As Bethlehem’s scout troupes marched through West Bank – Manger Square in their flawless uniforms, the narrow alleyways that surround it echoed the sounds of drums and brass.
They sang Christmas carols and played traditional Palestinian music, combining a celebration of Christmas with their own national identity.
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Amid Wednesday’s celebrations, held on Christmas Eve, there was a certain poignancy – this is the first time in two years that such festive scenes have returned to the city, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who is the highest-ranking Catholic official in Palestine and the surrounding area, was one of those present for the celebrations.
From where I send the Christmas message to Bethlehem, Pizzaballa said, “I have noticed the presence of light here in Bethlehem.” “And this is not just the light of the sun, but the light of your beautiful faces”.
He continued, “We made the decision to be light, and Bethlehem is the world’s light.” We bring you heart, prayers, and peace today.
The suspension of Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem in 2023 and 2024 was in solidarity with fellow Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 70, 000 in its genocidal war. In addition, Israel has increased the ferocity of its raids on Bethlehem and the West Bank, where more than 1, 000 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis in the last two years.
Palestinian Christians have been spared by Israeli military and settlers, with three fatalities in July and three fatalities in a West Bank town that is primarily a Christian town.
A ceasefire in Gaza that began in October has brought some respite, even as Israel continues its violations and attacks on the Strip, killing hundreds of people. In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued conducting military operations.
The reality of the war was present even as the festive atmosphere in Manger Square drew attention. Israeli military raids and checkpoints continued, with Israeli forces arresting three young men from the nearby refugee camps of Dheisheh and Aida just hours before the celebrations began.
Pizzaballa, who just left Gaza, made no delay in mentioning the suffering of Palestinians.
He claimed, “I witnessed total destruction in Gaza.” “But amid Gaza’s destruction, I felt a passion for life. People created reasons for joy and celebration in the middle of nothingness. They made it clear that despite human destruction, we can rebuild and go back.
“We will be able to celebrate in Gaza and Bethlehem”, Pizzaballa continued. “We will come back to start over.”
Tough journey
Despite the fact that the number of Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank declines as a result of the Israeli occupation, among other things, about 1,500 people, including both Palestinians and foreign visitors, attended the Christmas celebrations, which have grown to be one of the region’s most important symbols of Christian life.
One of the Palestinian Christians who made the journey to Bethlehem was George Zalloum, who was from occupied East Jerusalem.
He told Al Jazeera that he was enjoying the atmosphere, but that it was tinged with sorrow.
We have brothers who are still dying in Gaza as a result of the ongoing bombardment and killing there, Zalloum told Al Jazeera, “because today’s atmosphere is half joy and half sadness.” We anticipate that these holidays will continue, that the war will end, that the killing will stop, that peace will prevail in the Holy Land, and that peace prevails.
Other Palestinians travelled to Bethlehem from cities and villages across the West Bank, but their journeys highlighted the difficulties placed on them by Israel.
Even though the physical distance between their homes and Bethlehem was short, many people waited for hours at the checkpoints nearby.
Hussam Zraiqat, who traveled to Manger Square from Birzeit, near Ramallah, said, “It is true that the atmosphere of joy, love, and peace has returned to us, but the road to Bethlehem was challenging. “We spent a long time at an Israeli military checkpoint, but thank God, we arrived”.
Another Palestinian participant, Ghassan Rizqallah, from the nearby village of Jifna, also close to Ramallah, echoed that sentiment.
Before entering the city, we had to wait at least an hour and a half outside the military checkpoint, according to Rizqallah. “The journey was very difficult”.
Rizqallah was overjoyed to experience the holiday spirit once he arrived, though. We are transported back to the beautiful past of our nation, our land, and our heritage by watching the scout bands and hearing the music; we are also deserving of safety and peace.
Vital tourism
The Manger Square celebrations had a meaning beyond Bethlehem, according to Maher Canawati, the city’s mayor.
“Bethlehem’s message today is one of steadfastness and hope for the people of the city, for Gaza, and for all of Palestine”, Canawati told Al Jazeera. We tell the Palestinian people that they are the legitimate owners of their land and roots, and that they are in favor of life and peace throughout the world.
After a protracted decline in tourism, Canawati pointed to the city’s Church of the Nativity, a significant site of Christian pilgrimage.
“All the Bethlehem hotels are reopening their doors to receive local and foreign visitors after nearly two years of almost complete shutdown”, Canawati said. The “wheel of tourism has started turning once more,” according to God willing.
Bethlehem’s economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism, has suffered a severe blow. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, hotel occupancy rates since the beginning of the year stood at only 25 percent.
The Palestinian Hotel Association’s head, Elias al-Arja, claimed that Bethlehem’s hotels lost $300 million this year. However, the renewal of the Christmas celebrations has been a huge boon.
According to al-Arja, “Hotel occupancy rates have increased by 80% over the past two days, with about 8, 000 visitors coming from different countries in Europe and the United States, including 2, 000 of Palestinian nationals from Europe and the United States,” al-Arja reported.
Some of those visitors opted to watch Manger Square’s Christmas celebrations.
“It is good to see these celebrations returning”, said Dwayne Jefferson, who travelled from the US state of North Carolina. It is a positive experience that opens the door to a chance for the entire area to resume normal life. I’m very happy to be here.
Jean Charles, a tourist from Italy, said that it was his first visit to Bethlehem, and that he was happy to see so much joy after two years of war.
“It is a celebration for every Palestinian, not just Christians,” Charles said. “I see Muslims here as well, which is very significant and fascinating for this people’s future.”
“Unfortunately, I noticed the low number of tourists … But honestly, the situation is very calm. Everyone says, “Welcome to Palestine!” A very beautiful Christmas and a very beautiful day are at hand.
More people came.
The day brought cautious optimism for Manger Square-area businesses. George Ejha, the owner of St Georges Restaurant, said: “Today’s activity was good and relied mainly on Palestinians from inside Israel, but it is not good enough compared to the period before the war”.
When the war broke out, I completely stopped working, and I only just reopened the restaurant two weeks ago. He claimed that the losses he suffered are uncountable. “We hope there will be more activity at the beginning of the year”.
Jack Jaqman, the owner of a souvenir shop, followed suit. According to Jaqman, “the activity we saw today is not sufficient… [primarily] foreign workers from the Philippines, India, and Romania, or our own people living in Israel],” those who went to Bethlehem, said. “Still, it is important in showing the city’s reality and its readiness to receive pilgrims and tourists again”.
Source: Aljazeera
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