Christmas tree and nativity scene in Jenin burned in suspected arson attack

The Latin Catholic Church reported that the Christmas tree and nativity scene outside the Holy Redeemer Church in the Palestinian town of Jenin were burned down in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Vatican News described it as an act of vandalism, saying that the tree had been set on fire by “alleged radicalized young Muslims,” just a few days before Christmas, adding that the community will inaugurate a new tree, with the participation of Bishop William Shomali, Vicar General of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, and local authorities.

Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, told Vatican News that the arson attack “is a big, heavy shadow on the Christmas spirit’s joy that all our Christian communities, and even non-Christian, have begun to celebrate after two years of being limited to very simple manifestations.”

There were no injuries or arrests reported, according to the Times of Israel, and the Palestinian Authority’s civil defense agency was able to contain the fire within the church gates.

The church has indicated that the attack was perpetrated by Muslim rather than Jewish extremists, with Father Amer Jubran, the parish priest, saying it was a “shameful and reprehensible act perpetrated by outlaws” which did not reflect Muslim-Christian relations among Palestinians.

The church said, “We’re certain that this incident only serves the occupation’s agenda – to sow division among our people.”

Church leaders from the Jenin area met with Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub and other PA officials at the governor’s office on Monday to discuss an investigation into the criminal attack and stress inter-communal unity, according to the Holy Redeemer Church.