Violence overwhelms Christmas spirit in West Bank

The town of Bethlehem, revered as Jesus’ birth place, made last minute preparations on Christmas Eve for the arrival of thousands of Christian pilgrims for Christmas celebrations.

The traditional midnight Christmas mass at the Church of the Nativity will go on as planned, but not with almost the usual amount of cheer.

Church Bells have sounded in Jerusalem’s Old City, as tens of thousands of Christians from around the world celebrated Christmas in the Holy Land.

“In Bethlehem, there are 33 hotels, and the booking this year has barely reached 35 percent, while in previous years, bookings in the hotel exceeded 80 percent”, said Abu Eitta, who expected a big loss in the sector of the Palestinian tourism this year. “We trust, not our behaviors but his (God’s) mercy”, Twal prayed in Latin later.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another”.

Twal delivered a message of peace and love amid increased violence in the region.

The patriarch’s motorcade, accompanied by Israeli police on horseback for the segment that is under Israeli security control, is set to move slowly from Jerusalem to the West Bank city of Bethlehem, just to the south.

Israel says it has eased travel restrictions for Palestinian Christians.

The plight of embattled Christians in the Middle East, especially where they have been threatened by the advance of Islamic State group, has been thrown into the spotlight this year, and in Iraq, the mood was also sombre.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis will celebrate mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

A nun prays inside the Grotto at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015.

“Every year, Christmas has epical solicitude, but I don’t think this year will be celebrations”, he said with sadness.

“We are praying for the restoration of peace and security and the return of the displaced to their land”, said one worshipper, Farida, as she arrived at Our Lady of Salvation church in Baghdad, one member of a dwindling Christian community trickling in to churches.