Instead of a peaceful gathering during the holiday season, some religious figures engaged in a contentious scene inside the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem on Wednesday morning.

According to the Associated Press, almost 100 Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic priests clashed inside the church, swinging brooms at each other.

Both groups fought over space during the cleaning of the church for Orthodox Christians celebrations in January. The fight was broken up by Palestinian police using batons and shields.

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WATCH: Video from The Guardian, which was published on December 28, 2011.

[Photo credit: Guillaume Paumier/Flickr]