🔗 Share this article Bethlehem's Holiday Tree Lighting Illuminates Once Again Since the Outbreak of the Gaza War For two years during the Gaza war, every festive public event marking the holiday season were called off within the city of Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This place is believed to be where the faithful hold Jesus was born. However, following a recent truce, the holy city decided that this year celebrations would make a comeback, as represented by the illumination of its customary, large holiday tree in front of the ancient Church of the Nativity. "We have endured a bad two years of silence; no Christmas, no jobs, no work," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here on tourism and the tourist trade had fallen to nothing." He acknowledges that the idea of resuming celebrations faced some controversy, as suffering continues within Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem. "Some may say it's not appropriate and others say it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I felt this constituted the correct action to take since the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents the light of hope for us." A Spark of Festivity Reappears Residents – both Christians and Muslims – take photographs before the tree decorated with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are joined by a handful of foreign tourists. Vibrant lights now decorate the streets with signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children. "We're very happy to see the tree, first thing, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to have the chance to observe the holiday in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This place is where everything began, therefore here is where we can send the message to the world about what really Christmas represents. And now, if the season is calm, then I hope it will deliver a positive message for the whole world." Economic Prospects and Challenges Nearby towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to light holiday trees soon. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as certain international tourists. A visitor from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to this region. "In my view every person should visit at least once during their lifetime," she states. "I wish many visitors will return soon as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The sole aspect that is positive is that there are no lengthy queues – you can come and experience more. When I came before it was necessary to wait in a queue for hours minimum." For now, the souvenir stores dotted around the city experience scant trade, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which originate from the 4th century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the Gaza war, it was typically packed with people. "This is a tourist city; without tourism there is no life," expresses one guide Hamza. "We hope to have people coming back as in the past: from European nations, the Middle Eastern region, the Americas, Latin American and all over. We start with the Christmas tree lighting, and we'll wait." The Lingering Economic Toll Over the last two years, joblessness has soared within Bethlehem. Following the lethal attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the conflict, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been blocked from entering Israel and its settlements to work. At the same time, government employees have been paid just a portion of their wages by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority relies on tax revenues gathered by Israel, which it is withholding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by the UN's trade and development agency. Israel says they are retaining these funds due to the fact that the Authority provides financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that incentivise violence against Israelis. The authority – which has been under global pressure to make reforms – says it has lately modified its social welfare system. A Modest Holiday The bleak economic outlook implies that for numerous Palestinian Christians, even though there are currently public festivities as well as religious ceremonies, it will constitute a subdued holiday season. At the edge of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to buy hot balls of falafel from a row of shops. "We are getting ready for Christmas following one of our hardest periods as a Palestinian people and as Christians," says one restaurant owner, who runs Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant that has witnessed its revenues collapse. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "The faithful will attempt to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or a show or similar, they lack the money to spend for this celebration." Prayers for Calm and Recovery In the cave-like grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a resident accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down near a silver star that indicates the location where tradition states Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby. Amid ongoing high tensions throughout the area, Bethlehem residents state they are hoping for tranquility – and wishing for tourists to come back to the location where it is believed where Christmas started.
For two years during the Gaza war, every festive public event marking the holiday season were called off within the city of Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This place is believed to be where the faithful hold Jesus was born. However, following a recent truce, the holy city decided that this year celebrations would make a comeback, as represented by the illumination of its customary, large holiday tree in front of the ancient Church of the Nativity. "We have endured a bad two years of silence; no Christmas, no jobs, no work," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here on tourism and the tourist trade had fallen to nothing." He acknowledges that the idea of resuming celebrations faced some controversy, as suffering continues within Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem. "Some may say it's not appropriate and others say it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I felt this constituted the correct action to take since the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents the light of hope for us." A Spark of Festivity Reappears Residents – both Christians and Muslims – take photographs before the tree decorated with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are joined by a handful of foreign tourists. Vibrant lights now decorate the streets with signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children. "We're very happy to see the tree, first thing, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to have the chance to observe the holiday in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This place is where everything began, therefore here is where we can send the message to the world about what really Christmas represents. And now, if the season is calm, then I hope it will deliver a positive message for the whole world." Economic Prospects and Challenges Nearby towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to light holiday trees soon. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as certain international tourists. A visitor from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to this region. "In my view every person should visit at least once during their lifetime," she states. "I wish many visitors will return soon as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The sole aspect that is positive is that there are no lengthy queues – you can come and experience more. When I came before it was necessary to wait in a queue for hours minimum." For now, the souvenir stores dotted around the city experience scant trade, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which originate from the 4th century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the Gaza war, it was typically packed with people. "This is a tourist city; without tourism there is no life," expresses one guide Hamza. "We hope to have people coming back as in the past: from European nations, the Middle Eastern region, the Americas, Latin American and all over. We start with the Christmas tree lighting, and we'll wait." The Lingering Economic Toll Over the last two years, joblessness has soared within Bethlehem. Following the lethal attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the conflict, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been blocked from entering Israel and its settlements to work. At the same time, government employees have been paid just a portion of their wages by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority relies on tax revenues gathered by Israel, which it is withholding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by the UN's trade and development agency. Israel says they are retaining these funds due to the fact that the Authority provides financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that incentivise violence against Israelis. The authority – which has been under global pressure to make reforms – says it has lately modified its social welfare system. A Modest Holiday The bleak economic outlook implies that for numerous Palestinian Christians, even though there are currently public festivities as well as religious ceremonies, it will constitute a subdued holiday season. At the edge of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to buy hot balls of falafel from a row of shops. "We are getting ready for Christmas following one of our hardest periods as a Palestinian people and as Christians," says one restaurant owner, who runs Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant that has witnessed its revenues collapse. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "The faithful will attempt to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or a show or similar, they lack the money to spend for this celebration." Prayers for Calm and Recovery In the cave-like grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a resident accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down near a silver star that indicates the location where tradition states Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby. Amid ongoing high tensions throughout the area, Bethlehem residents state they are hoping for tranquility – and wishing for tourists to come back to the location where it is believed where Christmas started.