Celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem
TRENDING | Christmas has arrived and in Bethlehem locals cherish the season as a joyous celebration, bringing together Palestinians of all faiths, putting aside political struggles with Israel. Our Mohammad Al-Kassim has the story.
Story:
Pilgrims from across the world gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, queuing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Christmas celebrations were also underway in Nazareth — largest Arab city in Israel — where Christians believe the Archangel Gabriel announced Jesus' birth to Mary and where they believe his childhood home was located.
Hundreds of Palestinian scouts came from across the West Bank to take part in the annual parade through Bethlehem's Manger Square, across from the Church of the Nativity, built atop the traditional site of Jesus's birth.
Crowds, some wearing Santa hats or holding balloons, looked on at the square decked out with a giant Christmas tree and a manger as carols in Arabic played through speakers.
The Catholic archbishop for the Holy Land Pierbattista Pizzaballa was due to arrive in Bethlehem the afternoon before leading the city's annual midnight mass.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was among dignitaries due to attend the mass.
This year, visitors are able to view the Church of the Nativity's newly restored mosaics after they were recently cleaned and repaired in a major project.
Bethlehem is expecting more tourists expected this Christmas than have visited the Biblical city in years, with the boost attributed primarily to a decrease in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Israel is also enjoying record tourism figures and many visitors take day trips to Bethlehem and other West Bank sites from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere in the Jewish state.
'It's a great opportunity to be in such a symbolic location for Christmas,' said Lea Gudel, a 21-year-old French exchange student studying in Jerusalem and who was in Manger Square on Monday morning.
Tourism in the Palestinian territories suffered a major blow following a fury of demonstrations and clashes sparked by a controversial announcement by President Donald Trump recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December, putting a damper on Christmas celebrations.
Palestinian tourism officials and hotel operators have reported their strongest season in years.
'This year is much more calm, much better than last year,' said Abeer Nasser, a Palestinian from the nearby town of Beit Sahour who was with her son and daughter and was planning to attend midnight mass.
'Every year I feel more in the mood to celebrate despite the political situation,' he added.On Sunday, Palestinian protesters — some are dressed as Santa Claus — carried Palestinian flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans during a demonstration outside an Israeli checkpoint in Bethlehem.
Palestinian Christians make up approximately two percent of the predominantly Muslim population of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
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Palestinian Santas bring hope to occupied West Bank
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A group of Palestinians dressed in Santa Claus costumes brought some holiday cheer to the Israeli- occupied land in and around Bethlehem on Monday, as they visited demolished houses and delivered presents to houses trapped at the border walls in the near-by town of Al-Walaja.
Footage shows activists dressed as Santa Claus busting their bells, holding signs and carrying Palestinians flags, as they marched from the Aida Youth Centre to a house demolished by the Israeli forces in the south of Bethlehem. Demonstrators can also be spotted heading towards the house of Omar Shananeer in Al-Walaja, which is trapped by a bordering wall, where presents were given to the children living there.
Despite the Israeli policies and measures on the ground from house demolishing and killing and arresting Palestinians, we can see hope. Our message today is that we want a Christmas 2020 without occupation, that's why we came to deliver hope to the people in such situation, that they are facing house demolishing and that are living between the wall, the apartheid wall Israeli state, and Israeli occupation who is building in front of their houses, said a member of the Popular Committees to Resist the Wall and Settlements, Mahmoud Zawahreh.
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Christmas at the YMCA in Jerusalem
HOLY LAND UNCOVERED | Christmas has arrived and is filling the air in parts of Jerusalem. Look no further for traditional Christmas spirit than the YMCA in Jerusalem. Our Uri Shapira and Shleby Weiner have the story.
Story:
Pilgrims from across the world gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, queuing to see the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Christmas celebrations were also underway in Nazareth — largest Arab city in Israel — where Christians believe the Archangel Gabriel announced Jesus' birth to Mary and where they believe his childhood home was located.
Hundreds of Palestinian scouts came from across the West Bank to take part in the annual parade through Bethlehem's Manger Square, across from the Church of the Nativity, built atop the traditional site of Jesus's birth.
Crowds, some wearing Santa hats or holding balloons, looked on at the square decked out with a giant Christmas tree and a manger as carols in Arabic played through speakers.
The Catholic archbishop for the Holy Land Pierbattista Pizzaballa was due to arrive in Bethlehem the afternoon before leading the city's annual midnight mass.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was among dignitaries due to attend the mass.
