Christmas in Bethlehem: Christians gather at Church of the Nativity despite violence

As Jesus was born in Bethlehem, thousands of pilgrims every year visit the city every year to celebrate one of the most important holiday seasons in the holy land of Palestine.

In addition, neither Cheslow nor any other AP journalist noted another troubling Christmas incident in the city, one decidedly not in the holiday spirit, and also not at all related to Israel.

The cell was led by a 24-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank named Ahmed Azam, who set up an explosives lab in a rented apartment in Abu Dis, according to the Shin Bet indictment.

In Somalia, the government has banned celebrations of Christmas and New Year in the Muslim majority country, saying the festivities might attract Islamist attacks.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land delivered a message of peace and love amid the ongoing conflict. The stone-throwers, local residents said, were from a refugee camp near Bethlehem. Three killed were said to be involved in attacks on Israeli security forces. It would not be surprising if next year the Palestinian Authority (PA) decides to cancel Christmas celebrations for “security reasons”.

But Christmas has been overshadowed by three months of Israeli-Palestinian violence, so it was a poor turnout this year.

Eighteen Israelis have been killed by Palestinians using knives, automobiles and guns.

Twal is expected to lead Christmas morning mass at the town. “And it’s nice that Muslims can come and share the experience together with Christians too”. Among them is Dunia al-Hawareen, who brought her baby daughter to the manger display at the foot of the Bethlehem tree, holding the child up so she could see the baby Jesus.

Hotel owners are struggling to fill beds, as violence continues in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Christians make up an estimated 1 percent to 2 percent of the West Bank’s 2.7 million Palestinians. She stated she was glad she made the trip ’cause “it was one of my dreams to come here”. Our leaders in Ramallah have always been denying the presence of Islamic State followers in the West Bank. What drives a Palestinian Christian out of his homeland to seek a better future elsewhere is the daily harassment of the occupation, and Israel’s land confiscation policies fall at the heart of the matter.

“In a world which all too often is merciless to the sinner and lenient to the sin, we need to cultivate a strong sense of justice, to discern and to do God’s will”, the Argentine pontiff said.

Twal has also called for parishes to switch off Christmas tree lights for five minutes in solidarity with victims of violence and terrorism.

Father Hijazin has been a thorn in the side of Israeli authorities, protesting against the new wall.

President Abbas, however, does not appear to consider this an insult to Christians and their faith. Confrontations between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops have taken place in Bethlehem. It is not yet clear if there was any disappointment that the Israeli soldiers were apparently not the least bit interested in taking the bait.

Ms Baboun says she just received a new order two days ago from Israel to confiscate 25 more acres of Bethlehem’s land for Israeli military use.