Two Palestinians arrested in Christmas tree arson in West Bank

Christian pilgrims pray inside the Grotto of the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

Four Palestinians were killed on Thursday, among them three who Israel said were carrying out attacks on soldiers or security guards in the West Bank.

And a fourth Palestinian was killed in clashes with Israeli troops, a Palestinian hospital official said.

A Christmas tree made of razor wire and tear gas grenades is displayed in Manger Square, Bethlehem as part of an activist art exhibit, December 21, 2013.

“We can not forget what is going on, that there are people suffering”, Father Jamal Khader, the rector of Bethleham’s Latin Patriarchate told Maan news agency.

In recent years, Bethlehem had enjoyed a relative calm and thousands of revellers and pilgrims poured into Manger Square each Christmas. More than 100 Palestinians – said by Israel to be attackers – have been killed.

It was “important to be here, to react and send a message of peace for Christmas”, said an Italian nun, Sister Donatella, as she walked among a procession of pipers and drummers.

“Despite the grief for the souls of the dead Palestinians, everybody here smiles at your face”, he said.

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.

Bethlehem, the city that has been under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) since 1995, has finalized the preparations for Christmas.

Minister of Tourism Rula Maayah anticipated that 7,500 occupants are expected to stay in Bethlehem hotels on Christmas Eve and 10,000 tourists and pilgrims are expected to attend midnight Christmas celebrations.

The reasons for that is the political situation, and the Israeli choke-hold over entrance to the occupied Palestinian land. The thousands that gathered in Manger Square, where the run kicks off, included Muslim and Christian Palestinians, internationals from dozens of foreign countries, and even some Israeli Jews.

“We need to celebrate because celebration is a kind of steadfastness”.

Palestinian Christians in the Gaza Strip should apply for special permits in order to make their way to the city, but occasionally not all family members are granted permits.

His message of love and peace… that’s why we came to say no to the occupation, no to the settlements, no to the politics of occupation, no to the ones who are besieging Bethlehem city from the settlements and the wall.

“[This is] the worst Christmas that I ever lived”, said Nabil Giacaman. He wished “all inhabitants of the Holy Land” a happy and healthy new year.