israeli settler’s vehicle in the Al-Walaja road, west of Beit Jala, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Read More
Soldiers Uproot Olive Trees Near Bethlehem December 9, 2013 - Local sources report that Israeli military bulldozers have uprooted more than 40 olive trees, in order to connect settler road #60 with the Cremisan Monastery in Beit Jala town, west of Bethlehem, and other areas. Read More
Eight Palestinians Kidnapped In Bethlehem December 5, 2013 - Dozens of soldiers invaded various areas in the West Bank district of Bethlehem, broke into and violently searched dozens of homes, kidnapping eight Palestinians. Read More
Israel-Palestine Timeline: The human cost of the conflict records photos and information for each person who has been killed in the ongoing violence.
History of the Israel Lobby
Alison Weir's book Against Our Better Judgement: How the U.S. was used to create Israel brings together meticulously sourced evidence to outline the largely unknown history of U.S.-Israel relations.
