West Bank Archives

Amid joy as Bethlehem reopens, Christians have uncertainty about future

May 28, 2020

Bethlehem residents returned to the Church of the Nativity as the holy site opened to visitors May 26 after being closed since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But amid the joy was a feeling of uncertainty about their economic future, as pilgrims and tourists are not yet able to return.

By Judith Sudilovsky

Bethlehem Nativity Church reopens after coronavirus closure

May 26, 2020

Bethlehem’s storied Church of the Nativity reopened to visitors on Tuesday, after a nearly three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

By Associated Press

Vatican cautions Israel over West Bank annexation plan

May 20, 2020

The Holy See is concerned about an Israeli plan to unilaterally annex a large portion of land in the West Bank, said a Vatican statement.

By Catholic News Service

Church leaders oppose Israeli plans to annex unilaterally West Bank land

May 12, 2020

Moving forward with an Israeli plan to unilaterally annex West Bank land could mean the end to the already languishing Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, said the heads of the Holy Land churches.

By Judith Sudilovsky

Jerusalem’s Palm Sunday march scaled back due to coronavirus

Apr 5, 2020

A small group of Franciscan monks and Catholic faithful took to the streets of Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter in the Old City Sunday to distribute olive branches after the traditional Palm Sunday procession was cancelled due to restrictions imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

By Moshe Edri

Bethlehem family, on lockdown, prepares for Easter with films on saints

Mar 22, 2020

Communal church life is an integral part of family life for George and Randa Sabat and their four children, but with a strictly enforced lockdown on the city and the two neighboring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, the family has been looking inward for spiritual support and a strengthening of their faith.

By Judith Sudilovsky