Israeli-Palestinian violence mars mood as Christians celebrate Christmas in

In the midst of the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem on Thursday, there was a nativity scene quite unlike others around the world. Twinkling lights are wrapped around it and baubles handmade by her two children hang from the branches.

“We re-planted the tree near the Church of Nativity and decorated it with Israeli tear gas and stun-grenades used against Palestinians during the current Intifada [uprising]”, Mazen al-Azza, an activist with the Palestinian National Initiative, told Anadolu Agency. There are occasional tensions but Christians live more happily in the territories than in many Arab countries.

The Christmas festivities are low-key this year dampended by a surge in violence between Palestinians and Israelis.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Christian faithful from around the world on Thursday descended on the biblical city of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations at the traditional birthplace of Jesus, trying to lift spirits on a holiday dampened by months of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

An Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will require compromises from both sides of the war, but even though talks of peace may have stalled for now, the light of peace still shines down in the holy site of Bethlehem.

The security wall, a series of concrete slabs daubed with graffiti and punctuated by watchtowers, divides Palestinian families and destroys the value of their land.

The city was quiet Thursday, although violence raged elsewhere in the West Bank.

Minister of Tourism Rula Maaya said she too hoped the year’s festivities would offer some relief at a time that has otherwise seemed bleak to many.

Since October, the region has seen stabbings, shootings and car-rammings by Palestinians kill 20 Israelis and one American.

Smaller crowds came out to Bethlehem’s Manger Square to celebrate Christmas Eve, 2015. A Palestinian flag hangs next to the star on its top. “But God willing, we’ll overcome it and celebrate”.

Since mid-September, Palestinians have carried out attacks targeting Israelis. Fewer decorations line the streets and Bethlehem authorities cancelled a fireworks display out of respect for the tense situation.

“It’s just wrong. They shouldn’t have done it”, said Jane Hawash, 48, of the Christian village of Beit Sahour.

Despite the increase in violent attacks in recent months, Christmas celebrations took place across the country, mostly without incident.

“Sometimes I feel a little, like, ‘oh, all the policemen, ‘” said 16-year-old Kenzie Quinn, from Milwaukee, Wis., who visited Bethlehem with her parents and six sisters. Three more years of restorations will finally bring the project to an end, with a total of $25 million funds from worldwide donations.