A county fair atmosphere prevailed in Bethlehem in the West Bank,as thousands of individuals took in the sights and sounds of Christmas,marking the birth of Jesus Christ where it really occurred more than 2,000 years ago.You could buy candied apples,listen to choirs sing traditional Christmas carols,or even hear a rock band perform new Christmas music.A peaceful mood prevailed in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity,although the memory of war in the nearby Gaza strip over the summer-between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas organisation-was fresh on people's minds,keeping tourist numbers to less than half of what they were last year.About 4500 foreign tourists came to Bethlehem this year,and they are the bedrock of the local economy.*
All through December,Bethlehem and other West Bank towns and villages and their churches of various types,ranging from Lutheran to Melkite Eastern Catholic and Greek Orthodox,held tree lighting ceremonies with fireworks,scout parades and carols,as well as Christmas concerts.The churches themselves were also decorated with Christmas lights.*
There are very few Christians left in the Gaza strip-just one Greek Orthodox church.
They were allowed to cross over Israeli territory this year and into the West Bank town of Bethlehem and attend the celebrations there.In general,it has been a tranquil Christmas season for the Palestinian people with no shortage of smiles,troubled as they are by living under occupation.They say they want peace with justice,a recognition of their legitimate rights and a state of their own.
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