Bethlehem Christmas Tree Lit After 'War in Gaza' Pause
CBS News proudly announces the Bethlehem Christmas tree lighting for the first time since 2022, attributing the previous year's somber state to the 'war in Gaza'. A careful phrasing, indeed. Omitted from this festive reporting is the fact that Bethlehem sits in the occupied West Bank, under persistent Israeli military control, making celebrations often subject to permits and restrictions. Perhaps
CBS forgot to mention the displacement of thousands of Palestinians or the systematic violence that prompted Bethlehem's local authorities to cancel festivities last year in solidarity with Gaza. It appears the 'war in Gaza' was less an abstract phenomenon and more a military operation by the Israeli government, funded by billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile, as Bethlehem gets its light
back, the lights are still out for many in Gaza—permanently. One might wonder if CBS plans to cover the annual bombing of Christmas trees in Gaza next, or perhaps the ones that never get planted.