This year, visitors are able to view the Church of the Nativity's newly restored mosaics after they were recently cleaned and repaired in a major project.
Bethlehem is expecting more tourists expected this Christmas than have visited the Biblical city in years, with the boost attributed primarily to a decrease in violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Israel is also enjoying record tourism figures and many visitors take day trips to Bethlehem and other West Bank sites from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere in the Jewish state.
'It's a great opportunity to be in such a symbolic location for Christmas,' said Lea Gudel, a 21-year-old French exchange student studying in Jerusalem and who was in Manger Square on Monday morning.
Tourism in the Palestinian territories suffered a major blow following a fury of demonstrations and clashes sparked by a controversial announcement by President Donald Trump recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last December, putting a damper on Christmas celebrations.
Palestinian tourism officials and hotel operators have reported their strongest season in years.
'This year is much more calm, much better than last year,' said Abeer Nasser, a Palestinian from the nearby town of Beit Sahour who was with her son and daughter and was planning to attend midnight mass.
'Every year I feel more in the mood to celebrate despite the political situation,' he added.On Sunday, Palestinian protesters — some are dressed as Santa Claus — carried Palestinian flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans during a demonstration outside an Israeli checkpoint in Bethlehem.
Palestinian Christians make up approximately two percent of the predominantly Muslim population of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
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West Bank - Christmas In Bethlehem
T/I: 10:30:52
Bethlehem's many Christian Arabs are busy preparing to celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner. And as they do each morning of the year Franciscan fathers hold a procession through the historic Church of the Nativity, the reputed birthplace of Jesus Christ. Tourism is crucial to Bethlehem, and Christmas is the busiest time of year. Small workshops all over town are turning out souvenirs and gifts, especially olive wood carvings of Nativity scenes for which the town is famous. Angelica Giacaman, who runs a family store which opened in 1925, is looking forward to doing brisk trade on Christmas Eve.
SHOWS:
BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK 13/12
GVs Bethlehem
Bethlehem streets and shops
Palestinian flags and pictures of Arafat next to Christmas trees in
shop
Bishara Daud SOT: It's a start of calm, of hope and of peace in
the future.
Tariq Jaidy SOT: I especially like that we're getting our own
country and stuff.
EXT Church of the Nativity
Procession of Franciscan Priests inside the church
Tourists taking photos
Various of service
Candles being lit
EXT of entrance to church
EXT olive wood carving shop
GVS of craftsmen workers carving Christmas figurines
GV of olive wood carving and souvenir shop
Exterior art sculpture shop
Interior of shop with tourists buying figurines
Angelica Giacaman, shop owner SOT: My father started this shop in
1925, now we his children are taking care of. I hope it will be
better because we're finished with the occupation. I think
Palestinian people can cake take of their own country.
GVs of Bethlehem streets and Xmas preperations
Children in street
Palestinian flag above shop
Poster of Arafat and man in background showing victory sign
3.08
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WEST BANK: BETHLEHEM: ARAFAT'S WIFE SOHA LIGHTS CHRISTMAS TREE
Natural Sound
Yasser Arafat's wife lit the Palestinians' official Christmas tree in Manger Square on Tuesday.
About one-hundred people gathered to see Soha Arafat, who is Christian, flip a switch on a five-metre (16-foot) tree.
But the ceremony was briefly delayed to avoid being drowned out by a muezzin's call to the faithful - underscoring the fact that Bethlehem is turning increasingly Muslim.
Palestinian police in dark blue uniforms patrolled in pairs, and jeeps full of soldiers circled Manager Square as Soha Arafat's official entourage arrived.
About one-hundred people gathered to see Yasser Arafat's wife, who is Christian, flip a switch that turned on white, red and green lights on a five-metre (16-foot) tree adorned with bells and a white angel.
When Sopa Arafat, turned to enter the Church of the Nativity, her three-year-old daughter, Zahwa burst into tears.
Zahwa was calmed by candy produced by Santa Claus - a Finnish volunteer.
A line of pilgrims snaked down the rounded stone steps of the church leading into the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born.
But the ceremony had been briefly delayed to avoid being drowned out by a muezzin's call to the faithful - underscoring the fact that Bethlehem is turning increasingly Muslim.
