🔗 Share this article Bethlehem's Christmas Tree Lighting Illuminates Once Again After the Outbreak of the Gaza War For two years amid the conflict in Gaza, all public celebrations for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This city is believed to be where the faithful hold Jesus was born. But, following a recent truce, this sacred city decided that this year the festivities would make a comeback, as represented by the lighting of its customary, large holiday tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity. "We have endured a bad two years without celebration; no holiday, no employment, no income," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here from tourism and tourism was down to zero." The mayor acknowledges that the idea to restart festivities faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship in Gaza – including for those in its tiny Christian community, who often have relatives to Bethlehem. "Certain voices argue it's not appropriate while others contend it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I felt this constituted the correct action to do since the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents the light of hope for us." A Spark of Festivity Returns Locals – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – pose for selfies before the tree hung with gold and red ornaments at Manger Square. They are joined by a small number of foreign tourists. Brightly coloured lights now decorate city streets with signs advertising holiday markets and children's parties. "We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to be able to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This is where it all started, so this is where we can convey a message globally about what Christmas truly represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world." Economic Hopes and Challenges Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to light holiday trees soon. Local hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel along with some foreign visitors. One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think everyone needs to come at least once in their life," she says. "I wish a lot of people will soon come back as it is sorrowful with few tourists. The sole aspect that's good is there are no long lines – one can visit and see more things. When I came before you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." Currently, the souvenir stores scattered throughout the city experience scant trade, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the conflict, it was often crammed with visitors. "Bethlehem is a tourist city; absent visitors there is no livelihood," laments one guide Hamza. "We hope to have people coming back as in the past: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and everywhere. We begin with the Christmas tree lighting, and then we will wait." The Lingering Economic Toll In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Since the deadly attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and its settlements for work. At the same time, government employees have been paid only partial wages by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority relies on tax revenues collected by Israel, which it is withholding – to the tune of 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by a UN agency. Israeli officials state it is holding the funds due to the fact that the Authority provides financial payments to incarcerated Palestinians that incentivise violence against Israelis. The authority – which has been under international pressure to make reforms – says it has recently changed its social welfare system. An Austere Holiday The bleak economic situation means that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public festivities in addition to religious ceremonies, it will constitute a subdued holiday season. On the periphery of the square, a few customers are waiting to purchase sizzling balls of falafel from several shops. "We are getting ready for the holiday following one of our most challenging times as Palestinians and as a Christian community," says Alaa Salameh, an owner of Afteem, a long-established family-run eatery which has seen its income plummet. He notes lately many families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "Christians will try to mark the occasion but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "Someone who wants to bring their children to a festive event or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration." Hopes for Calm and Recovery Within the grotto beneath the church, a resident follows a small Indian tour group, stooping down near a silver star which marks the location where tradition states that Jesus was born and igniting a light nearby. With tensions still high across the region, Bethlehem residents state they are praying for peace – and hoping for visitors to return to the place which is thought to be Christmas began.
For two years amid the conflict in Gaza, all public celebrations for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This city is believed to be where the faithful hold Jesus was born. But, following a recent truce, this sacred city decided that this year the festivities would make a comeback, as represented by the lighting of its customary, large holiday tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity. "We have endured a bad two years without celebration; no holiday, no employment, no income," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here from tourism and tourism was down to zero." The mayor acknowledges that the idea to restart festivities faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship in Gaza – including for those in its tiny Christian community, who often have relatives to Bethlehem. "Certain voices argue it's not appropriate while others contend it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I felt this constituted the correct action to do since the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents the light of hope for us." A Spark of Festivity Returns Locals – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – pose for selfies before the tree hung with gold and red ornaments at Manger Square. They are joined by a small number of foreign tourists. Brightly coloured lights now decorate city streets with signs advertising holiday markets and children's parties. "We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to be able to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This is where it all started, so this is where we can convey a message globally about what Christmas truly represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world." Economic Hopes and Challenges Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to light holiday trees soon. Local hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel along with some foreign visitors. One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think everyone needs to come at least once in their life," she says. "I wish a lot of people will soon come back as it is sorrowful with few tourists. The sole aspect that's good is there are no long lines – one can visit and see more things. When I came before you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." Currently, the souvenir stores scattered throughout the city experience scant trade, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the conflict, it was often crammed with visitors. "Bethlehem is a tourist city; absent visitors there is no livelihood," laments one guide Hamza. "We hope to have people coming back as in the past: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and everywhere. We begin with the Christmas tree lighting, and then we will wait." The Lingering Economic Toll In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Since the deadly attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and its settlements for work. At the same time, government employees have been paid only partial wages by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority relies on tax revenues collected by Israel, which it is withholding – to the tune of 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by a UN agency. Israeli officials state it is holding the funds due to the fact that the Authority provides financial payments to incarcerated Palestinians that incentivise violence against Israelis. The authority – which has been under international pressure to make reforms – says it has recently changed its social welfare system. An Austere Holiday The bleak economic situation means that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public festivities in addition to religious ceremonies, it will constitute a subdued holiday season. On the periphery of the square, a few customers are waiting to purchase sizzling balls of falafel from several shops. "We are getting ready for the holiday following one of our most challenging times as Palestinians and as a Christian community," says Alaa Salameh, an owner of Afteem, a long-established family-run eatery which has seen its income plummet. He notes lately many families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "Christians will try to mark the occasion but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "Someone who wants to bring their children to a festive event or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration." Hopes for Calm and Recovery Within the grotto beneath the church, a resident follows a small Indian tour group, stooping down near a silver star which marks the location where tradition states that Jesus was born and igniting a light nearby. With tensions still high across the region, Bethlehem residents state they are praying for peace – and hoping for visitors to return to the place which is thought to be Christmas began.