Christians in Bethlehem face unemployment and emigration due to declining pilgrimages

Palestinian artisan Nicolas Ghobar reported in Lisbon that the Christian community in Bethlehem is struggling with a lack of work and increasing emigration. Ghobar stated that Christians now make up less than 1% of the city's population. He noted that the community has faced growing difficulties for four years due to fewer pilgrims, job shortages, and movement restrictions.

The decline in tourism and pilgrimages, which are vital to the local economy, is linked to the ongoing war in the Holy Land. Many families in Bethlehem depend on visitors to the Basilica of the Nativity and other sites related to the birth of Jesus for their livelihood. To address the lack of local customers, artisans are now attempting to export traditional goods to foreign markets.