Christmas in years," Wednesday December 25, shortly after Israeli troops pulled back to the outskirts of Bethlehem.
The Israeli army made clear it redeployed troops to the outskirts of the city to allow celebrations to take place without hindrance. Israeli- Arab Christians will be allowed to enter the city on public transportation, and Christian residents of the West Bank will be allowed in with special permits, officials said.
"We will make every effort to facilitate the celebrations," explained an army spokesman to reporters. "There is now no curfew on Bethlehem, and we hope to keep it that way. We shall facilitate efforts to allow anybody to enter who wants to worship. Where we need not be, we will not be.”
"Anyone who wants to go to Bethlehem will have a seat," added government spokesman Ranaan Gissin. However there was no sign of Christmas cheer in Bethlehem as small groups of pilgrims were welcomed by protesters holding banners that asked: "Silence Night? Holy Night?".
CHRISTMAS VIOLENCE
The protests came amid reports of violence in the Gaza Strip where Israeli soldiers fired a tank shell at Palestinians between the Karni and Erez crossings with Israel, killing one young man and injuring three others, The Voice of America (VOA) quoted Palestinian hospital officials as saying.
Palestinian Christians, who make up nearly half Bethlehem 27,000 population, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) they could not recall a worse Christmas. "The people of Bethlehem do not have the spirit of celebrating Christmas,” said Raed Zarrouk, 26. "There is no joy in people’s hearts. I see no decorations, no fireworks and no tourists."
Bethlehem’s Manger Square was reportedly lit up by headlights rather than a twinkling Christmas tree, as cars and taxis are using it as a parking spot and there were no glistening lights, no bells, no holly, and few, if any, tourists.
NO "FAIRY LIGHTS"
The town’s Palestinian mayor, Hanna Nasser, told the BBC that "the fairy lights had been switched off in protest at the Israeli occupation."
Israeli troops have raided Bethlehem repeatedly this year and their most recent stay began on November 22, after a suicide bomber from Bethlehem blew himself up on a Jerusalem bus, killing 11 Israelis.
Yet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat suggested there was no military solution to end the pain suffered by Israelis and Palestinians.
ARAFAT CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
"Our message on Christmas Eve is a message of love, peace, and forgiveness, of Israeli and Palestinian coexistence, and respect for all humanity,” Arafat said in a statement. ”We strongly condemn violence, killing, destruction, and the prevention of others from exercising their rights to celebrate their holy occasion."
His message was shared by Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, who is known as the highest-ranking Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land. He urged Israel to "alter its vision".
Speaking at Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Sabbah called on Israel to "alter its vision." He told Israel that "blood has been flowing in your cities and streets but the key to solving this conflict is in your hands."
CRUSHED PALESTINIANS
"By your actions so far, you have crushed the Palestinian people but you still have not achieved peace," the BBC quoted him as saying. This is reportedly the first Christmas since 1994 that Bethlehem has been under Israeli occupation during the holiday.
The Patriarch also addressed Arafat’s empty seat, which was draped with his distinctive chequered Arab headdress, wishing him "the wisdom and the power under this siege to continue your mission toward peace and justice".
A revised United States-backed blueprint for MIDEAST peace and eventual Palestinian statehood sharpens demands for the Palestinians to end attacks on Israelis and enact serious political reform, said a draft obtained by the Associated Press news agency.
