Date: 25 / 12 / 2008  Time:  00:12
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Fireworks ignited the sky as thousands of Palestinian and international guests of Bethlehem anticipated the annual Christmas address by the Catholic Church's most senior leader in the Holy Land.

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal made the holy pilgrimage from Jerusalem to Bethlehem this afternoon, stopping in at Mar Elias Monastery, where he was joined by the mayor of Beit Jala, Raji Zeidan, and several other Latin clerics and dignitaries.

The procession then made its way to the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born. The famous Nativity Church now marks the holy site, which is also famous for some of the largest Christmas celebrations in the world.

Manger Square was soon filled with voices from around the world as choirs from Russia, Italy, Spain and Palestine performed for pilgrims lining up to kiss the star on the floor of the grotto marking Jesus' birthplace at midnight.

Minutes before Midnight Mass was set to begin, an elevated stage hosted a number of international rock groups and trance DJs looking down at thousands of festively dressed Christians and Muslims on all sides.

Earlier, local Palestinian boy and girl scout groups played bagpipes throughout Bethlehem, and carols could be heard around every corner as they marched toward Manger Square, where they were welcomed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Since early Wednesday morning thousands of pilgrims from the West Bank and abroad have been arriving to celebrations in Bethlehem's Manger Square and Shepherds' Fields in Beit Sahour.

The city is festooned with Christmas lights and garlands, at times oblivious to the Israeli closures, checkpoints and incursions going on all around our ancient city.

The Latin patriarch presided over Midnight Mass at Saint Catherine's Cathedral, which is within the Nativity Church's compound. The packed church is still welcoming Latin clerics and dignitaries, under armed guard and loud sirens from Palestinian Authority (PA) police officers, who cleared the streets as officials arrived.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is Muslim, attended Midnight Mass alongside Bethlehem and Palestine's Christian minority.

To ensure the safety of those in Manger Square and around Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, unprecedented security measures were set in place by PA police, with a notable presence along Manger Street leading to the Nativity Church.

Since traffic has been thick, other roads leading to Manger Square were blocked off to all but pedestrian traffic. Pilgrims and tourists were asked to park vehicles near the Central Bus Station and head toward the Nativity Church on foot.

Bethlehem: Christmas Celebration Starts

Wednesday December 24, 2008 12:40 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Since early morning on Wednesday, hundreds of Palestinians and international tourists flocked to the Manger Square of Bethlehem, in the southern part of the West Bank.

Locals and tourists stood on both sides of the narrow streets of Bethlehem Old City as hundreds of Boy Scout groups marched through, playing there bagpipes and drums. Later in the day, the Palestinian President is expected to arrive to the city for the midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity.

Dr. Kholoud d'Eibis, the Palestinian Minster of Tourism, told IMEMC that all preparations have been completed for the celebrations, and she added that nearly one million tourists have visited the city of Bethlehem throughout 2008. D'Eibis wishes that next year will bring more hope and peace to Palestinians.

The Holy City is completely surrounded by the Israeli annexation wall and illegal settlements. Frequent Israeli Army attacks on Bethlehem are effectively driving the local economy to the edge of collapse. And to top it off, the Israeli tour companies and guides keep tourists away from the local shops by telling them the city is too "dangerous". The increase in the number of tourists is yet to translate into something meaningful to the Palestinians of Bethlehem.

World Christians pray for peace as Christmas bells resound over Bethlehem

2008-12-25 18:50:28      

by Hua Chunyu, Qi Xianghui     

    BETHLEHEM, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Christmas bells resounded over the West Bank city of Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ, as Christians from all over the world gathered Wednesday night in the holy city to pray for peace on the occasion of the Savior's birthday.

    With the security situation in the West Bank became better in 2008, Bethlehem is expecting the biggest number of tourists who spend Christmas in the city.

    "The number of tourists and pilgrims is expected to be 30,000 in these two days, comparing to last year's 10,000." Victor Batarseh, mayor of Bethlehem, told Xinhua.

    "We decorated the city in a better style, which we hope our citizens could feel more at ease," he added.

    More than one year ago, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced in the United States that the two sides will revive the long-stalled peace negotiation.

    Although the yearlong peace talks produces little solid progress, the Palestinians in the West Bank have been enjoying a comparatively quiet life.

    Batarseh said the quietness provided more opportunity for Bethlehem, whose economy mainly depends on tourism.

    "In the past, foreign tourists seldom stay in Bethlehem overnight, but for this Christmas, it would be hard for people to find a hotel room near the Nativity Church without early booking," the mayor elaborated.

    According to Batarseh, the number of tourists visiting Bethlehem in the first nine months of this year has reached 1.12 million, almost doubled the number of the same period in 2007.

    With night falling, neon lights turned the Manger Square into a colorful world, which was filled with voices from around the world as choirs from Russia, Italy, Spain and Palestinian territories performed for pilgrims.

    But some 70 km away, Palestinians in Gaza Strip witnessed another day of bloodshed caused by daily conflict with Israel.

    On Wednesday evening, Israeli airstrike killed at least one Palestinian militant, after more than 60 mortar shells and Katyusha and Kassam rockets pounded southern Israel throughout the day.

    Earlier in the day, Gaza Latin Church pastor Manuel Musalam announced that the 4,000 Palestinian Christians living in Gaza won't celebrate Christmas this year and won't do the midnight Christmas mass, in a protest against the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza and the Israeli threats of invasion.

    Even in Bethlehem, under the festive atmosphere, the Israeli-built security fence surrounding the city also reminds people that peace has not prevailed.

    In his speech delivered at the midnight mass at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land Fuad Twal, head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Palestinian territories prayed for peace in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

    "We are seeking the peace that we missed, the peace that brings humanity its dignity back, which has been absent over the past years and was mixed with the blood," Twal said.

    "Peace is a gift from God and it is the best solution for conflicts and differences. Wars can bring neither peace nor security, while walls, however tall they become, would never bring safety," he added.

Editor: Yao