More
EN
Newsletter
More
Newsletter
EN
Support JNS
News   Israel News

Photo of baby Jesus on a keffiyeh featured in Vatican nativity scene

The pre-Christmas inauguration of “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024" comes just weeks after the Catholic leader called for an international investigation to determine if Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza constituted genocide.

JNS Staff
Baby Jesus displayed on a keffiyeh, gifted by the Palestinian Higher Committee of Churches Affairs, as part of the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024” during its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall, during a private audience to donors of the Nativity Scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony at St. Peter's Square in the Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images.
Baby Jesus displayed on a keffiyeh, gifted by the Palestinian Higher Committee of Churches Affairs, as part of the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024” during its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall, during a private audience to donors of the Nativity Scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony at St. Peter’s Square in the Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Andreas Solaro/AFP via Getty Images.
(Dec. 8, 2024 / JNS)

A nativity scene that went on display at the Vatican on Saturday features a photo of the infant Jesus on a keffiyeh.

The traditional Arab scarf has been adopted by Palestinians as a symbol of their national aspirations. The image comes at a time when a revisionist Palestinian narrative has set in whereby Jesus is a Palestinian.

The photograph was presented to the Vatican by representatives from the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See on the inauguration of the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,” displayed in the Paul VI Hall, Vatican News reported.

The pre-Christmas event came just weeks after the Catholic leader called for an international investigation to determine if Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas in Gaza constituted genocide.

Religion Defense and Security Europe
JNS Staff
JNS Staff JNS Staff
See more from JNS Staff
EXPLORE JNS
Zohran Mamdani
U.S. News
ADL updates Democratic Socialists of America report, adds information on Mamdani, political candidates
A spokesperson for the organization told JNS that the updated report includes “anything that pertains to Zionism and Israel, including the ‘loyalty test’ for its members and declarations that show support or justification for terrorism, and that target Jewish people.”
July 16, 2026
Jessica Russak-Hoffman
The International Criminal Court
U.S. News
Anti-Israel advocacy groups sue Trump administration over ICC sanctions
“No one prosecuted these plaintiffs, fined them or sent them so much as a stern letter,” Mark Goldfeder of the National Jewish Advocacy Center told JNS. “They silenced themselves and then sued over the silence.”
July 16, 2026
Jessica Russak-Hoffman
Police car lights. Credit: Pixabay.
U.S. News
EXCLUSIVE: US Jewish leaders receive threatening and vulgar, handwritten letter at their homes
The Anti-Defamation League told JNS that “the letter contains explicit, threatening language targeting Jewish people and relies on vile antisemitic tropes that have historically been used to incite violence.”
July 16, 2026
Jessica Russak-Hoffman
Josh Shapiro
U.S. News
Poll: Shapiro holds double-digit lead over Republican challenger in Pennsylvania governor’s race
A new Quinnipiac University poll found that 51% of respondents view Gov. Josh Shapiro favorably, while 58% said they had not heard enough about state treasurer Stacy Garrity to form an opinion.
July 16, 2026
Known as a vector for the West Nile virus, this Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito has landed on a human finger and is preparing to bite the affected person. Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images/Courtesy CDC/James Gathany.
Israel News
Israel confirms first West Nile virus case of 2026 summer season
The virus is transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
July 16, 2026
JNS Staff
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon approaches the boom of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility June 30, 2026. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany A. Emery.
World News
WATCH: US F-35s conduct aerial refueling over Middle East
CENTCOM shared video of the aircraft being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker.
July 16, 2026
JNS Staff
Columbia University encampment
JNS TV / The Quad
How anti-Israel activism moved beyond the campus
July 16, 2026 12:22 PM
Fleur Hassan-Nahoum
THE COLUMN
Mitchell Bard
Column
The Haredi challenge is becoming Israel’s national security crisis
Mitchell Bard
Yisrael Medad. Credit: Courtesy.
Column
Jews defeating Jews
Yisrael Medad