Conclusion and Epilogue

Abstract

Bethlehem Christians find that, in the absence of a robust and functioning system of law enforcement, small and fragmented family clans are left in a protection gap, vulnerable to land theft and other forms of abuse at the hands of more powerful groups. As such, internal developments among Bethlehem Christians have contributed to experiences of collective insecurity and vulnerability within their community. In the West Bank, the Israeli occupation represents the primary source of constraint on the lives of Palestinians at large. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a history of Palestinian defeats, and the humiliations, uncertainties, and sense of injustice that is associated with Israel's ongoing occupation, is part of a collective experience that is shared by all Palestinians, one that structures their internal relationships, and constrains their agency in various ways.Keywords: Bethlehem Christians; Israeli-Palestinian conflict; West Bank