Jesus is Palestinian: Times Square Christmas billboard sparks debate

A Christmas message on a digital screen in Times Square caused a stir this week after it displayed a political statement instead of a festive greeting. The message read: “Jesus is Palestinian.” The billboard appeared during the busy holiday season and was paid for by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). It was shown next to another screen that simply said “Merry Christmas,” which made it stand out even more. The display caught the attention of tourists, local residents, and people on social media.

Written in bold black letters on a green background, the message quickly sparked strong reactions. Some people felt it was provocative and poorly timed, especially during Christmas. Others said it encouraged people to think more deeply about history, faith, and identity at a time usually linked with peace and unity.

The ADC said the billboards were meant to show cultural strength and to respond to what it called the erasing of Palestinian identity. In a statement posted on Instagram, the group said the message was meant to focus on unity, history, and Palestine, rather than on holiday shopping and consumerism. It also pointed out that Islam respects Jesus as an important prophet.