Christians have complained that in the past two years - since the
arrival of the Palestinian Authority - Christmas in Bethlehem has
been more a celebration of Palestinian nationalism than a religious
festival.
Many have emigrated in search for better economic opportunities, and today they make up only a third of the town's 50-thousand residents and a tenth of the West Bank and Gaza population.
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Christmas celebrations in Holy Land
1. Wide shot interior church
2. Close up chair reserved for Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
3. Wide shot clergy in church
4. Priests near altar
5. Close up candles
6. People singing
7. Close up nun
8. Priests singing
9. Close up baby Jesus Christ icon
10. Wide shot priests
11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch:
The sacrifices of these years will not be for nothing if those responsible conclude the true results, rather than concluding that building the wall is the true solution, the true results are that war destroys people and places and does not silence a people that demands its freedom.
12. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch: (Camera is locked on visiting dignitaries as cutaway)
If the leaders indeed want peace they must have the sufficient courage to undertake the difficult decisions for the sake of peace, even if that martyrs them.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch:
In order to reach peace there must be an admission of the nature of the conflict and that the core and the basis in all simplicity is one people's occupation of another people's land. This is the basic evil that leads to the lack of security.
13. Wide shot Sabbah reading
14. Close up Sabbah
15. Priest reading from bible
STORYLINE:
After three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, politics dominated a subdued Christmas Eve celebration on Wednesday in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.
Many worshippers, including the top Roman Catholic official in the Holy Land, complained about a contentious separation barrier that Israel is building in the West Bank.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, rang a political note in his midnight Mass homily, saying the separation wall will give no security and no peace.
Sabbah - the highest-ranking Catholic official in the Holy Land - said Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is the basic evil in the conflict.
Sabbah officiated over Mass in St. Katherine's Church next to the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Like most Palestinian towns and cities, Bethlehem has been battered by the violence.
The fighting has left behind destroyed, pockmarked buildings and a battle-scarred population.
Economically shattered by the violence, the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority cut its Christmas budget this year, making decorations sparse in Manger Square, home to the fortress-like Church of the Nativity.
Just as it has been since fighting erupted, Bethlehem remained nearly barren of tourists and pilgrims as modern-day problems overshadowed the celebrations.
Israel's separation barrier was the unofficial theme of the day.
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Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestinian Territories, Middle East, Asia
The Church of the Nativity is a basilica located in Bethlehem, Palestinian territories. The church was originally commissioned in 327 AD by Constantine and his mother Helena over the site that is still traditionally considered to be located over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth. The Church of the Nativity site's original basilica was completed in 339 AD and destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the sixth century AD. A new basilica was built 565 AD by the Byzantine Empire, restoring the architectural tone of the original. The site of the Church of the Nativity has had numerous additions since this second construction, including its prominent bell towers. Due to its cultural and geographical history, the site holds a prominent religious significance to those of both the Christian and Muslim faiths. The site of the Church of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site, and was the first to be listed under Palestine by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The site is also on UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites in Danger. The holy site, known as the Grotto, that the Church of the Nativity sits atop, is today associated with the cave in which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth occurred. In 135 AD, Hadrian is said to have had the Christian site above the Grotto converted into a worship place for Adonis, the Greek god of beauty and desire. A father with the Church of the Nativity, Jerome, noted before his death in 420 AD that the holy cave was at one point consecrated by the heathen to the worship of Adonis, and that a pleasant sacred grove was planted there in order to wipe out the memory of Jesus. In Bethlehem the cave is pointed out where He was born, and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. And the rumor is in those places, and among foreigners of the Faith, that indeed Jesus was born in this cave who is worshipped and reverenced by the Christians. (Contra Celsum, book I, chapter LI). The first basilica on this site was begun by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine I. Under the supervision of Bishop Makarios of Jerusalem, the construction started in 327 AD and was completed in 333. Construction of this early church was carried out as part of a larger project following the First Council of Nicaea during Constantine's reign to build on the supposed sites of the life of Jesus. The design of the basilica centered around three major architectural sections: an octagonal rotunda over the area believed to be where Jesus of Nazareth was born; a boxed atrium area of 148 by 92 feet (45 m × 28 m); and double-aisled forecourt of 95 by 93 feet (29 m × 28 m). The structure was burnt down and destroyed in a revolt between the Jews and the Samaritans in 529 or 556 AD. The current basilica was rebuilt in its present form in 565 AD by the Emperor Justinian I. When the Persians under Chosroes II invaded in 614, they did not destroy the structure. According to legend, their commander Shahrbaraz was moved by the depiction inside the church of the Three Magi wearing Persian clothing, and commanded that the building be spared. The Crusaders made further repairs and additions to the building during the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem with permission and help given by the Byzantine Emperor, and the first King of Jerusalem was crowned in the church. Over the years, the compound has been expanded, and today it covers approximately 12,000 square meters. The church was one of the direct causes for French involvement in the Crimean War against Russia. Until 1131 CE, the Church of the Nativity was used as the primary coronation church for crusader kings. During this time, extensive decoration by the crusaders and various restorations of the basilica and grounds took place. This decoration and restoration process took place until 1169 AD. After three decades of being ravaged by the invasions of the Crusades, most notably the destruction of the church that occurred in April 1244 by the Turks, the roof of the Church of the Nativity lay in poor condition. In August of 1448 AD, the Kingdom of Burgundy committed resources to the project, but it was not until 1480 that they were able to get the project underway in Bethlehem. Due to this worsening condition of the wooden Church roof, in 1480 an extensive roof reconstruction and renovation projected took place on the Church of the Nativity.
