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The Silent Cry of Bethlehem Reaches the Heart of New York-The bright lights of Times Square, usually a temple to global consumerism, have been transformed into a powerful monument of cultural resistance and historical truth. As the world prepares for Christmas festivities, a striking billboard commissioned by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has ignited a global conversation by reminding the public of a fundamental reality: Jesus was a Palestinian. This bold message serves as a defiant reclaiming of identity at a moment when the Palestinian people face an unprecedented campaign of erasure, displacement, and systemic violence, Daily Dazzling Dawn realized.
Standing amidst the towering screens of New York City, the first billboard simply reads, "Jesus is Palestinian, Merry Christmas," while a second display features the profound Quranic verses detailing the birth of Christ. For the ADC and millions of supporters worldwide, this is not merely a holiday greeting but a necessary act of "cultural resilience." By centering the heritage of the Palestinian refugee born in Bethlehem, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between faiths and remind the Western world that the very land they hold holy is currently enduring the agony of siege and occupation.
The timing of this message carries a heavy weight as Gaza continues to suffer under what international observers and human rights advocates have identified as a genocidal military campaign. In the very birthplace of Jesus, the traditional festive lights of Bethlehem have been dimmed this year in mourning for the thousands of children lost to the ongoing conflict. Activists point out the haunting irony that if Christ were born today in his ancestral home, his journey would be blocked by military checkpoints, his family would be subject to administrative detention, and his life would be lived under the shadow of a violent military occupation.
Prominent voices from the Global Sumud Flotilla and various social justice organizations have echoed these sentiments, drawing direct parallels between the Roman occupation of ancient Judea and the modern-day suffering of the Palestinian people. They argue that the "crucifixion" of the Palestinian spirit continues daily through economic strangulation and the destruction of homes. The narrative emphasizes that the principles Jesus preached—justice for the oppressed and defiance against tyranny—are the same principles driving the Palestinian struggle for liberation today.
This movement to "decolonize Christmas" is gaining momentum as student groups and human rights organizations challenge the Western Zionist narratives that often overlook the indigenous Christian and Muslim communities of the Holy Land. By asserting the Palestinian identity of Jesus, these advocates are demanding that the world stop ignoring the reality of Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Gaza. They are calling for a shift in perspective that recognizes Zionism’s contradiction with the core tenets of peace and equality, urging a global awakening to the humanity and dignity of a people who have refused to be silenced despite decades of humiliation and hardship.
