BOCA RATON (VINnews)-The recent exchange on X between former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman, Matt Gaetz, and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) highlights ongoing debates about the treatment of Christians in Bethlehem and the broader Holy Land. The discussion, which unfolded on February 16, 2026, centers on allegations of persecution, governance responsibilities, and calls for advocacy.
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It began when Marjorie Taylor Greene posted about her meeting with Maher N. Canawati, the Christian mayor of Bethlehem. She shared:
“Today I had the honor of meeting with Maher N. Canawati, the Mayor of Bethlehem… He told me about Christian persecution happening in Bethlehem and also in Gaza and the West Bank. Christians have been killed in the bombings in Gaza and churches have been attacked… The Mayor says they only want to live in peace alongside their Jewish and Muslim neighbors… yet the settlers continue to take their homes. There are approximately 139 IDF checkpoints now in Bethlehem… American Christians are largely unaware of the Christian persecution happening there, but need to learn about this and speak out. What is the Holy Land without Christians?”
Greene accompanied her post with photos from the meeting, emphasizing the need for awareness among American Christians.
David M. Friedman responded sharply, directly addressing the claims and tagging Gaetz:
“You’ve never been to Bethlehem but you have just condemned Israel for its treatment of Bethlehem Christians based on nothing more than the allegations of one biased individual.
Mayor Canawati was put in place by the Palestinian Authority, a brutally corrupt organization that has almost zero popular support.
Bethlehem is run by the PA — there’s not a single Jew living there, only Christians and Muslims. Bethlehem is in Area A of Judea and Samaria. That means that under the Oslo Accords, Israelis may not even enter Bethlehem.
If something is wrong with Bethlehem, blame the PA, they are in charge. Of course this mayor will not blame the PA because it appointed him!
Since Israel became a state, its Christian population has surged everywhere except within Bethlehem, where it went from 80/20 Christian/Muslim to 20/80.
Ignorance is not a virtue nor an excuse for false and defamatory accusations.
And Matt Gaetz, you should know this. I’ve been in Israel with you!”
Friedman’s reply defends Israel, attributing any issues in Bethlehem to Palestinian Authority (PA) control rather than Israeli actions. He notes the demographic shift in Bethlehem’s Christian population under PA governance and contrasts it with the growth of Christians elsewhere in Israel.
Matt Gaetz then quoted Friedman’s post and replied:
“I’m have enormous respect for Ambassador Friedman. I deeply appreciate the time we’ve spent together.
I wish he’d use his enormous skills to speak out for Christians in the Holy Land.”
Gaetz expressed personal respect for Friedman while gently urging him to advocate more vocally for Christians in the region.
Friedman followed up later in the day, quoting Gaetz’s response:
“Matt Gaetz let’s do this. I care deeply that Christians feel welcome in Israel and I know that the Israel government shares that view. When you have some free time, let’s meet again in Israel and see what’s working and what’s not, what Israel should be proud of and what could be done better. And then let’s do some work. If there are problems we should try to solve them and not just make accusations on social media. Looking forward to joining you in the Holy Land again!”
This exchange reflects broader tensions in U.S. conservative circles over Israel policy, Christian advocacy in the Middle East, and the role of the Palestinian Authority in areas like Bethlehem. Friedman emphasizes facts on governance and demographics under the Oslo Accords, while Gaetz and Greene highlight reported challenges faced by local Christians, calling for greater attention from American leaders and evangelicals. The dialogue remains civil, with invitations to further discussion in person.
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