Protesters demonstrated Monday in the plaza outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in an attempt to block the entrance of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III from attending the midnight mass of the eastern churches celebrating Christmas.
The "Movement of the Truth" called for the continued boycott of Theophilus III because of his alleged role in selling church properties to Jews.
In 2017, the Church - suffering from enormous debt - sold some properties to Kronty Investments Ltd. of London, which is headed by David Sofer.
The demonstrators in Nativity Square called Theophilos III "the traitor", "unworthy", and chanted "shame on us for receiving him."
A similar protest happened last year and the year before.
Last month, the Patriarch and the Greek Orthodox Church complained that the Palestinian Authority was trying to steal Greek Orthodox-owned land in the plaza outside the Church of the Nativity as well as elsewhere in Bethlehem.