Vatican removes nativity scene showing baby Jesus with keffiyeh after pro-Israel backlash
Baby Jesus on a Palestinian keffiyeh in the Vatican nativity display before it was removed
The New Arab reports on 13 December 2024:
A nativity scene at the Vatican depicting baby Jesus wrapped in a Palestinian keffiyeh has been removed after sparking backlash.
Pope Francis unveiled the display last Saturday as part of the annual exhibition at the Paul VI Hall, designed by Bethlehem-based artists Johny Andonia and Faten Nastas Mitwasi from Dar al-Kalima University.
The scene featured a carved olive wood depiction of the Holy Family and a Bethlehem Star inscribed in Latin and Arabic with the message: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to all people.”
The use of the keffiyeh – a symbol of Palestinian identity and resistance against Israeli occupation – drew swift criticism, with some accusing the display of being a “blasphemous political stunt”.
Faten Nastas Mitwasi, one of the artists behind the project, said the addition of the keffiyeh was a “gift from the Palestinians to the Vatican” and denied criticism that branded the traditional scarf as a religious symbol.
She tells The New Arab: “This installation work reflects the multiple identities of the Palestinian people, both Christians and Muslims, by presenting a local story that took place in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, using local materials and national symbols.
“The keffiyeh is not a symbol of violence. It is part of our cultural heritage. I feel that those who see it as a symbol of violence need to learn more about Palestinian history and culture.