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The restrictions on Christian Palestinians who want to attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem indicate Israel’s determination to Judaize Palestine, says an activist.

Mary Hughes Thompson told Press TV in an interview from Los Angeles that these restrictions are “just a continued assault on the freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of religion.”

“This is just one more sign of Israel’s determination to delegitimize Christianity, Islam,” she stated, adding that Tel Aviv is after “Judaization of not only Israel but of Palestine.”

Thompson also said that there has been “an escalation of awareness around the world” and many more people including large numbers of American Jews “have seen the light.”

She added that “the United States support for Israel and its draconian measures” can no longer be tolerated.

Israel says it will grant only 500 permits to Christian Palestinians who want to travel from Gaza to Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank to attend the traditional Christmas celebrations.

Israeli forces have announced that they will maintain severe restrictions on Christians arriving from the Gaza Strip for this year’s festivities while there is no restriction for Christians from around the world to visit the city.

The activist further noted that “Israel is escalating the violence and the restrictions” but the best thing to do is to expose to the world “what the Israelis are doing.”

On Tuesday, Israeli forces violently dispersed a peaceful march calling for Christmas without occupation in Bethlehem. Several Palestinians were injured after coming under attack at an Israeli checkpoint in northern Bethlehem.

More than 123,000 Christian Palestinians live in Occupied Palestine, and another 226,000 reside in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.