Palestinian Extremists Suspected in Christmas Tree Arson at Jenin Church
Pre-dawn blaze destroys nativity and Christmas tree days before the holiday at Jenin's Holy Redeemer Church, reflecting a broader pattern of church desecrations under Palestinian rule
A pre-dawn arson attack destroyed Christmas decorations outside Jenin's Holy Redeemer Church on Monday, December 22, 2025, just three days before the holiday. The blaze consumed a Christmas tree and nativity display at the Latin Catholic parish in the northern West Bank city, with church leadership indicating that extremist Palestinian Muslims likely carried out the attack.
Tiny Christian Enclave in Predominantly Muslim City
The vandalism struck one of the region’s most vulnerable Christian populations. Latin Patriarchate records show approximately 150 Catholics comprise Jenin’s entire Christian community within a city of 50,000 residents, the vast majority Muslim. The congregation maintains a kindergarten attended by children from both faith backgrounds.
Church representatives met Monday afternoon with Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub and additional Palestinian Authority figures to review investigative progress and emphasize communal solidarity. Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna released an extensive response denouncing the arson and cautioning that those responsible aim to undermine social cohesion.
Pattern of Church Attacks Under PA Rule
The Jenin incident reflects a broader pattern of assaults on Christian sites throughout Palestinian Authority-controlled territory. Cases of vandalism, theft, and desecration of churches have yielded few arrests or prosecutions, according to the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA). The Maronite church in Bethlehem has suffered six separate attacks since 2015, including an arson that forced extended closure. An Anglican church in Aboud has faced break-ins and desecration, while Christian villages like Jifna near Ramallah have endured armed attacks by Muslim gunmen.
BESA also notes that Palestinian Authority police frequently fail to intervene during attacks or arrest perpetrators afterward. The PA reportedly exerts pressure on Christians to avoid publicizing incidents that could damage the Authority’s international image and jeopardize European aid funding. Many attacks receive no coverage in Palestinian media under what effectively amounts to a gag order.
Sharp Erosion of Christian Presence Under Palestinian Rule
The episode unfolds amid a precipitous collapse in Christian demographics throughout Palestinian-governed areas. A 2024 study by the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs found that Christian numbers have plummeted approximately 80-90 percent in territories administered by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. From comprising 11 percent of the population in 1922, Christians now account for roughly 1 percent of West Bank residents according to 2017 census data, with under 1,000 people remaining in Gaza, the Jerusalem Center explained.