‘Martyrs’ Christmas tree at Al-Quds University angers Israelis

Al-Quds University is facing accusations of “incitement” from Israel for putting up a Christmas tree on campus decorated with photos of “martyrs” killed by Israeli settlers and security forces.

The tree was unveiled on the Abu Dis campus in a ceremony attended by the university’s President, Imad Abu Kishk, Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna and the Mufti of Bethlehem, Sheikh Abdul Majid Amarna.

The event was praised and welcomed widely by Palestinian students, for whom it demonstrated the unity and cohesion between Christians and Muslims at the university. This prompted the Quds Open University in Jenin, in the north of the occupied West Bank, to follow suit by putting up its own “martyrs Christmas tree”. Israeli Channel 7 TV accused Al-Quds University of “glorifying the terrorists.”

The head of Student Affairs at Al-Quds, Abdel Raouf El-Sinawi, said that the idea to put up a Christmas tree came in response to a request by a group of Christian students, who wanted to celebrate the Christmas holiday on campus. In an exclusive interview for Quds Press, El-Sinawi noted that this is the second time that the university has celebrated Christmas in this way. He added that the university authorities welcome student activities, and more so when they are related to the Christmas tree and Christian holidays.