A priest serving near Bethlehem has been forced to leave his parish after Israel refused to renew his residency permit. 

Father Louis Salman, a Jordanian priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was ordered to leave the West Bank by Monday. 

His final Mass in the town of Beit Sahour, believed to be the site of where the birth of Jesus was revealed to the shepherds, has been described as “an emotional farewell scene” by IMEMC News. Around 150 young people attended a farewell ceremony for the priest. 

As chaplain for Youth in Palestine, Fr Louis has been described as an influential figure for young people in the region. Church sources believe Israeli officials cancelled his visa because of this influence and his political views, according to Independent Catholic News. 

Fr Louis led a funeral service and procession for Christian Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May 2022, described as “political incitement” by Israeli authorities. The Al Jazeera reporter was killed by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) while in the Jenin refugee camp. Military officials initially claimed she was shot by Palestinians, later stating it was accidental Israeli fire. 

It comes amid tension about the treatment of Christianity and the faith in the Holy Land, after restrictions on Holy Week and Easter ceremonies, attacks on nuns and clergy, and threats from settlers. There have also been high-profile cases of Catholic statues being vandalised by the Israeli military in Southern Lebanon, which IDF officials condemned and maintained that the force “respects freedom of religion and worship”.