Santa Claus is Coming to Jerusalem Town
HOLY LAND UNCOVERED | Santa Claus is coming to town — Jerusalem town. Who is the famed man who walks around Jerusalem dressed as the gift giver himself? Our Shelby Weiner has the story.
Story:
Christians in Israel and the Palestinian territories joined pilgrims from around the world in celebrating Christmas in the Holy Land, celebrating the birth of Jesus at some of the most revered biblical sites.
Pilgrims from across the world gathered in Bethlehem where a traditional midnight mass held at the Church of the Nativity, built atop the grotto where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was among dignitaries who attended the mass, led by the Catholic archbishop for the Holy Land Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
Earlier in Bethlehem crowds, some wearing Santa hats or holding balloons, took in the annual Palestinian scouts and bagpipe band parade through the city’s Manger Square which was decked out with a giant Christmas tree and a nativity scene as carols in Arabic played through speakers.
Later in the day, musical groups took the stage at Manger Square in front of the Christmas tree, illuminated as night fell, to sing Christmas carols.
Some 175,000 Christians live in Israel comprising just two percent of the country’s total population, according to figures published by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Christmas Eve.
Seventy-seven percent of the Christians in Israel are Arab Christians, according to the figures which did not include foreigners not residing in Israel who do not appear in the population register.
In the Palestinian territories, Christians make up less than one percent of the overall population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Authority Central Bureau of Statistics.
There are 46,850 Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank and 1,138 residing in the Gaza Strip, the PA body said in a report published earlier this year.
This year, however, the local Christian population is celebrating alongside an increased number of pilgrims from around the world following a lull in Christmastime tourism over the past several years due to unrest linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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From Bethlehem to Tel Aviv, here's what Christmas in the Holy Land looks like
WEST BANK: BETHLEHEM: PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS (2)
English/Nat
Soha Arafat, the wife of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, condemned Israeli authorities for Palestinian suffering when she visited Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, on Wednesday.
Preparations were underway in Manger Square for the traditional prayer service, known as the midnight mass.
Meanwhile the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his Christmas wish was for peace in the troubled region.
The faithful were gathering in market square in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve (Wednesday).
The square is next to a church built on the spot where tradition says Jesus was born.
Palestinian marching bands representing many different Christian denominations and members of the Scouting movement joined in the festivities.
Arafat's wife Soha, carrying her baby daughter Zahwa, watched the parades from the balcony of the Palestinian police station.
Arafat's wife, herself a Christian, blamed Israel for the suffering of the Palestinian people.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Each year we hope and we hope and nothing changes. The Israeli government is not changing anything, and in spite of everything we are celebrating our Christmas in spite of the will of the whole of the world supporting us we are celebrating this great Christmas - despite all of the suffering of our people.
SUPER CAPTION: Soha Arafat, Wife of Yasser Arafat
The Latin Patriarch, Michel Sabbah, the highest ranking Roman Catholic official in the middle East, led the faithful into the church where this evening's midnight mass will be held.
He will conduct the prayer service.
There were markedly fewer Palestinian flags and posters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on display than in the past two years.
Palestinian officials had said they wanted this year's celebrations to focus more on religion.
