Two Years After Palestinian Attack on Israel, Bethlehem Celebrates Christmas
City halted celebrations during war
Christians once again will be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem following a two-year pause because of the war launched by Hamas.
“From the heart of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, the city of peace — once again, we ignite the flame of hope and raise our prayers for peace,” Mayor Maher Canawati said in a social media video “Let us celebrate together the message of Christmas. Glory to God in the highest — on earth, peace, goodwill to all. Bethlehem keeps the light alive.”
Festivities will include a tree-lighting ceremony at Manger Square, and the streets leading to the square and the Church of the Nativity will be full of decorative lights, Fox News reports. A gift fair and Christmas Eve choir both will be back this year. The annual Christmas Eve Jerusalem-to-Bethlehem procession led by the Latin patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, which was somber the past two years, is expected to be much more joyous.
The decision to restore the traditional public Christmas celebrations reflects the hope that the conflict in Gaza, spawned by the Gaza Palesnitian attack, may be nearing an end. The Trump-brokered peace agreement offers encouragement to Holy Land Christians, especially in Bethlehem, who have been facing a dire economic situation in the Muslim-controlled city. Bethlehem’s fragile economy, and especially the local Christian community, depend heavily on pilgrimages. For the past century, the shops surrounding Manger Square, which sell hand-crafted mother-of pearl crosses and hand-carved Nativity scenes created by local Christian artisans, have supported entire extended families.
But there are far fewer Christians in the city than in previous decades. Bethlehem, once 85% Christian, is now just 15% Christian. Heavy-handed Palestinian Authority policies, bullying by Islamic gangs and subtle threats by even neighbors have led to most of the city’s Christian population fleeing to Israel, other Christian communities in PA-controlled areas of Judea or abroad.
With the permission of the Palestinian Authority, which rules most of the West Bank (biblical Judea and Samaria), many of Bethlehem’s shops, restaurants and hotels will be open all of December and hopefully beyond.
“Pilgrims can expect safety and security here,” said Deputy Mayor Talgieh, who is Catholic, according to the “National Catholic Register.” Franciscan Father Rami Askarieh, a parish priest of Jerusalem, said the decision to allow Catholics to fully celebrate Christmas this year came from Cardinal Pizzaballa.
Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, told Fox News Digital it is encouraging to see the “little town of Bethlehem” once again celebrating the nativity.
“While we rejoice in this temporary peace agreement, which has led to a cessation of hostilities in the area, we should recognize that such a peace is only temporary,” he said. “The Bible teaches there will be no lasting peace in the Middle East until the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, returns to earth to establish his kingdom.”
–Dwight Widaman
