Nazareth cancels Christmas celebration over Trump Jerusalem move

The Israeli town of Nazareth has canceled Christmas celebrations, with the mayor saying the end of festivities is due to President Trump.

Mayor Ali Salam, who presides over the town in northern Israel of mostly Muslims and Christians, announced Thursday that planned events such as a Christmas market and festival were called off.

He cited the U.S. decision directly and said that it had taken the "joy" from the celebrations in the hometown of Jesus Christ, according to 10 News.

RELATED: Arabs, Muslims protest Trump's Jerusalem decision

The Israeli channel added that the Christmas events normally are a huge boost to the city's economy.

Salam's Christmas cancellation comes as part of continued backlash against Trump, who reversed decades of policy and made the U.S. the only country to recognize the contested city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The Muslim world and U.S. allies in Europe have denounced the move, saying that it is detrimental to the ongoing peace process through which Palestinians hope to make East Jerusalem the capital of their potential state.

Mass protests broke out in the days afterwards, with terrorist group Hamas calling on supporters to start an "intifada" uprising against Israel.

Two protesters were killed in clashes with soldiers, and two Hamas fighters were killed in an Israeli airstrikes retaliating against rocket fire.

Advertisement