In Jerusalem the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said both Christmas and the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah were times for peace
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Christmas is traditionally a season of good will, good will to all men, and I presume all women too. This would be very welcome in our area. We all thirst and crave for peace and we can only have it if we have good will. We certainly have it and we hope we encounter this year good will from our Palestinian and other Arab neighbours to accomplish the feat of peace. And in that spirit we were very pleased to see that the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah was celebrated in some twenty capitals around the world with world leaders who lit a candle, celebrating Israel's 50th anniversary and joining us in our quest for peace. So happy holidays, all holidays.
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
Thousands more people were expected in Manger Square for midnight mass.
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Update on Bethlehem Christmas activity plus Jerusalem carols
Gilo checkpoint, West Bank, 24 Dec 2003
1. Wide shot Israeli police on horses escorting Patriarch's car
2. Various Patriarch's car and mounted police
Bethlehem, West Bank, 24 Dec 2003
3. Crowd in Manger Square
4. Pipe band leads procession through crowd
5. Various procession, including bands and child dressed as Santa Claus
6. Close up Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch
7. Various Sabbah and priests walking in procession
8. Various Sabbah greeting people, kissing silver cross and spreading holy water
9. Various Sabbah in procession into church
10. Sabbah kneels in church
Bethlehem, West Bank, 24 Dec 2003
11. Various Manger Square under lights
12. Various children's choir performing in Bethlehem at night
Jerusalem, 24 Dec 2003
13. Band playing
14. Various choir singing, dressed in period costumes, also children dressed as angels
15. Child on donkey, people dressed in Nativity-style clothes
16. Men on camels
STORYLINE:
More than a thousand people gathered in Manger Square in Bethlehem on Wednesday to see the annual procession into the church that marks the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah was among the religious leaders taking part in the parade into the Church of the Nativity.
Earlier this week, Sabbah said this year's Christmas message was one of hope and spiritual strength, despite all the obstacles that rise up in the way of peace.
Violence on the West Bank has been blamed for declining visitor numbers this year.
The slump in tourism has crippled the economy, leaving thousands of people unemployed and forcing many shop closures.
Israel has banned Palestinian President Yasser Arafat from visiting the site for three consecutive years.
Palestinian Christians have also criticised Israel for travel restrictions that make it hard for Palestinian families to get together from across the West Bank.
Few of Bethlehem's usual decorations are in place.
Many of the red, green and blue lights strung over the streets around Manger Square are burned out.
The Palestinian Authority said it lacks money and refused the town its usual 100,000 US dollar decoration budget.
Local officials raised 10,000 US dollars on their own.
Despite the hardship, hundreds of people turned out to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem on the West Bank and in Jerusalem.
Children featured in choirs in both cities.
And in Jerusalem, many people donned Nativity-style clothes, some riding camels and donkeys, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
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ISRAEL: BETHLEHEM: CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS
English/Nat
Palestinians in the city of Bethlehem are preparing for their first Christmas celebrations under self-rule.
The birthplace of Jesus will be the sixth West Bank town handed to the Palestinians under the Israel P-L-O autonomy accords.
The Israeli pullout has been postponed by several days, as they complete a new road which will bypass the city.
And that has been a source of friction in Bethlehem.
The road to Bethlehem's future -- still under construction.
When it's completed, Jewish settlers will be able to travel into Israel through Palestinian-held territory, bypassing the West Bank town.
Israel's withdrawal has been put back three days to allow workers to complete the job.
In downtown Bethlehem, Palestinians are putting up Christmas decorations.
Hanging amidst the Christmas lights: pictures of P-L-O leader Yasser Arafat and Palestinian flags.
On Christmas Eve, Arafat is expected to make his first visit to the town since his return last year from exile.
Thousands of pilgrims from around the world are also expected to flock to Bethlehem .
Tourists and residents are already pouring into the church of Nativity to pray for a better and a more peaceful world.
At the moment, relations between Bethlehem's Palestinian officials, and its Israeli occupiers, could be a little better and a little more peaceful:
The Israeli authorities insist the delay in their withdrawal is necessary.
Mayor Elias Freij says there is no excuse for it.
SOUNDBITE:
They will remain in the military headquarters until this road is completed. I do not believe it is a legitimate excuse, there is an agreement that on the main roads there will be joint Israeli-Palestinian forces
SUPER CAPTION: Elias Freij, Mayor of Bethlehem
As Palestinians prepare for their future, they continue to be faced with reminders of their past.
