Israel avoiding repeat of
one Bethlehem Christmas

Re: “Artist Banksy displays political Nativity scene” (Page A5, Dec. 23):

How quickly people forget or learn to ignore history.

I was in Jerusalem during the Second Intifada and we could hear the firing of weapons from the Bethlehem area into Jerusalem. I remember the scenes of Palestinian gunmen occupying the Church of the Nativity and using it as a fort to attack Israelis.

This is the Christmas in Bethlehem that Israel is trying to keep from repeating. The separation barrier was not built in a vacuum. It was built to prevent terrorist attacks. It has done a fairly good job at that.

While the Christian population has declined dramatically in areas controlled by Palestinians, it continues to increase in Israel. Critics can blame Israel for the problems in Bethlehem, but they should look no further than the Palestinian Authority for responsibility.

Gil Stein
Aptos

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