🔗 Share this article The Holiday Tree Lighting Illuminates for the First Time Since the Start of the Gaza War Throughout a two-year period amid the Gaza war, every festive public event for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This place is where the faithful hold Jesus was born. However, after a recent truce, the holy city decided that this year celebrations would return, as represented by the lighting of its customary, giant Christmas tree before the historic Nativity Church. "It's been a bad two years without celebration; no Christmas, no employment, no work," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives from tourism and tourism had fallen to zero." The mayor accepts that the idea to restart festivities faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects those in its tiny Christian community, who often have relatives in Bethlehem. "Some may say it is unsuitable while others contend it is fitting," the mayor notes. "But deep inside my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to take because the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This is the light of hope for us." A Spark of Celebration Reappears Residents – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – pose for selfies in front of the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments at Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of foreign tourists. Brightly coloured lights now adorn the streets with signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children. "We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This place is where it all started, so this is where we can convey the message globally of what really Christmas represents. And now, if Christmas is peaceful, then I hope it will deliver a positive message for the whole world." Economic Hopes and Challenges The neighbouring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to illuminate holiday trees soon. Hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel along with certain international tourists. A visitor from Russia, named Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to this region. "I think everyone needs to come at least once during their lifetime," she says. "I hope a lot of people will soon come back as it is sorrowful with few tourists. The only thing that's good is there are no lengthy queues – you can come and experience more. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." Currently, the gift shops scattered throughout Bethlehem experience scant trade, and outside the pale walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, tour guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the Gaza war, it was typically packed with visitors. "Bethlehem is a city for tourists; without tourism there is no livelihood," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We aspire to see individuals returning as in the past: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and everywhere. We start with lighting the tree, and we'll wait." The Lingering Economic Toll In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed in Bethlehem. Since the deadly attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel during October 2023 which triggered the war, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank region have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements for work. At the same time, government employees have received only partial wages from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs parts of the West Bank. The PA depends on tax revenues gathered by Israel, which it is currently holding – to the tune of 1.76 billion dollars, according to the UN's trade and development agency. Israeli officials state they are retaining the funds because the Authority provides financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage attacks on Israelis. The authority – which has been under global pressure to enact reforms – claims it has lately modified its social welfare system. An Austere Christmas Season The grim economic situation implies that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public events in addition to religious ceremonies, it will constitute a subdued holiday season. On the periphery of the square, a few customers wait to buy hot balls of falafel from a row of shops. "We are getting ready for the holiday after one of our most challenging times as Palestinians and as Christians," says one restaurant owner, who runs Afteem, a long-established family restaurant which has seen its income plummet. He notes that recently numerous families could not even purchase falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "The faithful will attempt to mark the occasion but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "Someone who wants to take his kids to a festive event or a show or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration." Hopes for Calm and Recovery Within the grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a resident accompanies a small Indian tour group, bending down by a silver star which marks the spot where it is said that Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby. With tensions still high across the region, Bethlehem residents state they are hoping for peace – and hoping for tourists to come back to the place where it is believed where Christmas started.
Throughout a two-year period amid the Gaza war, every festive public event for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This place is where the faithful hold Jesus was born. However, after a recent truce, the holy city decided that this year celebrations would return, as represented by the lighting of its customary, giant Christmas tree before the historic Nativity Church. "It's been a bad two years without celebration; no Christmas, no employment, no work," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives from tourism and tourism had fallen to zero." The mayor accepts that the idea to restart festivities faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects those in its tiny Christian community, who often have relatives in Bethlehem. "Some may say it is unsuitable while others contend it is fitting," the mayor notes. "But deep inside my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to take because the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This is the light of hope for us." A Spark of Celebration Reappears Residents – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – pose for selfies in front of the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments at Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of foreign tourists. Brightly coloured lights now adorn the streets with signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children. "We are delighted to have the tree, first of all, and to welcome visitors in Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun. "This place is where it all started, so this is where we can convey the message globally of what really Christmas represents. And now, if Christmas is peaceful, then I hope it will deliver a positive message for the whole world." Economic Hopes and Challenges The neighbouring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to illuminate holiday trees soon. Hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Arab citizens of Israel along with certain international tourists. A visitor from Russia, named Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to this region. "I think everyone needs to come at least once during their lifetime," she says. "I hope a lot of people will soon come back as it is sorrowful with few tourists. The only thing that's good is there are no lengthy queues – you can come and experience more. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." Currently, the gift shops scattered throughout Bethlehem experience scant trade, and outside the pale walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, tour guides are mostly unoccupied. Before the Gaza war, it was typically packed with visitors. "Bethlehem is a city for tourists; without tourism there is no livelihood," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We aspire to see individuals returning as in the past: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and everywhere. We start with lighting the tree, and we'll wait." The Lingering Economic Toll In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed in Bethlehem. Since the deadly attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel during October 2023 which triggered the war, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank region have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements for work. At the same time, government employees have received only partial wages from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs parts of the West Bank. The PA depends on tax revenues gathered by Israel, which it is currently holding – to the tune of 1.76 billion dollars, according to the UN's trade and development agency. Israeli officials state they are retaining the funds because the Authority provides financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage attacks on Israelis. The authority – which has been under global pressure to enact reforms – claims it has lately modified its social welfare system. An Austere Christmas Season The grim economic situation implies that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public events in addition to religious ceremonies, it will constitute a subdued holiday season. On the periphery of the square, a few customers wait to buy hot balls of falafel from a row of shops. "We are getting ready for the holiday after one of our most challenging times as Palestinians and as Christians," says one restaurant owner, who runs Afteem, a long-established family restaurant which has seen its income plummet. He notes that recently numerous families could not even purchase falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "The faithful will attempt to mark the occasion but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "Someone who wants to take his kids to a festive event or a show or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration." Hopes for Calm and Recovery Within the grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a resident accompanies a small Indian tour group, bending down by a silver star which marks the spot where it is said that Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby. With tensions still high across the region, Bethlehem residents state they are hoping for peace – and hoping for tourists to come back to the place where it is believed where Christmas started.