🔗 Share this article Bethlehem's Holiday Tree Lighting Illuminates Once Again After the Start of the Conflict For two years amid the Gaza war, all public celebrations marking the holiday season were called off in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This city is where the faithful hold the birth of Jesus occurred. But, following a recent truce, the holy city determined that now celebrations would make a comeback, as represented by the illumination of its traditional, giant Christmas tree in front of the ancient Church of the Nativity. "It's been a bad two years without celebration; no holiday, no jobs, no income," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives on tourism and the tourist trade was down to nothing." The mayor accepts that the decision to restart festivities faced some debate, as suffering continues in Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem. "Some may say it's not appropriate while others contend it's appropriate," Mr Canawati explains. "However, in my heart, I believed that this was the correct action to do because the Christmas season must never be halted or abandoned. This is the light of hope for us." A Glimmer of Festivity Returns Locals – both Christians and Muslims – pose for selfies in front of the tree decorated with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are joined by a small number of foreign tourists. Vibrant lights now decorate the streets and there are signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children. "We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to have the chance to observe the holiday in its authentic spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This is where everything began, therefore here is where we can send the message globally of what Christmas truly represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will deliver a positive message for the whole world." Economic Prospects and Challenges The neighbouring towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to light holiday trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – are seeing a rise of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel as well as some foreign visitors. One tourist 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 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 – you can come and see more things. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." For now, the souvenir stores dotted around the city have little business, and outside the pale walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the Gaza war, it was often crammed with visitors. "Bethlehem is a city for tourists; absent visitors there is no life," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We hope to see individuals returning like before: from European nations, the Middle East, the Americas, Latin American and everywhere. We start with lighting the tree, and then we will wait." The Lingering Economic Toll Over the last two years, joblessness has soared in Bethlehem. Since the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank region have been blocked from entering Israel and Israeli settlements to work. Meanwhile, public servants have received only partial wages from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – that administers parts of the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax revenues collected 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 because the PA makes payments to incarcerated Palestinians that encourage violence against Israelis. The PA – facing international pressure to enact reforms – claims it has recently changed its welfare system. A Modest Holiday The bleak economic outlook implies that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public events in addition to religious ceremonies, it will be an austere Christmas. On the periphery of Manger Square, some patrons are waiting to buy sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops. "We're preparing for Christmas after one of our hardest periods as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," states one restaurant owner, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family-run eatery which has seen its income plummet. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – a cheap, traditional snack. "Christians will try to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh expects. "An individual wishing to take his kids to a festive event or a show or whatever, they lack the funds to expend for this celebration." Hopes for Peace and Prosperity In the cave-like grotto beneath the Nativity Church, a local woman accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down by a silver star which marks the location where tradition states Jesus was born and igniting a candle close by. With tensions still high throughout the area, people in Bethlehem say they are hoping for peace – and wishing for visitors to return to the location where it is believed Christmas began.
For two years amid the Gaza war, all public celebrations marking the holiday season were called off in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This city is where the faithful hold the birth of Jesus occurred. But, following a recent truce, the holy city determined that now celebrations would make a comeback, as represented by the illumination of its traditional, giant Christmas tree in front of the ancient Church of the Nativity. "It's been a bad two years without celebration; no holiday, no jobs, no income," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives on tourism and the tourist trade was down to nothing." The mayor accepts that the decision to restart festivities faced some debate, as suffering continues in Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem. "Some may say it's not appropriate while others contend it's appropriate," Mr Canawati explains. "However, in my heart, I believed that this was the correct action to do because the Christmas season must never be halted or abandoned. This is the light of hope for us." A Glimmer of Festivity Returns Locals – both Christians and Muslims – pose for selfies in front of the tree decorated with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are joined by a small number of foreign tourists. Vibrant lights now decorate the streets and there are signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children. "We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners to Bethlehem and to have the chance to observe the holiday in its authentic spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This is where everything began, therefore here is where we can send the message globally of what Christmas truly represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will deliver a positive message for the whole world." Economic Prospects and Challenges The neighbouring towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to light holiday trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – are seeing a rise of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel as well as some foreign visitors. One tourist 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 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 – you can come and see more things. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." For now, the souvenir stores dotted around the city have little business, and outside the pale walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, guides are mostly unoccupied. Prior to the Gaza war, it was often crammed with visitors. "Bethlehem is a city for tourists; absent visitors there is no life," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We hope to see individuals returning like before: from European nations, the Middle East, the Americas, Latin American and everywhere. We start with lighting the tree, and then we will wait." The Lingering Economic Toll Over the last two years, joblessness has soared in Bethlehem. Since the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank region have been blocked from entering Israel and Israeli settlements to work. Meanwhile, public servants have received only partial wages from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – that administers parts of the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax revenues collected 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 because the PA makes payments to incarcerated Palestinians that encourage violence against Israelis. The PA – facing international pressure to enact reforms – claims it has recently changed its welfare system. A Modest Holiday The bleak economic outlook implies that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public events in addition to religious ceremonies, it will be an austere Christmas. On the periphery of Manger Square, some patrons are waiting to buy sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops. "We're preparing for Christmas after one of our hardest periods as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," states one restaurant owner, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family-run eatery which has seen its income plummet. He says that recently numerous families could not even afford falafel – a cheap, traditional snack. "Christians will try to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh expects. "An individual wishing to take his kids to a festive event or a show or whatever, they lack the funds to expend for this celebration." Hopes for Peace and Prosperity In the cave-like grotto beneath the Nativity Church, a local woman accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down by a silver star which marks the location where tradition states Jesus was born and igniting a candle close by. With tensions still high throughout the area, people in Bethlehem say they are hoping for peace – and wishing for visitors to return to the location where it is believed Christmas began.