بيت لحم تطفىء شجرة عيد الميلاد تضامنا مع غزة

Bethlehem douses Christmas lights over Gaza strikes

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AFP) — Christmas lights will be shut off around Bethlehem, including those on the city's giant Christmas tree, to protest Israel's deadly attacks in Gaza, its mayor said on Saturday.

"We have decided to shut off the decorative lights and the Christmas tree to protest against the massacres committed in Gaza," Victor Batarseh told AFP.

"Israel has sabotaged the holidays with these massacres," he said.

The Christmas tree stands in front of the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born more than 2,000 years ago. It normally stays lit until the Orthodox Nativity celebrations in early January.
 

LOS ANGELES CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY 12/13/08

 The Bethlehem Association and the Ramallah Club held their First joint Annual Christmas Party in Los Ange-les County at the Dandana Restaurant on December 13, 2008.  One hundred and twenty guests attended the event.  Among other activities, the evening included dinner, dancing, entertainment and a raffle, where many lovely gift
baskets were given out.  Dinner, prepared by Dandana, a Middle Eastern restaurant, included a wide assortment of mezzah followed by a main course that featured chicken and
beef kabob.  Moayed and the Dreams Band provided wonderful live music that kept the guests entertained throughout the evening.   To be sure, dancing continued until well past the midnight hour.

We would like to thank the committee members—Joe Dibsy, Arlette Dibsy,
Suheil Baddour, Amal Tafesh, Leila Giries, Janan Hishmeh and Tania Ayoub—for their efforts in making this night a success.
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رئيس بلدية بيت لحم: تحسن الحركة السياحية خلال موسم اعياد الميلاد
 

مليون سائح في بيت لحم خلال 2008

 

2008  CONVENTION               ORANGE - CALIFORNIA 
                                                    July 31 - Aug 3
                         FUN at the 2008 CONVENTION - Joan Hazbun
The towering elegant glass foyer of the Hyatt Regency
in Garden Grove, Orange County, California, welcomed
us on Wednesday July 30 after a long flight from Pennsylvania.  Following dinner at a Persian restaurant, we enjoyed a luxurious night's sleep. 
On Thursday morning after an early morning swim
in the rooftop pool, I set off with about a dozen others in a minibus  for a tour
of Newport Beach.  Jessica was our very competent  driver and Amal Tafesh
our lively and capable guide and  minder.  Read More
                 
Arab World Newspaper Article
 

 

Our organization brings together people in North  America and elsewhere, whose  family  origin   is   from Bethlehem, Beit  Sahur,  and Beit Jala  in  the  Holy Land. They  bring with them a rich  Palestinian   heritage  accumulated over the ages since the birth  of Christianity in their small home  towns.  Visit our  web pages for news  and information on  the  Association,  its activities,   its members, upcoming  events,   what  we  are  doing  to  alleviate   the   present   desperate situation in the Bethlehem region, and  links to other interesting sites.