Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts Christian ‘persecution’ in Bethlehem — critics push back

What should be obvious to Greene is that the Christian populations of countries across the Middle East have been shrinking for decades.

By Dinah Bucholz, Jewish Breaking News

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Republican congresswoman from Georgia, met with the mayor of Bethlehem on Sunday while on a visit to the region, where she decried what she called the persecution of Christians in the ancient biblical city.

“Today I had the honor of meeting with Maher N. Canawati, the Mayor of Bethlehem (the birthplace of Jesus), who is also a Christian,” she posted on X. “He told me about Christian persecution happening in Bethlehem and also in Gaza and the West Bank.”

Greene went on to blame killings of Christians on the airstrikes in Gaza, Israeli settlers for encroaching on territory in Bethlehem and checkpoints for making life difficult for Arabs in the area.

“Christians have been killed in the bombings in Gaza and churches have been attacked. Others have told me this as well, and I’ve seen videos on line,” she wrote.

“The Mayor says they only want to live in peace alongside their Jewish and Muslim neighbors in their homes that they legally own yet the settlers continue to take their homes. There are approximately 139 IDF checkpoints now in Bethlehem which one was 41 sq miles but has now been reduced to 7 sq miles,” she added.

“Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus. American Christians are largely unaware of the Christian persecution happening there, but need to learn about this and speak out. What is the Holy Land without Christians?” she concluded.

The mayor presented Greene with an official medal that included a stone from the Church of the Nativity and a piece of wood from its roof.

Canawati neglected to mention to his visitor that the Christian persecution of Bethlehem residents arises from the hostile Muslim population, a persecution that caused the Christian population to shrink by 70 percent since the Palestinian Authority took control of the territory in 1995.

At the time, Christians made up 80 percent of the population; just a bit over three decades later, they comprise only 10 to 12 percent.

What should be obvious to Greene is that the Christian populations of countries across the Middle East have been shrinking for decades.

The only place in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing and thriving is in Israel.

Eyal Yakoby, a college senior well-known for his Israel advocacy, took to X to slam the former representative.

“There are zero Israelis living in Bethlehem. You are lying (again),” he wrote.

Daniel Cohen, an award-winning TV show host and Jerusalem correspondent for the Real Life Network who converted to Christianity, blasted Greene on X.

“If you’re going to criticize Israel @FmrRepMTG, at least get your facts straight,” he wrote. “Bethlehem is in Area A—governed by the Palestinian Authority. It’s NOT under Israeli control. There are ZERO Jews living there. Not one.”

“Before Israel handed Bethlehem over in the 1990s, the Christian population was around 80%,” he continued.

“Today it’s less than 20%. That demographic collapse didn’t happen under Israeli sovereignty. I’ve actually been to Bethlehem. Marjorie Taylor Greene hasn’t.”

“Facts matter. Truth matters. If you’re going to speak about the Holy Land MTG, you should at least walk it first,” he concluded.