Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up after being born in Bethlehem, has canceled its official Christmas celebrations this year because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Muslim mayor of Nazareth, Ali Salam, has ordered all official events canceled, the city council announced Thursday, according to The Times Of Israel.
“Our identity and faith aren’t up for debate,” Salam said, the Times reported. “The decision [by Donald Trump about Jerusalem] has taken away the joy of the holiday, and we will thus cancel the festivities this year.” A festival and Christmas market are among the events that will not be held.
Besides being where Jesus grew up after returning from Egypt, Nazareth also is the place where the Bible says the angel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive.
The city’s Christmas celebrations bring many tourists to the city, which is mainly inhabited by Israeli Arabs, two-thirds of whom are Muslim and the rest Christian.
Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem has drawn backlash from many Arab nations and from the Arab citizens of Israel, who have protested, sometimes violently, since the announcement.
Salam called Trump “wretched” in her remarks and said he had stabbed Palestinians in the back with his move.
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