"Between Israel's genocidal war on people in Gaza and near-daily Israeli assaults on Bethlehem and other cities across the occupied West Bank, Palestinians have endured great suffering over the past two years. They have had little to celebrate, and for the past years, all public Christmas celebrations were cancelled. But Saturday brought a glimmer of hope to the crowds who gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square, outside of the Church of the Nativity, to watch the Christmas tree there be lit for the first time since 2022."
"The lighting of the Christmas tree was really some cheer that everybody needed, said Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Bethlehem. I haven't seen the square filled in quite a long time, and it was filled to the brim. Families were here, dignitaries, people who came from across the occupied West Bank and even Palestinian citizens of Israel. Bethlehem's Christmas tree lighting ceremonies are usually a lot rowdier and a lot more cheerful with dances and songs, said Odeh. However, this year's two-hour celebrations were subdued, with only hymns and prayers for peace, she added."
Israel's war in Gaza and near-daily Israeli assaults across the occupied West Bank have left Palestinians suffering and public Christmas celebrations cancelled for years. The Christmas tree in Bethlehem's Manger Square was lit for the first time since 2022, drawing families, dignitaries, visitors from the West Bank and Palestinian citizens of Israel. Celebrations were subdued, limited to hymns and prayers for peace rather than the usual dances and songs. Bethlehem faces a severe economic crisis with long-standing businesses closing, hotels nearly empty for two years, high expenses and rents forcing families to relocate abroad to survive.
#bethlehem #christmas-tree-lighting #tourism-recovery #economic-crisis #israeli-palestinian-conflict
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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