Bethlehem has witnessed a weakened economy in the past three years, subdued by the travel restrictions in and out of the town. Since the economy largely depends on tourism, inhabitants of Bethlehem have little to live on due to the diminishing number of tourists and pilgrims that used to fill the town every year, especially at Christmas. Many inhabitants are drawing on savings. Many others have long run out of savings and currently depend on charities for food and other basic needs.

Despite the repressed moods, despite the roadblocks to Bethlehem, Christian Palestinians insisted on celebrating Christmas. Residents of Bethlehem lined up to watch scout troops (Kashaff) who filled the old city, parading towards Manger Square to greet Patriarch Michael Sabbah and other religious leaders coming into Bethlehem. "This is a symbol of peace, and that's why we're celebrating Christmas regardless of the situation", one Bethlehem resident said. Another said "we're doing this for our kids", who were laughing and playing, carefree, and full of life.

[Click here to view pictures of the parade] .....

A few hundred tourists, along with Christian Palestinians from other parts of Palestine, made their way into Bethlehem thro ugh the Israeli army check- points, and filled Manger Square to listen to Christmas Choirs and attend the Midnight Mass.

In his Homily, Patriarch Sabbah said that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza was the "real evil" in the continuing conflict.  He then added : "The separation wall that is being erected is a measure that pushes peace further away, delaying peace until this same wall comes falling down. With its fall will also come crashing down hostility in the hearts and blood will stop flowing. " He also asked Christians not to loose faith in God in these terrible times. He reiterated that Catholic and other churches around the world continue to support Palestinian Christians, by strengthening their plight and aiding them financially.

The week before Christmas was filled with small festivities, choirs, and even "Santa Parties" for children in Bethlehem.  Christmas decorations were noticeably absent from the streets, and so a group of about 100 internationals volunteered to decorate some of the streets. The Peace Center in Bethlehem hosted a play for children, and handed out gifts. Dar Annadwa, a very active organization, also hosted several events, many of them for children.

"We will prevail .. "

Since September 2000, more than 2500 Palestinian Christians left Bethlehem, immigrating to other parts of the world. They were no longer able to endure the growing poverty and humiliation, a direct result of the Israeli occupation.  But despite the Israeli sponsored destruction caused to the infrastructure and to the economy of the town, many residents choose to stay. Here's what they say :

"We will find a way to survive here, things will go back to normal eventually".

"We will not leave our churches to turn into only museums for tourists instead of houses of worship"

 "If we can just get some more help from other Christians and from our own people living abroad, we will stay here!"

One fact is that much of the destruction caused by the last Israeli invasions of Bethlehem has been repaired; streets re-paved, bullet holes patched, broken windows replaced, damaged hotels restored. Foreign aid, mostly European, helped a great deal in restoring the town. What is important for the town now is the need to revive tourism, and the removal of roadblocks to give residents the ability to move within their own land. Both of these necessities tie directly in to the need for an end to the Israeli occupation.

Joseph Hazboun

The Bethlehem Association