Israelis in uniform will still walk the streets of the town where Jesus was born -- but only in joint patrols with their Palestinian counterparts.
So Palestinians prepare for a double celebration: of Christmas... and of their new life in a Palestinian-controlled city.
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Christians from Gaza allowed to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas
Residents of the Gaza Strip's small Christian community arrived at Erez Crossing on Monday to travel from the blockaded territory to participate in Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the spot where tradition says Jesus was born.
The Israeli military announced on Friday that they would relax travel restrictions for Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for the Christmas holiday season.
Israel said it granted 700 permits for Gazans to travel to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.
About 3,500 Christians live in Gaza among 1.7 (m) million Muslims.
Israel said it was also allowing West Bank Christians to travel to Israel, permitting 500 of them to visit their families in the Gaza Strip, subject to security checks.
Meanwhile, at Rafah Crossing in the Gaza Strip, several hundred Palestinians gathered to wait their turn to cross over to Egypt.
Egypt temporarily opened its border crossing for a two-day period to allow people to cross in and out of Egypt.
On Sunday several hundred crossed into Egypt.
The crossing is the main gateway to the outside world for Gaza's residents.
Egypt had kept the border closed to Palestinians leaving the territory since a 24 October attack in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 31 Egyptian soldiers.
Last month, Egypt temporarily opened the border to allow Palestinians stranded outside the territory to return home.
Border closures have been common since the Islamic group Hamas seized Gaza in 2007.
Israel keeps its border crossing with Gaza mostly sealed.
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University of Bethlehem, Palestinian territories
Learn more on middleeast-alive.org
Cheap imports flood Bethlehem shops
(21 Dec 2016) LEAD IN:
Palestinian shops have been flooded with cheap imported Christmas gifts to sell during the festive season.
But some shop owners are promoting only locally made products.
STORY-LINE:
These rosary beads are clearly not local produce.
Aside from the obvious festive link, Bethlehem is also known for its handicrafts. Its streets are lined with shops like this that stock large amounts of carved wooden objects.
When visitors choose to take a piece of the Holy Land back home with them, they now need to take a close look at the label on what they're buying. Most souvenirs, including some of Bethlehem's trademark olive wood decorations, are now imported from abroad, mainly China.
You know some people want to buy something to give away and to give it for when they go back home and to give it as gifts so maybe they cannot buy as many from the olive wood or the local made because it's a little bit more expensive than the Chinese, says Three Arches souvenir shop owner Maher Canawati.
Canawati sells locally made gifts and even has a wood workshop in the back. But he keeps room for imports as well. His family had provided services to pilgrims since the 16th century.
Some 120,000 people are expected to visit the Holy Land this holiday season, half of them Christian, according to Israel's Tourism Ministry.
Many will visit Bethlehem, where globalisation has left its mark like everywhere else. Foreign-made crafts, especially Chinese ones, now represent a big part of the market here, especially among Christmas souvenirs. While there are no official statistics, local officials and businessmen estimate that nearly half of the products, perhaps more, are imported.
A small number of souvenir shops are now trying to fight the trend, stocking their shelves almost exclusively with locally made products. Shopkeepers say that while their wares may be more expensive, the quality is much better and they give an important boost to the struggling economy.
Bassem Giacaman, owner of the Blessings Gift Shop and The Olive Wood Factory keeps just a few imported products in his store, most of them hidden in a small box beneath a counter. He takes them out to show customers and compare them to Palestinian made ones.
So it's a big problem here, every tourist that comes here especially in the group I always explain to them I don't sell it but that's the difference. If you do want to buy it it's down the road or anywhere else. I only sell you olive wood and you can test it, I've got nothing to hide, he says.
The Visit Palestine centre, located in a 200-year-old house just a few hundred metres from The Church of the Nativity, promotes products made in Palestine.
The centre started as an online store and travel guide five years ago. It now works with nearly 100 workshops and home-based artisans throughout the Palestinian Territories, in addition to a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan.
It features Palestinian traditional crafts, including Christmas-related ones like olive-wood rosaries, mother of pearl ornaments and sheep wool crafts. The centre targets independent travellers and its founder and manager Samy Khoury takes pride in its fair trade approach to business.
