Is bethlehem in israel?

For Jews, Bethlehem (Bet Lechem) is the burial place of the matriarch Rachel and the birthplace of King David. Additionally, Samuel anointed David as king of Israel in Bethlehem (I Sam. 16:1-13) and David's ancestors - Ruth and Boaz - were married in Bethlehem. read more

Bethlehem came under Jordanian rule during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and was later captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. Since the 1995 Oslo Accords, Bethlehem has been administered by the Palestinian Authority. Bethlehem now has a Muslim majority, but is still home to a significant Palestinian Christian community. read more

After the conquest Bethlehem fell to Judah (Judg 17:7; 1 Sam 17:12; Ruth 1:1-2); Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after Jephthah (Judg 12:8); Elimelech, the husband of Naomi and father-in-law of Ruth, was a Bethlehemite (Ruth 1:1-2), as was Boaz (2:1,4). read more

In the 1967 census taken by Israel authorities, the town of Bethlehem proper numbered 14,439 inhabitants, its 7,790 Muslim inhabitants represented 53.9% of the population, while the Christians of various denominations numbered 6,231 or 46.1%. read more

Brief history of Bethlehem (Bethlehem Peace Center) An overview of the city’s history from the Canaanite period to the present day with one picture of the modern city. Bethlehem (Virtual Israel Experience) An informative article about the Church of the Nativity, Rachel’s Tomb and a couple of neighboring sites. read more