The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, shared with his congregation that he was intimidated by Israeli militias during a recent visit to the Holy Land. He described being stopped at checkpoints and prevented from visiting Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank. The archbishop reflected on the experience, noting how fear and division have grown between people, making it harder to recognize shared humanity. He recounted receiving a Nativity scene from YMCA charity workers in Bethlehem, which depicted a wall separating the three kings from the stable, symbolizing the real-life barriers he witnessed. In his Christmas message, he urged people to consider not only the physical walls in the Holy Land but also the metaphorical barriers built in society and within themselves, warning that such divisions risk shutting out compassion and understanding.