Thu Dec 25 13:55:23 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written in the style of The Hindu e-Paper:

The Hindu e-Paper

West Bank Christmas Tree Arson: Three Palestinians Arrested

Jenin, West Bank – In a disheartening incident marring Christmas celebrations, three Palestinians have been arrested in Jenin, a city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, for allegedly setting fire to a Christmas tree and damaging a Nativity scene at the Holy Redeemer Latin Church.

Palestinian Authority police announced the arrests late Wednesday, December 25th, 2025, stating they were made after reviewing surveillance footage. Authorities also seized tools believed to have been used in the attack, condemning it as an attempt to incite sectarian and religious tensions.

The incident occurred on Monday, December 22nd, around 3:00 am, resulting in the destruction of the church’s Christmas tree and damage to the Nativity scene. Photos posted by the church on social media depicted the charred remains of the tree and scattered ornaments.

Despite the setback, the Holy Redeemer Church acted swiftly. A new Christmas tree was erected within a day, in time for Christmas Mass. A special ceremony was held, attended by local Muslim and Christian leaders and politicians, to show unity and resolve.

“This occasion reaffirmed that attempts to harm religious symbols will never diminish the spirit of the city nor the faith of its people,” the Holy Redeemer Church said in a statement.

Rev. Amer Jubran, the local priest at the church, emphasized that the torching was an isolated incident and stressed the city’s unity.

This incident underscores the growing vulnerabilities of the tiny Christian community in the West Bank, facing increasing threats from both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists. This has led to a decline in the Christian population, mirroring a trend across the wider Middle East, where Christians have fled conflict and attacks. Christians account for only 1-2% of the West Bank’s population.

While Israel prides itself on religious tolerance, authorities and monitoring groups have noted a recent rise in anti-Christian sentiment, particularly in Jerusalem’s Old City, as well as incidents of vandalism by Israeli settlers against churches and Christian villages.

The backdrop to this incident is the escalating violence in the West Bank, fueled by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The Israeli military’s operations targeting militants have led to Palestinian casualties and displacement, coinciding with a rise in both settler violence and Palestinian attacks.

Published: December 25, 2025 07:25 pm IST

Palestine / Israel-Palestine Conflict / Christmas

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