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Source: http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200505\CUL20050519b.html
Bethlehem Christians Worry About Islamic Takeover
(CNSNews) Julie Stahl - Christians in Bethlehem are concerned that their city may slowly become an Islamic stronghold following recent municipal elections in which members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, both on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations, took a number of seats. "Slowly, slowly they will take over [and] have Palestine as an Islamic state," said one Christian leader in Bethlehem. Thirty years ago no one had ever heard of Hamas; now more than 30% of the city is Hamas and it's growing every year, he said. More than 5,000 Christians have left the city during the last few years, primarily for economic reasons, while the so-called Christian countries in the West gave all their money to the PA, which was like giving it to the mafia, said the Bethlehem Christian.