Biblical Bethlehem could be the next town in Judea and Samaria that Israel hands over to Palestinian Authority, following the transfer of Jericho and Tulkarem. Commanders from both sides are now discussing the handover, but Jewish settlers in the Bethlehem area say Israel is making a mistake. “We're just asking for another terrorist attack, so we’re just pleading with them not to do it,” said Norman Blaustein of the settlement of Efrat near Bethlehem. The settlers are especially concerned because in recent municipal elections in Bethlehem, the Islamic terrorist group Hamas took control of the birthplace of Christianity. (See “israel today” magazine, July 2005.)