The Jerusalem Municipality on Thursday distributed approximately 350 Christmas trees to residents in advance of the Dec. 25 holiday.
The trees were handed out at the New Gate Plaza in the Old City.
The municipality has also installed festive decorations and colorful lighting in various locations, including the Old City’s Christian Quarter and the area around the Bethlehem crossing.
Additionally, the municipality has stepped up cleaning and landscaping efforts in these areas.
The Jerusalem Municipality “extends its best wishes to its Christian residents and visitors for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” according to a statement.
About 2% of Israelis are Christian, and the community is expected to continue to grow at an annual rate of over 1%, according to official statistics.
About 190,000 Christians lived in Israel as of Christmas 2023, reflecting a 1.3% increase over the previous year.
Seventy-five percent of the Christians in Israel are Arabs.
In September, the Conference of Presidents of Christian Organizations in Support of Israel launched in the United States, with its founders saying they’re modeling the body after the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
