The recent interview on Tucker Carlson's show has sparked controversy, particularly in its portrayal of Israel and the population dynamics of Bethlehem. The narrative presented in the interview, suggesting that Israel is driving out Christians from Bethlehem, is not only irresponsible but also misrepresents historical facts.
It's crucial to understand the historical context of Bethlehem's demographics to grasp the reality accurately. Before Jordan took control of Bethlehem, the population was overwhelmingly Christian, with estimates indicating around 85% being Christian. However, during Jordanian rule, this percentage significantly declined to around 40%. This decline occurred due to various factors, including economic challenges, persecution and restrictions on religious freedom.
Contrary to the narrative presented, the years under Israeli control before the Oslo Accords saw a growth in Bethlehem's Christian population. Estimates show that during this period, the Christian population increased to around 65%. This growth can be attributed to the freedom of religion and improved economic opportunities provided during Israeli administration.
However, in recent years, Bethlehem's Christian population has faced challenges, and the percentage has decreased to a mere 12%. This decline is not due to Israeli actions but is a result of discrimination and persecution from the Palestinian Authority and the Muslim population in the region.
It's essential to separate fact from fiction and not vilify Israel based on misleading narratives. The reality is that the Christian population in Israel has grown over the years, and Bethlehem saw growth during the time it was under Israeli control due to the freedom of religion and opportunities provided to all communities.
Tucker interview was not just irresponsible, fueling more hate during this times of heightened antisemitism but also manipulative towards the Christian communities to give them a false narrative against the Jewish State. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This from Amir Tsarfati ( BeholdIsrael) Telegram.
Tucker and his staff knew what they were doing when they put this “priest” on his show. It wasn’t an accident.