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Bethlehem mayor: We 'toned down' Christmas celebrations after Trump's Jerusalem decision

Bethlehem mayor: We 'toned down' Christmas celebrations after Trump's Jerusalem decision
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The mayor of Bethlehem said the city “toned down” its Christmas celebrations after President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump signs bill to keep government open amid relief talks US to close two Russia consulates 'Guardians of the Galaxy' trends on social media following new Space Force name MORE formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The Palestinian city, known as the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ and located only a few miles from Jerusalem, kept Christmas events limited this year in response to Trump’s decision, Mayor Anton Salman said.

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“We decided to limit the Christmas celebrations to the religious rituals as an expression of rejection and anger and sympathy with the victims who fell in the recent protests,” he said, according to the New York Daily News.

“We want to show the people that we are people who deserve life, deserve our freedom, deserve our independence, deserve Jerusalem as our capital,” he said.

The Jerusalem Post also reported Tuesday that fewer tourists traveled to the city this year than in the past.

Local residents told The Jerusalem Post that tourists were deterred from traveling to Bethlehem after clashes broke out along the West Bank following Trump’s decision.

Palestinian students reportedly handed out flyers that read “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine” to visitors to the city.

Trump announced earlier this month that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and begin the process of moving the U.S. embassy there.

The decision was met with international backlash, and the United Nations overwhelmingly voted to condemn the move last week.