Palestinian Security Confiscates Gold, Myrrh From Wise Men Visiting Bethlehem

Corruption and abuse of power have plagued the various organs of Palestinian internal security since their inception in 1993.

Bethlehem, Judea, December 22 – A group of dignitaries from the East reported today that on their way to pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews, Palestinian police and security personnel accosted them and took away the gifts they had brought from their kingdoms as tribute to the Christ-child.

Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior, sages from Persia, India, and Arabia, told reporters that they were on the way to a manger in the town south of Jerusalem when a patrol of Palestinian policemen stopped them and began to search their persons and belongings. The commander of the unit, they claim, refused to identify himself, but ordered the men to hand over whatever valuables they had in their possession, since none had declared them upon entering Palestinian-controlled territory.

Corruption and abuse of power have plagued the various organs of Palestinian internal security since their inception in 1993, and international efforts to improve training and discipline have had limited, if any, effect on the paramilitary groups’ performance. Residents of the Palestinian-administered areas frequently suffer from the venality and thuggery of local Palestinian security personnel. Inquiries to the offices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were not answered.

The few human rights organizations that offered condemnation couched their denunciation only in terms of ultimate responsibility devolving upon Israel. “Israeli occupation forces the Palestinian economy and government to generate revenue by unorthodox, even corrupt means,” asserted  Ken Roth of Human Rights Watch. “The Magi would have had free and easy passage if Israel were to remove its troops and settlers from the West Bank.” The Bethlehem area has had no continuous Israeli military presence since 1994.

Two of the Magi expressed doubts they would try again. “We might come back some other time, maybe in a year or two, if the situation has changed,” suggested Bathazar. “I can’t keep going back and forth, certainly not with frankincense, myrrh, and gold – it’s just as dangerous to travel with such valuables through Jordan as it is here. It’s not a trip I feel like making more than once.” He pondered taking a roundabout route home, where Palestinian Authority police would be less likely to stop him again.

Palestinian officials who did react to the incident promised a full investigation of the various violations of procedure allegedly involved in the case. “It’s unacceptable for this to have happened,” stated area Governor Aiwant Butti. “We will get to the bottom of how the Jews with the baby were allowed into Palestinian territory.”

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