The Vatican has removed a nativity display that sparked immediate backlash for depicting the infant Jesus lying on a keffiyeh, the traditional black-and-white scarf widely recognized as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
The controversial installation, created by Palestinian artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi from Bethlehem's Dar al-Kalima University, was initially unveiled during a December 7 ceremony at the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.
Religious leaders and organizations swiftly condemned the display. "This crèche not only denigrated Jewish heritage, it also undermined core tenets of the Christian faith," said David Parsons, senior vice president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. He added that "millions of Christians worldwide were instantly incensed by this exhibit ahead of the Christmas season."
B'nai B'rith International criticized the installation as "not just politicization, but revisionism," arguing it "presents Palestinians as innocent victims—and Jesus as a Palestinian, not a Jew."
The controversy intensified after the Palestinian Mission to the UN posted on social media that the nativity scene was gifted to the Vatican by "the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine on behalf of the State of Palestine."
Parsons welcomed the Vatican's decision to remove the display, noting that presenting Jesus as a Palestinian Arab would mean "he would not have qualified to be Christ, the promised messiah and savior of the world."
The Vatican has not issued an official statement regarding the display's removal.
JNS contributed to this article.
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