What's unique about the gift shop is that everything in the place is 100 percent Palestinian made or made in Palestine. And we work with well over 90 different suppliers stretching from Jenin in the far north all the way down to Gaza in the south, he says.
But trying to sell only Palestinian-made products comes with challenges, as imported products will always undercut prices here.
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Historic Bethlehem now a modern mix of cultures and traditions
Bethlehem is the home of Christmas. The historic city is enjoying its busiest year on record for tourists visiting the birthplace of Jesus. Seth Doane took a tour of the modern-day Bethlehem.
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WEST BANK: BETHLEHEM: CHRISTMAS DAY PEACE MARCH
English/Nat
More than 600 Christians, Muslims and Jews joined a march near Bethlehem on Christmas Day to call for peace.
Participants held torches and carried banners calling for the freedom to worship in any of Jerusalem's holy places.
The marchers also urged Israelis and Palestinians to set aside their differences and work for peace.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Israel has prided itself on giving all religions free access to Jerusalem - Jews, Christians and Moslems. And this is true within Israel and it's true for all the tourists who come from abroad. But it's not true for the thousands of Christians and Moslems who live in the West Bank and who are prevented by the closure from entering Jerusalem to pray in the Temple Mount, to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, or any of the other places that they might choose.
SUPER CAPTION: Peace marcher
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Palestinians prepare to host pilgrims at Christmas
(24 Dec 2018) Tourists in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Monday enjoyed the annual Christmas scout parade, including marching bands playing bagpipes and drums.
Palestinians are preparing to host pilgrims from around the world in celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem - to Christians known as the birthplace of Jesus.
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, on Monday crossed an Israeli military checkpoint from Jerusalem ahead of midnight Mass in the town's Church of the Nativity.
The festivities by Manger Square traditionally bring a boost of holiday cheer to Christians in the region, who make up just a small percentage of Palestinians.
Bethlehem, located approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Jerusalem, is one of few cities in the West Bank and Gaza where Christmas is publicly celebrated.
Israel controls entry into the city, after occupying the West Bank in 1967.
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Life in Palestine
In January 2019, two professors, in collaboration with the Art and Media Unit of the Lajee Center, ran a 3-day digital filmmaking workshop and screening for students in the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, Palestine. This is the the film the students produced, called Life in Palestine.
The workshop held a double mission: to teach how to use a camera and to turn weakness into strength. In this kind of situation, the camera is powerful. This workshop allowed the students to position themselves as critical thinkers and to step back from their situation.
Watching the film, you learn more about the lives of Palestinian refugee children. The students, each between 12 and 17 years old, all from different original villages, chose to speak about being affected by bombs, arrests, rubbers bullets, tear gas and weapons, in their houses, or just playing soccer.
In Palestine, no matter what is the ‘weapon’ of choice – whether voice, pen or camera – there is a price to be paid for its use. Without them – who are the future generation? If there is no struggle, no progress can be made.
West Bank - Christmas Jubilation In Bethlehem
T/I: 10:49:03
Palestinians on Friday (22/12) were still dancing and singing on
the streets of Bethlehem in celebration of the Israeli troop
withdrawal. Palestinian police took control of the West Bank town in plenty of time for Christmas celebrations. On Friday morning, police and
officials raised the Palestinian flag in front of the municipality
building. Israeli soldiers withdrew from Bethlehem on Thursday, leaving the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ to jubilant Palestinian
residents and 850 Palestinian police officers.
SHOWS:
BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK 22/12
WS Church of the Nativity with Christmas tree
Palestinian soldiers by the church
Priests walking along
PAN from bells to Manger Square
WS police station
Soldiers outside police station
Soldiers in street
Palestinian in car reading paper
GVs of street
Palestinian soldier having shoe cleaned
Palestinian on camel holding up flag
Head of Palestinian police walking with Minister of Economy for
Palestinian Authority, Ahmed Qrei'
Religious officials gathering
PAN around room
Ahmed Qrei' SOT: Bethlehem is an important city, and it is a holy
city, so we are happy to see Bethlehem like other cities.
Palestinian flag raised
Man addressing the crowd
PAN down to crowd
Crowd kneels for prayer
Heavy machinery removing fences (erected by Israeli soldiers
during the intifada) from around Desaiszeh refugee camp
GVs of machinery at work
Palestinian police at check point
WS Rachel's tomb
GVs of Rachel's tomb
3.40
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