According to the UN, Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the West Bank with a population of approximately 210,000-220,000, featuring the UNESCO-listed Church of the Nativity, said to be the birthplace of Jesus.
Over 85% of its land is designated as Area C, which is under Israeli security and administrative control. 38% is designated as "firing zones" and 34% as "nature reserves," severely limiting Palestinian construction.
Over 100,000 Israeli settlers reside in 19 settlements and outposts within the Bethlehem governorate. Under international law, all settlements are illegal.
56 kilometer of the Israeli separation wall is located in the Bethlehem area, affecting access for 12 communities.
Israeli checkpoints in West Bank
Nearly 900 permanent and temporary Israeli checkpoints and barriers exist in the West Bank, which have heavily restricted Palestinian movement, including tourists.
Israeli separation wall in West Bank
The Israeli West Bank separation wall runs more than 700 kilometers, with 85% of it running inside the West Bank.
Palestinians and international bodies view it as illegal land seizure, restricting movement, separating communities, and hindering access to Jerusalem.
UN report water attacks
On January 28, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) stated That the main cause of forced displacement in the West Bank has been settler violence.
OHCHR noted that the "forcible transfer of Palestinians within the occupied West Bank is a war crime and may amount to a crime against humanity."
The settlers establish a new outpost, often very primitively, and from there they launch attacks, intimidation, destruction of property, and restrictions on access to land, water and grazing areas.
On January 25 and 26, Israeli settlers carried out attacks on water infrastructure in the Ein Samiya area, which serves communities in the eastern Ramallah governorate, and attacked water maintenance staff.
Israeli Jews spit on Christians
In November, a Jewish medical worker was filmed spitting on Christian icons when he had gone to collect a test sample for COVID.
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